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Reposted by Birdingprof

British Birds Rarities Committee @britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social · 13h

The 2024 BBRC report is now available to subscribers via the website, and the paper copy should be on doormats shortly.
British Birds Volume 118 Issue 10 | British Birds share.google/ilqsS7ib34do...

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Reposted by Birdingprof

Ben Sheldon @sheldonbirds.bsky.social · 1d

A Little Curlew on Öland in Sweden on Saturday - would cause a stir over here I suspect

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

A female Goldeneye, to finish the day on. @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social Lackford Lakes, from Bess’s hide. An increasingly scarce bird locally. A Pochard there too. Plenty of Siskins blogging about with a few Redpoll.

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

A lot of birds on the move today, it’s as if the viz-mig tap has been turned on.

At Cavenham Heath 30-40 Redpoll, 13 Fieldfare my f.o.s. Just 1 Stone Curlew visible. Along the entrance track 2+ Brambling in mixed Finch flock.

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

Isleham Wash: just 5 Snipe, but Duck numbers up a bit. Mostly Teal but 3 Wigeon are more unusual, & a female Pintail is much better, perhaps just about annual.

A distant Merlin was getting harried by 4 Crows. A few migrants moving; Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks.

@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

Lots (maybe 100+) of Redwing over this morning, first Skylarks of the autumn, a few Meadow Pipits and Finches, mostly West ⬅️, but including 1 Hawfinch ↘️ SE. Sparrowhawk new for the month too.

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

Those were the days!

Monty Python team musing on the golden age of Scilly Birding in the 80’s

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

3/…Sleepy juvenile Night Heron on Lower Moors, followed by an immature Rose-coloured Starling at Kittydown. Thence to a ‘siberian’ Siberian Stonechat ✅ somewhere I don’t recall.

For the following day my notes say: St. Martin’s, nothing!

So, just the seven ticks over the weekend. 😮

‘maura’ Siberian Stonechat, Scilly 1985

📸 unknown

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

2/…happened to be nearby when another Yellow-billed Cuckoo turned up in the churchyard.
Scooped up the (warm-toned, compared to the grey-toned 1983 bird) Short-toed Lark. Boat back to St. Mary’s…2/

Short-toed Lark, Scilly 1985.

📸 unknown

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 1d

OTD 40 yrs ago: day 2 of a long weekend on Scilly, and mostly yearticks - started with a Jack Snipe, followed by a Bobolink, near the pottery iirc. Had another look at the AGP then a Yellow-browed Warbler at Carn Warval. Over to Tresco for an ad. male Rustic Bunting and the Bee-eater again…1/

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

I won’t breathe a word.

Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

I always enjoyed the previous generation of birder’s tales of yore. That’s why I share (and to wind up the yoof, obvs.😚)

I remember a long gone birder telling of his discovery of a Pallas’s’ Sandgrouse at Stodmarsh in 1964.

I’m sure there’s still a few 1962 Macqueens Bustard veterans around.

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Henry Cook @hcbirding.bsky.social · 2d

Couldn't believe it when we found a Death's-head Hawkmoth caterpillar on the Isles of Scilly. A serious wildlife ambition achieved! @sophieshrike.bsky.social #TeamMoth

A large green caterpillar clings upside down under a branch

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

3/…OTD 40 years: wandered across the island, and lost CB contact for a while. Dangerous! Told of a rumour about a Black-billed Cuckoo. Scanned across the island only to see a crowd of 1,000 tightly packed birders. Eek!
Quickly grabbed a cab…✅

To be continued tomorrow…

Black-billed Cuckoo near Telegraph, Scilly 1985

📸 unknown

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

2/…OTD 40 yrs ago: walked to Hugh Town when news broke of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Holy Vale. Ran there (so much running) got ahead of the crowd. ✅
Later found a Richard’s Pipit ✅.
p.m. & the Rose-breasted Grosbeak present, but missing all week gave itself up. Tree climbing was involved. ✅…3/

Yellow-billed Cuckoo top end of Holy Vale in 1985.

📸 unknown

Rose-breasted Grosbeak near Longstones, Scilly 1985.

📸 unknown

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

Deep breath.

OTD 40 years ago: Probably my purplest of purple patches.

Literally ran (I could do that on those days) from I.o.S. airfield to get the Yellow-rumped Warbler ✅ at the school. Then ran back up the hill, as an American Golden Plover ✅ had just been found there…1/

Yellow-rumped Warbler seen at dawn behind the school on Scilly 1985.

📸 unknown

American Golden Plover on St. Mary’s airfield, Scilly 1985.

📸 unknown

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

I guess that’s why the Canadian record was not accepted as wild too.

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

Delayed my garden amble this morning, to avoid the fog. A good job I did. #107 Woodlark, in fact 3 of them, flew over ⬅️ @ 08:45

Not quite annual, but 14 birds in 7 years, mostly in Oct.

This ties with my best year - with annual Yellowhammer still possible, maybe something else…

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 2d

Swapped for the Mourning Dove perhaps. Seriously, how does a Woodpigeon get to Texas?

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

@alexanderlees.bsky.social

eBird Checklist - 11 Oct 2025 - South Padre Is.--Valley Land Fund lots (LTC 036) - 14 species (+1 other taxa)

Submitted by Anonymous eBirder.

ebird.org

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Reposted by Birdingprof

Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 3d

Indicative of what proportion of birds are missed on Scillies that a pigeon could basically evade detection in the 1.48 km2 of St Agnes despite lots of people looking #UKBirding

Henry Cook @hcbirding.bsky.social · 5d

American Mourning Dove finally in the bag!!! 3 days of searching put to rest. Tiny little thing. #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK #IoSBirding #IslesofScillyBirding @sophieshrike.bsky.social

A rare dove sits on a wooden pallet amongst a polytunnel frame

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 3d

I had this, which was accepted. Seems similar.

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 3d

The local Peregrine is roosting fairly irregularly, at least on the two sides of the church that I can see from my window, lately.

Also, I’m never sure which one I’m seeing, when I do see one.

This lunchtime it was a lot easier - male & female - together on the South side.

Two Peregrines on the South side of St. Mary’s church, Mildenhall.

Male Peregrine on the South side of St. Mary’s church, Mildenhall.

Female Peregrine on the South side of St. Mary’s church, Mildenhall.

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 3d

Another target achieved. 🎯

TL77C tetrad list was a lowly 122 sp, I aimed to add another 122.

Last night’s Meal Moth was #122.
When I start trapping, in 2026, I would like to see if I can add another further 122.

Happily another Mother is recording in my Tetrad, so it will be more of a challenge.

Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 11d

When I started down the slippery #teammoth slope, earlier this year, I gave myself some targets.

See 10% of British Moths. ✔️
Find 150 species in the garden, (before getting a Moth trap.) ✔️
Double the Moth list of my tetrad.
Add 10 species to my Hectad.

#150 NFM/NFG Mallow, also new for tetrad.

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Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 3d

👍🏼

Birdingprof @birdingprof.bsky.social · 3d

This was way out at the back of the garden. Strangely we don’t get many Moths in our place. Spiders - that’s a whole other deal. Also Harlequin Ladybirds in the Autumn.

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