David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 8hGot yourself both a Common and an Arctic there (Arctic on the left) 120
Reposted by David RocheRobert Vaughan @robertvaughani.bsky.social · 10/10/2026There was an influx of Bairds Sandpipers in Ireland this Autumn with atleast 3 in Donegal. It has been a long time bogey bird of mine, so I was delighted to find one infront of the Tready hide at Inch Island shortly after distant views of another at nearby Blanket Nook. 0323
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 10/10/2026Maybe just a coincidence, but a very similar Barnacle Goose photographed @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social on 4th/5th Oct 110
Reposted by David RocheTom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Very lucky the older one brought the Woodpigeon down right next to me, light behind me, etc! 1151
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026It's gonna take something of near equal calibre to make up for the last two months... Just over 300 miles covered on foot for single Leach's Petrel, Great Shearwater, Barred Warbler, 5 YBWarbler and a few Lapland Buntings. 250
Reposted by David RocheThe White Falcon @markgolley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Quiz nite! Home from Devon & reminiscing about rares seen there in my youth. Four old, one less so. One a mega. One a "bird of the decade" for many who saw it. One a dessert after main course the same day (2 for 1!) One a bunked-off-school solid rare at the time. What & where?!? #rarebirdsuk 2101
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 30/09/2026If I could sum up a Papay autumn in one photo it would probably be this one from today, highlights of which were a YBWarbler, 2 Redstart a Grey Wagtail and my first Jack Snipe #BirdingOrkney September now finished, without having seen a Whinchat, Garden Warbler or Lesser Whitethroat... 0372
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 29/09/2026YBWarbler and Lapland Bunting from North Hill this morning #BirdingOrkney Fairly quiet otherwise, but first Song Thrush and Brambling of the autumn. Unbirdable conditions tomorrow but hopefully things to find on Thursday... 0371
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Rock up on Fair Isle, the day before the first easterlies of Sept 2026, whilst we have had to slog through weeks without any migrants... Very well timed (and also grossly unfair!) 110
Reposted by David RocheSteve Dudley @stevedudley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026On 23 Sep 2022 I was watching Orkney’s fourth and Westray’s first Semipalmated Sand, found by a visiting Lothian birder, Andy Thomas. Four years to the day I was watching another, in exactly the same place as 2022, also found by a visiting Lothian birder, Ed Parnell. Thanks fellas! #WestrayBirding 2311
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Couple of highlights today from what had been a very quiet September. Leach's Petrel past Mull Head and a Barred Warbler (first seen yesterday) still in the North Wick #BirdingScotland The quest for a yank wader - currently all residing @northronbirdobs.bsky.social - goes on... 1170
Reposted by David RocheAndrew Clarke @mrandrewclarke.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Truly bizarre experience twitching a Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) feeding on the edge of the woodland whilst visiting Sheffield General Cemetery today. Has anyone seen them hunting in similar habitat? Left it ‘showing well’ at 1130 hrs. SK34248600 @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social #UKBirding 25910
Reposted by David RocheTom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Magical morning on the Wirral with 36 Leach's Storm-petrels heading west into the wind, some more offshore than others 😍 #seawatching #superseabirdSunday 115417
Reposted by David RocheBill Aspin 🇺🇦 @billaspin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026A couple of juvenile Hobby at Brockholes LWT. 😍 #LancsBirding 2312
Reposted by David RocheOwen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026A wonderful spectacle of the thousands of House Martins gathering on wires and on the Power Station at Dungeness early this morning I reckon 8,000+ #KentBirding 715623
Reposted by David RochePaul Bowerman @severnsidebirds.bsky.social · 15/09/2026I have been fortunate to see one Common Nighthawk in England but this eBird report from Tennessee, USA of 500 is truly amazing. See the videos on this eBird report macaulaylibrary.org/asset/664393...macaulaylibrary.orgML664393779 - Common Nighthawk - Macaulay LibraryMacaulay Library ML664393779; © Graham Gerdeman; Davidson, Tennessee, United States 0212
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026With @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social on this one. Minke for me 030
Reposted by David RocheHugh Harrop @hughharrop.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Distant views yesterday but today enjoyed incredible views of the juvenile American Black Tern (form 'surinamensis') at Loch of Tingwall, Shetland. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife 21009
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Fair to say that the recent run of east winds has proved disappointing with today's totals of nine Willow Warbler and three Pied Flys the best on offer #BirdingOrkney Highlight was in fact two fledged Redpoll above the South Wick. A new breeding species for the island #PWC2026 0272
Reposted by David RocheTG42Birder🇵🇸 @tg42birder.bsky.social · 28/08/2026It’s prime Long-tailed Skua time. 5 skuas were misidentified at Waxham on Tues - no criticism of the obs, they realised & corrected the IDs. Skuas can be very tricky. Put the time in & don’t rely on experts - everyone can get it wrong. #norfolkbirding tg42lowcarbonbirding.wixsite.com/tg42/post/th...tg42lowcarbonbirding.wixsite.comThe Identification of a Long-tailed SkuaSummary:A dark-phase juvenile Long-tailed Skua was photographed in Winterton Dunes, Oct 14 2020 by Jonathan Farooqi (JF). The record was submitted to Norfolk Records Committee (NRC) and was accepted b... 4191
Reposted by David RocheShiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 28/08/2026An additional clip to add context to yesterday's #Nightjar in our suburban Torbay back garden 🏡😂. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @birdtrack.bsky.social 0231
Reposted by David RocheChris S @macrodactyla.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Juv Long-tailed Skua that flew close by on Redcar Beach before heading North this morning @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social #NEBirding #UKBirding 1744
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Great Shearwater west past Mull Head this morning plus 8 White beaked Dolphin #BirdingOrkney At least ten Bottle nosed Dolphins off here yesterday, my first around Papay 1442
Reposted by David RocheBirds of Poole Harbour @harbourbirds.bsky.social · 15/08/2026An adult male Honey Buzzard came and landed on our Osprey nest briefly this afternoon, digging in the nest searching for a potential wasp or bees nest?! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social 311121
Reposted by David RocheCalum Scott @aberladybirder.bsky.social · 13/08/2026A rare sight these days, cliff nesting House Martin’s! At least 29 nests Bilsdean Arches this morning, just one of two such sites in Lothian. 2 yellow wag on Scoughall beach yesterday. #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland 2486
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Finally got around to painting the Bee eater. If anybody is interested in a print (or even the original) drop me a message #RareBirdsUK #BirdArt #BirdingScotland 0140
Reposted by David RocheDennis Morrison @denmor77.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Red-footed Falcon at Aberlady this morning, another top find by Mr Gillon. My second one in Lothian after the 1s female in May 2008 at Almondell & Calderwood CP @birdinglothian.bsky.social 4776
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 31/07/2026The other highlight from Golspie was the wealth of flowering plants, found in the dunes opposite Loch Fleet. An incredibly species rich site #WildFlowerHour 0181
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Black throated Divers Golspie, 23rd July. I challenge anyone to name a better looking British breeding species #BirdingScotland Simplistic elegance at its finest 3290
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 30/07/2026No worries. Still a chance to pick one up over the autumn 020
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Sorry to disappoint, but I'm afraid this one's a young Whitethroat 110
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Finishing a week exploring around Cannich and Glen Affric. Quiet for Dragonflies but still two Golden and one WTEagle, several Crested Tits, numerous Tree Pipits and plenty of Spot Flys plus a loose flock of 32 Mistle Thrush! #BirdingScotland 0210
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 24/07/202620 Black throated Diver (groups of 9, 6 and 5) feeding close inshore off of Golspie yesterday evening #BirdingScotland A bonus treat from an overnight camp, en route to Glen Affric. 0141
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 22/07/2026The ingenuity of the Papay fun weekend carties never ceases to amaze... @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingOrkney #PWC2026 1201
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 19/07/2026A very fresh juvenile Common Rosefinch around the school this morning #BirdingOrkney #PWC2026 0642
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 15/07/2026No sign of Bee eater, roosting at Hundland this evening #BirdingScotland An afternoon of nervous tension and borderline despair, followed by pure, utter joy when it reappeared for all assembled 1160
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Bee eater roosted again tonight in Hundland Willows, showing at point blank range. This bird knows no fear! #BirdingOrkney 1210
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Roosting around Hundland this evening #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUk 3633
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Just wait until you see what I got this evening... 160
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Orkneys first Blue cheeked Bee eater, first found by Paul and Jakey around Clestrain whilst out on the quadbike. A nervous wait, but relieved to find it again around around Hundland where still present this evening #BirdingOrkney #RareBirdsUK 921922
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Second Honey Buzzard of the year just gone North through the island. Last watched heading out to sea, bound for @northronbirdobs.bsky.social (or maybe to be poached by @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social) #BirdingScotland 1142
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 05/07/2026A couple of Arctic Skua chicks from this afternoon for #SuperSeabirdSunday Hopefully the first of many, in what looks like it could be a decent year for them, here on Papay #BirdingOrkney 1573
David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Good to confirm the presence of several Blue tailed Damselfly, just above the North Wick this afternoon. The first record for Papay. A vigil over the airfield went exactly as planned, with the departing plane once again flushing the Quail! #PWC2026 0121
