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Simon

@simonwood42.bsky.social
108 followers 80 following 75 posts

EBwS President. ID Panel member and author Birds of Essex. Essex Lepidoptera ID Panel - fascinated by anything that flies, crawls, hops, runs, wiggles, swims….

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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Rather pleased to find a European Paper Wasp at the southern end of Heybridge Gravel Pit, Maldon, Essex VC19 this morning.
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Maldon, Essex to Mundon Sluice this am - Osprey flew west, a Wheatear (difficult to see locally these days) and c40 Yellow Wag still hanging about. Also single Green and Common Sandpiper and largest numbers of Common Blue I’ve seen locally for years. And Firebugs apparently feeding on (Sea) Beet???
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Heybridge GP, Maldon, Essex - August 2026 highlights so far - Little Stint on 7th to 9th and juvenile Little Gull today. Supporting cast including Ruff, LRP, Whinchat #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Abberton today with Carla produced distant views of the Bonaparte’s Gull early pm. Later, at Layer Breton causeway, the Bonaparte’s dropped in, in front of us, before quickly heading off high west. Also 2 Arctic Tern & 20+ Yellow Wagtail @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #birds #essexbirds #ukbirds
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Andy Field @merseabirder.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Thanks to whoever reported the Gargany pair on the pond at Cudmore Grove CP this morning. Last record here was April 2022. ##Essexbirding #UKbirding
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Great to find this 2CY Little Gull today at Heybridge Pit, Maldon - arrived in classic weather conditions- clearing fog and a very light SE breeze #birds #essexbirds #ukbirds #Maldon
Great size comparison with one of the local Black-headed Gull (right)
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
This Common Lizard was found sunning itself out on saltmarsh at Mundon Essex on 2nd March. To reach where it was (an area submerged at high tide) it had to move perhaps 2m across sticky mud and vegetation - not something I’d immediately think a lizard would do in the UK. @arc-trust.bsky.social
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
A quiet week on the #Maldon patch with a Goosander at Chigborough on Monday the best I could manage…smartly coloured Common Buzzard over Heybridge Pit on 2nd and a single Corn Bunting, Southey Creek the same day. Butterflies & other insects appeared on the warmer days #birds #essexbirds
A fairly pale, Common Buzzard over Heybridge Pit, with overall a quite distinctive appearance Corn Bunting - seemed to be scarce this winter, or I’m looking in the wrong places! Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Brimstone all seen this week with healthy numbers of the latter. A couple of Small Tortoiseshell is almost as many as seen all last year locally. Green Shield Bug - turning green for the summer…
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Last #IronworksMeadow Maldon, work party until autumn today under misty, leaden skies but blossom everywhere and a few flowers emerging and much bird song. Plenty done thanks to c20 volunteers - mere clearance, bramble & blackthorn removal, litter picking, construction of sow-thistle enclosure etc.
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Tony Kennelly @tonykennelly508.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social @birdtrack.bsky.social Essex Wildlife trust (very misty) Abberton Reservoir: 3 spoonbill, red kite, j sparrowhawk & f smew - LBC; m smew - LdlHC; returning m Canvasback & m ring-necked duck (both in same pochard flock) - Billets farm; singing chiffchaffs in all locations.
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Andy Field @merseabirder.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Red-necked Grebe for 2nd day off Kingsland Rd, West Mersea then an adult Spoonbill on Ray Island care of Dougal Urquhart. Also first singing Chiffchaff of the year and 40+ Fieldfares #Essexbirding ##UKbirding
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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
That was a great morning at Abberton church watching the White tailed Eagle. Always distant but nice to see it hunting (unsuccessfully) for Coot and it even caught a Herring gull which somehow got away. Last seen flying N around midday #essexbirding
Red kite and WTE Red kite and WTEThe WTE With the EWT visitors centre and pumping stationWTE with Herring gull, which was taken to the bank. The gull managed to get away although it didn’t look great and probably would succumb to its injuries.
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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
The Abberton WTE from this morning unsuccessfully hunting a Herring gull, it caught it twice but it still got away #essexbirding
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Incredible show of Red Dead Nettle at Hazeleigh Wood on 24th February had Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Honeybee and at least one Hairy-footed Flower Bee feeding on it. Several rosettes of Lizard orchid on the Heybridge sea wall. #bee @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Lizard Orchid rosetteRed Dead Nettles
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Moths! The home trap in my Heybridge garden produced 11 species on 24th whilst some 1,500+ moths in the Hazeleigh Wood traps (mostly Small Quaker) on 25th represented 27 species. Brimstone butterfly seen on 25th in Maldon #moths #ukmoths #butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Agonopterix purpurea - noticed in one of the outbuildings in Hazeleigh Wood. Only the third site record. Pine Beauty from the garden - a smart moth and fairly early Dotted Chestnut from Hazeleigh Wood - a handful are caught every year.Small Brindled Beauty from Hazeleigh Wood
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Still Black Brant and Light-bellied Brent on the Maldon patch, off Heybridge Pit this week. A male Goldeneye dropped as well as couple of Red-breasted Mergies with three Mediterranean Gull by the end of the week. #essexbirding #birding #ukbirds @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Black Brant Pintail are slowly moving west along the Blackwater - Millbeach used to be the furthest west they were found - a few can now be seen off the Prom. Make GoldeneyeLight-bellied Brent - much rarer than Black Brant around Maldon
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Great morning at Abberton Res with @esbr-essex.bsky.social Highlights inc 2 SMEW, 25+ WF GEESE, 2 GT EGRET, BN GREBE & stunning male MERLIN having a bath! Good to bump into @tonykennelly508.bsky.social #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
This cracking BLACK-NECKED GREBE was close to the causeway at Abberton Reservoir this morning #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
I headed into central Essex yday for my annual search for LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS and was thrilled to find a pair! Very mobile in the trees but managed to grab this shot. #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Heybridge GP, Maldon over the last week has been more of the same: Black Brant on three visits with the Pale-bellied Brent twice, a Goosander on 19th, 18 Pintail on 20th, and up to 20 Barwit. Moth trap - 6 species last night. #essexbirding #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Black Brant Pale-bellied Brent Grey Shoulder-knot in the trap last night along with Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, March Moth, Agonopterix alstromeriana and Tortricodes alternella Little Egret - still only a very few around but expect that with the milder weather numbers will start to increase.
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Fantastic day guiding on the Suffolk coast last weekend. Lots to see inc this stunning FIRECREST plus a supporting cast of XBILL, DARTFORD W, WOODLARK, WATER PIPIT, WHOOPER SWAN, BEARDED TIT, WATER RAIL + more. #suffolkbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Common Firecrest
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
DARTFORD WARBLER, GREATER SCAUP, CROSSBILL & WATER PIPIT from our guided day trip to the Suffolk coast last weekend. #suffolkbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social
Dartford WarblerGreater ScaupMale CrossbillWater Pipit
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Final 2 farms surveyed in N Essex for the @gwct.org.uk BIG FARMLAND BIRD COUNT. Huge no's of FIELDFARE + YHAMMERS, singing NUTHATCHES, TREECREEPERS, RED KITES, SISKIN #birdsseenin2026 #essexbirding #birding #farmlandbirds #ukbirds #bfbc26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social
FieldfareRedwingRed KiteCommon Reed Bunting
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Tony Kennelly @tonykennelly508.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social @birdtrack.bsky.social #Maldon wick & fields south of limebrook way: 10 song thrushes singing, 12 yellowhammers, 10 corn buntings, 3 kestrels, 1 red kite, 15 fieldfares, 12 stock doves, 100+ black-headed & 30+ common gulls, c20 skylarks, cetti's warbler & 18 fallow deer
Some of the 18 Fallow deer grazing in the fields north of hazeleigh wood (back of camera photo)mummy.. Fallow deer by hazeleigh wood (back of camera photo)
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Tony Kennelly @tonykennelly508.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social @birdtrack.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk Blake's Wood, Little Baddow: song thrushes, siskins, Nuthatch & treecreeper & goldcrest. Green, great spotted & lesser spotted woodpeckers present, seen about 200m north of the carpark & several calls heard but no drumming.
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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Up in Suffolk and Just had these 2 Common Cranes interrupt my breakfast. They flew East over Wenhaston appearing to drop towards Blythburgh at 07:05 this morning @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #Ukbirding
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Enjoyed a few hours at Abberton Reservoir last week and still lots to see incl 20+ WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 2 SMEW, 7 MEDITERRANEAN GULLS, SCAUP, GT EGRETS & a MARSH HARRIER that specialises in hunting TEAL! #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Greater ScaupMediterranean Gull plus Common & Black-headed GullsWestern Marsh Harrier hunting Eurasian Teal!Great Cormorants
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Surveyed two farms last week as part of the @gwct.org.uk BIG FARMLAND BIRD COUNT. Great numbers and variety to be seen incl YELLOWHAMMERS, REED BUNTINGS, FIELDFARES LINNETS etc plus MARSH HARRIER, STONECHAT & GREAT EGRET! #essexbirding #birding #farmlandbirds #ukbirds #bfbc26
Common Reed BuntingEuropean StonechatFieldfaresWestern Marsh Harrier
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Paul Baker @bakerboybirding.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
1 of 2 Barn Owl came out again during the brief lull in the rain this evening. Phonescoped from indoors. #EssexBirding
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Paul Baker @bakerboybirding.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
2 of 2 Espied 4 White-fronted Geese on Blue House Farm this evening from my house. No sign of 'my' Short-eared Owl this evening in poor weather but...friend and birder Matt got this cracking photo of it yesterday evening with the Brent in the background - just so evocative 😍 #EssexBirding
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Coopbirder @coopbirder.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
/02/26- A good day out with @SwallowBirding.bsky.social in Suffolk. Excellent views of species that included, Woodlark, Dartford Warbler, Red Crossbill, Common Firecrest, Marsh Tit, Bearded Reedling, Water Pipit, Caspian Gull & Greater Scaup + Western Marsh Harriers, were sky dancing.
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Andy Goodey @andygoodey.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
The 4 Shore Lark showed well in a rare day’s sun at Kessingland, Suffolk on Saturday @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #birds
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Adrian Kettle @akettle.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Nice cold and calm day here on Yell. The sea had frozen and the tide gone out to leave some nice patterns. Bullfinch was new for the year along our road and with Ravens gathering nest material last week and Hoodies defending their empty nests, spring must be close, joke! 😂 #birdingshetland
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Atrocious weather for penultimate work party at Ironworks Meadow, Heybridge this morning with rain and sleet and a cold SE. 13 tough souls carried on regardless and removed scrub from reedbed, nest box maintenance, bramble removal and litter picking. A Kingfisher was heard.
A glorious sunny day, it was not…Scrub clearance in the reed bed Scrub clearance in the reed bedAnti deer fencing around the Marsh Sow-thistle
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Matt Turner @esbr-essex.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Really pleased to connect with Bullfinch and Marsh Tit in Essex today - always find them tricky to get in the county each year. Bonus male Hen Harrier on the way home was nice...😃 #essexbirding
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Andy Field @merseabirder.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
#Essexbirding
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
A few photos from around the Maldon patch this week. #Mundon #ironworksmeadow
Rainbow over Ironworks Meadow NRMundon St Mary’s Old Church with one of the remaining ancient oaks nearbySometimes known as the ‘Petrified Forest’ this is actually a stand of ancient oaks that have died off in recent decades - there were trees present here back in 12th century or so. These are said have been killed off by saltwater following sea water inundation but given they are at one of the higher points in the immediate area (6-7m), I cannot see that this is the cause although what is the reason(s), I do not know. At least one is still alive and putting out growth - perhaps some acorns should be collected? Flowering Cherry doing what the name suggest - flowering!
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Maldon patch highlights this week: a Short-eared Owl & 2 Barnacle Geese @ Heybridge Pit on 10th, first moths of 2026 on 10th, 15 Corn Bunting @ Mundon on 12th. Pair of displaying Marsh Harrier yesterday. #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #birds #birding #moths @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Great Black-backed Gull with an eel - Heybridge GPAn award winning shot of the Short-eared Owl at Heybridge Pit on 10th - headed towards Northey Island. Oak Beauty (left) and Common Quaker, the first moths in the garden trap this year. One of a pair of Stock Dove at Mundon on 12th
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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
We have now got 8 Redpolls coming to our Colchester garden. Here they are still feeding on Stinging Nettle seeds. #essexbirding
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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Our Redpoll count has gone up to 3 now in our Colchester garden. With the addition of a female today. Here she was pecking around the buds of our Elder tree. Also the males were feeding on Stinging Nettle seeds that I hadn’t cut back yet. #essexbirding
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Adrian Kettle @akettle.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Weather back to normal today, although wind was calmer than the last 3 weeks! A 3rd w/4th cy Glaucous Gull and a flock of 9 wintering Jackdaws in Burravoe, Yell. Tried to get a photo of the Coot but it had done a bunk! 2 of the 34 TD’s showed some signs of Ring necked Duck. #birdingshetland
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Simon @simonwood42.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
A wet week on the Maldon patch, - Barnacle Goose (4th), Black Brant (7th - bird seen here previously)and a male Blackcap in the garden the highlights. Also plenty of Kingfisher activity in the rain. #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Three Branta in a row, not quite the perfect shot - Canada, Dark-bellied Brent and Barnacle Goose showing the marked size difference…Male Blackcap feeding on apples in gardenKingfisher in the rainBlack Brant - off Heybridge Pit today and previously seen in the same location on 19th January.
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
This 'white-headed' GOLDFINCH brightened up a very dreary morning here in Colchester. Noticed it had been ringed, can't be many Goldfinches like this around? @btobirds.bsky.social #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #ringing
White-headed Eurasian Goldfinch
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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
2 Lesser Redpolls enjoying the rain in our Colchester garden again this morning. Plus Blackcap still singing away #essexbirding
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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
I’m enjoying sticking my head out of the bathroom window for the Lesser Redpolls. They are feeding on the new buds on our Elder tree #essexbirding
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Paul Baker @bakerboybirding.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Well that was unexpected. A first-winter Little Gull seen from my house this afternoon in the murk, feeding on the River Crouch. #EssexBirding
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Stunning weather yday for our guided day trip to Tollesbury Wick EWT reserve. Highlights inc 2 GN DIVER, 2 SLAV GREBE, 3 BARN OWL, GT EGRET, RB MERG, MARSH HARRIERS and large no's of wildfowl & waders. #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Western Barn OwlEurasian WigeonGreat EgretGreat Northern Diver
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Andy Field @merseabirder.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
A Purple Sandpiper among the high tide roost at Mersea Island Boating Lake this morning was a good bird here. Also in the area, 32 Med Gulls, Stonechat and 200+ Great Crested Grebes offshore. #EssexBirding
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
BARNACLE GOOSE, GOLDENEYE, GOOSANDER & WHITE-FRONTED GEESE from Abberton Reservoir on Saturday 31st January 2026. #essexbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #WorldWetlandsDay2026
Barnacle GooseCommon GoldeneyeCommon Merganser (Goosander)Greater White-fronted Geese
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Thanks to everyone who attended the joint Winter Birding Day at Fingringhoe Wick with @essexbirdnews.bsky.social Grotty weather but we saw 2 BARN OWLS, HEN HARRIER, waders galore, RB MERGANSERS + lots more! Group pic by @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social #essexbirding #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature
Walk participants by Mark NowersPied AvocetsEuropean Golden & Grey PloversWestern Barn Owl (honest!)
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