Andrew Lipczyński
@andrewlipczynski.bsky.social
Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Sandwich Monks Wall Nature Reserve, RSPB, BTO, Kent Ornithological Society, Kent Moth Group, Kent Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation UK/Europe, British Dragonfly Society, Western Palearctic pan-lister. UNICEF, MSF.
Later than usual (printer problems) SBBOT 2024 Annual Report now out. Biodiversity hotspot: 228 bird sp (inc first Brown Booby & breeding Pintail, 1st for Kent since 1981), 25 sp butterfly 379/374 sp macro/micromoth, 29 sp odonata (inc breeding Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1st for Kent) #KentNature
December 3, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Later than usual (printer problems) SBBOT 2024 Annual Report now out. Biodiversity hotspot: 228 bird sp (inc first Brown Booby & breeding Pintail, 1st for Kent since 1981), 25 sp butterfly 379/374 sp macro/micromoth, 29 sp odonata (inc breeding Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1st for Kent) #KentNature
The Dragonfly year continues at Sandwich Bay. A male Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum, basking in warm sunshine on a log pile in Jubilee Field equals our latest record of 2nd Dec set in 2018. Looking at the forecast, there's a fair chance that record could be broken so keep 'em peeled #kentNature
December 2, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The Dragonfly year continues at Sandwich Bay. A male Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum, basking in warm sunshine on a log pile in Jubilee Field equals our latest record of 2nd Dec set in 2018. Looking at the forecast, there's a fair chance that record could be broken so keep 'em peeled #kentNature
Warm, sunny & calm offshore after y'days wind & rain. Cormorant & GC Grebe numbers starting to build otherwise quiet so here is the Shipping News! One of Finnlines/Grimaldi Group's fleet of Hybrid Ro-Ro vessels (built in China obviously) passing through the Thanet Array - having a sneaky recharge?
December 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Warm, sunny & calm offshore after y'days wind & rain. Cormorant & GC Grebe numbers starting to build otherwise quiet so here is the Shipping News! One of Finnlines/Grimaldi Group's fleet of Hybrid Ro-Ro vessels (built in China obviously) passing through the Thanet Array - having a sneaky recharge?
Reposted by Andrew Lipczyński
Thursday evening wildlife talks at Sandwich Bay Bird Obs - come along and join us #kentbirding
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Thursday evening wildlife talks at Sandwich Bay Bird Obs - come along and join us #kentbirding
The Dusky Warbler first found/heard by Martin 'radar' Sutherland on 28/11 was 12th record for Sandwich Bay. The first (3rd for Kent) was trapped 11/11/1978. Then 22/11/83, 2-3/11/86, 25/10/87, two in '95; 30/10-5/11, 1-4/11/04, two in '17; 15-17/10 & 3-5/11 and two in '20 17/10 & 7/11. #KentBirding
December 1, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The Dusky Warbler first found/heard by Martin 'radar' Sutherland on 28/11 was 12th record for Sandwich Bay. The first (3rd for Kent) was trapped 11/11/1978. Then 22/11/83, 2-3/11/86, 25/10/87, two in '95; 30/10-5/11, 1-4/11/04, two in '17; 15-17/10 & 3-5/11 and two in '20 17/10 & 7/11. #KentBirding
Sandwich Bay: quality time with the Dusky Warbler in Little Gully. An occasional 'teck' betrayed its presence feeding low in deep cover teaming up briefly with passing Chiffchaffs, chased half-heartedly by the local Robin & several times out in the open when moving between cover. Nice😍 #KentBirding
November 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Sandwich Bay: quality time with the Dusky Warbler in Little Gully. An occasional 'teck' betrayed its presence feeding low in deep cover teaming up briefly with passing Chiffchaffs, chased half-heartedly by the local Robin & several times out in the open when moving between cover. Nice😍 #KentBirding
Vocal & showy (I actually saw it - briefly) Dusky Warbler at dusk, appropriately, underlining a phyllos-tastic year at Sandwich. Order of appearance; Western Bonelli's, Yellow-browed, Pallas's, Radde's, Hume's, Siberian Chiff & Dusky however no Wood Warbler - first blank year since 2006 #KentBirding
November 28, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Vocal & showy (I actually saw it - briefly) Dusky Warbler at dusk, appropriately, underlining a phyllos-tastic year at Sandwich. Order of appearance; Western Bonelli's, Yellow-browed, Pallas's, Radde's, Hume's, Siberian Chiff & Dusky however no Wood Warbler - first blank year since 2006 #KentBirding
After Tuesday's Shore Lark at Sandwich Bay, I'll admit to having a bit of a thing for Horned Larks - fnarr fnarr - Eremophila taxa I hasten to add 😬. Here are some I met on my travels during 2015-2018.
November 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
After Tuesday's Shore Lark at Sandwich Bay, I'll admit to having a bit of a thing for Horned Larks - fnarr fnarr - Eremophila taxa I hasten to add 😬. Here are some I met on my travels during 2015-2018.
A bracing walk up the beach in sunshine but a chilly Norwest'ly. Nearly running out of accessible beach, the Shore Lark found just south of @kentwildlife.bsky.social reserve boundary. Near annual at the Bay up to start of C21 (peak of 27 in Feb '73😮) now scarce & #KentBirding description species📷🗒️
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A bracing walk up the beach in sunshine but a chilly Norwest'ly. Nearly running out of accessible beach, the Shore Lark found just south of @kentwildlife.bsky.social reserve boundary. Near annual at the Bay up to start of C21 (peak of 27 in Feb '73😮) now scarce & #KentBirding description species📷🗒️
A flat sea aided a Great Crested Grebe count but little else apart from the Shetland Trader. Fantasies of a ship-assisted Siberian Thrush cruelly dashed when I read it had sailed from the south coast bumping into the odd yacht but were the Stoikiy & Yelnya responsible for the Hume's Warbler influx 🤔
November 24, 2025 at 7:43 PM
A flat sea aided a Great Crested Grebe count but little else apart from the Shetland Trader. Fantasies of a ship-assisted Siberian Thrush cruelly dashed when I read it had sailed from the south coast bumping into the odd yacht but were the Stoikiy & Yelnya responsible for the Hume's Warbler influx 🤔
The northerlies delivered geese to East Kent; 26 Barnies on Worth & nearby a hrota Pale-bellied Brent (scarce in these parts) added credibility to their wild origin? Reminds me of our trip to Svalbard (this is the last cruise I go on with you😡) -perhaps one of the local gulls could also pop down 🙏
November 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The northerlies delivered geese to East Kent; 26 Barnies on Worth & nearby a hrota Pale-bellied Brent (scarce in these parts) added credibility to their wild origin? Reminds me of our trip to Svalbard (this is the last cruise I go on with you😡) -perhaps one of the local gulls could also pop down 🙏
90 mins on the sea in biblically-bad conditions - to say wintry squalls just doesn't quite cut it. Defrosting back at base catching up with Greg Lee, our previous AW on leave from Bardsey BO, when our current AW Jonny Bull calls to say he has a Hume's Warbler in the Little Elms. Pandemonium ensues..
November 21, 2025 at 3:25 PM
90 mins on the sea in biblically-bad conditions - to say wintry squalls just doesn't quite cut it. Defrosting back at base catching up with Greg Lee, our previous AW on leave from Bardsey BO, when our current AW Jonny Bull calls to say he has a Hume's Warbler in the Little Elms. Pandemonium ensues..
There's been a huge increase in number of Gannets feeding offshore at Sandwich Bay. From usual day peaks of 200-300, 1300 on 10th Nov 2024 was staggering only to be eclipsed by 1750 on 1st Nov this year. In other news the ♀️Velvet Scoter remains, today in the company of a ♀️Common Scoter #KentBirding
November 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
There's been a huge increase in number of Gannets feeding offshore at Sandwich Bay. From usual day peaks of 200-300, 1300 on 10th Nov 2024 was staggering only to be eclipsed by 1750 on 1st Nov this year. In other news the ♀️Velvet Scoter remains, today in the company of a ♀️Common Scoter #KentBirding
Bright warm (15'C) but breezy - probably our last chance for some 'odonating' before weather turned. No Migrant Hawkers but still plenty of Common Darters including this pair making 'wahey' while the sun shone. Then news of a Willow Emerald Damselfly smashing our previous latest of 14th Oct in 2021.
November 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Bright warm (15'C) but breezy - probably our last chance for some 'odonating' before weather turned. No Migrant Hawkers but still plenty of Common Darters including this pair making 'wahey' while the sun shone. Then news of a Willow Emerald Damselfly smashing our previous latest of 14th Oct in 2021.
63 Firecrests ringed at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory so far this year 😮 Most probably breeding in my home garden since 2019 (although yet to find a nest😬) the resident male/s sing & display as I potter about - all reflecting large population increases noted in the county since 2012/3. #KentBirding
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
63 Firecrests ringed at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory so far this year 😮 Most probably breeding in my home garden since 2019 (although yet to find a nest😬) the resident male/s sing & display as I potter about - all reflecting large population increases noted in the county since 2012/3. #KentBirding
Reposted by Andrew Lipczyński
The proposed Sea Link is in the examination stage of the DCO process.
This week, our Planning Officer Emma Waller is speaking at both the Issue-specific and Open Floor hearings to make our concerns heard and to urge National Grid to Rethink.
kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/rethink-sea-link
This week, our Planning Officer Emma Waller is speaking at both the Issue-specific and Open Floor hearings to make our concerns heard and to urge National Grid to Rethink.
kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/rethink-sea-link
November 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The proposed Sea Link is in the examination stage of the DCO process.
This week, our Planning Officer Emma Waller is speaking at both the Issue-specific and Open Floor hearings to make our concerns heard and to urge National Grid to Rethink.
kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/rethink-sea-link
This week, our Planning Officer Emma Waller is speaking at both the Issue-specific and Open Floor hearings to make our concerns heard and to urge National Grid to Rethink.
kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/rethink-sea-link
Distinctly overdressed on this morning's WeBS count on Worth Marshes 😅 - great to see SBBOT old boy David Anning now RSPB Ynys-hir site manager. Migrant Hawkers still on the wing if somewhat tattered. On Thursday a brown 'hawker' with amber-tinted wings was frustratingly a probable Vagrant Emperor 😬
November 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Distinctly overdressed on this morning's WeBS count on Worth Marshes 😅 - great to see SBBOT old boy David Anning now RSPB Ynys-hir site manager. Migrant Hawkers still on the wing if somewhat tattered. On Thursday a brown 'hawker' with amber-tinted wings was frustratingly a probable Vagrant Emperor 😬
Emblematic & symbolic of Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, today's "seven-striped Siberian sprite" Pallas's Warbler 😁 was the 58th recorded at the Bay (of which 24 ringed) since the first (also for Kent) on Nov 23rd 1958❗. The earliest Oct 11th in 1975, the latest Dec 31st 1998 #KentBirding #KentNature
November 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Emblematic & symbolic of Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, today's "seven-striped Siberian sprite" Pallas's Warbler 😁 was the 58th recorded at the Bay (of which 24 ringed) since the first (also for Kent) on Nov 23rd 1958❗. The earliest Oct 11th in 1975, the latest Dec 31st 1998 #KentBirding #KentNature
Reposted by Andrew Lipczyński
And it doesn't look like any other species in the western palearctic, so not some cryptic species stuff here but an amazing new find! Here's a pic by Süleyman Erdeğer, the person who first found it (and after whom it is named) www.trakel.org/kelebekler/?...
TRAKEL | Fotogaleri | Süleyman’ın Kaplanı
TRAKEL Öncelkle ısparta'dan selamlar kelebek dostlarıma.İki yıla varan bir çalışmamız az önce makalenin yayınlanmasıyla sonuçlandı. Herşeyden önce iki yıldır gece gündüz desteklerini esirgemeyen Onat ...
www.trakel.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
And it doesn't look like any other species in the western palearctic, so not some cryptic species stuff here but an amazing new find! Here's a pic by Süleyman Erdeğer, the person who first found it (and after whom it is named) www.trakel.org/kelebekler/?...
Today 75 mins on the sea - quiet but for a drake Scaup, two drake Velvet Scoters & three species of Diver 😮, inc this Great Northern close enough inshore to try a record shot. Cormorant numbers starting to build & yesterday the Sea Cadets Flagship/training brig Royalist out of Ramsgate #KentBirding
November 3, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Today 75 mins on the sea - quiet but for a drake Scaup, two drake Velvet Scoters & three species of Diver 😮, inc this Great Northern close enough inshore to try a record shot. Cormorant numbers starting to build & yesterday the Sea Cadets Flagship/training brig Royalist out of Ramsgate #KentBirding
Highlights from Worth last Thurs 30th October: Plenty of Common Darters (20+) & Migrant Hawkers (5 males) still on the wing in the lee of the Great Wood & probably my latest ever Brown Argus. A Glossy Ibis out by Roaring Gutter but no sign of y'day's Long-billed Dowitcher. #KentNature #KentBirding
November 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Highlights from Worth last Thurs 30th October: Plenty of Common Darters (20+) & Migrant Hawkers (5 males) still on the wing in the lee of the Great Wood & probably my latest ever Brown Argus. A Glossy Ibis out by Roaring Gutter but no sign of y'day's Long-billed Dowitcher. #KentNature #KentBirding
A spell sea-watching, c2300 Starlings in-off & Black-throated Diver the best. Then to HQ for our first 'confirmed' White-speck. Previous records: "8 in 8-17 July in 1986 clearly incorrect but one on 31/10/89 probably reliable”. A migrant/colonist, seen previously on Scillies were resident/common.
October 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
A spell sea-watching, c2300 Starlings in-off & Black-throated Diver the best. Then to HQ for our first 'confirmed' White-speck. Previous records: "8 in 8-17 July in 1986 clearly incorrect but one on 31/10/89 probably reliable”. A migrant/colonist, seen previously on Scillies were resident/common.
Reposted by Andrew Lipczyński
Thursday’s (Oct 30th) Sandwich Bay Bird obs talk at 7.30pm is “The Damsels & Dragons of Sandwich Bay & Worth Marshes” by Andrew Lipczynski
32 species of Damselflies & Dragonflies have been recorded at Sandwich Bay & 29 breed - no other UK site has a greater biodiversity. All welcome £5
#kentbirding
32 species of Damselflies & Dragonflies have been recorded at Sandwich Bay & 29 breed - no other UK site has a greater biodiversity. All welcome £5
#kentbirding
October 28, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Thursday’s (Oct 30th) Sandwich Bay Bird obs talk at 7.30pm is “The Damsels & Dragons of Sandwich Bay & Worth Marshes” by Andrew Lipczynski
32 species of Damselflies & Dragonflies have been recorded at Sandwich Bay & 29 breed - no other UK site has a greater biodiversity. All welcome £5
#kentbirding
32 species of Damselflies & Dragonflies have been recorded at Sandwich Bay & 29 breed - no other UK site has a greater biodiversity. All welcome £5
#kentbirding
Reposted by Andrew Lipczyński
Pretty chuffed to just have a female Vagrant Emperor in/off at Sandwich Bay beach (opposite the Princes Golf Clubhouse) at 1240hrs. Hawked the beach for a few minutes before heading off inland #Odonata @birdguides.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Pretty chuffed to just have a female Vagrant Emperor in/off at Sandwich Bay beach (opposite the Princes Golf Clubhouse) at 1240hrs. Hawked the beach for a few minutes before heading off inland #Odonata @birdguides.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrew Lipczyński
Nice to find a showy female Velvet Scoter off the Princes Golf Course in Sandwich Bay this afternoon. My first in Kent for a very long time @kentishplover.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Nice to find a showy female Velvet Scoter off the Princes Golf Course in Sandwich Bay this afternoon. My first in Kent for a very long time @kentishplover.bsky.social