James Hunter

There is no competition - it's in a league of it's own!

😪

Drake Spectacled Eider off Texel, Holland

1st winter drake Baikal Teal with Gadwall and Wigeon

Pacific Diver at Veere in Holland

18 Lesser White-fronted Geese near Camperduin in Holland

Then Wednesday night heading over the Channel to Holland for two days of some great, if a little foggy, birding with @gnhbirder66.bsky.social and @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social

Most ducks tend to congregate at Dartford off Longreach sewage farm. As Barry says, some good records. I had a male Bullfinch at Swanscombe yesterday.

Watsonalla uncinula (Spiny Hook-tip) continuing to do well, albeit slowly on Quercus ilex (Holm Oak). This specimen ~21mm after ~5 weeks. I also have a specimen from the same batch about half the size of this one. @rlewington2.bsky.social #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

Same for me in Dartford!

I was 4!

Early 1970s i think

No, but first twitchable.

...and a couple of record shots of Kent's first Yellow Warbler, a stone's throw away from 1989's Golden-Winged Warbler.

Nice afternoon at New Hythe....

Very sad news Frank - we'll all miss him

Ferruginous, Ring-necked and Tufted Ducks and Greater Scaup

A rare opportunity in the gloom of Sunday morning to see three scarce Aythya species side by side at Tallington Lakes in South Lincs. One of those patch pinch-me moments! @lincsbirding.bsky.social

Managed 67 bird species in LBBromley Mon-Fri at Upper Cray Valley, Chapmans Lane, Watts Farms, Chelsfield, Pratts Bottom, Crystal Palace Park, Beaverwood & Chislehurst. 16 Firecrests, Mandarin, Shoveler, GC Grebe, Great White Egret, Fieldfare, Marsh Tit, 5 Raven, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer

It was still an issue when i was on the Kent rarity committee 25 years ago. I supplied notes for quite a few birds that had no descriptions supplied.

New for Norfolk 2024: 15
Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa)
And finally… This one from last weekend…
Keep those records coming in folks, please record on the website :) norfolkmoths.co.uk #teammoth #norfolkmoths

A great day out yesterday in and around Dungeness. Lots of highlights including Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Whooper swan, Hume's Warbler, Merlin, Dartford Warbler, BN grebes, Long-tailed duck and Cattle egret. With @gnhbirder66.bsky.social

25,000 steps and 62 species between Greenhithe and Dartford this morning. The highlights were Peregrine on the Amazon building and a day-flying Barn Owl hunting out on Dartford marsh.

3+hr session at Collard’s viewpoint this morning produced 58 species inc Black-n Grebe, drake Scaup, 2 Goldeneye & Cattle Egret. As ever everything well out of camera range

Black-headed Gull x Mediterranean Gull Hybrid

Black-headed Gull x Mediterranean Gull Hybrid

Black-headed Gull x Mediterranean Gull Hybrid

Black-headed Gull x Mediterranean Gull Hybrid

Dungeness: A super Black-headed Gull x Mediterranean Gull that flew past the fishing boats yesterday morning along with 1,000s of other Gulls. #UKBirding #Kentbirding #Birds

Oh my days! Another Levant Blackneck trapped overnight along with a Euchromius ocellea, Small Mottled Willow, 3 noctuella, and singles of Dark Sword-grass and ferrugalis. #migrantmothuk @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

It's a bit teeny-weeny!

Around 100 species seen in North Kent in last few days including Merlin, Woodcock, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Hawfinch, Firecrest, Marsh Tit and Red Kite. Non bird highlights included Common Darter and Bird's-nest fungus. With @birdingbazzer.bsky.social.

Despite the high winds I managed 3 species in the garden trap last night - Red-green carpet, Black Rustic and LBAM. Dartford VC16.

65 species walking from Greenhithe to Dartford included Avocet, Common sandpiper, Sparrowhawk and Rock pipit. Very cold first thing!

16/11/2024 - For my first post on BlueSky, I'll share what did this weekend - revisiting #Madeira for the thrill of finding Goodyera macrophylla again.

Only a small number of these #orchids flower each year. They're restricted to steep slopes in largely inaccessible parts of the laurelsilva forests

Neohygrocybe ovina (Blushing Waxcap). A group of small, dark mushrooms growing amongst grass.

Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub). A bunch of small, club-shaped, orange stalks growing amongst short grass.

Clavaria zollingeri (Violet Coral). An irregular mass of branching, pale purple stems, growing amongst grass and moss.

Hygrocybe splendidissima (Splendid Waxcap). A group of small, pinkish-red mushrooms amongst grass. Some have been picked and laid on their sides to show that the stalk fades from pink to yellow towards the base.

For #MushroomMonday, some wonderful grassland fungi found on our field meeting at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, yesterday. Thanks to Phil Ambler for the photos. Names included in the alt text. #fungus #fungi #KentNature #woodpasture

Diplopseustis perieresalis (Palm Tabby - and a great example of why I encourage the use of common names!) 1st for VC28 (West Norfolk) and 5th for Norfolk, 9th Aug 2024 in my Dereham garden. Presumed adventive but occurred during a peak period of migration #norfolkmoths #teammoth #migrantmothsuk

A pleasant day birding Northward Hill and out to the breach and Egypt Bay . 74 sp of Bird including Redpoll, Sparrowhawk, a surprise House Martin south, Beardies, 150+ Redwing, 3 Stonechats and some squealing Water Rails. Other than Will n Max at NH, never saw another person #kentbirding #ukbirding