Iain Manfield
@iainmanfield.bsky.social
Patch birdwatcher in Leeds and around the Yorkshire Dales. Enthusiastic lister using BTO BirdTrack and contributor to BBS. Leeds Uni biochemist.
Very pleased with a year of butterfly records from visiting family – Lancs/Yorks border.
Graphs of date & numbers for 12 spp. Also Small skipper, Small copper & Wall. Nettles, long grass & Garlic mustard for larvae. Buddleia, thistles & lots of other flowers for adults.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
Graphs of date & numbers for 12 spp. Also Small skipper, Small copper & Wall. Nettles, long grass & Garlic mustard for larvae. Buddleia, thistles & lots of other flowers for adults.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Very pleased with a year of butterfly records from visiting family – Lancs/Yorks border.
Graphs of date & numbers for 12 spp. Also Small skipper, Small copper & Wall. Nettles, long grass & Garlic mustard for larvae. Buddleia, thistles & lots of other flowers for adults.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
Graphs of date & numbers for 12 spp. Also Small skipper, Small copper & Wall. Nettles, long grass & Garlic mustard for larvae. Buddleia, thistles & lots of other flowers for adults.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
It's been fun finding Wheatear on Skye beaches during October visits (pic). Later than I see them in the #YorkshireDales. Possible leucorhoa/Greenland birds with the orangey front - coastal migration route?
Then 1st day in the Dales after this year's Skye trip, a late inland Wheatear! #ornithology
Then 1st day in the Dales after this year's Skye trip, a late inland Wheatear! #ornithology
November 13, 2025 at 8:30 PM
It's been fun finding Wheatear on Skye beaches during October visits (pic). Later than I see them in the #YorkshireDales. Possible leucorhoa/Greenland birds with the orangey front - coastal migration route?
Then 1st day in the Dales after this year's Skye trip, a late inland Wheatear! #ornithology
Then 1st day in the Dales after this year's Skye trip, a late inland Wheatear! #ornithology
Another Winter Bird Survey visit last w/e, in the #YorkshireDales above Malham.
Just mipits and Snipe also seen in spring. Lapwing and Starling flocks flying over.
Just 9 spp this visit, mainly corvids - Crow, Rook, Jackdaw and Magpie in the square, Ravens nearby.
@bbs-birds.bsky.social
Just mipits and Snipe also seen in spring. Lapwing and Starling flocks flying over.
Just 9 spp this visit, mainly corvids - Crow, Rook, Jackdaw and Magpie in the square, Ravens nearby.
@bbs-birds.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Another Winter Bird Survey visit last w/e, in the #YorkshireDales above Malham.
Just mipits and Snipe also seen in spring. Lapwing and Starling flocks flying over.
Just 9 spp this visit, mainly corvids - Crow, Rook, Jackdaw and Magpie in the square, Ravens nearby.
@bbs-birds.bsky.social
Just mipits and Snipe also seen in spring. Lapwing and Starling flocks flying over.
Just 9 spp this visit, mainly corvids - Crow, Rook, Jackdaw and Magpie in the square, Ravens nearby.
@bbs-birds.bsky.social
Oh well, Hooded crow last week on Skye - back to Carrion crows again in Leeds.
First Redwing of the autumn for me, flying over.
Grey heron along the Beck. Turns out they're more common in autumn on this patch - see graph.
Just 23 spp this week - there'll be more interesting weeks!
#patchbirding
First Redwing of the autumn for me, flying over.
Grey heron along the Beck. Turns out they're more common in autumn on this patch - see graph.
Just 23 spp this week - there'll be more interesting weeks!
#patchbirding
October 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Oh well, Hooded crow last week on Skye - back to Carrion crows again in Leeds.
First Redwing of the autumn for me, flying over.
Grey heron along the Beck. Turns out they're more common in autumn on this patch - see graph.
Just 23 spp this week - there'll be more interesting weeks!
#patchbirding
First Redwing of the autumn for me, flying over.
Grey heron along the Beck. Turns out they're more common in autumn on this patch - see graph.
Just 23 spp this week - there'll be more interesting weeks!
#patchbirding
I think it’s still, just, #patchbirding when you visit a place, but only on holiday. Adding some Autumn records (blue bars) to some patches in Skye.
Lifer Storm petrel 🎉, eagles most days, Goldcrest the last bird in the book. 62 spp for the trip, 108 for my #Skyebirds list. @birdtrack.bsky.social
Lifer Storm petrel 🎉, eagles most days, Goldcrest the last bird in the book. 62 spp for the trip, 108 for my #Skyebirds list. @birdtrack.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I think it’s still, just, #patchbirding when you visit a place, but only on holiday. Adding some Autumn records (blue bars) to some patches in Skye.
Lifer Storm petrel 🎉, eagles most days, Goldcrest the last bird in the book. 62 spp for the trip, 108 for my #Skyebirds list. @birdtrack.bsky.social
Lifer Storm petrel 🎉, eagles most days, Goldcrest the last bird in the book. 62 spp for the trip, 108 for my #Skyebirds list. @birdtrack.bsky.social
This could be my new favourite BirdTrack list.
White-tailed eagles bothering Great northern divers in the bay. Ringed plover, ~30 of them, sheltering behind clumps of seaweed, with Turnstone on the beach. Red grouse and Raven over the moor. And quite some scenery.
#skyebirds #highlandbirds
White-tailed eagles bothering Great northern divers in the bay. Ringed plover, ~30 of them, sheltering behind clumps of seaweed, with Turnstone on the beach. Red grouse and Raven over the moor. And quite some scenery.
#skyebirds #highlandbirds
October 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
This could be my new favourite BirdTrack list.
White-tailed eagles bothering Great northern divers in the bay. Ringed plover, ~30 of them, sheltering behind clumps of seaweed, with Turnstone on the beach. Red grouse and Raven over the moor. And quite some scenery.
#skyebirds #highlandbirds
White-tailed eagles bothering Great northern divers in the bay. Ringed plover, ~30 of them, sheltering behind clumps of seaweed, with Turnstone on the beach. Red grouse and Raven over the moor. And quite some scenery.
#skyebirds #highlandbirds
As a mainly land-locked birder, I love coming to Skye for the "unfamiliar" - eagles, divers, gulls and, best of all, Gannets.
As much fun though is the familiar doing unfamiliar (to me) things. Why shouldn't a Dipper pick over seaweed or Bullfinch eat heather seed?
#Highlandbirds #ukbirding
As much fun though is the familiar doing unfamiliar (to me) things. Why shouldn't a Dipper pick over seaweed or Bullfinch eat heather seed?
#Highlandbirds #ukbirding
October 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
As a mainly land-locked birder, I love coming to Skye for the "unfamiliar" - eagles, divers, gulls and, best of all, Gannets.
As much fun though is the familiar doing unfamiliar (to me) things. Why shouldn't a Dipper pick over seaweed or Bullfinch eat heather seed?
#Highlandbirds #ukbirding
As much fun though is the familiar doing unfamiliar (to me) things. Why shouldn't a Dipper pick over seaweed or Bullfinch eat heather seed?
#Highlandbirds #ukbirding
Another year I’ve not seen Hen harriers in the #YorkshireDales in breeding season. Dales habitat looks like successful Bowland habitat though.
No records ever in May & June. July records likely “brood managed” birds 2021.
Orange dots on zero are all the dates without HH.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social
No records ever in May & June. July records likely “brood managed” birds 2021.
Orange dots on zero are all the dates without HH.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Another year I’ve not seen Hen harriers in the #YorkshireDales in breeding season. Dales habitat looks like successful Bowland habitat though.
No records ever in May & June. July records likely “brood managed” birds 2021.
Orange dots on zero are all the dates without HH.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social
No records ever in May & June. July records likely “brood managed” birds 2021.
Orange dots on zero are all the dates without HH.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social
Fun birding back in Harris for a few days - here looking from North Harris into Lewis.
Golden eagles over the peaks, White-tailed eagles over the sea. Great northern divers on the sea and Golden plover & Ringed plover feeding on the machair.
Great skua from the ferry coming over.
#Highlandbirds
Golden eagles over the peaks, White-tailed eagles over the sea. Great northern divers on the sea and Golden plover & Ringed plover feeding on the machair.
Great skua from the ferry coming over.
#Highlandbirds
September 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Fun birding back in Harris for a few days - here looking from North Harris into Lewis.
Golden eagles over the peaks, White-tailed eagles over the sea. Great northern divers on the sea and Golden plover & Ringed plover feeding on the machair.
Great skua from the ferry coming over.
#Highlandbirds
Golden eagles over the peaks, White-tailed eagles over the sea. Great northern divers on the sea and Golden plover & Ringed plover feeding on the machair.
Great skua from the ferry coming over.
#Highlandbirds
Few Ring ouzel records in Aug & Sep – @birdtrack.bsky.social reporting rate graph. Hard to find in the #YorkshireDales too – my all-time data below.
3 Ring ouzel in a Hawthorn in a wooded ghyll last w/e suggests I need to look in places away from the short-grazed turf of spring habitat.
#ukbirding
3 Ring ouzel in a Hawthorn in a wooded ghyll last w/e suggests I need to look in places away from the short-grazed turf of spring habitat.
#ukbirding
September 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Few Ring ouzel records in Aug & Sep – @birdtrack.bsky.social reporting rate graph. Hard to find in the #YorkshireDales too – my all-time data below.
3 Ring ouzel in a Hawthorn in a wooded ghyll last w/e suggests I need to look in places away from the short-grazed turf of spring habitat.
#ukbirding
3 Ring ouzel in a Hawthorn in a wooded ghyll last w/e suggests I need to look in places away from the short-grazed turf of spring habitat.
#ukbirding
Yesterday in the #YorkshireDales, the sun appeared briefly when I was near some Creeping thistle - bringing out butterflies.
I had Painted lady (pic) as exotic, but I've seen them regularly in the hills the last few weeks. 7 species for the day-list. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @yorkshiredales.org.uk
I had Painted lady (pic) as exotic, but I've seen them regularly in the hills the last few weeks. 7 species for the day-list. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @yorkshiredales.org.uk
September 7, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Yesterday in the #YorkshireDales, the sun appeared briefly when I was near some Creeping thistle - bringing out butterflies.
I had Painted lady (pic) as exotic, but I've seen them regularly in the hills the last few weeks. 7 species for the day-list. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @yorkshiredales.org.uk
I had Painted lady (pic) as exotic, but I've seen them regularly in the hills the last few weeks. 7 species for the day-list. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @yorkshiredales.org.uk
Spotted flycatcher the best of last week's walking-to-work birding. Three birds equalling my record count over the years in the park. Matching the peak in Yorkshire reporting rate (orange line).
Tawny owl back at it's roost in a broken tree.
27 spp for the week.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Tawny owl back at it's roost in a broken tree.
27 spp for the week.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
September 1, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Spotted flycatcher the best of last week's walking-to-work birding. Three birds equalling my record count over the years in the park. Matching the peak in Yorkshire reporting rate (orange line).
Tawny owl back at it's roost in a broken tree.
27 spp for the week.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Tawny owl back at it's roost in a broken tree.
27 spp for the week.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Spotted flycatcher passed through my Leeds patch ~10 days ago. Still birds on territory in the #YorkshireDales today.
This juvenile bird with adults in Hubberholme churchyard. Spot fly the only bird I've seen eat butterflies - here's one bashing the wings off a Red admiral.
#ukbirding
This juvenile bird with adults in Hubberholme churchyard. Spot fly the only bird I've seen eat butterflies - here's one bashing the wings off a Red admiral.
#ukbirding
August 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Spotted flycatcher passed through my Leeds patch ~10 days ago. Still birds on territory in the #YorkshireDales today.
This juvenile bird with adults in Hubberholme churchyard. Spot fly the only bird I've seen eat butterflies - here's one bashing the wings off a Red admiral.
#ukbirding
This juvenile bird with adults in Hubberholme churchyard. Spot fly the only bird I've seen eat butterflies - here's one bashing the wings off a Red admiral.
#ukbirding
Bonus visit to my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social in the #YorkshireDales. A few Lapwing the only wader. Everyone else has the plovers, sandpipers, 'shanks...
Surprised to get a Whinchat (with Stonechat) but shouldn't have been - pic of adult and juvenile on @birdtrack.bsky.social reporting rate graph.
Surprised to get a Whinchat (with Stonechat) but shouldn't have been - pic of adult and juvenile on @birdtrack.bsky.social reporting rate graph.
August 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Bonus visit to my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social in the #YorkshireDales. A few Lapwing the only wader. Everyone else has the plovers, sandpipers, 'shanks...
Surprised to get a Whinchat (with Stonechat) but shouldn't have been - pic of adult and juvenile on @birdtrack.bsky.social reporting rate graph.
Surprised to get a Whinchat (with Stonechat) but shouldn't have been - pic of adult and juvenile on @birdtrack.bsky.social reporting rate graph.
I've loved getting to grips with identifying Green-veined white (pic) in the #YorkshireDales.
Even on a cool, cloudy day yesterday, 8 butterfly species including Small copper, Small heath, Painted lady and Wall.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Even on a cool, cloudy day yesterday, 8 butterfly species including Small copper, Small heath, Painted lady and Wall.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
August 17, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I've loved getting to grips with identifying Green-veined white (pic) in the #YorkshireDales.
Even on a cool, cloudy day yesterday, 8 butterfly species including Small copper, Small heath, Painted lady and Wall.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Even on a cool, cloudy day yesterday, 8 butterfly species including Small copper, Small heath, Painted lady and Wall.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
This is fun - wish for a bird, see the bird. Spotted flycatcher on cue this week, seen on two days.
Kingfisher and Common gull but no Swifts now.
26 spp for the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Kingfisher and Common gull but no Swifts now.
26 spp for the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
August 16, 2025 at 6:59 AM
This is fun - wish for a bird, see the bird. Spotted flycatcher on cue this week, seen on two days.
Kingfisher and Common gull but no Swifts now.
26 spp for the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Kingfisher and Common gull but no Swifts now.
26 spp for the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Coming up to the peak time for Spotted flycatcher passing through my Woodhouse Moor patch in Leeds - mid/late August into September. Graph of peak count in each week over 12 years.
None seen last year so big effort required to be sure to not miss them this year.
#ukbirding #ornithology
None seen last year so big effort required to be sure to not miss them this year.
#ukbirding #ornithology
August 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Coming up to the peak time for Spotted flycatcher passing through my Woodhouse Moor patch in Leeds - mid/late August into September. Graph of peak count in each week over 12 years.
None seen last year so big effort required to be sure to not miss them this year.
#ukbirding #ornithology
None seen last year so big effort required to be sure to not miss them this year.
#ukbirding #ornithology
Another breeding season when I've not seen Hen harrier in the #YorkshireDales despite checking lots of good looking habitat.
Oh well, perhaps I'll find another one wintering in the Dales, like the one in this clip. The best of birds we should see more of.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social #ukbirding
Oh well, perhaps I'll find another one wintering in the Dales, like the one in this clip. The best of birds we should see more of.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social #ukbirding
August 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Another breeding season when I've not seen Hen harrier in the #YorkshireDales despite checking lots of good looking habitat.
Oh well, perhaps I'll find another one wintering in the Dales, like the one in this clip. The best of birds we should see more of.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social #ukbirding
Oh well, perhaps I'll find another one wintering in the Dales, like the one in this clip. The best of birds we should see more of.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social #ukbirding
My contribution to the Nature Notes column for the Wharfedale Naturalists in the Ilkley Gazette last week - learning to ID some butterflies.
From the brown Ringlet to bright orange Small copper. On cue, I find a Wall butterfly this weekend.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
From the brown Ringlet to bright orange Small copper. On cue, I find a Wall butterfly this weekend.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
August 4, 2025 at 9:03 AM
My contribution to the Nature Notes column for the Wharfedale Naturalists in the Ilkley Gazette last week - learning to ID some butterflies.
From the brown Ringlet to bright orange Small copper. On cue, I find a Wall butterfly this weekend.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
From the brown Ringlet to bright orange Small copper. On cue, I find a Wall butterfly this weekend.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
It's been quiet for birds in recent weeks in the #YorkshireDales. Ring ouzel is a great bird at any time, but especially in August.
This one dropping into a pot-hole with a beak full of food for young 'uns out of sight, just a few '00 metres from the 3 Peaks route.
#ukbirding
This one dropping into a pot-hole with a beak full of food for young 'uns out of sight, just a few '00 metres from the 3 Peaks route.
#ukbirding
August 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It's been quiet for birds in recent weeks in the #YorkshireDales. Ring ouzel is a great bird at any time, but especially in August.
This one dropping into a pot-hole with a beak full of food for young 'uns out of sight, just a few '00 metres from the 3 Peaks route.
#ukbirding
This one dropping into a pot-hole with a beak full of food for young 'uns out of sight, just a few '00 metres from the 3 Peaks route.
#ukbirding
Pleased/relieved to see a juvenile Curlew near the In-laws place, after years of them being on the wrong end of mowing for silage and of Lesser black-backed gulls.
Phone-scoped image of 1 of 2 surviving from a brood of 4.
Adults still chasing off Buzzards.
@curlewaction.bsky.social #ukbirding
Phone-scoped image of 1 of 2 surviving from a brood of 4.
Adults still chasing off Buzzards.
@curlewaction.bsky.social #ukbirding
July 16, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Pleased/relieved to see a juvenile Curlew near the In-laws place, after years of them being on the wrong end of mowing for silage and of Lesser black-backed gulls.
Phone-scoped image of 1 of 2 surviving from a brood of 4.
Adults still chasing off Buzzards.
@curlewaction.bsky.social #ukbirding
Phone-scoped image of 1 of 2 surviving from a brood of 4.
Adults still chasing off Buzzards.
@curlewaction.bsky.social #ukbirding
Super day on Saturday looking for butterflies in Wharfedale #YorkshireDales with the Wharfedale Naturalists.
16 species including this lucky flight shot of a Dark-green fritillary. Also this very, very worn Northern brown argus, I'm reliably informed.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
16 species including this lucky flight shot of a Dark-green fritillary. Also this very, very worn Northern brown argus, I'm reliably informed.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
July 14, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Super day on Saturday looking for butterflies in Wharfedale #YorkshireDales with the Wharfedale Naturalists.
16 species including this lucky flight shot of a Dark-green fritillary. Also this very, very worn Northern brown argus, I'm reliably informed.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
16 species including this lucky flight shot of a Dark-green fritillary. Also this very, very worn Northern brown argus, I'm reliably informed.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
This juvenile Jay the best of this week's walking-to-work birding. No sign of Jays through spring and this bird couldn't fly. Perhaps even Jays can be unobtrusive and breed in the park without me seeing them.
27 spp for the week & 8 butterfly spp, including White-letter hairstreak.
#patchbirding
27 spp for the week & 8 butterfly spp, including White-letter hairstreak.
#patchbirding
July 12, 2025 at 5:58 AM
This juvenile Jay the best of this week's walking-to-work birding. No sign of Jays through spring and this bird couldn't fly. Perhaps even Jays can be unobtrusive and breed in the park without me seeing them.
27 spp for the week & 8 butterfly spp, including White-letter hairstreak.
#patchbirding
27 spp for the week & 8 butterfly spp, including White-letter hairstreak.
#patchbirding
Big jump in Swift numbers this week, presuming fledged young 'uns. Matching the peak number from last year but a few weeks earlier. Been a good year for Swifts?
Mallard and Mandarin juveniles getting bigger.
27 species from the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Mallard and Mandarin juveniles getting bigger.
27 species from the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
June 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Big jump in Swift numbers this week, presuming fledged young 'uns. Matching the peak number from last year but a few weeks earlier. Been a good year for Swifts?
Mallard and Mandarin juveniles getting bigger.
27 species from the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Mallard and Mandarin juveniles getting bigger.
27 species from the week of walking-to-work birding.
#patchbirding #ukbirding
Birding in Upper Wharfedale last week. #YorkshireDales
This beautiful Golden plover one of a few on the fell top.
Spotted flycatcher and Redstart down by the river. Cuckoo and Wheatear on the fell sides.
#yorkshirebirding #ukbirding
This beautiful Golden plover one of a few on the fell top.
Spotted flycatcher and Redstart down by the river. Cuckoo and Wheatear on the fell sides.
#yorkshirebirding #ukbirding
June 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Birding in Upper Wharfedale last week. #YorkshireDales
This beautiful Golden plover one of a few on the fell top.
Spotted flycatcher and Redstart down by the river. Cuckoo and Wheatear on the fell sides.
#yorkshirebirding #ukbirding
This beautiful Golden plover one of a few on the fell top.
Spotted flycatcher and Redstart down by the river. Cuckoo and Wheatear on the fell sides.
#yorkshirebirding #ukbirding