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Shiphay Birder

@shiphaybirder.bsky.social

260 followers 250 following 210 posts

South Devon. Trying to keep it relatively local.

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Apr 7

Pleased to find a #CornBunting in the afternoon ☀️ sunshine at Devon's #HopesNose today. A rare bird in the county and the first for the site since Nov '94. #DevonBirds #UKBirding. With @backwardbirder.bsky.social @markrabailey.bsky.social @stephmurphy.bsky.social @robmurphy.bsky.social

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 11m

Shiphay, Torquay, Devon. 12.42. First Redwing of the 🍂 autumn over the house 🏡. Flew N - 'seeping' as it went. Another yearly milestone. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 2h

Hope's Nose, S Devon. 09.05. A Velvet Scoter S past the Point. Just the second I have found/seen here.👍 #DevonBirds #UKBirding @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 1d

Hi, @wildweevils.bsky.social. No, I'm not on any birding WhatsApp groups. Dartmoor Ring Ouzels should be coming through for the next 2-3 weeks. You could check the Wildlife in Devon and Devon Birds websites for sightings news at the regular sites. Will be posts on Bluesky too. 👍

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 1d

A chance encounter with a group of #Crossbills in S Devon today. Not always the easiest species to get good views of. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 2d

Super views of this 1w #RingOuzel on Devon's #Dartmoor today. The second half of October simply wouldn't be the same without them. Wonderful birds in their silver filigree finery. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 2d

An elusive young #RingOuzel on Devon's #Dartmoor today. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 2d

Really enjoyed catching up with #RingOuzels on Devon's #Dartmoor today. I was fortunate to get great views of at least 5 birds. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 4d

Both of yesterday's #BlackRedstarts still present this morning in the Swedwell Rd/Gard Close area of Torquay, Devon. Per Mike P. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 4d

Mike P and I are #BlackRedstart fanatics! A couple more of Mike's photos of the 2 birds he found in suburban Torquay, Devon this afternoon. Super stuff! What a treat on a drab October 🍂 day 👍. #DevonBirds #UKBirding

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 4d

An imm/fem #BlackRedstart in the Swedwell Rd/Gard Close area of Torquay, Devon this PM. I saw 1 of the 2 highly mobile birds found by Mike P earlier in the day. Amazing to think that it's 10 days short of a year since he found the last one in exactly the same place! #DevonBirds #UKBirding

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 8d

Hope's Nose, S Devon. 07.20. The first 4 seeping Redwings of the 🍂 autumn for the site, flew N over the entrance gate. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 8d

1 of 3 #PurpleSandpipers at S Devon's #HopesNose this morning. First of the 🍂 autumn there, and incredibly, likely arrived from the arctic or subarctic. Should be in the vicinity for at least the next 6 months. Amazing. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #Migration #birds

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 8d

Hope's Nose, Devon this morning. A Snipe inadvertently put up from vegetation S of the Point, was my 1st for the site! A good bird for the location. Nearby, I was pleased to find the first Purple Sandpiper of the autumn 🍁 - a further two were also seen. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 15d

Always something to see 👍.

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 15d

Great views of a #Spoonbill at Devon's #PassageHouse, #TeignEstuary at 2.00pm today. This obliging bird was admired by lots of passers-by. Thanks to the finder and Mike P for the nudge. Just my 2nd at this local site. #DevonBirds #UKBirding @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 21d

This cracking #PectoralSandpiper showed well in the late September sunshine 🌞 this afternoon at Devon's #BowlingGreenMarsh. A 🎩 top find by @backwardbirder.bsky.social 👍. A decent supporting cast of local birders too. #DevonBirds #UKBirding @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #birds

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 22d

Today's #SlavonianGrebe S of Cockwood Steps on Devon's #ExeEstuary. A difficult bird to video due to its distance and frequent diving in blustery conditions. Just my 2nd in Devon this year 😉. Thanks again to Lee C & @robmurphy.bsky.social. #DevonBirds #UKBirding @warrenbirding.bsky.social

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · 22d

Cockwood Steps, Exe Estuary, Devon. Slavonian Grebe showing well, if a bit distantly, to the S. Favouring the area around the green buoy until 12.45 at least. Thanks Lee C. With @robmurphy.bsky.social @stephmurphy.bsky.social. #DevonBirds #UKBirding @warrenbirding.bsky.social

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Sep 1

A further short clip from yesterday of the #GreyPhalarope currently gracing South Devon's #SouthHuishMarsh. Smashing bird 👍. #UKBirding #DevonBirds @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #birds

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 31

The #GreyPhalarope at South Devon's #SouthHuishMarsh this morning. Although a little distant, it showed well for periods, much to the delight of the onlooking birders. Thanks 🙏 to Mike P, @robmurphy.bsky.social @southhamsbirder.bsky.social @startbirder.bsky.social #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 28

In honour of Mark V's #Wryneck doing the decent thing and staying for a second day, here's another bit of footage 👍. #TurfHotel #ExminsterMarshes #UKBirding #DevonBirds #birds @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 27

Turf Hotel, #ExminsterMarshes, Devon. Very interesting to watch Mark V's #Wryneck feeding along a gravel path this afternoon. Super views once again of this enigmatic species 👍. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 27

Hope's Nose, Devon. 06.40-12.00. Quieter than hoped, with much passing S too distantly. So, best site bird 6 Sand Martins (3 in off), 60+ Bal Shears, 60+ Manxies, 25+ Comm Terns past the Point, 5 Med Gulls, 5 Sand Terns. Many Kitts/Gans. Painted Lady, Grey Seal. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 27

Turf Hotel, #ExminsterMarshes, Devon. 15.30. Mark V's superbly found #Wryneck still showing incredibly well next to the lock. My 2nd Devon Wryneck in 8 days! Thanks for the info Mike P, Keith M and @markrabailey.bsky.social. @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #UKBirding #birds

Shiphay Birder @shiphaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 26

Great to see my mate Mike P's fabulous photo of the recent #Wryneck at Devon's Hope's Nose feature in the 👇 below. Also, good to see Devon's #MarshSandpiper in there - congratulations to Paul B, Lee C, Phil A, and everyone else involved 👍. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds

BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · Aug 26

Review of the Week: 18-25 August 2025

Britain's second Black-winged Kite headlined an excellent period that also included a juvenile Marsh Sandpiper, a Bridled Tern, and the momentous confirmation of Zitting Cisticola breeding for the first time:

Review of the Week: 18-25 August 2025

Sam Viles rounds up the rare bird news for Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic for the week of 18-25 August 2025. Britain's second Black-winged Kite headlined an excellent early autumn period that also included a juvenile Marsh Sandpiper, a Bridled Tern and the confirmation of Zitting Cisticola breeding for the first time.

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