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Les Hall

@sudswatcher.bsky.social
144 followers 135 following 225 posts

Retired Engineer chasing wildlife on the Costa del Blyth. Mainly rambling about colour-ringed seabirds and NUFC.

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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Puss in Boots Roars Fiercely
ALT: Puss in Boots Roars Fiercely
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
The ALT text on the Swinhoe’s Petrel is incorrect. There were actually two birds involved. One on 23rd and another on 26th. I was there for both and sound recorded the one on 26th over a dodgy copy of Tracy Chapman’s first album.
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
#ColourRinged Black-headed Gull (Red 2CY5) back on the #Blyth estuary this morning. Originally ringed at Blackness Castle near Falkirk on 2/10/18 it has been seen 13 times of the Blyth since 2023. @ntbirdclub.bsky.social @yellowbrow.bsky.social #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Great White Egret surveys the beautiful scenery of the mighty #Blyth Estuary this morning. A nice self-found patch tick. #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Not a single Shelduck brood on the #Blyth estuary this year despite there being up to 40 adults present since early March. All now departed to moult.
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
#ColourRinged Shelduck (Yellow F/Red X) at North #Blyth this morning. Originally ringed at Bank Island, @ldvnnr.bsky.social on 25/11/20 as an adult. He has visited Northumberland for the last 3 summers. Also seen at Castle Island & upper Blyth Estuary this year. @ntbirdclub.bsky.social #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Hey @yellowbrow.bsky.social you’ll need a bell 😉 #IYKYK
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Video of today’s Long-tailed Skua at Seaton Sluice. #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
First Long-tailed Skua of the year past Seaton Sluice, Northumberland this afternoon #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Twinned with Seal Sands 😳
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Twinned with the Mighty Blyth- that’s some benchmark you’re setting 🤔. Hope it lives up to it 🤪
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Spoonbill at Mount Pleasant Bay on the #Blyth Estuary at noon today. #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
#Deathfer 😱
media.tenor.com
a grim reaper with a scythe is standing next to a door .
ALT: a grim reaper with a scythe is standing next to a door .
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Rob Smith @robertsjsmith.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
A relatively quiet morning at Waxham, with the exception of a side-by-side view of the Glaucous and Iceland Gulls off Waxham Sands Campsite. A single White Wagtail was also of note on the campsite turf.
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
An amazing count of 58 Avocets on the #Blyth estuary this morning beating previous site record of 44. At least 2 #ColourRinged birds and yellow flagged 7L which has returned from the Aln Estuary. @ntbirdclub.bsky.social @yellowbrow.bsky.social #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
27 Avocets and 19 Whoopers Swans on the #Blyth estuary this morning. #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Back to normal on the #Blyth estuary after all the White-Billed Diver shenanigans. 4 decent #ColourRinged birds this week already. Teesmouth Shelduck for 4th year, Cumbrian Avocet for 3rd year and a couple of Scottish ringed Shags for their 6th years . Picturesque innit 🤪 #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
All those European games in Swansea and Wrexham next season 👌
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
#ColourRinged Avocet (Yellow Flag 7L) has returned to the #Blyth Estuary for a 3rd consecutive year. See this morning in a flock of 17 birds just below Mount Pleasant farm. @ntbirdclub.bsky.social @yellowbrow.bsky.social ##NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
#ColourRinged Shelduck (Blue DV) has returned to the #Blyth Estuary for a 4th consecutive year. Originally ringed at Seal Sands Teesmouth on 26/6/22. @ntbirdclub.bsky.social @teesbirds.bsky.social @teesmouthbirdclub.bsky.social @yellowbrow.bsky.social #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
White billed Diver is now at #Blyth Quayside opposite Alcan silos #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
@andyrickeard.bsky.social Just in case you had lost JEY1. The Darvic had finally been jettisoned. Photo from 19 February 2026 at QE2. Stavanger metal ring is 6235252
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
11 Avocets at Mount Pleasant Bay on the #Blyth Estuary this afternoon. #NEbirding
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UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Shags have had a tough few years on the Isle of May following a large mortality event in winter 2023/24 and a smaller event earlier this year. Thankfully both 2024 and 2025 saw above average productivity, so hopefully the population can recover in time. 🐣 #IsleOfMay #seabirds #ornithology
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Absolutely fantastic Jonathan and so pleased you had a great day on the Costa del Blyth.
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
European away games for you next season will be Swansea City but maybe not Wrexham depending on how they do in the play offs 😉
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Thanks Josie, you’ll be busy as I’ve just sent you a pile of Darvic readings from Blyth East Pier for February.
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
As already mentioned looks like a Shag ring just like this one from last autumn on an Isle of May bird we had at Rocky Island @josiethebirder.bsky.social @steelyseabirder.bsky.social ?
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
The original White-billed Diver from Tuesday has returned to #Blyth South Harbour after a morning trip to the Sleekburn Spit further up the estuary.
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Second White-billed Diver of the week on the River Blyth. This one found yesterday by Brian Martin is at Coniston Road on the Riverside Park. Easy Parking and a. 20 metres walk to the bird . The original bird is now also visible on the Sleekburn #NEbirding
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Simon Stobart @sherburnsi.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
White Billed Diver at Blyth this morning in some lovely light. @teesbirds.bsky.social @teeswildlife.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social @nenature.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social 🪶
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Does it contain these? #Superdrab Level 11
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
That’s a cracking picture Simon 👌
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
At least 5 years since we had #J76Y at #Blyth Quayside and your bird must have been ringed about same time. How old is your bird now ? #NEbirding
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Snap ! Great way to spend the day down at Blyth harbour 👌
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Smashed these boys Tom 💪
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
It found me Paul. I’d missed it on the way in and I was heading back to the car when it surfaced about 10m in front of me . So that’s Walrus and White-billed Diver on my self found list for Blyth Harbour. Harp Seal or Narwhal next eh ?
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
media.tenor.com
a man holding a sign that reads careful now
ALT: a man holding a sign that reads careful now
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Nice self found White-billed Diver at #Blyth South Harbour this morning whilst out bagging a few #ColourRinged Shags. #NEbirding @ntbirdclub.bsky.social
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Tom Cadwallender @tomcadwallender.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Someone’s ’fifty’ being ‘celebrated’ in a hedge at the Aln Estuary, Northumberland. Have a thought about the consequences of balloon releases, it’s just creating litter polluting the environment, and potentially killing wildlife! #banballoons
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
BTO right, Darvics on left 👍. We’ve had 7 #ColourRinged Shags today on #Blyth East Pier in Northumberland today. At least 3 known Isle of May birds, a @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social bird which first appeared in autumn 2024 and 3 completely new birds. Feeding incredibly tough for them at the moment .
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
After a quiet winter with only 3 #ColourRinged Shags on #Blyth East Pier it’s fair to they’ve been on the move. Tonight’s roost held 7 birds including 3 Isle of May birds, with Green ARX, ringed 2014 back for another winter. 2 new birds included Yellow 8F8. Any ideas @josiethebirder.bsky.social ?
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Alister Clunas @alcatorda.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
This makes a strong case for all released non-native birds to be tagged with the name of the estate. Released birds would remain the property of the estate, thus ending the Schrodinger’s pheasant conundrum. @raptorpersuk.bsky.social raptorpersecutionuk.org/2022/02/07/w...
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Wild Justice begins legal challenge against DEFRA on Schrodinger’s pheasant
When is a pheasant considered livestock and when is it considered wildlife? The answer has huge significance in terms of what species gamekeepers are permitted to kill to ‘protect’ thei…
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Should have a minced Needletail at the base of that turbine to be authentic 😉
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
The Broon Bottle 👌
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
media.tenor.com
a man with a mustache is pointing at another man with the words guilty written on his chest
ALT: a man with a mustache is pointing at another man with the words guilty written on his chest
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
C/R Shag (Green TFS) still present at Rocky Island, Seaton Sluice this morning
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Les Hall @sudswatcher.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
How’s the German “splat” list going ?
media.tenor.com
a grim reaper is holding a scythe in a black and white photo in front of a tree .
ALT: a grim reaper is holding a scythe in a black and white photo in front of a tree .
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