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Boulmer in the afternoon - Shorelark arrived onto Longhoughton Steel, Redstart, Whimbrel, Brambling, Ruff, 8 Wheatears, c20 Song Thrushes, 2 Snipe, c3200 Golden Plover #NEbirding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 4h

A morning of good birding and terrible photos around Seaton Pt, Northumberland… ringtail Hen Harrier, Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, 2 Redstarts, 8 Bramblings, 228 Song Thrushes (no Redwing!), Sooty Shearwater, 4 Arctic Skuas, c20 Little Gulls, 7 Pintail #NEbirding

That dark pixel in the middle is a Ring Ouzel, believe it or not

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A strangely quiet day with @yolobirder.bsky.social on Holy Island - a handful of Bramblings the highlight - was suddenly improved by being in the right place at the right time to see the Olive-backed Pipit found by Stef McElwee. A surprisingly rare bird in Northumberland #NEbirding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Duck-tastic at Seaton Pt today, with c630 Teal inc. a flock of c510 on the sea, and a patch scarcity Shoveler. Also 1 Pomarine (a cracking spoony adult), 5 Arctic & 3 Great Skuas, 1 Sooty & 3 Manx shearwaters, 1 Med & c80 Little Gulls, c50 Common & 8 Arctic Terns, 22 P-b Brents #NEbirding

Grey Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone and Redshank

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Reposted by Mark Eaton

RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

New job alert 🪶🧪 We are hiring a Conservation Scientist to work on links between hydrological restoration and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker conservation Deadline: 7/10/26 Apply here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car... #SpeciesRecoveryProgramme @naturalengland.bsky.social 📷Ben Andrew

A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker perched by its nest hole

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Action shot of a Draparnaud's Glass Snail - seeing this handsome purple mollusc was my reward for replacing rotting decking joists this morning #ukwildlife

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Surprisingly good seawatching at Boulmer this afternoon - in 2 hrs: 1 Sabine’s Gull, 1 Balearic, 7 Sooty & 7 Manx Shearwater, 1 Pomarine, 5 Long-tailed, 17 Arctic, 4 Great & 7 unidentified small Skuas, 1 Med & c400 Little Gulls, 2 Pintail, 2 Brent, c195 Teal. Curlew Sandpiperon the beach #NEbirding

Curlew Sandpiper peeking out from behind a Dunlin

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Progging-out with Marillion in Gateshead tonight. The first rock band I ever saw, 41 years and 100’s of gigs ago…

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Budle Bay, late afternoon - 3 Spotted Redshanks, 8+ Greenshanks and a very distant Great White Egret (5th record, says Budle guru @budlebirder.bsky.social), but the Brents were too distant to pick out the Black Brant #NEbirding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A mixed day… great to have a Baird’s Sandpiper buzz me on Goswick beach, but frustrating not to be able to refind it. Presumably the bird from Guille Pt earlier in the week. Best of the rest was an entertainingly grey Little Stint, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, 1186 Pinkfeet arriving #NEbirding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Bar-tailed Godwit at Seaton Pt, Northumberland #waderwednesday

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Top evening at Boulmer - got good views of the Lapland Bunting, and the sea was hooching with life inc. 1 Long-tailed & c16 Arctic Skuas, 1 Bonxie, 1 Sooty & 8 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Black Tern, c70 Little & 4 Med Gulls, 7 Pale-bellied Brents & a Minke Whale 🐳 #NEbirding #birds #cetaceans

Pale-bellied Brents heading for Lindisfarne

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This week’s gig, Voyage 35 playing the early psychedelic music of Porcupine Tree. Which will mean absolutely nothing to most of you, but was a very good thing indeed.

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Reposted by Mark Eaton

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 10/09/2026

⏰ NOMINATIONS CLOSING SOON Know someone in #ornithology deserving of recognition? Nominate them for a BOU award now! 🪶 🥇 Godman Salvin Prize 🥇 Alfred Newton Lecture 🥇 Janet Kear Union Medal 🥇 Early Professional Award Deadline: 15 September 2026 Nominate: bou.org.uk/about-the...

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Boulmer this afternoon - 1 Roseate Tern, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Ruff, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Wheatears. A fantastic pulse of Swallow passage around 15.45, c650 birds (and just 2 House Martins) south over the sea in 15 minutes before it suddenly stopped #NEbirding

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RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

New job alert🪶 Research assistant to support research on Willow Tit demographics. Must have a BTO ringing licence at C level or above Location: Midlands and North of England Duration: Oct-Nov 2026 Deadline: This Wednesday Sept 9th Apply here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car... 📷Ben Andrew

A Willow Tit perches in a branch, looking directly to camera

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Another gig… Primal Scream absolutely roaring through their classic XTRMNTR album in Newcastle last night.

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Faithless closing Lindisfarne Festival last night, a set of amazingly over-the-top epic techno. Loved it.

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

At Lindisfarne festival and the rapper Professor Green keeps telling the crowd how glad he is to be in Scotland 🙄. I suspect he might not be a proper professor…

‘Professor’ Green onstage at Lindisfarne, England

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Another stunning gig… The Waterboys ‘Fisherman’s Blues Revue’, reunited with legendary fiddler Steve Wickham and with Steve Earle guesting. Glasgow Hydro last night ❤️

The Waterboys, Glasgow Hydro, on the ‘Fisherman’s Blues Revue’ tour

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Reposted by Mark Eaton

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 27/08/2026

⏰ NOMINATION DEADLINE APPROACHING Know someone in #ornithology deserving of recognition? Nominate them for a BOU award now! 🪶 🥇 Godman Salvin Prize 🥇 Alfred Newton Lecture 🥇 Janet Kear Union Medal 🥇 Early Professional Award Deadline: 15 September 2026 Nominate: bou.org.uk/about-the...

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Aquatic mammals were the highlights of a family trip to Argyll last week. As well as the Beavers in Knapdale, this mum Otter feeding two cubs on the shore of Loch Fyne stole our hearts! #ukwildlife #ukmammals

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The Cure in Edinburgh. A brilliant evening.

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Scottish Dock, Rumex aquaticus, on the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond yesterday. Perhaps not the best name for a species that grows from Europe to Japan but just in one tiny corner of Scotland? #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Scottish Dock, near Endrick Water, Loch Lomond

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

One of the best gulls, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Seaton Pt this evening #NEbirding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Great evening as finally got American Black Tern on the Boulmer list. Teased me feeding at distance at first but gradually came close enough to be sure, then landed on Longhoughton Steel 🙂 #NEbirding #rarebirdsUK

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Reposted by Mark Eaton

Simon Gillings @simongillings.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

I've not seen the Cocker paper but there's a section on Redstart mimicry in The Sound Approach to Birding (2nd edition at least)

Sample page from The Sound Approach to Birding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Also while cruising the lanes last night, as well as owls, hedgehogs and foxes a couple of oddities… a Nightjar calling overhead nr Littlehoughton, 7km from the nearest breeding habitat, and these Turnstones migrating south overhead nr Fallodon, 5km from the coast #NEbirding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

More Quail…. I found 16 singing males in a nocturnal drive around north of Alnwick last night. 2 near Fallodon, and 14+ in a small area around Hocketwell (on the B1340 between Denwick and Rennington) 🤯. Recording captures the ‘mau-wau’ call ahead of the more familiar ’wet-my-lips’ #NEbirding #birds

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Every day’s a school day… there’s a great paper in the @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social 2024 Report by Mark Cocker, on mimicry in Common Redstarts. He recorded 56(!) species in Redstart songs in 2025 - listen to a sample here and see how many you can get! #UKbirding #ornithology xeno-canto.org/1048967

xeno-canto.org

XC1048967 Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

I examined the recording for mimicry. And suggest the following examples in the course of the nine + minutes. The intitial numbers 1-63 refer to the song units in sequence. A question mark immediatel...

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Swift cottage gets even better… after the swifts went to bed, followed by a barrage of Tawny Owl calls, a Quail has started singing to the northeast. Murdoston, Auldgirth, D & G #BirdingScotland

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Just arrived to spend the night at “Swift cottage” near Dumfries and found that it’s very well named ❤️❤️❤️ #birds

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Reposted by Mark Eaton

Kath @kathyburke.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

At least we don’t have to listen to wonderwall.

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Alan Knox @alanknox.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I have 5 static recorders in Aberdeenshire forests & have had Quail in all: 1. 4 nights 23/5-3/7 2. 5 nights 21/5-19/6 3. 1 night 10/6 4. 10 nights 21/5-4/7 5. 8 nights 21/5-3/7 On only 2 nights calling started <midnight. @markaeaton.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social @inchgarthbirding.bsky.social

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A male Lesser Emperor at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes this morning @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonflies #odonata

Poor photo of a male Lesser Emperor dragonfly at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Grasshopper Warbler singing behind our house (Alnwick) again, for the first time since late April - demonstrating how they can be completely silent and utterly undetectable while breeding #NEbirding #birds

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Managed to call in to Ingoe today to admire the territorial Turtle Dove - Northumberland’s first singing bird since 2017 (and it’s 34 years since the last breeding) #NEbirding

Turtle Dove flighting over Ingoe, Northumberland

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Sam celebrating his 13th birthday at Boulmer today 🎂. He attributes his youthful good looks to a weekly immersion in a stinking pool of sulphurous mud 🤢. Happy birthday to the world’s best dog 🐕!

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Had one of those “isn’t evolution brilliant“ moments watching this Black Skimmer doing its thing at Coyote Hills, California last week #SuperSeabirdSunday

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Back from travels to a family wedding in California, which means I have a fine pair of terns for #SuperSeabirdSunday - Forster’s (left) and Least (right)

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

In the foreground, a Blue Whale, the world’s largest creature🥇. Behind it, a Fin Whale, the world’s second largest creature🥈. Mind-blowing 🤯! Monterey Bay, California, yesterday #whales #cetaceans

In the foreground, a Blue Whale, the world’s largest creature. Behind it, a Fin Whale, the world’s second largest creature. Monterey Bay, California

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Great gig by the Beta Band in Newcastle last night - photo taken near the end when all four of the band were on the drums!

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Good numbers of waders still at Boulmer y’day: 38 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 3 Knot, 2 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel & 16 Ringed Plovers in the ‘yet to go to breeding grounds (and might not bother)’ category, and 2 Redshank, 57 Curlew & 44 Oystercatcher in the ’been and come back’ category #NEbirding #birds

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

A stunning male Redstart not letting the rain get him down at Bewcastle, Cumbria this morning #birds

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

My first Golden-ringed Dragonfly of the year nr Bewcastle, Cumbria this morning. A newly emerged female, its wings were still in the process of being pumped up and the exuvia (the cast-off casing from its nymph stage) was discarded on the streamside below it @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Exuvia from a female Golden-ringed Dragonfly

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

A line of Manx Shearwaters passing Hauxley this morning - 304 north in an hour. Also a Sooty Shearwater and adult Long-tailed 😍 and Arctic Skuas. Huge numbers of local breeding seabirds going backwards and forwards - a few sample counts gave an estimate of 12,100 birds per hour #NEbirding

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Inner Farne’s resident Gannet was bemused, then annoyed, by brawling Guillemots today. So it saw them off and reminded everyone who was boss! #SuperSeabirdSunday #birds

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Think this half qualifies for #SuperSeabirdSunday - the resident Eider x Mallard hybrid at Seahouses today #NEbirding #BirdHybrids

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

The obligatory selfie with an Arctic Tern from the Farne Isles today #SuperSeabirdSunday

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

A gorgeous leucistic Common Guillemot on Inner Farne, Northumberland today, just in time for #SuperSeabirdSunday #NEbirding #birds

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