Sign in

Sam O'Donnell

@samodonnell25.bsky.social
431 followers 277 following 175 posts

18/Patch Birder and Wildlife Photographer/Martin Garner Spurn Young birder of the year winner 2024/UK Life list 269 (Grey Phalarope)

PostsRepliesMedia
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Had a brilliant trip to the French Alps last week. 5 lifers being Lammergeier, Common Rock Thrush, Alpine Chough, Alpine Accentor, and Rock Bunting. Plus, lots of stuff that I don't often see in the UK such as Alpine Swift, Crested Tit, Honey Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Water Pipit and stunning scenery!
0191
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
It's definitely summer on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands with few birds moving, though it is nice enjoying our breeding birds. Best from recently includes 2 Redshank, Curlew Oystercatcher, LRP, 2 Coal Tit (very scarce here), Garden Warblers, Lesser Emperors, RV Darters, Scarce Chaser, Norfolk Hawkers
0161
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
On Tuesday, I went to @rspbminsmere.bsky.social with @david-walsh.bsky.social. Had amazing views of the Roseate Terns and of a Tawny Owl! Also 2 Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Bittern, Stone Curlew, Woodlark, Norfolk Hawker, Variable Damselfly and more!
0291
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Patch birding has been pretty slow (and mostly quiet) for the whole spring at Walthamstow Wetlands. Here are some highlights in the month or so since I last posted: 2 Black Tern, Ringed Plover, 2 Cattle Egret, LRP, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Garden Warbler, Goldeneye (!), and Med Gulls. #ukbirding
I found these Cattle Egrets yesterday. Super happy to finally see some here as they are a Patch tick and they have been a proper bogey bird for me here!
0181
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Last weekend was by far the best weekend of the spring on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands so far! The best was this Slavonian Grebe. A patch tick for and it completes the grebe set for me here! Whimbrel, WFG, Whinchat YLG Gull, Swifts, LRP, Rook, Willow Warbler, all 3 Hirundines, Common Tern etc
1210
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
A very fun and successful weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands, Marshes and Waterworks NR. Bittern (my 2nd here), White-fronted Goose, Marsh Harrier, 3 Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, Rock Pipit, 6 Sand Martin (my earliest ever), Scaup, 3 Goldeneye, Siskins and Common Sandpiper!
0261
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Nice to be back in Pembrokeshire last week. Mainly spending time around the Nevern Estuary. Dipped the Ring-billed Gull twice at Goodwick but a very smart (but distant) Black Guillemot made up for it. My first for 3 years! Plus a YLG. At least 2 Dippers showed very well along the Nevern as well!
0210
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Nice to finally catch up with the 1st winter White-fronted Goose on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning. Missed it twice, so third time lucky! Please excuse the poor record shots.
0180
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Nice to see 2 Firecrest, the Scaup, 4 Goldeneyes, Skylark, Raven, 6 Snipe, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit and more on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands during the weekend!
0320
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Good to see this 1st winter female Scaup on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands after college today. It was sleeping most of the time, but it's my first here for 3 years!
0210
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Nice to finally find a more interesting bird than just the regulars on Patch today at Walthamstow Wetlands, a Great Northern Diver! Only my 2nd here. Please excuse the poor photos, the light was really poor (just like Arsenal 🙄). It seemed to be just flying around for the hell of it 😅.
0212
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Bittern, 80+ Snow Buntings and the Temminck's Stint were among the highlights on a recent trip to the Suffolk Coast with @david-walsh.bsky.social @noahbai-123.bsky.social @tsbirding.bsky.social @lucasnature.bsky.social and others!
1413
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
2025 has been an absolutely incredible year on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands and Marshes. My personal total for the year was 138, beating last year's total by 6 and seeing 12 Patch ticks including RN Grebe, Bewick's Swans, WG Geese, Bittern, Gropper, Osprey, and Water Pipit!
Some of the best birds from this yearBewick's Swans Ruff35 Bar-tailed Godwits. A crazy April day for them passing over when c55 were seen.
1250
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Pleased to finally get in on the Geese action yesterday with these 2 White-fronted Geese! A much anticipated Patch tick. Also Great White Egret, Common Sandpiper, Wigeons, Goldeneye, Stonechats and ridiculous views of Peregrines the best of the rest from recently.
0130
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Mega happy to find these 2 Bewick's Swans on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning! A very rare bird here and a Patch tick. Also found a Little Gull, 2 Ravens, good numbers of Lapwings. Saw a roosting Woodcock earlier in the week plus Wigeon, Buzzard, and more! A nice early Xmas present!
0401
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Absolutely over the moon to win the urban animals category at the @rspcaoffficial.bsky.social Young Photographer awards yesterday with this image of a Sand Martin taken at Walthamstow Wetlands! I also got my photo featured in The Times, which is pretty cool!
0170
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Great to be out on Patch again at Walthamstow Wetlands today in glorious weather. I was certainly caught by surprise when I was looking through a Chiffchaff flock, and then this Common Whitethroat popped up! #ukbirding #patchbirding
0553
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
At the 2nd attempt, I was very pleased to see the long staying Grey Phalarope at KGV yesterday, a lifer for me! Showed amazingly the whole time I was there. Also, Black-necked Grebe, 6 Goosander, Goldeneyes, 10 Wigeon, Red Kite and a Buzzard. #ukbirding
0290
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Had some great views of this Yellow-browed Warbler on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday for a few mins. Only my 3rd ever and all of them have been here! So nice to see that lovely bright supercilium and hear the call again! #ukbirding #patchbirding
1363
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
A long and anxious wait to finish my lessons at college today paid off as I managed to see this Bittern on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. A Patch tick and the first here since 2012! Also a Yellow-browed Warbler seen this morning, though no sign later on. Hopefully tomorrow 🤞
Spot the Bittern!No.1 Reebed in the background where the Bittern was
0120
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Yesterday's Brent Goose passage on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands was a bit insane! I had 114 out of a combined total of c200 all going high South! Also, 34 Lapwing and my first Goosander of the year here. #ukbirding
1191
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Since my last post 10 days ago, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been relatively quiet. Firecrest trapped and ringed on the 22nd was nice to see. A Marsh Harrier today was my 2nd ever here! Also 2 Ravens, YLG, Rock Pipit, Brambling, Redpolls, Siskins, Skylarks and more!
0110
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Bit of a crazy few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Found this Water Pipit, a Patch tick! My first Great Egret, 2 Brambling and 6 Pintails of the year here! Also Rock Pipits, Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Wigeon, Siskin, Redpoll, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Fieldfares, and more! #ukbirding
0251
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Great day on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands and Waterworks NR. Med Gull, Rock Pipit, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 5 Jack Snipes, Common Snipe, 10 Redpolls, Siskins, Raven, Skylark, YLG, 4 Wigeon, 80 Redwings and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding
0200
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Another decent weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Raven, Garganey, YLG, Caspian Gull, 2 Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipits, 3 Wigeons, Snipes, my first Redwings of the autumn, Stonechats and more. Nice to help out doing WeBS as well! #patchbirding #ukbirding
0110
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Good to see 3 Rock Pipits this weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. My first here this year. Also, ringed Plover, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtails, Siskins, Swallows, Sand and House Martins, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stonechats, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpipers and more! #ukbirding
0110
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
2 Green Sandpipers were nice to see on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands over the weekend, a species that I don't often see here. Also, decent movement of Meadow Pipits and Hirundines as well as a few Siskins and a Snipe.
0210
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
A few more of the very smart juvenile Red-necked Phalarope while at Migfest! @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
0301
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Migfest 2025 was really fun! Red-necked Phalarope (lifer!), Cranes, Curlew Sandpipers, Garganey, Pink feet, Osprey, Arctic Skua, Tree Pipit, Redstarts, Crossbill and 000s of Meadow Pipit the highlights! Was fantastic to have such amazing company as well! Sorry don't have enough space to tag people.
1352
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
Been a very good weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. 2 Patch ticks being Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Ravens! Both extremely rare birds here! Also, Caspian and YL Gull, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Curlews, Hobby, 6+ Spotted Flycatchers, first Meadow Pipits of the autumn and more! #ukbirding
0130
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
On Saturday, I headed to Rainham Marshes with Ben Rumsby, @ravigrewal.bsky.social, Daniel Brasier, and Fred Matthews. Was brilliant to see a Roseate Tern on the river (credit to Fred for picking it up)! Very distant but a great bird! Also 4 Wood Sands, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Barn Owl etc
Typical views of the Roseate Tern. Decent enough scope views to clinch IDBrown HairstreakWood Sandpiper Whinchat
0201
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Since I've got back from Pembs, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been quite good. Ruff (my 2nd ever here and a patch rarity), Greenshank, Blackwit, Black Tern, 1st summer Arctic Tern, Wheatear, Garganey, Spot fly, both Caspian and YLG, Hobby, Yellow Wags and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding
0270
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
A nice final walk around the Nevern Estuary this morning. Found this Wood Warbler, which was quite a surprise! Also the German ringed juvenile female Osprey still showing well, Blackwit, 10 Ringo, 30 Dunlins, Kingfisher, Red Kite 3 Med Gulls, Willow Warbler and more! #ukbirding
0141
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Found this Lesser Emperor a couple days ago on Dinas Head. Must have been newly arrived as it was on the headland with no bodies of water apart from the sea around. Pretty rare here I think! Yesterday, I finally saw my first Euro Storm Petrels along with good views of Conmon Dolphins! #ukbirding
170
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
First 2 days in Pembs have been great! Lots of good birds at the Nevern Estuary. Little Stint, German ringed Osprey, Yellow Wagtails, Knot, Arctic and Sandwich Terns, both Godwits, and more! I finally saw my first ever Willow Tits in the UK as well after dipping multiple times! #ukbirding
0140
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
The last few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands have been ok though a little dull at times but today was great! This juv Little Stint made me rush out again after I had just arrived home! Also so far this week, Curlew, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Hobby, Little Owl, Ringo, YLG. #ukbirding
0220
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
On the way back home from a nice week in the North York Moors and the surrounding area. 92 species seen including Cory's Shearwater, Barn Owls from the garden, Redstart, Tree Pipits, Red Grouse, Auks, Waders, Yellow Wagtails, Marsh Harrier, and more! Also a few nice inverts. #ukbirding
2360
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
It's been a good start to a week away in the North York Moors. Took a trip to Bempton and Flamborough for the first time and found a Cory's Shearwater, a UK lifer! Also seen over the last few days, SPB Fritillary, Barn Owls, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Spot flys and Marsh Harrier! #ukbirding
Terrible record shot of the distant Cory's Shearwater
0110
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Was nice to see this juvenile Dunlin yesterday on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. It was incredibly tame, so it's possible it may have never seen people before! Also Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroats, Hobby, Peregrine, Red Kite, and a Swallow today. #ukbirding
0260
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
Came back from an amazing 2 weeks at Knepp with @opwall.bsky.social. I learnt and saw so much plus met some great people! Highlights were Storks, Nightingales, Turtle Doves, Crossbills, Brown Hairstreaks, White-legged Damselflies and more! Full list can be found here: ebird.org/tripreport/399…
1110
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
Another decent day on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Finally, Patch ticked Coal Tit which are pretty scarce here! Also, the Garganey reappeared, another Whimbrel, 29+ (!) Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtail and more! #ukbirding
0250
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
The torrential rain today didn't produce anything on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning but yesterday was pretty good. 2 Whimbrels and this Silver-washed Fritillary! The Frit was my first here and the first I've ever heard of here since I've started patching the site! #ukbirding
1221
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Great to find this Garganey on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning. Only my 2nd here and my first since 2022! Also finally saw my first Dunlin of the year here, Common Sandpipers, Common Gull, Lesser Emperor, 3 Red Kites, Lesser Whitethroat, and more! #ukbirding
1110
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
Nice to see my first 10 Lesser Emperors of the year yesterday on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands! Also Small Red eye, Lesser Whitethroat, probable 1st-summer Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, and more.
0100
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Good day out at @rspbminsmere.bsky.social yesterday with @david-walsh.bsky.social. Little, Arctic, and hundreds of Sandwich Terns were nice to see! Also White Admirals, SW Fritillaries, Purple Hairstreaks, Waders, Bittern, Bearded Tit, and more!
Silver-washed Fritillary White Admiral Little Tern Arctic Tern
0111
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
A male Red-veined Darter and a Norfolk Hawker from a quick visit to Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday! Tried to find some Lesser Emperors but no luck though conditions were suboptimal.
0161
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
Came back from my Gold Dofe expedition in the Cairngorms yesterday. Managed to see a Crested Tit which was a UK lifer for me! Also, Osprey, a pair of Black-throated Divers, Crossbills, Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Snow Buntings, Dippers, and more!
0231
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
It was a good weekend for insects on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Found another Red-veined Darter, this time an adult male! Also had my first ever Scarce Chasers here, Norfolk Hawkers, Common Darters, Marbled Whites, and lots of other nice butterflies!
150
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Since I've been back from the Camargue, I have been, of course, making regular visits to Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands but generally not seeing much. Cuckoo, Hobby, Great Black-backed Gull with chicks, lots of fledged passerines, Norfolk Hawker and Broad-Bodied Chasers.
060
Sam O'Donnell @samodonnell25.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Some more bits and bobs from the Camargue. So lovely to wake up to Redstart, Nightingales, Cirl Buntings, Sardinian Warbler, Woodlarks, Serin and so much more singing each morning!
Copper Demoiselle Copper Demoiselle
060