keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The last few days have been spent birding the plains in the SE of Gabon, around the town of Lekoni. One of the key species here is the malbranti race of Plains Lark aka Malbrant's Lark, which is restricted to this region. 060
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Two species of Guineafowl were key targets on our visit to Ipassa and we eventually had good, prolonged views of both: Plumed Guineafowl & Black Guineafowl. 0101
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Back to the comforts of a modern hotel after 4 days at Ipassa Research Station. My highlight was stunning views of Vermiculated Fishing-Owl from our evening/night boat trip. Finally my first Fishing-Owl. 0160
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Today has mostly been a travel day, with a few short stops to break up the journey. The highlight is getting decent photos of Banded Prinia, (a tick, but with only brief views the previous day). It must be one of the best Prinias. 080
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026After yesterday's 10 hour drive, we had an excellent first full days birding in Gabon, in the Lope National Park. The highlight was Grey-headed Broadbill, my final African Broadbill, with Dja River Scrub Warbler coming a close second. 070
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 18/09/2026An excellent last mornings pelagic of Sao Tome. The highlights being at least 6 of the recently classified Sao Tome race of Cape Verde Storm Petrel and identifying the first e-Bird record for Sao Tome of Long-tailed Skua. 0151
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Two tough days birding on Monte Carmo, in almost continuous rain. Only managing to see 2 of the 5 target species, the Scops Owl and Sao Tome Ibis. Fortunately the Ibis was my most wanted Sao Tome endemic. 0131
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 13/09/2026The highlight of our second day on Sao Tome was a female Maroon Pigeon, a tricky species, which insisted in spending most of it's time hidden in a bush, so no photos. Fortunately the Giant Sunbirds put on a better performance. 0110
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Very enjoyable first day in the field in Sao Tome, picking up many of the more widespread species such as this Sao Tome Thrush. We were 3 days late arriving thanks to the UK Air traffic debacle which also means, rather depressingly, we are no-longer able to get to Principe.😡 080
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 02/09/2026The highlight of my visit to Cemlyn yesterday was this breaching Risso's Dolphin, part of a pod of 4+, which included a tiny calf. 0110
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 10/08/2026A great first day back on the Anglesey patch after a week at home: It started well finding 2 juv Little Stints at Cemlyn in the morning, but finding a smart Wood Sand on the Alaw Estuary this afternoon was the highlight. My first record for the site. #BirdsinWales 0191
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Heading home after a 5 night stay on Anglesey. The birding highlight was finding my 7th & 8th Quails for the year, bonkers as I have only recorded one on the patch previously. Insecting has also been decent with 3 species of Bee-grabber being the highlight (photo of Four-banded) 060
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Excellent birthday present from Brent & Linda (trap & lure). Yellow-legged Clearwing in my Keele garden this afternoon. Moth ✔️. 0110
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Day 2 of our short, campervan road trip: The long staying Hudsonian Godwit at Cattawade showed very well, if a little distant for photography, hence my resorting to digiscoping. (✔️number 2 for Linda) 080
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 22/07/2026As the birding on Anglesey is was rather quiet, we could not resist the lure of the long staying Long-tailed Shrike on the Oxfordshire / Gloucestershire border. So a short camper van road trip ensued. 060
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 13/07/2026As is often the case in the summer & when birding is quiet, I dabble with insects. Recent highlights have been; Small Red-eyed Damselfly ✔️, Six-belted Clearwing ✔️ and a Purple Hairstreak drinking in my garden pond yesterday. 050
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 23/06/2026My first new UK butterfly for over 20 years. Northern Brown Argus in Lancashire yesterday. There is still sereral to go at so should make the effort sometime. 040
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Could not resist the temptation to go back for seconds of the Western Reef Heron, this afternoon. Glad we did as it was much closer than on Saturday, with greatly improved photos. #birdingWales 0310
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 05/06/2026Name that species? Volume up and listen until the end to get the answer. 😀 040
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 30/05/2026My 5th Anglesey patch record & my 1st for 12 years! An unseasonal Hen Harrier at Hen Borth this morning. 0121
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Glad I decided to have a quick scan of the Inland Sea before heading off to Carmel Head this morning. A 2cy Little Gull distantly from the caravan at 5.30 am, a site tick & a bird I see less then annually. #birdingWales 0180
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 22/05/2026A brilliant mornings birding on Carmel Head: A fly over Bee-eater was the highlight, my second self found patch record. Also a reasonable supporting cast of: Osprey, 8 Spot Fly, 20+ Crossbill & Yellow Wagtail. #birdingWales 0461
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 13/05/2026My last tick of our Ecuador & Galapagos trip: Cactus Finch, thanks to that bill - one of the more distinctive Darwins Finches. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0183
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Yesterdays highlight was finally connecting with 2 Galapagos Martins after about 6 hours of searching in very wet & cloudy conditions, hence no decent photos. Galapagos Rail came a close second which also played hard to get but eventual showed well in the rain. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0184
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 11/05/2026It may not be the prettiest of birds, but Flightless Cormorant was the main target on boat trip to the west coast of Isabela.🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0141
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Really pleased to see Floreana Mockingbird this morning, one of the trickiest specie to see in the Galalagos. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0164
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 09/05/2026Pleased to catch up with Lava Gull yesterday. A scarce species, endemic to Galapagos with a total population of less than 400 pairs. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0201
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Incredible day; sailing over to Espanola Island. Walking within meters of seabirds, Iguanas & Sealions. Plus great seawatching from the boat. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0120
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Our first afternoon on San Cristóbal in the Galapagos: We managed to get our first 5 species of Darwins Finch, with the highlight being watching a Woodpecker Finch devour a large moth. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0183
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 05/05/2026My final tick of the mainland Ecuador leg of our trip: Masked Mountain Tanager, Papallacta this morning. Particularly pleasing as we had missed it a week earlier. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0174
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 03/05/2026A new Antpitta day is always a good day: White-lored Antpitta Lusianta yesterday.🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0174
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 02/05/2026Barred Antthrush along the Guacamayos ridge a couple of days ago, taken early morning so high ISO (25,600), but happy with the result. #BirdsSeenIn2026 🪶 0142
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Andean Potoo near Cosanga this evening. My final Potoo & one of my favourite families. #BirdsSeenIn2026 🪶 0173
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Totally blown away with our views of Jameson's Snipe at Papallacta yesterday. (sound up) 0141
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 29/04/2026The non-avian highlight of our Ecuador trip so far, was spending half an hour this morning watching two Spectacled Bears near the Papallacta Pass. I suspect it won't be surpassed. 070
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 25/04/2026Giant Antpitta was a big miss 22 years ago therefore a major target for this trip, so we booked the Antpitta tour at Refugio Paz de las Aves, for this morning. Amazingly, yesterday afternoon when birding a lodge trail, we found our own! but no photo. The photos came this morning! #BirdsSeenIn2026 2271
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Surely one of the worlds most outrageous birds! Long-wattled Umbrellabird on day 3 of our Ecuador trip & the highlight so far. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0173
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 09/04/2026What a brilliant & slightly surreal afternoons birding at Cors Ddyga. A great start when we found a pair of Gargany followed an hour later by a male Green-winged Teal, a self-found tick probably and probably my most looked for rarity, (a second bird to one already present nearby)🪶 #BirdsSeenInWales 0191
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 08/04/2026A good couple of days birding on Anglesey: Yesterday a decent fall of migrants on Carmel Head; 48 Willow W, 22 Chifchaff , 12 Blackcap & my earliest Anglesey Tree Pipit & Sedge W. This morning I found 4 Avocet at Cemlyn, only my 3rd Anglesey record & first self-found birds. #BirdsInWales 🪶 0221
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 01/04/2026The 4 Tundra Bean Geese were still present on the Alaw Estuary this afternoon. The only previous record for the county is a record of up to 3 birds at Ellyn Coron in November 2011. This makes these the 4th to 7th individuals for Anglesey. #BirdsinWales 🪶 0210
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 29/03/2026Well, it's been a good start to the 2026 Anglesey patch season. First days birding & we find 4x Tundra Bean Geese on the Alaw Estuary. Fortunately the birds were still present today and managed to get some decent photos. An Anglesey tick & a Welsh rarity. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0302
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 13/03/2026As we wanted to spend a few days on the Med coast of France, we decided to explore the Camargue, staying just outside Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. A lovely town & great birding. The highlight being, superb views of a Lesser Flamingo amongst thousands of the local Greater Flamingos. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0331
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 10/03/2026After traveling along the mediterranean coast of Spain from Malaga, we have now crossed into France. Some nice birding on the way with highlights being; improved views of Black Wheatear, Trumpeter Finch, Great Skua & plenty of Slender-billed & Audouin's Gulls. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0151
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 07/03/2026After 2 weeks of being out of my comfort zone - city sightseeing around southern Spain, we are now starting the slow journey home & birding again😀. Currently heading east along Spains south coast & enjoying more species not seen for many years + a few migrants moving through. 0130
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 21/02/2026We've now made it down to the south coast of Spain & parked up near Malaga. Really enjoyed seeing species I've not seen for many years, in some instances decades! The birding highlight has been Dupont's Lark near Zaragoza, which I've only seen once before in Morocco, in 1993. 3163
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Extremely pleased to connect with Iberian Lynx yesterday - Over half an hour spent with not 1 but 3 of these brilliant cats. A single and an adult with well grown cub. Not the best video, but the views were great through the scope. 1130
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 15/02/2026Finally after 5 days of driving; through 2 storm, 5 days of rain & high winds (reaching 60mph yesterday), we have had a dry & non-travel day. Now in northern Spain and enjoying lovely views from the camper of the local church complete with its 6+ White Stork nests. 😀🍷☀️ 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0252
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 12/02/2026Our 2nd day in France on our French/Spanish road trip. Hoping to escape our awful British weather, but so far it's even worse with fairly constant wind & rain. Managed an hours birding this am and picked up my 1st Short-toed Treecreeper & Middle Spotted Woodpeckers since 1990! 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 04810
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 23/01/2026Well, our Brazil trip finally comes to an end. There has. definitely been a Rallidae theme throughout, with a total 18 species of rail seen. First tick of the trip was a Little Wood Rail & final tick of the trip, a very confiding Rufous-sided Crake. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 0282
keelebirder.bsky.social @keelebirder.bsky.social · 19/01/2026Piculets, a distinct sub-family of Woodpeckers, have always been a favourite of mine, so I was pleased to see a new one: Mottled Piculet in Santa Catarina, Brazil yesterday. 🪶 #BirdsSeenIn2026 1516
