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Steve Chinnery

@stevechinnery.bsky.social
299 followers 232 following 188 posts

I like birds, I like finding my own birds, I like filming birds.

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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Thanks, it seemed to be having fun as it would fly off and then come back again.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Slomo clip of a juv Roseate Tern at Sandhaven Beach yesterday, that seems to be having fun, playing with a piece of debris, dropping it then picking it up again. Perhaps practising for fishing when it grows up. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
4 ad 2 juv Roseate Terns on Sandhaven Beach again this evening, although 1 ad was a different bird from last night. This clip shows 2 ads enjoying a bit washup while a juv plays on the beach. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Didn't mind getting absolutely drenched on Sandhaven Beach today as it meant no dogs or humans disturbing the Tern flock. Over 100 Terns settling on the rocks and sand. Mainly Common, couple Sandwich, a handful Arctic and 6 Roseate (4ad,2juv). A Little Tern had been present earlier. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
My 1st Orangetip Butterfly of the year in Co. Durham. Green-veined White was also a year tick. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
My 1st butterfly of the year, a Comma in N. Marine Park, South Shields enjoying the 1st decent sunny day. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
It was at Bents Park S/S last Tue, but I have seen it previously over the last 3 winters. Beginning to look really smart now that it has almost a full black hood
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Short clip of the Tundra Bean Geese coming into land at Boldon Flats this afternoon. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
A short clip of 1 of 2 SE Owls initially being photobombed by 1 of 2 Barn Owls at Cowpen Bewley this evening. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
A few of the 22 Tundra Bean Geese that came into roost at Boldon Flats this evening, just after sunset. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Peregrine hunting over S. Shields Pier this morning. Very few waders around, so soon gave up and headed south. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
I checked through my nocmig from last night. A large influx of Redwing with 100 recordings, mostly between 6 and 9am. However the highlight was 3 calls of Waxwing at 0423. Just to be sure I confirmed with both Birdnet and Merlin. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
A Polish ringed bird.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Red-necked Grebe still showing well at S. Shields this morning, in the pouring rain. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
Great to get a Home patch 'lifer' when this Red Kite drifted west over the Lawe Top, S. Shields today. Over the Pier, over the Parks then over the House. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
A Red-necked Grebe at Little Haven Beach this afternoon, only stayed for a short visit. It may well have been the same bird I found at the same place exactly a week ago. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
A bit video of a Red-necked Grebe from Little Haven Beach, S. Shields this lunch time. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
I have included the recovery records of the Med Gull from yesterday. Ringed in the nest in 2017 and spending most winters in the NE before returning to Poland to breed in the summer. This was my 5th sighting off her, over 4 winters. She is now 8 1/2 years old. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Came across an old friend this afternoon on the Dragon Playing Fields, S. Shields. A Med Gull which I last saw in Jan 2024. It is colour ringed with Red band and PETL in white. I have sent off the data to the Polish Ringing group and hope to get some feedback. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
A short clip of a juv Glaucous Gull feasting on a carcass at S. Shields Yacht Club this morning. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
At last something semi decent has turned up at S. Shields Pier. A Slavonian Grebe that cruised up and down Sandhaven Beach late afternoon, before heading out to sea. May still be in the area tomorrow. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Possibly fulvescens an intergrade between abietinus and tristis as per Birds of the World
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Yes, fulvescens looks a good choice.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Saw this very pale and grey looking Chiffchaff as it moved inland from the Pier, through the car park and then into the bushes beside Haven Point. Thought it looked good for a "sibe". Sadly it called just like a normie. Oh well, keep looking. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Highlight of last nights nocmig in N. Marine Park was loads of Redwing, several Fieldfare, and my 1st Brambling of the autumn. In the Pier Head car park similar numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare but also had Wigeon, Common Snipe and a Woodcock. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
A short clip of the Shore Lark, this afternoon, that briefly dropped on to S. Shields Pier before making off south. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Another YB Warbler from an audiomoth recording. Again from Pier Head car park S. Shields this morning at 08:51. It also only called for a few secs before going silent for the rest of the day. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
I have just gone through the files of an audiomoth I left in the Pier Head Car Park in S. Shields yesterday. At 14:20 a Yellow-browed Warbler called 17 times. It must have moved on quickly as there are no more calls. A few Redwing were noted early this morning #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
This afternoon 5 Barnacle Geese circled S. Shields Pier before settling on the river. Only stayed 5 mins before heading off north. A Greenshank also over the Pier, not seen just heard calling. Very little else of interest. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
That is amazing, the Healing Touch eh.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Isabelline Wheatear at Whitburn today. Really lucky to be there when it tried to scramble up the wall. Great find @birds-and-me.bsky.social #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Another day another another Whinchat. This time by the side of S. Shields Pier. Using the wall as I blind the bird came relatively close, for a change! #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Also at Trow Quarry today was a Whinchat, at times loosely associating with the local Stonechat family. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
A short clip of 1 of the 3 reported Pied Flycatchers from Trow Quarry, South Shields this afternoon. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Also on Sandhaven Beach this evening were 5 Wheatear. Probably some of the same birds that have been around for the last few days. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
An Adult and a Juvenile Roseate Tern on Sandhaven Beach this evening. The juv has a ring on its left tarsus which shows it is a Coquet I. bird. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Came across a family of Stonechats (2 ads and 3 juv) from the south bowl of Trow Quarry this afternoon. Adult male looking a bit ragged now that he is moulting, only has 2 tail feathers. The 3rd juv was higher up the stem, out of picture. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Thanks Tom, so the bird is at least 8 years old. Nice to know. According to AI that is the average life span for an adult, although some have lived way longer, to over 20 years of age.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Not surprised with all the human disturbance, that there were only 4 (2ad, 2juv) Roseate Terns on Sandhaven Beach at high tide this evening. However 14 Sanderling, some still in summer plumage, didn't seem to mind as much. @tomcadwallender.bsky.social any info on bird with 2 leg rings. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Sat on the Sandhaven Beach for over 2 1/2 hours this pm. At 1 point 10 ad and 3 juv Roseate Terns were present together. Birds with rings inc. 3 on Left leg, 3 on Right Leg, 1 no ring and 1 on both legs. #NEbirding #UKbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
A short clip of the summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit on Sandhaven Beach this morning. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
They were there when I was at school in Edinburgh in the mid 60's. We went looking for them but can't actually remember if we saw any or not, though.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Thanks Paul, This is the time of the year for them. Best bet is Whitburn Obs. They have been seen there on several occasions lately
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Put my audio gear down by the S.S Pier overnight. Turned out to be quite interesting. 5 sp of Tern inc. Roseate and Little (1 instance each). Waders inc. Whimbrel (6), Redshank (6), Common Sand (4), Oiks (4), Curlew (4), Dunlin (1) and to top it off Wood Sand (1). #NEbirding #nocmig #bioacoustics
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Cheers, always like to see them even if it's always distant
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Thanks Chris, had a few sightings recently. Been a good year for them.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Just after seeing the White-beaked Dolphins I turned round and this Hummingbird Hawk Moth was feeding on the Valerian by the Pier side. Seems to have been a good year for these migrants. #NEbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
It certainly is, they never seem to come as close inshore as the Bottle-nosed do.
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
A small pod of White-beaked Dolphins way, way out beyond the piers at S. Shields this afternoon. I could hardly see them so it was lucky I got this heavily cropped photo, so I could positively id them. #NEbirding #UKbirding
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Steve Chinnery @stevechinnery.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Thanks Tom, so the unringed bird could still have been a Coquet bird.
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