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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Lovely to have this #Tystie hanging around the east side @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social at the moment

Reposted by Steve Williams

Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

With the weather very changeable @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social it’s been a little quiet, still plenty to find though! #ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Some nice seawatching in September @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social highlights were of course good numbers of Leach’s Petrels, a few Manx Shearwaters, skua numbers were poor but a single Bonxie flew right over us at the North End, a Grey Phalarope whizzed by and a BlackGuillemot paid us a visit #UKBirding

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Bucktonbirder @bucktonbirder.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

A recap on the migratory journey of 'HV' - a English satelite-tagged juvenile female Montagu's Harrier. She started her journey on August 28th and on the evening of 30 Aug she roosted in the Wash, Lincolnshire.

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Brilliant views of an adult #BairdsSandpiper at Meols this morning found by the inimitable @seanoh58.bsky.social who also found Wirral’s first back in Sept 2023 … that bird was the start of an incredible run of American birds I managed to see in the UK that autumn. A great early start this year …

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Great to catch up with the Long-tailed Shrike recently with @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social what a great little twitch! #ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

A lovely trip up to Fife earlier this week for the Long-tailed Shrike … thanks to @philwoollen.bsky.social and @alanhilbre71.bsky.social for pilot and co-pilot duties. The new @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social caps are clearly lucky 🍀 🤣 … one day I’ll make it to the Isle of May Bird Obs 🙏😍

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

A great afternoon ‘itch’ to north wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 with @hilbre.bsky.social for the superb looking first for Britain #WesternReefHeron in Foryd Bay … good to be out birding after what seems like ages 🔥😍 #UKBirding

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Reposted by Steve Williams

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

1/ The latest Winter Gull Survey revealed that over the two decades since the last count, the total number of gulls wintering in the UK has decreased from 3.9 million to just under 2.5 million! 📉 #Ornithology #Seabirds 📖 Read the report www.bto.org/WinGSReport

A greyscale image features a Common Gull flying with its wings outstretched which fill the screen. Wording alongside reads: 1.4 Million Gulls Vanished.

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

A few nice birds from a flying visit to St Agnes Isles of Scilly, always nice to see a Wood warbler and Turtle Doves which are becoming increasingly uncommon sadly. #ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Such a privilege to see this #Cuckoo close up caught in one of our heligoland traps @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social for ringing under licence 😍 Then later watching it migrate off the island towards North Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #birdringing #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

April continues to produce with an almost constant flow of easterlies @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social recent highlights included #Puffin, our first #Swift of the year #SandMartin and almost daily #Whinchat #UKBirding

Puffin in the heat haze sat on the sea off Hilbre

Sand Martin whizzing past Hilbre Islands

Male Whinchat ‘posing’ on a post … as they do!

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Last week was another good week for migration @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social … Redstarts, Wheatears, Whimbrels and more plus a lovely LongtailedDuck hanging around close in to the island with a small group of Common Scoter #UKBirding #Birdringing

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Lovely to see a Long-tailed duck @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social and some fantastic Dunlin plumages as they move North #ukbirding

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Couldn’t believe my eyes when this stunning Sardinian Warbler appeared in front of us @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social reward for all the efforts the team put in. A cracking Redstart was nice too. #ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

MarshHarrier and 2 Merlin the best so far on our early spring trip to the wonderful island of #StAgnes #IslesofScilly #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

March has been a great month for bird ringing @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social with a variety of species ringed and unusually good numbers of Goldcrest, Chiffhaff and Robin this early in spring #birdringing #Ukbirding

Redpoll in the hand - caught under licence

Female Wheatear in the hand - caught under licence

Reed Bunting in the hand - caught under licence

Long-tailed Tit in the hand - caught under licence

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Not just the team @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social getting on with spring maintenance, a nice Black Redstart near home too. #ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Another lovely early spring morning @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social ... male Stonechat and Wheatear #Birdringing #Ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

My earliest ever #Wheatear this morning @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social - a beautiful male just returned from Africa. The wonder of migration 🌍 #UKBirding

Male Northern Wheatear on sandstone rock North End of Hilbre Bird Observatory

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Cracking morning @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social with @philwoollen.bsky.social & my eldest. Highlights a c-ringed Stonechat (ringed on Mull🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Aug25), another which we caught&ringed (1 of 5 on), 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Coal Tits (scarce spring migrant at Hilbre) and much more (all on our blog) #UkBirding #Ringing

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Alan H @alanhilbre71.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Early start to get over for the tide @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social payed off with a fantastic imm male Hen Harrier that came in off the sea. Spring migration continues with 3 Stonechat, a pair each of Starling,Stock Dove & Woodpigeon. 13 Purple Sand roosting. #UKbirding

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Chris Williams @hilbre.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Spring was in full swing @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social with all the locals back in full voice, Stonechats buzzed around the paddock fences & waders fed as the tide moved them. Great to see a male Hen Harrier come in from the North before heading West, a sadly rare bird here now. #ukbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

First spring migrants seen @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social yesterday with Stonechats (7), Grey Wagtail and Chiffchaff (only our second February record ever!) plus some other wildlife noted (H Porpoise 🐬 and Common Frog 🐸) #UKBirding

Male stonechat takes flight from grassy clump at Hilbre Islands LNR

First Chiffchaff of the year appears in Blackthorn on Hilbre

Harbour Porpoise surfaces off the north end of Hilbre Islands LNR

Common Frog moving through long grass on Hilbre

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Some White-tailed Eagles over Islay and Jura recently #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

The returning adult Red-breasted Goose showed well on the Loch Gruinart flats during our half term week on #Islay #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

A massive shock to hear of the passing of great friend Marc Eden last weekend. Despite living in🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿was just a message or call away. Kept in touch during difficult times incl losing dad, BSB & my battle with big C. We never did do the scoters together - sorry mate 😞💔 I’ll be raising a few on #Islay 🥃❤️‍🩹

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Purple Sandpiper - one of my favourite waders 😍 @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Bustards on Salisbury Plains … a great way to finish a fabulous south Costa roadtrip (plus loads of Red Kites and Corn Buntings) #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Grackles to the north of me, grackles to the south … here I am stuck in the middle 👀 Great-tailed Grackle Holbury Hampshire yesterday #UKbirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Lovely to catch up with this male LesserSpottedWoodpecker in the New Forest yesterday along with Firecrests and Marsh Tits - #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Killdeer at Ripley Res yesterday - the start of a great day down south in great company! #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Could become the first ‘accepted’ for #Wirral and a great find by Pierre Montieth this first winter #CaspianGull graced the roof of Bidston Recycling Centre on Sunday #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

First visit to the magical island this year - stunning morning over the tide but rather brisk bracing NNW breeze @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

St Agnes for our usual end of October week was fairly quiet but we managed a few good birds on the islands and the mainland - #BuffbelliedPipit #Bluethroat #Hoopoe and #SteppeGreyShrike #UkBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

St Agnes for a few days mid month … Mourning Dove (with Collared), Lapland Bunting, American BuffbelliedPipit and Hoopoe were among the highlights #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

The seawatching over the weekend @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social was great thanks to StormAmy … I still forget to post on BlueSky 🤦🏻‍♂️ must try harder! Video of Leach’s Petrel #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

This #SlavonianGrebe was found on West Kirby Marine Lake last night by John Willams, fortunately it was still there this morning when I checked the lake out #UKBirding

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Always a joy to hear and see the first #YellowbrowedWarbler of the autumn and this morning’s bird was in the heligoland @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social our joint second earliest ever. Autumn has properly arrived this week 🍂💥 also at least 20 Chiffchaff on the island today and a smart male Stonechat too 😍

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Delighted to see this #GreyPhalarope out on the edge of the East Hoyle sandbank yesterday evening. Thanks to Tim Kinch for the shout 🙏

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Also seen @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social earlier this week two Sabine’s Gulls (video of juvenile from last Sept 🎥), Leach’s Petrels (34 on Tuesday) and a Great Northern Diver

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Some great seawatching earlier this week - three species of skua (Arctic,Bonxie and Pom) plus BlackTern

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Reposted by Steve Williams

hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Call in at the Bird Observatories Council stand (www.birdobscouncil.org.uk) and hear about the great work of bird observatories around Britain and Ireland and what the BOC is all about @globalbirdfair.bsky.social

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

What a glorious day to arrive on the Isles of Scilly - always a thrill just to be here ☀️🏝️🌅📸

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Steve Williams @steveonhilbre.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

A great day on Wirral started @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social with a fall of Chiffchaffs (including a British ringed control), my first HouseMartin of the year and our second Osprey of the day circled the Obs itself. Later I called in a couple of times to see the GreatGreyShrike at Leasowe #UKBirding

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