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Chris

@mulbartonbirder.bsky.social

900 followers 840 following 720 posts

Norfolk based birder/naturalist. Also enjoys a bit of gardening | growing fruit/veg | listening to rock | a good pint of beer and the occasional twitch.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 12d

What a truly memorable experience, I don't really have any words so I'll let these images do the speaking #Rarebirds #BirdingScotland #Shetland

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 14h

Look like dunlins, black-tailed godwit & ringed plovers.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 3d

It's a great bird, when you eventually get to see it.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 4d

Same, otherwise what's the point. Important to record the commoner species for obvious reasons.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 5d

Stepped out into the garden this morning after being on #Unst for 2 weeks and saw more birds in 10 minutes than in the entire fortnight. Flocks of redwing heading west with the odd fieldfare. Skylark and meadow pipits also on the move #Norfolkbirding

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 8d

Is there a Shetland WhatsApp group for cetacean sightings that I can be added to. TIA

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 9d

In the last 3 consecutive years #Shetland #Unst has been extremely rewarded and has produced 2 amazing lifers each year. As this trip comes to an end I look forward to what next autumn brings #RareBirdsUk #BirdingScotland #UKBirding

Top left - 09/10/25 Blackpoll Warbler, Haroldswick. Top right - 06/10/25 Siberian Thrush, Loch of Asta. Middle left - 04/10/24 Lanceolated Warbler, Norwick. Middle right - 30/09/24 Pechora Pipit, Quendale. Bottom left - 29/09/23 Veery, Sunna Kirk. Bottom right - 26/09/23 Blackburnian Warbler, Geosetter.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 9d

It took a while to connect with the blackpoll warbler at Haroldswick #Unst today. What a great bird 🤩🤩

Blackpoll warbler, Haroldswick, Unst

Blackpoll warbler, Haroldswick, Unst

Blackpoll warbler, Haroldswick, Unst

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 9d

It's on its way back to roost!

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 9d

Just been watching the bluethroat at Holsens Bridge #Unst quite nicely from the road. A car load of birders turned up and because it wasn't on view for them, decided to walk the entire area and flush everything 😡😡

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 9d

I wish people would stop chasing and pushing the bird. It's been going on all day, give it a rest!!!

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 9d

Top shout by the finder yesterday, took a while to relocate it today. Has been showing well at times #Unst

Blackpoll warbler, Haroldswick

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 10d

Glossy ibis at Norwick #Unst

Glossy ibis at Norwick, Unst

Glossy ibis at Norwick, Unst

Glossy ibis at Norwick, Unst

Glossy ibis at Norwick, Unst

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 10d

but needed better views to clinch and id. Unfortunately @birdguides.bsky.social put the news out as definate, not sure where they got that news from. Anyway no sign of the bird till dusk so fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 10d

Quiet day on #Unst and was sitting at Haroldswick mid afternoon when a WhatsApp message appeared from a birder a few metres requesting assistance. He'd briefly seen what he thought was a blackpoll warbler but his views were too brief to say for certain. He was sure it was an American warbler..

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 10d

It's not very often you discover something new so this double headed glossy ibis at Norwick #Unst was a real surprise.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 10d

Whereabouts at Baliasta?

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 11d

Yeah, I was just checking that it wasn't still there 🫢

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 11d

Here's a few scenic shots of a sunny Baliasta #Unst

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 11d

Very quiet day on #Unst and not sure if there have been any new arrivals in the past few days. The short-toed lark was still present at Burrafirth and gave much better this time.

Short-toed Lark, Burrafirth, Unst

Short-toed Lark, Burrafirth, Unst

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 12d

What a truly memorable experience, I don't really have any words so I'll let these images do the speaking #Rarebirds #BirdingScotland #Shetland

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Male siberian thrush, Loch of Asta, Shetland.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 12d

It's a crazy hobby sometimes, I was standing there since 8.30 and after a couple of hours I thought the best I was going to get was distant calling red grouse. Then there were a few sightings and I managed to see it in flight, I thought that was it..then boom out in full view. What a rollercoaster.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 12d

Crippling views 🤩🤩🤩

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 12d

After a 4 hour wait and boom, sibe thrush on the list!!!

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 13d

With the winds easing the birding got better. Highlight of the day was a short-toed lark at Burrafirth, not approachable so watched from a respectable distance #Unst Also saw yellow-browed warbler plus chiffchaff & blackcap at Shore Station. Great skua and glossy ibis around Uyeasound.

This great skua barreled through Easter Loch, Uyeasound, sending everything into a frenzy.

Tufted ducks resettling on Easter Loch, Uyeasound.

Yellow-browed warbler, Shore Station, Burrafirth.

Short-toed Lark, Burrafirth.

Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 14d

Now this is skill, fishing in 60mph wind #Unst

Gannet feeding off Westing beach.

Gannet feeding off Westing beach.

Gannet feeding off Westing beach.