Dr David W. Smith

Highlight this morning, two black redstart and tree sparrow. Reculver. #kentbirding

Lush! I bet you're still smiling. Top work.

Wonderful self-found suprise today in the form of this wryneck, at Chambers Wall, Reculver. Fair few birds around, but had to scoot for a 10am meeting. #kentbirding #selffoundbirding.

The remarkable rise of eBird – the world’s biggest citizen science project In 2002, an online database was set up allowing birdwatchers to record their species observations. It is now a vast resource, shaping scientific research.

As a county bird recorder I can honestly say that the best and easiest way for you to make your birding count, is to upload them to either eBird or BirdTrack. Doing so contributes directly to #ornithology and bird #conservation at both local and national levels.

#birdingScotland #birdingWales

eBird Checklist - 4 Oct 2025 - Estaca de Bares--Observatorio de aves y entorno - 33 species (+3 other taxa) Submitted by Ricardo Hevia.

Blimey, a proper seawatch off Estaca de Bares yesterday with 2 Black-capped Petrel, 2 Zino’s Petrel and a bunch of other good stuff #seawatching

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

A powerful tool, a potentially creative tool, one that uses vast amounts of energy. Does it connect to the human soul? Does it lead to a simple life connected to nature? For fun, my next ask will be about trying to find rare birds.... Or I could just try finding some instead (easterlies are coming).

That poem, to me, highlights the power & disconnect of AI (ChatGPT). I asked it to write a short poem about a simple life, connected to nature, landscape, friendship & community. A poem about a simple life, 'imagined' by complex tech produced in seconds, which I probably couldn't produce if I tried.

Beneath wide skies and whispering trees,
I walk the earth with quiet ease.
With friends and laughter, meals we share,
Warm hands, kind hearts, the open air.
No gold, no rush—just time well spent,
A life in tune, a soul content.

The cover of British Birds, November 2024, with a Glossy Ibis illustration

Our most recent report, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2022, is now available open access on our website at tinyurl.com/2xf23keu
All reports dating back to 1973 can be found at rbbp.org.uk/annual-repor....
Our next report, for 2023, will be published in @britishbirds.bsky.social in November

Just back from a pelagic trip out to the Whittard Canyon area on the continental shelf edge with @scillypelagics.bsky.social @scottinscilly.bsky.social @nomadbirder.bsky.social Madeiran Storm Petrel reclassified from MEGA!!! to scarce summer visitor in one evening with 84 counted last night! 😂

Poetry & Prosecco (with a complimentary glass of prosecco) Join us at the Oriole Café for a fun, bubbly evening, a complimentary glass of prosecco (or non alc) & four Kent poets reading their poetry.

Fancy something a bit different, or perhaps give a gift to someone who likes poetry & prosecco? Listen to four Kent-based poets for a local Canterbury-based fun evening out.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-pro...

Just wow 😵‍💫

#MolluscMonday

Small amount of vismig overhead (siskin, redpoll, pipits, skylark, grey wag), and a few warblers (2 whitethroat, blackcap & chiffchaff). @dgbirdnews.bsky.social #BirdingScotland. A very enjoyable morning.

More wadering in D&G with visits to Browhouses & Newbie. Totals for both sites; 1 barwit, 7 blackwit, 7 ruff, 2 whimbrel, 25 golden plover, 11 greenshank, 17 snipe, 5 turnstone, small nos ringed plover, alongside oic, curlew, redshank & lapwing. Also tree pipit, osprey & 2 peregrine.

Great skua the highlight this morning from Corsewall Point @dgbirdnews.bsky.social. Lots of kittiwake and terns, 270 manx, eider, RT diver and the usual suspects. #BirdingScotland

Wadering at various points around Loch Ryan resulted in 1 greenshank, 1 whimbrel, 1 common sand, 2 dunlin, 4 sanderling, 6 knot, alongside redshank, turnstone, curlew & oystercatcher. At least 58 RB mergs, eider & black guillemot. Whitethroat & 2 wheatear @dgbirdnews.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Luxury Indoor Seawatching, P&O ferry in background

A 2.5hr 'luxury' seawatch at Corsewall Point in @dgbirdnews.bsky.social
was tern heavy, with c80 sandwich tern, a few common tern & at least 1 arctic tern. 8 common scoter & 2 arctic skua highlights. An afternoon stint was enlivened by 2 European storm petrel. ##BirdingScotland

A seawatch for just over an hour at the Isle of Whithorn was fun, 5 arctic skua, approx 560 Manx & a supporting cast of terns, gannets, kittiwake and auks. #BirdingScotland @dgbirdnews.bsky.social - an osprey over the road as we continued west was a nice surprise, too.

Yes.

Fair point, Newbie.

@dgbirdnews.bsky.social

@dgbirdnews.bsky.social

@dgbirdnews.bsky.social

A trip to Castle Loch, Lochmaben, D&G for a gentle stroll. Found a great white egret. #birdingscotland

More open spaces in D&G #birdingscotland this afternoon. 5 whimbrel, 6 greenshank, 7 black-tailed godwit and an adult med gull being highlights. 15 Gooseander always nice to see. Lots of jellyfish along the beach.

Lots of open space too...

Nice afternoon birding in D&G, #birdingscotland. 3 x avocet, 1 x juv marsh harrier, 4 ruff, along with a selection of other waders. One of the avocet had 2 x yellow rings and a flag on left leg. Ideas of where's it from are welcome.

Quite shocked by this Common Buzzard yesterday at Falsterbo - dark chocolate bib & pale underparts almost like a Swainson’s Hawk. Anybody else seen this plumage variant?

Humans outperform Merlin Sound ID in field-based point-count surveys academic.oup.com/condor/advan... 😊 #ScotBirds #UKBirding

Whilst out looking for/at late breeding UK RBBP species, came across this common toad. Not seen one for a while.