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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

2 Balearic Shearwaters past St Govan's Head in an hour this evening. #birdingWales

Reposted by Toby Phelps

West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

One place has become available on a full day 'autumn migration' tour around the Dale & Marloes peninsula on 19 Sept. A chance to get to grips with common autumn identification challenges including waders, gulls, warblers and pipits. Email for more details. #BirdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A Tree Pipit and a Garden Warbler were the highlights of a short walk around Manorbier before work this morning #patchbirding #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Another good local patch bird - an adult Sabine's Gull in the feeding flocks off Manorbier this evening! #patchbirding #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It was great to spend time with the stunning Baird's Sandpiper on the Dale Airfield yesterday evening! With an Ortolan Bunting over Skrinkle Haven on Sunday morning as well, it's been a good couple of days! #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Pelagic trips off the Pembrokeshire coast - new dates added due to demand! #BirdingWales ** 4th September already sold out **

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Didn't have this on my radar for early August but pleased to find a 2CY Ring-billed Gull with the gathering of gulls at the south end of Tenby South Beach yesterday evening! No sign there this morning but very few gulls present. Hopefully it reappears again this evening. #patchbirding #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

One of 9 Wilson's Storm Petrels in the Celtic Deep off the Pembrokeshire coast today, a new Welsh day record. Magic! #BirdingWales #RareBirdsUK

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Jared Wilson @wilsonjaredm.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

For ID purposes videos can be great for familiarising yourself with seabird flight actions, structure, etc. but it’s a pain tracking down useful clips. I’ve collated video links for various N Atlantic species here #seabirds #seawatching #birding #birdID chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/12/23/s...

chatterstanes.wordpress.com

Seabird Video Footage as a Learning Resource for Seawatchers

During the last few years significant progress has been made in improving our understanding of identification criteria and distribution of previously problematic seabird species. This progress has …

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

It's all yellow this evening! Yellow Wagtail buzzing around Skrinkle and a Clouded Yellow on the coast path. #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

After catching up with the Western Reef Heron in Pembrokeshire on Friday I went back to Sandy Haven today for another look. It showed really well early afternoon! Some interesting insects about too including a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Lesser Emperor and 5 White-letter Hairstreaks! #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Working in North Wales again this week. Very pleased the Western Reef Heron was re-found today. Showing well at RSPB Conwy late afternoon! #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

A little better in terms of diversity on the sea today compared to yesterday. In a couple of hours late morning: 12 Storm Petrel, Great Northern Diver, 4 Med Gulls, 12 Puffin and a Whimbrel past Skrinkle Haven #patchbirding #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Rained off from seawatching early on and the heavy drizzle persisted for most of the morning here. A quick watch after it cleared (11:45-12:45) produced a nice push of Storm Petrels west, 25 in an hour but little else. #patchbirding #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

A single Storm Petrel past Skrinkle Haven this evening + Manxies moving over 5,000/hr #patchbirding #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I've been working on Anglesey this week so made a trip over to South Stack this morning to see the female-type Woodchat Shrike found yesterday. Bird still present on the heath just south of the car park until 8.30am at least #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Skrinkle Haven seawatch this am 06:45 -08:45. 6 Storm Petrel, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 9 Sandwich Tern, 5 Puffin. Plus several groups of Swallows and House Martins coming in off the sea #birdingWales #patchbirding

The view to the west from my seawatching spot.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Another morning seawatching. Good movement of birds including 2 Arctic Skuas (both d/p) - with one passing along the cliffs right overhead! Also 8 Great Northern Divers, 2 RT Divers and a Stormie. Waders moving offshore too: 29 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling and 2 Ringed Plover. #birdingWales #Patchbirding

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Seawatching highlights over the last few days: 2 sum plumage Great Northern Divers + a few Med Gulls and Puffins (y'day) and a Storm Petrel (today). Whimbrel passing most days and 2 Barwits on Saturday. Hopefully a few more bits to come this week! #birdingWales #patchbirding

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

It was nice to catch up with the Dotterel near Martin's Haven this morning. Two (M & F) were present in their favoured ploughed field #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Julian Hughes @penrhynbirder.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Returned from holiday to find the first 2025 Bird Report from a Welsh county completed. 👏 Jon Green in #Pembrokeshire. Great to see it includes maps that draw on @birdtrack.bsky.social and #eBird records, produced by @btobirds.bsky.social. #BirdingWales pembsbirds.blogspot.com/p/the-annual...

The Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2025 featuring a cover photo of a Brown Shrike, a potential first for Wales, at St Davids.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Regular watching the local patch at Manorbier came good this morning when, as I walked down to my seawatch spot, a superb adult Glaucous Gull glided along the cliffs at eye level! In a bit of disbelief I watched it as it followed the coast west and eventually around Old castle Hd. Wow! #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

British Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

This month's Free Access Editorial Team Choice: Canada Warbler in Pembrokeshire! Magnolia Warbler at St Govan’s Head, Pembrokeshire, found by Toby Phelps was then added to with the discovery of Britain’s first Canada Warbler. Read more: 📸 Canada Warbler by Graham Jepson

britishbirds.co.uk

Canada Warbler in Pembrokeshire: new to Britain

September 2023 saw an unprecedented influx of Nearctic landbirds to Britain and Ireland, with an exceptional breadth of American species recorded during a...

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Some nice birds locally and out around Pembs over the last week or so as spring slowly starts going. On the local patch, a Marsh Harrier east over Skrinkle and a Goshawk over Manorbier in the week. Yesterday 2 Velvet Scoter off Telpyn Pt and today a Black Redstart at Martin's Haven! #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Wild Horizons @wildhorizons.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Hedgerows & Willow Tits ~ A thread Carmarthenshire holds more Willow Tits than any other county in Wales (Wotton, S. 2022). Looking at satellite maps of the county, it’s clear to see the potential for these birds, with areas of suitable wooded habitats, interconnected with unmanaged hedgerows.

Satellite image showing a patchwork of hedgerows, with a red circle indicating a 2026 Willow Tit territory.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

It was nice to find a male Green-winged Teal at a flooded Castlemartin Corse y'day morning amongst a good selection of wildfowl. You can just about see what it is from my pic (left), so here's a better pic (right) of the bird currently wintering on the Nevern Estuary in North Pembs! #birdingWales

Male Green-winged Teal at Castlemartin Corse, just about!

I caught up with the Male Green-winged Teal on the Nevern Estuary a few weeks ago - they're smart birds up close!

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Tim Jones @timsbirding.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Yorkshires only Little Tern colony relies on paid wardens to protect them from predators and disturbance, the team have achieved amazing numbers of fledglings in recent years and it would be a great shame if it doesn’t run this year, much appreciated if you can help out with this funding gap 🙏

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Spurn Bird Observatory @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

🧵 An urgent appeal to protect one of the UK’s most important Little Tern colonies at Beacon Ponds in 2026. Without funding for professional wardening, the project may not be able to run this season. ⬇️

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

2 Ad Russian White-fronted Geese still at Castlemartin Corse this morning (at the upper sections below the church). Also a Water Pipit on the flooded fields. #birdingWales

Russian White-fronted Geese (pic from 28th Dec)

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Was good to see the Tundra Bean Geese in the Towy Valley today, at least 15! Also 26 Russian White-fronts upriver of Dryslwyn Castle. Finished the day checking the scoter flocks in Carmarthen Bay. 2 ad drk Surf Scoters off Pendine (or more precisely of Ragwen Point) the highlight! #birdingWales

4 of the Tundra Bean Geese plus a Greylag Goose on the right.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Nice day out across Pembs and Carms today - started with a flock of White-fronted Geese (11) over Dryslwyn Castle early am + 17 Whooper Swan. Purple Sandpipers, Great Northern and Red-throated Divers in Pembs and finished with a ringtail Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harriers at Ginst Point #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Mark Lewis @fatpaulscholes.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so how about something for free? The @scottishbirding.bsky.social and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

1 of 7 Purple Sandpipers on Tenby lifeboat station at high tide this morning. #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Ring Ouzel feasting on hawthorn berries by Manorbier beach this afternoon. At least 1 Firecrest around too. Also a Yellow-browed Warbler heard calling (unfortunately not seen) on Thursday and good movement of finches most mornings! Lots to look at at the moment! #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

A Black Tern flew west past Old Castle Hd, Manorbier at lunchtime today. Otherwise very little moving in misty conditions #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

2 Balearic Shearwaters west past St Govan's Head in an hr this evening #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Enjoyable day seawatching at St Govan's Hd yesterday. Sabine's Gull 4 (2 Ad, 2 Juv) Cory's Shearwater 1 Balearic Shearwater 1 Sooty Shearwater 4 Grey Phalarope 2 Plus a big push of 'Commic' Terns (c700) early morning and a flock of 29 Pale-bellied Brent Geese west! #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Manx shearwaters streaming past St Govan's Hd this evening. Estimated over 11,000/hr between 5.30-6.30pm. Awesome! 8 Puffin and 2 Sanderling past too. #birdingWales

No pics of the birds so here is a Green-winged Orchid. One of several on the clifftop near my seawatching spot.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

This superb breeding plumage Grey Plover spent 4 days at Tenby south beach. No sign of it this evening so I assume it has continued on its northward migration #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Dunlin and on Tenby South Beach this evening. Other bits and bobs in recent days include several Whimbrel, a Tree Pipit (at Skrinkle on Fri) and a few singing Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Welsh Ornithological Society @birdsinwales.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

The Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2024 is now available to download below. Vital and huge work from Pembrokeshire Bird Group 🙌 Mae Adroddiad Adar Sir Benfro ar gael i’w lawrlwytho isod. Gwaith gwych ac allweddol gan Grŵp Adarydda Sir Benfro 🙌 Diolch 🙏 drive.google.com/file/d/1Q0VS...

drive.google.com

Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2024.pdf

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Yesterday morning there was an impressive feeding raft of Manx Shearwaters off Presipe beach. Maybe about 300+! A little flurry of migrants in the bushes at Skrinkle including my first Grasshopper Warbler and Common Whitethroat of the year #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

The colour-ringed Wheatear I recorded at Manorbier on the 24th March was ringed on Lundy as a one-year old breeding male in May 2023. He was also seen in the same territory last year. Let's hope he's made it back there this year! #birdingWales

A male Wheatear with colour rings on its legs recorded at Manorbier in March 2025. This bird was ringed on Lundy Island in 2023 and was recorded there again in 2024.

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Julian Hughes @penrhynbirder.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

How many people contribute records to county and local bird reports in Wales? How much data do those county recorders manage and through which channels? How wide is the coverage? More detail in Alt Text. Number-wrangling while I'm writing the @birdsinwales.bsky.social 2024 report. #BirdingWales

Slide shows the number of bird records (not including those from structured surveys) contributed by birdwatchers in Wales to the national record through a variety of channels in 2024. Of 637,636 records, 67% were collected through BirdTrack, 27% through eBird, 4% directly to county bird recorders, 2% through the four Local Environmental Records Centres and the LERC Wales mobile app, and <1% through iRecord (figures are rounded). It is estimated that around 4000 people contributed records, making counts equivalent to 5.6 million birds. A map - produced by the British Trust for Ornithology - shows all the locations in Wales from which BirdTrack and eBird records were submitted. There was almost complete coverage around the coast and in the main river valleys but far fewer in the uplands of mid, west and north Wales. In total, records came from 277 of the 282 (96%) 10-km squares. The two main recording apps provided 26,089 complete lists which is the most useful way of providing records, during 49,573 hours of recording effort. Massive thanks to everyone who contributes, even bigger thanks to county recorders who manage all this data. My thanks to Simon Gillings at BTO, Sarah Woodcock at BIS on behalf of LERC Wales and all the county recorders who provided estimates.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

My 4th Black Redstart of the spring, a female-type, on the road to RAF Manorbier this morning. Later seen on the coast path near Presipe. Also a female Wheatear and a few extra Chiffchaffs about. #BirdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Wheatears! 7 this morning behind the RAF Manorbier range (2 females, 5 males). One of which was colour ringed! Any help tracking down the project would be gratefully appreciated. Lundy maybe? Also 2 Black Redstarts, a female-type and a new(?) adult male. #birdingWales

Male Wheatear with colour-rings. On its left leg there are two rings, white over blue and on its right legthere is a metal ring above a yellow ring with a black line through the middle.

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

A few more common migrants appeared in the strong northerlies this morning, incl. a nice hirundine flock at Tenby Marsh with 2 House Martin, 6 Swallow and 11 Sand Martin. A Willow Warbler there too. Red-throated Diver off Tenby South Beach and the Hoopoe still at Kiln Park. #birdingWales

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

A smart but mobile male Black Redstart above Presipe beach, Manorbier the highlight today. Yesterday a couple of White Wagtails and a Firecrest. Still waiting for that first Wheatear though! #birdingWales

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Reposted by Toby Phelps

Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Special Issue of #BirdStudy is now published: The impacts of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on birds: part 1 10 papers (5 #OpenAccess) plus Editorial on the impacts of #birdflu #HPAI outbreak in Europe, Canada, Antarctica: www.tandfonline.com/toc/tbis20/7... #ornithology #ukbirding #seabirds

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Toby Phelps @phelpstoby.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Hoopoe still present at 07.45 this morning at Kiln Park, Tenby, near the railway bridge. #birdingWales

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