Andrew Lipczyński

Israel’s war on #Gaza has dragged on far too long. Over the past two years, Israeli forces have killed over 66,000 people, including 15 of our staff.

We call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, an end to the siege and access for independent humanitarian aid at scale.

The Great Crake Off? 😬 Well worth the soggy bottom resulting from sitting quietly for an hour in wet grass watching the Spotted Crake performing in the Dragonfly Pond. A mass of hirundines overhead, bushes full of Chiffchaffs and a Wryneck, albeit briefly. Sandwich Bay at its best. #KentBirding

Thanks for the link Kev

Just a Scaup at Twilight. A drake at Pegwell present for its 3rd day. Like all sea-duck, increasingly scarce at Sandwich Bay, just about annual passage migrant/winter visitor. Long gone are the days when Harrison described exceptional cold weather numbers of 800-1000 at Sandwich in 1940 #KentBirding

Red-necked Phalarope on one of the 'Garage Pools' at Pegwell Bay on 16th November 2017

Red-necked Phalarope on the North Scrape, New Downs, Sandwich Bay 27th Sept 2023. The North Scrape was one of two scrapes excavated by the Environment Agency, with design input from SBBOT/English Nature, to provide material for the construction of new sea defences.

Red-necked Phalarope on the Lydden Flood (aka Lydden Flash), RSPB Worth Marshes, 28th September 2025.

Today's Red-necked Phalarope was 15th record for SBBOT recording area. There's only been 1 spring record (26-30/5/1975) all others, juv/1w birds, in period 8/8/1964 - 17/11/2017. Early records were at/near Pegwell - most recent 3 on newly created habitat on New Downs/RSPB Worth Marshes #KentBirding

An excellent day on Worth started with 3 Glossy Ibis out of roost towards Willow Farm then finding a juv Red-necked Phalarope on Lydden Flood and supporting cast of White-tailed Eagle, 2 Hen Harriers, juv Red-rumped Swallow, 3 Raven birds also 1000+ hirrundines. #ukbirding #kentbirding

Great Peacock, Saturnia pyri, Jardin des Papillons, Digne-les-Bains, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France. 19th July 2014

Great Peacock, Saturnia pyri, Casa Sarasa, Berdun, Huesca, Espana. 29th April 2023

The Death's-head Hawk-moth reminded me of another giant - the Great Peacock. In particular, this larva in the Jardin des Papillons, Digne-les-Bains in July 2014. It was another 7 years before I saw an adult lumbering around the Casa Sarasa garden on a warm spring evening & later on a trap. #TeamMoth

Presenting 'Damian' the Death's-head Hawkmoth, A. atropos, newly emerged this morning, after being lovingly tended and raised by our Assistant Warden, Johnny Bull, after the caterpillar was found on the SBBOT Middle Field reserve on 14th August. Marvelous Moth Metamorphosis 🤩 #TeamMoth #KentNature

Recommended - even for those who have no problems getting to sleep 😜

Oak Lutestring, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Moth Night

September Thorn, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Moth Night

The Ni Moth, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Moth Night

SBBO Moth Night: always some surprises, today was no different. Oak Lutestring, common inland but only a couple of previous records (30/9/09 & 26/9/10) September Thorn, my 2nd of the year - until recently you had to go back to 2001 & Ni Moth, my last by 'mothin' on a cruise ship in the Med #TeamMoth

I was watching this male (in the video above) holding its ground when I noticed ripples in the water at the edge of the pond below - a female half-submerged ovipositing discreetly. Not sure I've seen this act before - was the male in attendance or just coincidence? @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

The Migrant Hawker was regarded as an uncommon migrant but now resident & widespread at Sandwich Bay/Worth Marshes with numbers still boosted in autumn by migrants from Europe. Peak numbers seen in the lee of trees & bushes on late sunny days e.g. 150+ during Sept 2023. Exuviae first found 8/7/2014

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura pumilio, male. Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Kent, UK. 19th September 2025

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura pumilio, male. Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Kent, UK. 19th September 2025

On probably the last hot (25'C), calm & sunny day of the year, 2♂️Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies on territory at Sandwich Bay beating last year's final sighting on 3rd Sept. Amazing how such fragile creatures have survived the recent storms & cool evenings. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #KentNature

Sorcerer (Eastern Alchymist, Sweet Potato Leaf Worm), Aedia leucomelas. Photo credit: Ian Hunter and Jonny Bull, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

Sorcerer (Eastern Alchymist, Sweet Potato Leaf Worm), Aedia leucomelas. Photo credit: Ian Hunter and Jonny Bull, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

At half time, a trip to the Obs to view a Sorcerer (Eastern Alchymist, Sweet Potato Leaf Worm), Aedia leucomelas, only 3rd UK record? Blown from across the water where known as Clair-obscur 🇫🇷 reflecting the contrasting hind wing & very aptly, Windeweeskind 🇳🇱 (Wind Orphan) #KentNature #Teammoth

Three hours of sea-watching at Sandwich Bay yielded one, possibly two, Sooty Shearwaters, just shy of the 52+ logged a few miles away down-channel at St Maggies 😮 and I won't even mention the incredible 351 🤯 counted past Dunge - oops! Ah - but did they have any Coot I hear you ask? #KentBirding

One of those legendary Sandwich Bay sea-watching sessions that will live long in the memory. No, I'm not talking about the 14+ Arctic, 2 Pomarine & 1 Long-tailed Skuas or even the Sooty & Balearic Shearwater but it is my honour to present to you the Coot drifting sedately North offshore #KentBirding

Thanks Rodney - I hadn't considered that

oops - the photo of the Glossy Ibis flock at El Fondo was actually in 2021 (not 2012) 😵‍💫

12 Glossy Ibis, Willow Farm, RSPB Worth Marshes

12 Glossy Ibis, Willow Farm, RSPB Worth Marshes

12 Glossy Ibis, Willow Farm, RSPB Worth Marshes

A small part of a huge flock of Glossy Ibis, El Fondo Parc Natural, Crevillent, Alicante, Spain. August 2012

12 Glossy Ibis on Willow Farm, RSPB Worth Marshes this am - part of a recent record-breaking influx into Britain & Ireland with multiple flocks of 30-40 birds. A sign of huge population increases in Spain & France or refugees from a wave of heat-waves, droughts & wildfires in the Med 🤔 #KentBirding

Toward the end, fortunately, of Worth Marshes WeBS count & speculating over a distant 'interesting' Little Stint on Muddy Pool looking 'slight & attenuated' in the midday heat. Fortunate to have @markgolley.bsky.social drop in & keep us on the straight & narrow 🤩 Nobody expects the BOU! #KentBirding

Yep look good. In Kent, classified as a winter visitor, which now officially starts in August!? BoK mentions a pair nesting in a cave at St Maggies in 1928/9.

The Spotted Crake is 17th record for Sandwich Bay after last year's territorial male heard singing from 1.5km away😮. 13 from 1964 - '88 are scattered thru all seasons. Another juv. on New Downs was well-watched from 18/8-15/9/95 while one was rescued/delivered by the postman on 6/9/96 😂 #KentBirding

A decent seawatch (by Sandwich Bay standards) with 4 Arctic Skua, a Bonxie, 2 Little Gulls & Black Tern (plus an 'all-dark' tern best forgot 😬). Late afternoon took the last train to Crakesville (aka South Scrape, New Downs) for a Spotted Crake 😀 posing with Water Rail, Coot & Moorhen #KentBirding

YouTube video by owen reiser LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching

Top film. The smartest look at this subject I've ever seen. Also funny and sweary.

youtu.be/zl-wAqplQAo?...

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Thanks for sharing your trip report. Love Turkey - and not just for the birds. East meets West biodiversity hot spot - stayed at the Safak Pension during bird and butterfly tours in 2018 and 2019 - promised to go back once the troubles in the region calm down. I fear it's going to be a long wait.

Two battleworn Long-Tailed Blues near Deal today ,seeing off allcomers ,particularly the Wall Browns that got too close ! Lots of Everlasting Pea .......so hopefully a female or two made the trip ......looks good for later on 🤞.

Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans, an immature green male 'in tandem' mating with the larger mature 'A-type' 'typica' female. 6th August 2025, Worth Marshes, Kent, UK

Since the discovery of Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly I. pumilio at Sandwich Bay we've had to pay closer attention to its far commoner cogener, the Blue-tailed Damselfly I. elegans, probably our most abundant zygopteran. Here an immature green ♂️mating with the larger mature 'A-type' 'typica' ♀️#Odonata

Good luck!

Couple of hours at Sandwich Bay this am in perfect conditions (25'C+, sunny, near calm SE) searching for Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies I.pumilio. Eventually a green mature female away from the main pools found zen-like after the hint of an almost subliminal movement seen from the corner of my eye.🧘‍♂️