Chris Galvin

After a hectic 7 weeks or so work schedule, I managed some local birding yesterday and caught up with the long-staying Great-tailed Grackle. A fantastic post sunset sky over the Wirral on my way back to the car

Caribbean Dreams?

Sometimes, just sometimes, I travel for pleasure and not just for work. My wife and I have travelled a lot within Europe and further adventures out to Africa, India and Asia. We've even had a 5-week tour of New Zealand. However, my wife has always had a desire to go on holiday in…

Pushing Boundaries Over the last two decades I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe and United States, all in search of new customers, new birds, or both. It has taken me to some great places such as the below sea level Salton Sea in Southern California, the Texas Blackland Prairie, Rio Grande Valley and the central Florida wetlands in the USA.

Pushing Boundaries

Over the last two decades I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe and United States, all in search of new customers, new birds, or both. It has taken me to some great places such as the below sea level Salton Sea in Southern California,…

I’m at Knutsford Ornitholigical Society delivering my updated North West Year tonight. I’m the first speaker opening the KOS indoor season 2025-26

#birdingtalks

That’s a cracker John

I’m at Nuneaton Bird Club tonight presenting North West Year, my talk on what I like to get up to in Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales each year. 25 in the house

#birding #cgbirding #birdingtalks

A cracking sunrise at Gibraltar Point yesterday as the rising tide pushed all the gulls off beach

#cgbirding #gibraltarpoint #sunrise

I’ve always found crows and ravens a nightmare to exposure correctly, so it felt good getting this Raven action shot as it carried off this sea urchin from the beach.

#iceland #cgbirding #cgwildlife #birding #raven #

I watched a couple of Glaucous Gull at Grundarfjörður harbour catching Starfish and devouring them. Great theatre.

#cgbirding #cgwildlife #iceland #glaucousgull #starfish #grundarfjörður #birding #wildlifespectacle #gulls

A real privilege watching the bubble feeding techniques of these Humpback Whales off Reykjavik this week. We had at least 8 individuals and three Minke Whales. The weather was kind too and a real wildlife spectacular

#cgbirding #cgwildlife #iceland #humpbackwhale #reykjavík

The Northlands Here I reflect on birdwatching experiences during work trips to Sweden, highlighting sightings of various rare birds such as the Alpine Chough, Baltimore Oriole, and Great Grey Owl. Frustration over missing photography opportunities is evident, alongside memorable moments like observing cranes and close encounters with species like Bearded Reedlings and Thrush Nightingales.

The Northlands

Here I reflect on birdwatching experiences during work trips to Sweden, highlighting sightings of various rare birds such as the Alpine Chough, Baltimore Oriole, and Great Grey Owl. Frustration over missing photography opportunities is evident, alongside memorable moments like…

@bsky.app @safety.bsky.app now requires age verification and to do this they require either a facial scan or scan my credit card. I don’t think so.

I never got to see the Seaforth Song Sparrow, but see one today at Thornwick Bay in the gulley behind the café. Missing for long periods of time in the brambles and nettles I managed to get a few shots from across the gulley. #cgbirding #ukrarebirds #rarebirds #songsparrow #yorkshire #birding

With good portraits in the bag, I thought I’d push the camera to get some flights shots in fading flat light at the Woodchat Shrike.

Canon R7
EF 500 f4 IS MK1
EF 2x TC MK3
ISO 8000
1/2700th sec at f8

#cgbirding
#ukrarebirds
#cheshire
#birding

Always a pleasure to discover a day roosting Nightjar, especially an obliging bird that opens its eyes #cgbirding #sweden #öland #ottenby #nightjar #birding

A Thrush Nightingale belts out its mellifluous song, taken recently on Öland, Sweden #cgbirding #Öland #sweden #ottenby #birding

Sunset in the forest

An evening forest walk led to an Explore moment

flic.kr/p/2r7WttL

I was fortunate to be a 12 minute drive away when the 3rd Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler was found at Möckelmossen, Öland Sweden yesterday. The first twitchable record for Sweden. #sweden #rarebirds #birding

All Dutch to Me. I have been travelling to Netherlands for work for now more than a dozen years. Most of those trips will have involved a trip to Texel and had opportunity to get some birding done, either before work or after. During that time I have connected a few decent birds both on Texel & the mainland too. Here is a selection of some of my favourites.

All Dutch to Me.

I have been travelling to Netherlands for work for now more than a dozen years. Most of those trips will have involved a trip to Texel and had opportunity to get some birding done, either before work or after. During that time I have connected a few decent birds both on Texel &…

#NLbirding #vogelaars

Tales from a life on the road After nearly twenty years as a Regional Sales Manager for Opticron, my role involves extensive travel across the UK and Europe, often missing home and family. Despite the demanding nature of my job…

chrisgalvin.co.uk/2025/05/03/l...

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby! Once thought of as the Holy Grail of birds to be seen in the UK, and famously called a Cosmic Mind F*cker by Bill Oddie in his Little Black Bird Book; Siberian Rubythroat is still one of the most sought after birds for the majority of birders in Britain. There have been less than 20 records of the bird being observed in the UK and they are mainly in far-flung islands or inaccessible one-day birds.

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby!

Once thought of as the Holy Grail of birds to be seen in the UK, and famously called a Cosmic Mind F*cker by Bill Oddie in his Little Black Bird Book; Siberian Rubythroat is still one of the most sought after birds for the majority of birders in Britain. There have been less than…

Very generous

What a great idea 😜

Thanks @aluladesigns.bsky.social for introducing the four Eider heads T-shirt the Spectacled Eider mugs I asked for. Order placed 😎

#twitching #birding #spectacledeider

Important event update!

Please note that the dates for our two Try & Buy events this weekend have changed as follows:

15/03 Hanningfield Nature Centre
16/03 Abberton Nature Centre

@the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@chrisgalvin.bsky.social

#BirdingGear

Sky, Sun & Moon A growing collection of sunrise, sunset, moon, blue hour and night sky shots

I am by no means an expert, but I have pointed my cameras at the sky a few times over the years and I’m quite pleased with some of the results. I have created an album on my Flickr account called Sky, Sun & Moon. Have a browse and let me know what you think

#Sky #sun

www.flickr.com/gp/chrisgalv...

A White-tailed Eagle flies in off the ice and prepares to raid the food output for them at @naturumgetteron

#cgbirding #eagle #sweden #frozen #birding #birdingatwork

The end of a perfect Caribbean day, contemplating our return to the UK after a fabulous fortnight on Tobago 🇹🇹 resting, birding, rum-drinking & exploring

#tobago #tobago2025 #caribbean #sunset #beach #sea #cgbirding

This White-tailed Eagle I photographed at @naturumgetteron was unwillingly to share the food. Oh and the size difference between it and Hooded Crows.

#cgbirding #eagle #sweden #birdingatwork #birding