iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Paul French

British Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

News from the deep 🌊 Paul French tells the story of this autumn’s Challenger 1 expedition to The Canyons, taking us on a fascinating journey into the depths. Read ‘Challenger 1 expedition: to The Canyons’ 👉 www.britishbirds.co.uk/news | @nomadbirder.bsky.social

12813

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A very unexpected mega down at Spurn already today, our first Eyebrowed Thrush. Trapped and ringed in Church Field. @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social Now back to the gas terminal slog...

210610

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This is a new one for me. Trying to add a species to my British list that is not available to add #white-faced #loudlybragging

2130

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

It's been an eventful week at sea! The weather was kinder than last year on the way out, then our first day in the Canyons MCZ turned into one of the most epic days of rarity finding in UK birding. Further evidence that this area is routinely used by band-rumps and barolos, and the fact this is...

1442

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Here we go again!! Leaving Falmouth now for 8 nights at sea, heading for the Canyons Marine Conservation Zone on the edge of British waters, over the Explorer and Dangaard Canyons. Feeling optimistic!!

1430

Reposted by Paul French

Emma @emmasartworks.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I was a day too early for the Yellowlegs at Saltholme, so instead here are some Ruff sketches. 🐡🪶 #art #nature @teesbirds.bsky.social

Pen and watercolour sketches of Ruff (juveniles?)

Field sketch in watercolour of landscape at RSPB Saltholme, northeast England

514515

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

How very human. AI's whole thing is stealing data. That's what iit does. These maths guys were happy to use it, up to the point it stole their own data.

053

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Now home and relaxing after leading the @wisebirding.bsky.social Bolivia Mostly Mammals tour. About 30 species of mammal recorded, including Jaguar, Jaguarundi, Puma & Ocelot, plus 7 sp of monkey and plenty of bonus birds! But first here are the cats...

1201

Reposted by Paul French

Dawn Balmer @debalmer.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Bursary opportunity! The aims of the Eric Hosking Trust are to sponsor natural history and ornithological research through the media of writing, photography, painting or illustration. erichoskingtrust.com/apply/ Deadline 30 September - please apply!

02925

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Up to over 9kg of blackberries now!! That would cost the best part of £80 from Tesco, so get yourselves some great wildlife habitat and some amazing free fruit!!

2150

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

There are 2 main bramble patches in the garden, and this year seems to be a resplendent one! Nearly 6kg of fruit so far, a lot more to come, and there will still be a load left for birds and mice. If you have space for a bramble patch, please consider it! #wildlifegardening

190

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Buff-breasted Sandpiper brings up the #300 for my Spurn list, a nice little milestone. Probably be another 40 yrs at my current pace before I reach 350!!

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Beacon Ponds, Kilnsea

0461

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I hear that the Argentinian football team are in line for the next FIFA Peace Prize.

2130

Reposted by Paul French

The White Falcon @markgolley.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Saturday giveaway time! I picked a copy of the (still brilliant) Macmillan Guide to Bird Identification at Cley village fete & like the last time, I want to give this copy to a really keen young birder (18 or under). Drop me a DM - or reply here - & Lynnette will pick a name from a hat. #ukbirding

86615

Reposted by Paul French

British Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

BB 2000 Ltd is seeking two voluntary board members: a Treasurer and an HR specialist. ~1–2 hrs/week. Interest in birding desirable. For more information and contact details, see: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti... 📸 David Tipling

047

Reposted by Paul French

Paul Dufour @pauldufour80.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

🚨 Exciting news! The Swiss Ornithological Institute is starting a collaborative program that offers multi-sensor geolocators and analytical support for bird migration research, focusing on underrepresented species & regions. Interested? geopressure.org/GeoCollabForm/ Please share!

17258

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

We all know Spurn is the bees knees for swifts, but we sometimes get a big movement over Easington too, and I'm not sure these birds actually make it down to Spurn, as they're heading due west over us. We've clicked over 2000 today, most since 1630hrs. And still they come!! @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social

2280

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Not sure when the last Marsh Tit was at Spurn. The Birds of Spurn lists a record in 2010 as the latest, and I can't recall one since moving here in 2016. In any case, it's a bit of a local mega. Today's juvenile was already sporting a ring, so we should be getting some interesting info soon.

1662

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

There's been an interesting development on Fetlar. I seem to have woken up in the 18th century.

190

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Currently up in Shetland doing some seabird surveys, spending the first week on Foula being awed by the monstrous cliffs and overall imposing vibes of the place. A few migrants were also seen, the highlight being this lovely Black-headed Bunting.

3934

Reposted by Paul French

Peter Stronach @macstronach.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

The Great Glen skua portal opened up today, amazing to see Long-tailed Skuas thermalling over Loch Linnhe like giant Bee-eaters up to 1000m before whizzing northeast towards Inverness! 🪶 #ornithology #highlandbirds

414015

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Spring waders really are superb! This alpina Dunlin is bound for the European arctic somewhere, while the leucorhoa Northern Wheatear is bound for Greenland. I wasn't expecting to find a Nearctic passerine on patch today, but I'll take it! Just two of many globetrotters on the Outstrays today.

0200

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

This Cuckoo at Outstrays was battling against the wind today, and doing rather well.

1160

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The rapid erosion of Easington continues. I took the first 2 pics in November, the last 2 today. The gravel path is gone, the fence is gone, but most annoyingly the plastic tree guards are just being left to fall into the sea. The sooner everyone just stops using plastic tree guards the better.

2240

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

As well as rares, there are many, many common birds that give me a lot of pleasure. One of my favourite things are Dunlin in May, and the Warren at Spurn is a great place to look for all sorts of variation. Most of them at the moment seem to be schinzii, but a few alpina present too.

2250

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

With only 10 post-1950 records, Desert Wheatear is surprisingly rare in Yorkshire. The most recent was 2017, but the last one at Spurn was 1962! So today's bird at Grimston was well worth the short trek up the coast.

2491

Reposted by Paul French

Katherine Argent @katherineargent.com · 01/05/2026

Search is full of ads and wrong answers. Every other email is an ad. Prime Video charges you and shows ads. Paramount? Ads. Peacock? YouTube? Hulu? Ads followed by more ads. Netflix full of ads. 🧵

7252101

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Post 2 about Cape Verde, and thought I'd get another rarity out of the way, but this time a local mega rather than a WP one. This reiseri Eastern Olivaceous Wblr seems to be the 2nd record for Cape Verde. Was nice to see while waiting for the Red-billed Quelea to show up! ebird.org/checklist/S3...

0100

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Frampton Marsh yesterday. Among the brent horde were two Pale-bellieds plus this presumed hybrid Pale x Dark-bellied, paired with a Pale-bellied. Appearance changed wigh angles of course, but consistently showed inbetween features.

070

Reposted by Paul French

Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

We are pleased to announce that copies of ‘The Birds of Fair Isle’ are now on sale at The SOC, Waterston House, Aberlady, East Lothian at £85. @scottishbirding.bsky.social

2279

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Cape Verde really is an outpost of the Palearctic. It has a suite of endemic breeding birds, including some quality seabirds, and we were there to enjoy some pioneering pelagics in March. It also attracts some monster WP rares, and my first port of call was this wondrously-winged Willet on Boa Vista

0343

Reposted by Paul French

House Martin Conservation UK & Ireland @ukhousemartins.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

🚨 Just a friendly reminder to users of the Mapper App housemartinconservation.com/house-martin... to re-synch it to the latest version before logging your first entries this year. It's good practice to re-synch regularly so you don't get caught out! 🚨 If you haven't already downloaded, please do! 😊

067

Reposted by Paul French

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 26/03/2026

Decision relating to the #BritishList The subspecies Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus vetula has been added to the British List bou.org.uk/british-l... The British List remains at 636 species #ornithology

0157

Reposted by Paul French

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 26/03/2026

Decision relating to the #BritishList Pied Crow Corvus albus has not been added to Category A or Category D bou.org.uk/british-l... The British List remains at 636 species #ornithology

01410

Reposted by Paul French

Paul Dufour @pauldufour80.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Honored to have had the chance to visit Oxford last week (after a few days in Liverpool beforehand!). I really enjoyed meeting so many great people and sharing ideas on bird migration. I hope you enjoyed the presentation, and stay tuned for upcoming results on vagrants and bird migration! 🪶

0254

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Naff boc shots, but the Willet on Boa Vista showed nicely today. All gearing up nicely for the pelagics off Fogo next week, hopefully some quality sea-birding here on Cape Verde to come...

0333

Reposted by Paul French

Theresa Owens @girlbirding.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Ross’s Gull Prints pre-order! - Original SOLD- A4, limited edition of only 25! £25 plus p+p. They are made to order, so will take around 3/4 weeks- msg to order. Reference photo credit to Sarah Jane, Gill Fisher and @runnelstone.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding #cornwallbirding #watercolourart

0203

Reposted by Paul French

Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Getting there. Need a few adjustments, and text adding on a computer, but here are 5 Chiffchaffs and one Willow Warbler. #birds #ukbirding #sciart #birdart

Three paintings, each showing two warblers. One Willow Warbler and five Chiffchaffs in total. Each bird faces right to left.

417112

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

We are so lucky here. We have a pr of Tawny Owls that are seemingly resident, roosting within (but mostly out of) sight of my desk, plus a pr of Barn Owls close by that sometimes take advantage of calm winter sun. Tawny photo'd well after dark, Barnie is just miles away!!

0140

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

I don't often twitch long-distance anymore, but with 3 dips over nearly 30 yrs, Ross's Gull was up there as most wanted. And being a first winter, its even more special to the ID aficionados. Just a few 1000 pics to go through... #RareBirdsUK

5744

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Why oh why are we sacrificing everything to AI? It can't even get the bits right its supposed to be good at. How can you present the wrong answer, quote the source, then the source appears below with the actual correct answer!! But yeah, folding proteins.....

3171

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Complete change in fortune for my recently abysmal WeBS counts. The new realignment at Weeton has taken the majority of roosting waders, leaving me free to enjoy this Black Brant, plus a delightfully squeaky Otter. 3 GW Egrets, SEO and 40+ Rock Pipits in support.

0150

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Does anyone know of any Long-tailed Skuas resembling the North American race pallescens being seen in the North Sea/Shetland areas? Birds resembling this form seen in SW and Spain (+ tracking data down mid Atlantic), but issue is paler birds in N Euro breeding grounds #RareBirdsUK

253

Reposted by Paul French

British Birds Rarities Committee @britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

The new Missing Records file is now live on the BB website, please have a look at britishbirds.co.uk/rarities-com... and consider submitting any outstanding rarities that you may have been lucky enough to discover in 2025. Thanks.

britishbirds.co.uk

Missing records - British Birds

Download missing BBRC records Updated: 3 February 2025 This file contains details of all birds and/or...

22116

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

This is a very worrying story with implications. Personally I'd like to fire the whole of AI into the outer Oort. stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com/2026/01/1492...

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

1492 : A Cautionary Tale.

3419

Reposted by Paul French

Jonny @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Oh shit! Our #TheTwoJonnies podcast guest this evening is our sister from another mister @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social 's very own Rob Hunton! ♠️ Got any questions for Rob? '26 fashion trends? Minor medical ailments? Life advice? Or even something to do with birds. Let us know! We might ask him.

052

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Our long Dutch weekend comes to a glorious end, with some quality(!) WP tickage. Thanks to @gt1366.bsky.social for braving the perils of Amsterdam to give me a Cat C(rap) tick, and for the photo. Cheers mate!!

Lesser White-fronted Geese (29, presume all from Swedish reintroduction scheme)

0190

Paul French @nomadbirder.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Our trip to Texel going very nicely so far, some Dutch megas with a few beers and quality bants. And who doesn't love Smew!!??

1230