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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Glossy Ibis in the Leek patch 😂 St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly #ScillyBirds #UKBirding

Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Bird”of the day 😉 a lunge feeding Fin Whale, SW of St Agnes. I think the sound captures the excitement! Video courtesy of the Mrs 😎 Massive thanks to @scillypelagics.bsky.social #mammals #ScillyPelagics

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Great to be back on my favourite island, St Martin’s. The Bonelli’s warbler species remained silent this evening. #Scillybirds #UKBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Another exciting afternoon on the patch today with 9 Glossy Ibis (first seen at Dawlish) and then my first White-tailed Eagle on the Otter Estuary NR. #UKBirding #DevonBirding #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

With some sound recording too 👇🏻👇🏻

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Hopefully it seems to be a good autumn for Ortolan Buntings. 🤞🏻 Pleased to find this beauty on the SW coast path this morning near E Devon Golf Course, Budleigh Salterton. #UKBirding #DevonBirding #Birds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Two more cool cats from our ongoing Mostly Mammals tour of Bolivia. Photo credit to tour participants Barry Stewart & Sandra Stewart 👍🏻 Jaguar and Jaguarundi. #Mammals #Bolivia #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

A fabulous photo by Wise Birding leader @nomadbirder.bsky.social who is currently leading our Mostly Mammals tour in Bolivia. Incredible views of Puma in Kaa-Iya NP, for the 2nd year running. This really is a wild place, no hides, no lures, just pure wild Pumas! 🇧🇴 #mammals #Bolivia #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

One of my favourite photos from this year’s beaver season on the River Otter, East Devon. #Mammals

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

An exciting morning on the patch finding this Caspian Tern. Only on site for around 25 minutes and a 1st for the Otter Estuary NR. 7th for Devon I think….Unringed too, so different to bird on the Exe last month. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #Birds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Incoming Hobby in the patch this evening. Always a treat when I see them and one of the best falcons! #Birds #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

A nice surprise on the Otter Estuary NR tonight was this adult Wood Sandpiper. A scarce bird here and my first in June. #UKBirding #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Looking for bird and/or mammal watching holidays for 2027/28? Maybe sign up to our ENewsletter that’s just been sent out? It shows tours which are guaranteed or close to running. Small groups, a commitment to conservation and we have fun too!😊 shorturl.at/vInUU #Birds #Mammals #Birding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Wise Birding Borneo, Sabah birding tour, it’s a wrap as they say! So many fabulous birds and mammals too. Now the long journey home. Public trip report out soon…… #Birds #Birding #Borneo #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

The Bornean Bristlehead is a real must see endemic bird when visiting Sabah, Borneo. Although never easy to see! We had seen it earlier in the tour, but distantly, so today’s views were outstanding at Tabin Forest. #Birds #Borneo #WorldBirding #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Amazing to watch one of two Peregrine Falcons catching bats at Gomantong Caves, Borneo yesterday. Such incredibly dark birds of presumed “ernesti” subsp. #Birds #WorldBirding #Borneo #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Another day, another fabulous Pitta. The endemic Black-crowned Pitta at Sepilok today on our continuing birding tour of Sabah, Borneo. #Birds #WorldBirding #Borneo #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Another unforgettable morning in Sabah, Borneo today as we watched this stunning male Bornean Peacock-Pheasant from a forest hide. #Birds #WorldBirding #Borneo #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

More from our ongoing Sabah, Borneo Birding tour with some fabulous quality birds at Mount Kinabalu NP with the giant of all Broadbills, Whitehead’s Broadbill and the stunning Whitehead’s Trogon. #Birds #WorldBirding #WiseBirding #Borneo

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

The first day of our Borneo Birding tour started with a bang today with this Bobby dazzler!😎 The endemic, Bornean Banded Pitta. What a start to the tour!😮 #Birds #WorldBirding #Borneo #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Another couple of highlights from the Kinabatangan River, Sabah on our Mostly Mammals tour were a group of Bornean Elephants feeding by the river and a nice Oriental Bay Owl distraction. Now time for the start of our birding tour……… #Mammals #Birds #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Not the target mammal we were looking for along the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo last night, but what a fantastic surprise, Banded Linsang! A really tough mammal to connect with anywhere. Thanks to tour participant John B for sharing his photo.😮 #Mammals #Borneo #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Great to be backing Borneo! Our Mostly Mammals tour has started very well with some great sightings in Sepilok including a daytime Sunda Colugo, Red Giant Flying Squirrel & Western Tarsier. Plus quality birds like Banded Kingfisher. #Mammals #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Bonaparte’s Gull again on the Otter Estuary NR again, this evening but literally for seconds only, on its flight path to roost on the sea. #UKBirding #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Chuffed to find a Bonaparte’s Gull on the patch last thing this evening. I’ve been looking hard the last few weeks, so finally paid off. 😊 #OtterEstuaryNR #UKBirding #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Despite monsoon rain and very strong wind in Sierra de Andujar, our perseverance finally paid off and we had some special views of two Lynx together late this afternoon. A well deserved result for a great team! #Mammals #IberianLynx #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Great to finally see some Greater (Euro) White-fronted Geese on the patch, thanks to Ranger Rick 👍🏻 A flock of 22 birds in total. Last time only the patch was back in December 2021, so a very welcome sight on an otherwise miserable grey and windy day. #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Come and join us in Mongolia in May/June 2026 and see some fabulous birds, amazing landscapes, wonderful people and some great mammals too. It really is a fabulous country! #Birds #Mongolia #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

A couple of South African Shelduck on the patch late this evening. I was hoping they were going to be Ruddy Shelducks, as a talking point at least! 😂 Sadly not, despite the right hand bird looking superficially like one. Though could even by a hybrid.🙄 #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

We have just had 2 places come available for our South Pantanal and Emas NP Mostly Mammals Tour in July. Please contact us if interested for this guaranteed departure at discounted price and just group size of 5: www.wisebirding.co.uk/brazil-emas-... #Mammals #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

This evening, I managed to get closer to the Little Stint I found on the Otter Estuary NR yesterday. An interesting plumage for UK of what appears to be Juv moulting to 1st winter plumage. Be interesting to see if it stays the whole winter….. #UKBirds #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

An unseasonal and slightly odd plumaged Little Stint on the Otter Estuary NR late this afternoon was a surprise. Always distant & fading light, but couldn’t turn it into anything rarer….. #UKBirds #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Great to see the Slavonian Grebe again on the patch today, feeding on what I think are Sand Goby? #Birds #DevonBirds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Happy Days. A mighty patch tick and pretty certain it’s a first for the Otter Estuary too. Slavonian Grebe 😊 Thanks AJ👌🏻 #DevonBirds #Birds

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Snow Leopard on your wish list for the New Year? We have a guaranteed departure in Feb: www.wisebirding.co.uk/mongolia-win... #Mammals #SnowLeopard #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

There are certainly plenty of domestic cats out in Oman and often in remote places, but this male was one of the best candidates for the Arabian subspecies of African Wildcat during our recent trip. #Mammals #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

More exciting birds from our current Oman tour with this fabulous Desert Owl😍 #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Our private Birds and Mammals Tour of Oman is now in full swing and we have spent a few nights looking for mammals. Arabian Wolves have certainly been one of the highlights. #Mammals #Oman #WiseBirding

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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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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Seeing juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagles in Oman, up close and personal, really is a treat and a privilege. 😍 #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Masked Boobies sat on the Arabian Sea in Oman. Just one of many highlights from our pelagic with Captain Hatem today.😍 #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Exciting night birding in Oman with Egyptian Nightjar (photo), Sykes’s Nightjar and Arabian Eagle Owl in recent days. #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

An exciting morning on Masirah Island when this odd looking pipit landed in front of me and gave an odd call. A great Wise Birding team effort to secure everything needed to confirm id as Oman’s 1st Paddyfield Pipit. Big thanks to Magnus Robb for confirming sound recording. #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Baillon’s Crake was one of a number of nice birding surprises whilst birding Masirah Island, Oman today. #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Masirah Island in Oman is a fantastic island for a Crab Plover spectacle and for looking for rare/scarce migrants. Just some of the 800 Crab Plovers seen at one site today.😍 #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Just a small selection of birds from our first couple of days on the current Wise Birding tour of Oman. Hume's Wheatear, Indian Roller, Juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle and Plain Leaf Warbler. #Birds #Oman #WiseBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Our recent tour to Namibia and Botswana ended at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Over 415 species of bird and over 50 mammals. See just some of our photo tour highlights here: wisebirding.co.uk/latest-news/ #WiseBirding #Birds #Mammals #Namibia

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Relocated the Swift again a couple of times briefly this morning but only managed v poor photos. Severely pushing the limit on lighting edits! One sharpened the other not. Certainly Pallid features, but not sure how much you can really trust the poor image…. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

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Chris Townend (Wise Birding) @wisebirding.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Exciting & frustrating! 😮Returned home from Namibia this AM and find a Common/Pallid Swift on the patch this PM (3.20pm - 4.20pm) over Otter Estuary NR. Brief views appalling light & distance didn’t allow photos or much help with id features.🙄Fingers crossed it returns tomorrow. #DevonBirds #UKBirds

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