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West Coast Birdwatching

@westcoastbirds.bsky.social
571 followers 283 following 192 posts

AKA Dave Astins. Pembrokeshire (Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿) based bird tour leader and surveyor. I lead several overseas trips each year, usually for Wise Birding Holidays. Oman 🇴🇲 a particular speciality.

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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
HELP NEEDED! There is a stranded Manx Shearwater in the West Midlands (SOLIHULL) that needs a ride back to the coast. Can anyone in that area help? Even to take it some of the way and pass on to another volunteer? Please call 01437 723193 if you can help 🙏
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Very much looking forward to this @wtsww.bsky.social event on @skomerisland.bsky.social. Heading over tomorrow to settle in and see what's about, so our group can hit the ground running on Sunday morning! Lots of learning, laughs and maybe something on the scarce or rare spectrum....
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
One place has become available on a full day 'autumn migration' tour around the Dale & Marloes peninsula on 19 Sept. A chance to get to grips with common autumn identification challenges including waders, gulls, warblers and pipits. Email for more details. #BirdingWales
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
#BirdingWales
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Fantastic to re-find the Baird's Sandpiper on Dale Airfield that was seen by a single observer on 17th - wasn't even on our minds! Great views, despite the presence of a large bull which also kept us on our toes! #BirdingWales #RareBirdsUK @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
A couple of places remaining on 25th August pelagic. Bookings required by Friday 21st. Email to book by 21st August. #BirdingWales
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Pelagic trips off the Pembrokeshire coast - new dates added due to demand! #BirdingWales ** 4th September already sold out **
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Superb photos by @mikepnature.bsky.social from yesterday's pelagic in the Celtic Deep off the Pembrokeshire coast.
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
For the 3rd trip in succession we recorded Wilson's Storm Petrel in the Celtic Deep off the Pembrokeshire coast today. Two birds came to the slick, one very close at one point. Also a single Great Shearwater, 2 Blue Sharks, a brief Porbeagle and an Ocean Sunfish. #BirdingWales #RareBirdsUK
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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Brilliant trip out into the Celtic Deep with @westcoastbirds.bsky.social on Saturday. Highlight was undoubtedly my first ever Wilson’s Storm Petrel at the last possible moment. We were already in extra, extra time when it appeared. Magic. #birdingWales #birdsSeenIn2026 #rareBirdsUK
Wilson’s Storm Petrel
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
It was late arriving to the party, but this Wilson's Storm Petrel in the Celtic Deep today was hugely appreciated by everyone on board. The first time we have recorded this species in multiple trips in the same year 😊 #BirdingWales #RareBirdsUK
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
We recorded a total of 13 Ocean Sunfish off the Pembrokeshire coast during our pelagic trip on Friday. Amazing creatures! #NationalMarineWeek @wtsww.bsky.social
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
One of 9 Wilson's Storm Petrels in the Celtic Deep off the Pembrokeshire coast today, a new Welsh day record. Magic! #BirdingWales #RareBirdsUK
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Biosecurity for LIFE @biosecuritylife.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Fantastic to celebrate 20yrs of #Lundy being rat free last month. Manx Shearwater no's have increased 7500%, there are lots of fluffy chicks being monitored now. #Biosecurity is essential for continued success - e.g. checking #island supplies before loading & having rodenticide onboard MS Oldenburg
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
And the Western Reef Heron reappeared at Sandy Haven, just a mile from home, which was nice #birdingWales #rarebirdsuk
Western Reef Heron, Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire, 24/6/2026Western Reef Heron, Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire, 24/6/2026Western Reef Heron, Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire, 24/6/2026
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BTO Scotland @btoscotland.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
An amazing find in Perthshire- an adult Robin repeatedly feeding a recently-fledged Dipper! Interspecific feeding is recorded from time-to-time, but it's rare and a phenomenal thing to witness first-hand. Huge thanks to James Clements for reporting it. #BirdingScotland
Adult Robin feeding a fledgling Dipper. Perthshire, 3/6/26Adult Robin feeding a fledgling Dipper. Perthshire, 3/6/26Adult Robin feeding a fledgling Dipper. Perthshire, 3/6/26. 
Check out the Dipper's nictitating membrane (over the eye)Adult Robin feeding a fledgling Dipper. Perthshire, 3/6/26
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
September sees the return of the @skomer.bsky.social Autumn Bird Migration event. I will be leading this event for @wtsww.bsky.social. The first event was back in 2014, where has the time gone! Just 3 places remaining, details of how to book are on the poster 👇
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Pleased to have played a very small part in this excellent piece of work.
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Pied Wheatear at David Gareji Monastery, Georgia, 8/5/2026 on our @wisebirding.bsky.social tour. At least one definite Pied/Eastern Black-eared hybrid also present, but this one looked good and sang perfectly for Pied #birds #Georgia 🇬🇪
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Great first 3 days on the @wisebirding.bsky.social tour of Georgia & Armenia. Some super birds and photo opportunities. First up: Wallcreeper. At least 5 seen!
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Loved watching this pair of Red-billed Chough at the Deer Park, Martin's Haven, Pembrokeshire this evening. One of my absolute faves and an iconic Pembrokeshire bird! #BirdingWales
A pair of Red-billed Chough displaying on a lichen covered cliff top
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Mediterranean Gull is my favourite gull, and I love nothing more than reading a colour ring. So this beauty in Neyland, Pembrokeshire, today was particularly enjoyed. It's from Poland. #BirdingWales
A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull stood on a stone surrounded by grass, sporting a red ring on its right leg with the code PMEN.
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
All of our 2026 pelagic trips into the Celtic Deep are now sold out. We may add more dates in late August / September, but won't make that decision until early/mid August. Hoping for a good year for these beauties: Wilson's Storm Petrel. #BirdingWales
A Wilson's Storm Petrel glides effortlessly over a rippled glassy sea
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Bird of the day was a Red-necked Grebe at Goultrop Roads, but these 2 Russian Greater White-fronted Geese at Marloes Mere was a close second. #BirdingWales
2 Greater White-fronted Geese, nominate subspecies albifrons, stood on short grass
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Steve Dudley @stevedudley.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Please help to end the senseless harvesting of Gannets. It’s a ‘tradition’ that needs stopping. Please sign the petition which is already over 80,000 and I’m told the highest signed petition ever for a Scottish Parliament petition. #birdingScotland
petitions.parliament.scot
Petition: Stop the Guga Hunt
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to remove the power to grant licences for taking Gannets on Sula Sgeir.
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Another day, another Caspian Gull! 3rd this week at the Gann, a clearly different adult to Wednesday's bird. What next? #BirdingWales
Adult Caspian Gull on the beach with other gullsAdult Caspian Gull lifting off from the beachAdult Caspian Gull (right) with adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (left)
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Pleased to announce we are putting on some pelagics into the Celtic Deep again this year. Starting with 4 dates, more may be added depending on demand. Details 👇 #BirdingWales #pelagicbirding
Poster with details of West Coast Pelagics 2026
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
First good local find of 2026, a 2CY Caspian Gull at the Gann Estuary late afternoon. Lisa picked up an adult almost next to it just a minute later, a superb double! #BirdingWales
Caspian Gull 2CYCaspian Gull 2CYCaspian Gull 2CY2CY and adult Caspian Gulls
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Final day of the @wisebirding.bsky.social tour of Senegal. Another boat trip on the Saloum Delta this morning, and a trip to Sipo Island. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Purple Roller & West African Crested Tern the highlights. Next stop: Blaise Diagne Airport, Dakar....home time.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eaterBroad-billed RollerPurple RollerWest African Crested Tern
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
A brilliant day 7 of our @wisebirding.bsky.social tour of Senegal. A boat trip on the Saloum Delta produced the much prized White-crested Tiger-Heron, Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle & Goliath Heron. Birding near Toubakouta this pm produced an armful of new birds including Pygmy Sunbird, a stunner!
White-crested Tiger-Heron (Guy Shorrock)Beaudouin's Snake-EagleMale Pygmy SunbirdGoliath Heron
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Early success on day 6 of the @wisebirding.bsky.social tour of Senegal: the mythical Quail-plover! Incredible views of 2 birds, field guides do not (and cannot) do them justice. They walk with a jerky gait like a chameleon. Simply stunning.
Quail-plover
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Day 5 of the @wisebirding.bsky.social Senegal tour. A long journey south today from St Louis to Kaolack for the incredible spectacle that is the Scissor-tailed Kite roost on Kousmar Island. A rough estimate of 5,000 birds came in!
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
A very watery feel to our 4th day on the @wisebirding.bsky.social tour of Senegal, with a day long visit to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. A long list of good birds, including Black-crowned Crane, African Jacana, Kittlitz's Plover & African Wattled Lapwing. Tomorrow we head south!
Black-crowned CraneAfrican JacanaKittlitz's PloverAfrican Wattled Lapwing
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Quality all the way today on day 3 of the @wisebirding.bsky.social tour of Senegal. Starting at Podor, we worked west to St Louis via Richard Toll & Les Trois Marigots. Some big trip targets seen including Temminck's Courser, Saville's Bustard, Allen's Gallinule & a bonus Standard-winged Nightjar.
African Green Bee-eaterStandard-winged NightjarTemminck's CourserAllen's Gallinule
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
4 of my favourites from day 2 of the @wisebirding.bsky.social tour of Senegal, along the Senegal River on the border with Mauretania: Dark Chanting Goshawk, Cricket Warbler, Horus Swift & Red-throated Bee-eater.
Dark Chanting GoshawkCricket WarblerHorus SwiftRed-throated Bee-eater
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
A brilliant 1st day on the @wisebirding.bsky.social Senegal tour even though much of it was spent travelling. Verreaux's Eagle Owl, Little Grey Woodpecker, Sennar Penduline Tit & finished up with 3 roosting Golden Nightjars! Watching the pair wake up at dusk, stretch, yawn, & fly off was magical.
Golden NightjarsGolden NightjarGolden NightjarGolden Nightjar
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Looking forward to heading back to Senegal tomorrow to co-lead the @wisebirding.bsky.social trip there with local guide Carlos, the top guide in the country! Hopefully re-aquaint myself with these beauties and perhaps a few new birds too. Some amazing birds and bird spectacles await 😊 🇸🇳
Temminck's CourserWhite-crested Tiger HeronMalachite KingfisherLong-tailed Nightjar
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Another top Oman target bird is the enigmatic Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak. Never easy to see, and wary, I was delighted to get great views of this male yesterday. #Oman #omanbirding #birds
Male Arabian Golden-winged GrosbeakMale Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
My favourite Oman bird is Desert Owl. It's a stunner that lives in beautiful, remote, wadis. It can be hard to see: I only saw my first one on my 4th Oman tour. We heard (but didn't see) it on our 1st tour, so I was really pleased to find this one last night. Hoping it performs like this for tour 2!
Desert Owl on a sandstone cliff ledge
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
@skomerisland.bsky.social autumn bird migration is back! 3 days on the island in September, watching migration in action and learning how to identify tricky species with expert guidance. Details below 👇
Skomer autumn migration poster
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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Well that’s the first of this year’s Oman tours wrapped up, with a total of 230 species. We ended in style yesterday with great views of Sociable Lapwing and this cracking Caspian Plover. Now onto tour 2 with some time for mammals too 🤞🏻 #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding
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Curlew Action @curlewaction.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
30th November marks Remembrance Day for Lost Species and we are remembering the Slender-billed Curlew. We want to keep the name of the Slender-billed Curlew alive and hold it in our hearts as we learn from the loss. This cannot happen again on our watch. 💔 📷 Chris Gomersall
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Always a treat to come across Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse during daylight hours. Our @wisebirding.bsky.social group had amazing views of 7 birds in Mudayy, Oman, yesterday #oman #omanbirding #birds
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Off this evening for my 8th visit to Oman, a fantastic birding destination. Working for, and with, Chris from @wisebirding.bsky.social, good birds are guaranteed and hopefully this lovely quartet will be enjoyed 😊
Crab-ploverDesert OwlForest WagtailGrey Hypocolius
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
A family party of 6 Whooper Swans has been resident at Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire, for a few weeks now. Wonderful birds. #BirdingWales
Juvenile Whooper Swan with one of it's parentsAdult Whooper Swan
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Skomer Island guided birdwatching trips 2026, an update! Anticipating that boat/landing tickets will go on sale on 1st December, if you'd like to book a place on one of my day trips you need to get in touch soon. Availability on scheduled dates as follows:
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The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales @wtsww.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
We were saddened to hear the news that Mike Alexander has died aged 77, after lifetime dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places in Wales. Mike will be missed by many at the Trust, but his incredible legacy will live on. Read more: champ.ly/7M2Z8TbO
Mike on Skomer, holding a radio in the kitchen, in 1979.Mike Alexander.
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Allan Mee @kerryeaglemee.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
The impacts of avian influenza are profound and far reaching. Hopefully 🇮🇸 Gyrfalcons will recover in time but this is near catastrophic #RaptorResearch 🌎 🪶 Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/20...
icelandmonitor.mbl.is
Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population
The Icelandic gyrfalcon population has been hit hard by the ongoing wave of avian influenza in recent years. Once numbering around 2,000 birds, the population has now collapsed to roughly 500 individu...
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
2nd day of a 3-day Norfolk long weekender, another enjoyable one. Finished with Dusky Warbler (pic) and Yellow-browed Warbler at North Point Pools, Wells-next-the-sea #RareBirdsUK @norfolkbirds.bsky.social
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West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Cracking views of this Pallas's Warbler at Beachy Head this afternoon. Also great to catch up with @dungenessowen.bsky.social and @stephenmessage.bsky.social on a brief visit to Dungeness this morning. #RareBirdsUK
Pallas's WarblerPallas's WarblerPallas's WarblerPallas's Warbler
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