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Mark Lewis

@fatpaulscholes.bsky.social

Birder: patch birding , sound recording, migration, and rare birds occasionally

932 Followers  |  514 Following  |  176 Posts  |  Joined: 01.11.2023  |  2.1237

Latest posts by fatpaulscholes.bsky.social on Bluesky

For any bird recorders who want to easily convert eBird data into a more recorder friendly format

12.10.2025 07:11 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

It was never me processing the data, but I think the intention was that once amalgamated, records would be assessed (where necessary) in the normal way.

11.10.2025 18:35 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

It was developed by @d.bradnum@bluesky.social . I reckon he’ll be a much better person to ask about it!

11.10.2025 18:26 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

But even if they can’t effect that much change on the recording scene overwhelmingly everything else they do is worthy of support. Glad you decided to stick with it - from someone who had a similar wobble, let my membership lapse and then re-joined!

11.10.2025 05:47 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Completely agree with Steve’s assessment. SOC is a force for good, bringing county recorders together for meetings being a great example. What SOC can achieve in this area is really limited as ultimately recorders can do whatever they want (and not all are affiliated with SOC.

11.10.2025 05:47 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Hi Jared, the conversion tool you talk about does exist - converting eBird data to BirdTrack and recorder friendly things like grid refs, Uk naming conventions etc. I think in Borders the issue is a personal dislike of eBird/loyalty to the BTO and BirdTrack. Not much else to it, unfortunately.

11.10.2025 05:41 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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Awful pics, but any thoughts on what these two dark hybrids are? Barnacle crossed with something, obvs…

30.09.2025 17:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ooooof. My only record was in late September too. One I thought might remain a blocker for a while…

21.09.2025 17:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

You’ll be glad when they’re no longer description spp!

28.08.2025 18:42 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I’m hearing that a lot this year

28.08.2025 11:53 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Seawatching was very quiet last week but there were some notable distractions so I might have missed a couple of manxies…

28.07.2025 10:43 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Arctic tern are currently hanging round at Girdle Ness in un(recently)precedented numbers. I counted 460 today. Still plenty to come from the local breeding colony too. Lovely to see this species have a good year

27.07.2025 16:27 β€” πŸ‘ 47    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Starlings feeding young Starlings visiting a nest in a wall to feed young, probably just a few days before fledging

Starlings, baby starlings, nest in wall, seaside. #bioacoustics #BirdingScotland soundcloud.com/fat-paul-sch...

28.06.2025 13:44 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I learned a lot while I was making this recording. It's no secret that cars make excellent hides. What's mentioned less is that cars make less excellent hides for people using a parabola! 4/10 but might try again...

20.06.2025 08:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Red knot feeding at close range (recorded from inside the car!) A group of about 15 red knot calling softly to one another as they feed at close range. Most calls were not audible (to me...) at the time.

Red knot foraging in a small group on the shore of the Little Sea, Sanday. I love these tiny contact calls, mostly inaudible to my ears even though I was only 15 m away. soundcloud.com/fat-paul-sch...

20.06.2025 08:19 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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JOB OPPORTUNITY | ASSISTANT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
We're looking for an Assistant Development Officer to enhance the Club’s delivery of key programmes and provide vital support to our Development Manager, across several cross-cutting areas of activity. Full vacancy details here: //tinyurl.com/3jrd5t5r

18.06.2025 15:10 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

πŸ™„πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

18.06.2025 10:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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'Tundrae type' ringed plovers on the Little Sea a group of ringed plovers, en route to breed in Greenland or similar latitudes, on the Little Sea, Sanday

A feature of my Sanday trip was the 'tundrae type' ringed plovers, including a tight flock of 172 birds together in a field. Here's several birds feeding on the Little Sea, a great place to see (and hear!) waders close up. #bioacoustics #orkneybirding #BirdingScotland soundcloud.com/fat-paul-sch...

17.06.2025 16:49 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Marsh Tit Β© Peter Stronach

Marsh Tit Β© Peter Stronach

Marsh Tit Β© Peter Stronach

Marsh Tit Β© Peter Stronach

Marsh Tits are now only found in 1 known area of Scotland & are one of our rarest breeding birds at 3 known pairs. The Scottish Marsh Tit Project is looking for volunteers to assist in the species' conservation. Join an online info evening on 2 July to find out more tinyurl.com/yswhtuxz #ornithology

13.06.2025 08:19 β€” πŸ‘ 58    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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04:45 this morning. A euphony of plentiful native avifauna. This is how it should be. πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦πŸŒŽ #birdingBC

12.06.2025 05:39 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

I’ve wondered whether this was possible for ages but it never struck me to do anything about it….

12.06.2025 06:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Not only is this a really neat study but it also has the best 'lay' summary I've seen. I'm not totally lay but still, I appreciate the simplicity and clarity in how the work is described here. More of this sort of thing please...

11.06.2025 18:51 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Auklab Audio Research News and updates about the continuous acoustic monitoring at the Auk Lab

Small webpage for an ongoing #bioacoustic monitoring project I am part of at Stora KarlsΓΆ: auklab-audio.github.io

Adding #audio will hopefully let us learn more about the life of the Guillemots. What are they saying?

Lesson learned: designing a recording setup is a challenge and lots of fun! πŸ”Š

10.06.2025 17:49 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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Absolute bliss. Our 30 yr rewilding plot at Monks Wood is full of singing Willow Warblers. This 2ha plot is the only part of the 165 ha woodland complex where this declining bird still breeds, showing how natural colonisation around existing woods gives biodiversity benefits from the diversity.

11.06.2025 11:24 β€” πŸ‘ 76    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
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Ooft. Ya beauty!! Out of context, particularly β€˜guiding finds’ are always a bonus- and jammy as. This 2nd cal male Pallid fairly raised the pulse this morning on way home for breakfast with my photo-tour group,
after a 4:30 start this morning 😳
#rarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding #shetland #birding

11.06.2025 08:33 β€” πŸ‘ 101    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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#Nightjars! Don't you just love 'em? An exceptional year in NE Scotland. Another pr pinned down last night w/ Paul Baxter & another bird at a new site

www.bto.org/get-involved...

@scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #birdingscotland @greg-conway.bsky.social

11.06.2025 16:59 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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midwife toads Midwife toads calling in the heat of the night in Morlaas, south-western France

A rare non-bird sound. Midwife toads pinging off each other in the heat of a French night #bioacoustics soundcloud.com/fat-paul-sch...

11.06.2025 07:29 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Male Stonechat with pro-rubicola features

Regarding UK Stonechats with features of the Continental race rubicola, e.g. white rumps and β€˜shoulders’… how about this stunner in Cumbria over the weekend? #UKbirding #birds

09.06.2025 20:46 β€” πŸ‘ 87    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Iberian Chiffchaff still present early this morning. Same spot. Singing continuously and showing better than yesterday evening. #birdingFife #rarebirdsUK

09.06.2025 05:42 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

More data on white-billed divers on the Dogger Bank.

08.06.2025 08:38 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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