Mark Gash

Coloured pencil and gouache drawing of a Hoopoe on a beach of light coloured stones.

The Hoopoe that showed so well on Periglis beach, St Agnes, from my recent visit to the Isles of Scilly. Mostly watercolour pencil, with a bit of gouache, on Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper. Original is about A4 size #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #ScillyBirds #UKBirding

Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight Before the Spanish study, some scientists had been sceptical about the mammals attacking migratory birds

Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight

Our first #YellowbrowedWarbler of the autumn was caught&ringed under licence this morning. Only our fourth ever September record but our second earliest … hopefully more to come #birdringing

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Snowy Owl, Washington

Snowy on a toothpick.

(From the last big Washington irruption in 2011.)

An interesting Whitethroat caught this morning in suspended wing moult. Retained primary coverts on both sides, one retained primary on the right wing only and retained secondaries on both. Was very heavy too! #migration #birds #ringing

Just watched a Peregrine chase a flock of Pink-footed Geese and then take one down! Seem to to remember reading about previous records of hunting geese (Barnacle?) in the Derek Ratcliffe book but never witnessed it! 🤯

Another Rock Pipit colour ringed today and one of breeding birds (CAI) watching me watching it.

A few decades of #ornithology under my belt but everyday is a school day - never knew you had to plug them in!

Another quality interpretation board! Spot the (deliberate?) mistake!

Picture of front cover of Wildlife of the eastern Caribbean by Steve and Gill Holliday

Belted Kingfisher

Super chuffed to get this book through the post today - looks very good and one of the pics ain’t bad!! #birds #birding #photography

Definitely Bluethroat week this week @ottenby

@derbyshirebirds.bsky.social just been told by a colleague they had a White Stork over the A38 Mickleover / Derby Hospital Area at around 1220.

Lucky you. Still waiting for Hobby over mine!

First Common Swift of the year, over the garden. Earliest ever. Not had one in April before #birds #birding #officiallysummer

Short-toed Eagle © Inglorious Bustards

Booted Eagle (dark morph) © Inglorious Bustards

Egyptian Vulture © Inglorious Bustards

Black Kite © Inglorious Bustards

What a day we had this week among the flow of #migratory soaring #Birds

In just a few hours of obs we logged 1,481 Black Kites, 324 Booted Eagles, 126 Short-toed #Eagles with Egyptian #Vultures, Eurasian #Sparrowhawks, Marsh and Montagu´s #Harriers and Ospreys all joining the migratory party.

This Little Ringed Plover was doing some funky moves while courting a potential mate - looks like it ought to be called "Long-necked Plover," doesn't it?

#birds #waders #shorebirds #seabirds #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdphotography

Indeed. I’d just be happy if they took the one that nicked a lot of spring bulbs I’d planted!

Nice birds to have expanding range as long as they keep themselves to themselves! Maybe like PE, and doing better in more urban areas?

A productive team meeting chez moi this morning - a 5 raptor morning: Red Kite, Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Goshawk (garden tick!), some work was completed!

A fascinating feeding strategy/observation yesterday. This male LSW was systematically removing Wood Ants from the top of an Oak tree in order to get to the aphids they were presumably protecting. Bsky video rendering doesn’t quite do it justice. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #digiscope #birdsuk

There will still be some around over the weekend I’m sure. Hope you make it out :)

An extreme close-up portrait of a small songbird with vibrant yellow plumage marked with subtle black streaks. The bird has an alert black eye and a fine, pointed gray beak. Its bright lemon-colored face and throat are framed by darker markings around the eye and crown, creating a distinctive pattern. The feathers appear soft and slightly fluffed, giving the bird a round, gentle appearance as it gazes slightly upward.

Townsend's Warbler, Washington state

#birds #nature 🌿

@derbyshirebirds.bsky.social single little gull still present at Willington GPs. Seen from P2 1445

Planned post work visit to Willington GPs and jammed in to ad sum plum Little Gull @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social would have stopped for the Lamprey but somebody decided to ‘wash’ their dogs in the stream!

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis gentilis), Derbyshire, UK, 29/03/2025. These large and impressive hawks are quite secretive throughout most of the year. However, in early spring pairs perform a 'sky-dance' display and are easier to see #ukbirding #birding #birds @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

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Little Ringed Plover

LRP

Little Ringed Plover on Pilning Wetland

Snipe roosting in the sunshine

A lovely spring morning and a brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced the 1st Little Ringed Plover of the year, a Black-tailed Godwit, a few displaying Lapwings and Snipe making the most of the warm sunshine.

Mediterranean Gulls displaying in the sun at West Hayling this week. @rspbengland.bsky.social are just finishing the restoration of the lagoon islands here as part of LIFE on the edge & the Solent Seascape ambition to see seabird sites across the Solent thriving. More to come. #SuperSeabirdSunday

A Firecrest, this morning on Clifton Downs