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pauldoherty.bsky.social

@pauldoherty.bsky.social
80 followers 98 following 28 posts
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Last day at Batumi and the raptors performed again. No time to sort photos, but here's a couple of juvenile Honey Buzzards - a typical dark bird and a less typical one. Got to love the plumage variation in this species. #@batumiraptorcount.org
Juvenile Honey Buzzard - dark birds are frequent.Juvenile Honey Buzzard - a less common plumage variation.
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Mount Elbrus with birds arriving. 35k Black Kites today. Two days left of my visit and predicted sunny, so probably quietish. @batumiraptorcount.org
Mount Elbrus, highest peak in Europe at 5642 metres, with birds (mainly Black Kites) on their wayBeautiful pale juvenile Honey BuzzardBlack Stork
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
A very wet morning at Batumi, but as soon as the rain stopped the birds came. Plenty of raptors including the first RF Falcon of the season, also a flock of 374 White Storks and over 5000 Bee-eaters flew south today. @batumiraptorcount.org
Red-footed FalconJuvenile Honey BuzzardBooted EagleSparrowhawk
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Sunny, but not too many birds at Batumi today. Montagu's Harriers are fabulous birds. Adult males float past and the juveniles immaculate with their rufous underparts and pale fringes to the upperparts feathers. @batumiraptorcount.org
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Thunderstorms from early morning to midday, but Batumi still supplied some great birds @batumiraptorcount.org
Booted Eagle dark morphGolden OrioleMontagu's HarrierBee-eater with dragonfly prey, probably a Lesser Emperor
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Even a "quiet" day at Batumi gives you over 10k Honey Buzzards and some great views of them. @batumiraptorcount.org
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Half a million raptors through Batumi already and lots more still to come. Terek Sandpiper still at the Chirokhi delta @batumiraptorcount.org
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Another great day at Batumi. Broad-billed, Terek & Curlew Sandpipers at the Chorokhi delta. 86k Honey Buzzards at the raptor watchpoints. @batumiraptorcount.org
Broad-billed SandpiperBroad-billed SandpiperAdult male Honey BuzzardAdult male Honey Buzzard with shotgun damage to one wing
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Chorokhi delta this morning had Terek, Broad-billed and Marsh Sandpipers, plus Temmincks Stint. Flock of 44 Gull-billed Terns went straight through. Afternoon at Sakhakvasho included this bird which wasn't 100% convincing as a pure Oriental Honey Buzzard, so perhaps a hybrid. @batumiraptorcount.org
White-winged Black Tern
Oriental Honey Buzzard or hybrid
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Less than half yesterdays numbers, so only (!!!) 29k Honey Buzzards at Batumi Raptor Count at Sakhalvasho and not so many close birds. But still lots of interest #raptors #migration
GoshawkLevant Sparrowhawk Booted Eagle
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Fantastic first day at Batumi. 62k Honey Buzzards. No time to sort photos, here's a few random ones. @batumiraptorcount.org
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Lower Wharfe between Kirkby Wharfe and Cawood Whooper Swan 1 PF Goose 110 Greylag 672 Mallard 140 Teal 712 Wigeon 325 Pintail 81 Shoveler 30 Gadwall 4 Goosander 16 Lapwing 205 Snipe 16 Skylark 27 Stock Dove 145 Stonechat 1 Willow Tit 1 Redpoll 4
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Lower Wharfe between Kirkby Wharfe and Cawood Whooper Swan 10 PF Goose 19 N Shelduck 1 Wigeon 69 Teal 121 Shoveler 11 Pintail 9 Goosander 6 Lapwing 94 Golden Plover 500+ Curlew 1 Dunlin 2 Stock Dove 170 Woodpigeon 1270 S, 140 N Fieldfare 400 Brambling 1 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Lower Wharfe between Ulleskelf and Cawood Whooper Swan 1 juv PF Goose 33 flew NE Teal 84 Wigeon 139 Shoveler 18 Pintail 10 Gadwall 4 Grey Heron 9 Little Grebe 2 BH Gull 480 Med Gull 1 first-winter Curlew 1 Lapwing 194 Stock Dove 70 Grey Wagtail 1 Linnet 200 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Lower Wharfe between Ulleskelf and Ryther PF Goose 14 Whooper Swan 18 South Goosander 9 Sparrowhawk 1 Marsh Harrier 1 S juvenile Red Kite 5 Buzzard 4 Kestrel 1 Snipe 4 Woodpigeon 1500 Skylark 24 S Fieldfare 239 S Redwing 156 S Starling 110 S Redpoll 11 S @yorkbirding.bsky.social
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
@yorkbirding.bsky.social Lower Wharfe between Kirkby Wharfe and Cawood Whooper Swan 2 PF Goose 42 flew S Greylag 306 Teal 12 Mallard 99 Goosander 6 Gt White Egret 1 Lapwing 20 Golden Plover 1 Snipe 2 Ruff 1 Peregrine 1 Stock Dove 140 Kingfisher 1 GS Woodpecker 2
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Little Gull, Greenshank and Ruff by the Lower Wharfe, so the winds have produced something. #YorkBirding
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
1027 PF Geese, 8 Whoopers SE over the Lower Wharfe between Leeds and York #YorkBirding
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Sorry to hear of the death of Barry Banson. I was 14 when I met him at Spurn Bird Observatory in 1970 and he labelled myself and two friends "the three morons". Despite that caustic label he actually did a lot to encourage us as young birdwatchers. RIP
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Swallow N over Bolton Percy Ings between Leeds and York #YorkBirding
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
Five of us covered the Lower Wharfe from Kirkby Wharfe to Ozendyke in the non-motorised Yorkshire Bird Race. We had 66 species, down from last year’s 74, despite an identical route. No unusual birds, but an Otter gave good views. All funds raised go to Spurn Bird Observatory - gofund.me/3347fb7c
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Lower Wharfe between Kirkby Wharfe and Cawood. Good wildfowl numbers, but flooding receding fast. Wigeon 480 Teal 350 Pintail 135 Shoveler 97 Mallard 159 Goosander 34 Grey Heron 7 Little Egret 4 Little Grebe 1 Lapwing 90 Snipe 1 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
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pauldoherty.bsky.social @pauldoherty.bsky.social · 02/10/2024
9 Gannets NW over the Lower Wharfe between Leeds and York. Also 2 Whooper Swans, my first of the autumn.
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