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manchesterbirder.bsky.social
CM
@manchesterbirder.bsky.social
670 followers 890 following 980 posts
Birder from Manchester. Irregular blog at: https://themanchesterbirder.blogspot.com
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It took a long while (6 days!) to connect with St Mary's elusive Wrynecks last week, but this one chose the sunniest day and the steepest cliff edge to finally sit in the open long enough for a photo. #ukbirding #birds
A couple more of the Mourning Dove on St Agnes from Wednesday last week. #ukbirding #birds
A day of varied and excellent wildlife on St Mary's today. The much-searched after Wryneck finally posed briefly but well, a Firecrest was where a Red-breasted Flycatcher wasn't, and a stick insect battled it out with a Clouded Yellow butterfly for invert of the day. #ukbirding #birds
Very briefly! We had it for 20 seconds before it flew away!
Sounds like exactly that. Stood out totally. A learning experience.
That is an actual scandal. Bloody hell.
I don't doubt Merlin has it right, but it stood out in the field as so totally different from the other Pipits. I'll chalk it up as a Meadow Pipit, another learning experience, though this gives me less confidence about IDing any Pipit at all!
The environment wasn't quiet - 50+ linnets constantly calling, 45-odd Meadows all vocal, windy, 10 people all talking at once. It may have called, but I never heard it. It's probably a Meadow, but the first reaction from almost everyone has been RTP, and then a second look has caused doubt.
Doesn't look like it will be - a few people more in the know than me have indicated that they think it's a Meadow Pipit. I guess it's one of those things where I just don't know enough about the variations of Meadow Pipits!
St Agnes a little quieter and calmer than last Saturday. A pleasure to see the wide awake Mourning Dove, some curiously silent Yellow-browed Warblers, along with gorgeous Grey Plover. Great to catch up with @leonwr.bsky.social on the boat back to St Mary's. #ukbirding #birds
Me too, but an abundance of caution seems prudent 👍
No, which is why we weren't 100%.
Thanks Kevin, some debate has occurred in the field.
Pleased to be in the right place at the right time to grab a photo of the Red-throated Pipit (I think) on Bryher, found by a gentleman from Europe. #ukbirding #birds
As Matt says, that's a good number Chris - didn't you only learn to drive recently too?
25 for me, but I could have been over 415 if I'd gone for every twitch realistically possible. I've been fairly choosy until April this year, rarely going for a bird alone, and almost never driving more than 2 hours. 2025 has been the exception - you could easily make it 40 per year I think.
My 300th was Alpine Swift at Elton Res in April 2023. Shame about those boats, but there's no rush - you've enjoyed a great year with some really outstanding experiences of amazing birds.
Thanks for the kind words mate, much appreciated! There's been a fair bit of writing through the year, and some still to come. I think in 2026 I'll try to reach 400 UK species on my life list, so plenty more stories to tell.
It started accidentally really, and I've done it in a strange way. Working on a blog post to straighten out some thoughts. I've done a lot of patching this year too, and though it's been tough and tiring, the 300 has given me a useful structure for the year.
Cheers Matt! A bizarre feeling, and I might even give it a few days before I start planning next year's challenge...
Congratulations on 300 Ian!
Cheers, appreciate the kind words
Hahaha, it's the mistakes that keep us honest!