Steve Swinney

Digiscoped VTgrabs of distant Arctic Skua observed over the Thames at Canvey Point yesterday #LumixG7 #Swarovski #STS85

Digiscoped VTgrabs ofGreat Skua observed over the Thames at Canvey Point yesterday #LumixG7 #Swarovski #STS85 Good to see South Essex estuary watchers and a vagrant @entwistle5.bsky.social ;-)

Totalled 388 bird species seen globally in 2024. 211 USA (153 TX, 133 FL, 60 SC). 204 UK (England only) mainly Lincs 125; Essex 175, of which 146 were local East Tilbury patch - mainly walked from home. Essex's N Waterthrush, LGShrike; Lincs Snow Geese were new UK Lifers.

Afternoon in the NE of the county Slav +7 BN Grebe Abberton before E Mersea Snow Bunting and Shore Lark (aka 'Horned'). Great light but looking at the lark into it was far from ideal for my record shots. #Essexbirds - Nice to meet @entwistle5.bsky.social thanks for excellent advice

Found a golden nugget 11:20 yesterday when this Bewick's Swan flew a high 180 arc over East Tilbury eventually leaving overhead SW over the Thames. -A Patch Lifer! #EssexBirding
Left P3-4 damage may help ID elsewhere. Possibly 1 of 8 roosting at RSPB Cliffe on 13/12

Drake Pintail looking dapper at the East Tilbury Scrape on Tuesday. #Essexbirds

Two Cattle Egret have roosted for a few weeks at Essex WT Thameside NP Goldengates Lake. It's historical name of Heronry Shaw may be the draw ... But these days more of a Cormorantry with 52 present and 1 Grey Heron. Male and female Goldeneye overwintering too. #essexbirds

East Tilbury scrape observations today began with Little and Large (Great white) egrets. Comedy continued when I spotted 4 unusual quackers. Didn't fit Ruddy Shelduck (tho never seen in eclipse). Finally revealed to be 4 Fulvous Whistling Duck (presumed feral) #Essexbirding #🪶

Fascinating to briefly observe a young Spoonbill feeding at Stanford Wharf this morning, before it flew out of Mucking bay towards East Tilbury. #EssexBirding 🪶

Absolutely ... If you think my posts suitsble

Black-necked Grebe at Deeping Lakes from the 1/2 block enclosed hide. #UKbirding. Last stop in Lincs as we return south.

A morning of Firsts ... 1st Lincolnshire Snow Geese, 2nd An October Cuckoo, 3rd a phonescoped Fly Agaric.

Juv Cuckoo at Messingham Sands from corner of meadow behind metal storage hut. Can't recall seeing a later one. Plus 4 Raven over #lincsbirding #ukbirding

Distant but definitive views of Lincolnshire's 2 Snow Geese this morning off Reads Island. #ukbirding

Phonescoped shots of American Wigeon and Little Owl from Monday 14/10/24 trip to Spurn. Next time I must not forget my camera!

Wood Sandpiper on the scrape at East Tilbury!2pm. Green Sandpiper and Rock Pipit too, otherwise quiet - especially the river. #essexbirding

Counted 2306 Brent south past the Naze since 11:15. And likely missed another 1000+. #VizMig #Essexbirding

Visiting the Naze and from 15minutes viewing well over 200 geese have gone south. Single skein of c130 Brents ripped by at 11:24 and 12-15 unidentified grey geese preceded them. DM me if anyone else is observing. #essexbirding

Had a couple of hours before dark to check the East Tilbury scrape for yesterday's Wood Sandpiper (juv). Thankful it did the decent thing and to become a FOY. Short record clip despite horrid light and muted and stabalized as wind was problematic. #Essexbirding

Informed by @easttilburybirder (Paul Wood) of reports of small movements of bearded tit on the move at Rainham and also leaving Dunge today. Not a sp I associate with VizMig. Ever learning by watching, recording and reporting.

Already shared and reported on Monday on X!. I thought this Osprey at Abberton late Monday would stick around and be reseen. But it now seems like it pressed on south.

3 Bearded Tit, Blackcap, 6 Buzzards the highlights from a TTNP Heronry Shaw (Goldengates) morning patch walk. Surprised to find Beardies pinging from an oak in bramble/thorn scrub tho. A 'fall' of jays was almost certainly the same 4-6 spreading acorns in every direction. #essexbirding

ELO (Mr) Bluesky - if you're of an age you'd know! East Tilbury in clear air, under blusky late afternoon - conditions likely dissuading today's Kent n Canvey seawatch delights to progress further upriver. But 2 Black Tern, 5 Common, 15 Brent (upriver); Greensand on the scrape #Essexbirding