Liam Langley
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liamlangley1.bsky.social
Liam Langley
@liamlangley1.bsky.social
2K followers 1.1K following 320 posts
Seabird Ecologist interested in movement, foraging ecology and navigation. Recently moved to Lund and currently getting to grips with life in Sweden. Spend an unreasonable amount of time stood on a hill waiting for birds to fly past. He/Him.
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liamlangley1.bsky.social
Nice to relocate the female-type Blue-winged Teal on Hayle with @lobb66.bsky.social this afternoon - after a week without a report and 45 minutes of trying to pin it down in crap light it felt almost as a good as a self-find! #UKbirding
A female-type Blue-winged Teal facing left on the water. The white-spot at the base of the bill, broken pale eye ring, dark blue bill with a spatula re tip and sloping forehead separate the bird from an Eurasian Teal!
November 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Very faint Aurora seen looking north from St Ives Island last night with @elliepursey.bsky.social during a break in the clouds after midnight - an unexpected patch tick and the furthest south I’ve ever seen it!
A dark scene with the black ocean in the bottom half and the night sky in the top half. Above the horizon a faint wash of pink and green shows the presence of the Aurora Borealis.
November 13, 2025 at 11:04 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Excellent seawatch from St Ives with @richardttaylor.bsky.social and Billy Nason 05.56-10.15: Wilson’s (1 flew west in the Manx line at 07.04), Euro (4), Cory’s (2), Manx (15,000), Fulmar (30), Razorbill (48), Guille (32), Gannet (320), Kitt (13), Med Gull (4), Whimbrel (1), Curlew (1)! #UKbirding
The view looking east from the lookout am below the NCI station over St Ives bay to Godrevy. In the foreground is a grainy rock covered in orange and white lichen. Beyond the rocks, the water of the bay is dark grey and beams of sunlight are filtering through grey clouds over the coast at Godrevy.
July 15, 2025 at 10:57 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
A pleasant walk out to Clodgy Point early afternoon was quiet birdwise, with a Kestrel, fledged Mipits 2 Stonechat. It was the moths that headlined the walk, with my first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year feeding on Honeysuckle and a couple of showy Five-spot Burnets! #UKbirding #TeamMoth
A close up Five-spot Burnet feeding on some very small pink flowers against a background of grass and leaves. The moth is black with long antennae and five red spots on each forewings with red hindwings just visible underneath.
June 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
An unexpected Easter twitch for Sweden’s 3rd ever Cirl Bunting at Ljunghusen near Falsterbo this morning was successful with the bird showing excellently as it fed in the yard behind the driving range before flying into gardens. A familiar species from Cornwall in typical Cornish weather! #birding
A Cirl Bunting feeding on the ground amongst sparse grass in front of a tractor wheel. The bird is facing left and is small with a short grey bill, horizontal yellow and black facial stripes, rufous brown wings, a dirty green/grey chest. The belly is green/yellow with faded grey streaks and the legs are pink.
April 20, 2025 at 11:20 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
An excellent trip down to the Falsterbo peninsula this morning produced this smart 2CY drake Lesser Scaup with 1000+ Tufties at Langrens Holmen - an excellent Swedish tick! It was also great to see the returning drake King Eider foraging c200m offshore from Skanörs Hamn. #birding
The 2CY drake Lesser Scaup asleep on the water facing left amongst a small group of Tufted Ducks. The bird has a black head and chest, a pale grey back with dark vermiculations, a black undertail and pale grey flanks with some brown smudges showing its immaturity. Behind it to the right are three Tufted Ducks, two brown female types and a moulting 2CY male showing a white patch on the flank.
February 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Just finished the excellent “Local” by @alastairhumphreys.bsky.social. A highly enjoyable read that’s bolstered my enthusiasm to get out and explore the nature on my doorstep. One of the most inspiring books I’ve read in a while I’d recommend it to anyone interested in nature and the outdoors.
The book “Local: A season for nearby nature and wildness” by Alastair Humphrey’s lies face up on a wooden table. The cover is a landscape of rolling green hill and a blue sky created using collage techniques.
January 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Just finished the excellent “Saving Us” by @katharinehayhoe.com - a chance pickup in Lund library! In it, Katharine discusses the psychology around climate change and provides a detailed guide, with engaging examples, of how to start positive conversations about the subject. Well worth a read!
The book “Saving Us: A climate scientist’s case for hope and healing in a divided world” by Katharine Hayhoe sitting face up on a wooden table. The book is white with green writing in the top left fading gradually to dark blue in the bottom right hand corner.
November 26, 2024 at 4:14 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
An afternoon walk from home looking for Geese was successful when I found a large mixed flock feeding on a recently harvested beet field just northeast of Stångby. A smart Taiga Bean Goose and a family of 4+ Greater Whitefronts were the highlights amongst 250+ Greylags and 800+ Barnies! #birding
A phonescoped record short of a Taiga Bean Goose feeding on the edge of a stubble field amongst a mixed flock of Greylag and Barnacle Geese. The bird is alert and facing to the right in the centre of the frame at the back of the flock behind some Barnacle Geese and only the head and neck are visible. The neck and head are grey brown with a black beak with a distinct orange spot towards the tip. The triangular, “swan-shaped” head and more extensive orange spot identify the bird as a Taiga Bean Goose (subspecies fabalis). The geese are in the middle of the shot with crop stubble in the background and foreground.
November 10, 2024 at 2:42 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
A fantastic trip to Switzerland with @elliepursey.bsky.social to visit PhD friends included some birding with Italian Sparrow and Pygmy Cormorant taking me up to 600 world birds! The clear highlights however were mega views of Bearded Vulture and Alpine Choughs at my feet at Gemmi Pass #birding
A photograph of me stood at Gemmi Pass wearing walking boats, green trousers, a navy windbreaker with a green hoody and a beige hat. The view behind me looking north includes the alpine pass with a lake in the mid distance. The slopes are largely rocky with some brown grasses. The sky is blue with some light grey cumulus clouds.
October 17, 2024 at 10:09 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
After a long weekend in Switzerland, a lunchtime visit to Stångby Våtmark was mostly spent vismigging as I recorded 1500+ Barnies and 35+ Common Buzzards heading high SW. At least one flyover Woodlark and a White-tailed Eagle soaring high to the north were also notable! #birding
The view looking north from Stångby Våtmark. In the foreground a telescope and tripod and a bike are on a gravel track which stretches away to the north. On the right hand side of the track is a bare, ploughed field whilst on the left there is grass. There are deciduous trees along the horizon and the blue sky is filled with scattered white and light grey cumulus clouds.
October 15, 2024 at 11:23 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
An impromptu trip to Alnarpsparken this morning to twitch the Eurasian Eagle Owl found the previous day was successful, with the bird giving excellent views to a small crowd as it roosted high in a large conifer. An incredible experience and only my second record of this species! #birding
A Eurasian Eagle Owl roosting in a conifer in Alnarpsparken. The bird is large and pale brown with dark streaks on the upper breast, subtle barring on the belly feathers and a large dark beak and prominent black and pale brown ear tufts. The bird is facing left with its eyes closed. A Eurasian Eagle Owl roosting in a conifer in Alnarpsparken. The bird is large and pale brown with dark streaks on the upper breast, subtle barring on the belly feathers and a large dark beak and prominent black and pale brown ear tufts. The bird is facing up and to the left with its eyes closed.
October 7, 2024 at 7:56 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
A late morning jaunt to Borgarparken to twitch the female/1CY Red-Breasted Flycatcher was successful, with the bird showing almost instantly on my arrival in response to pishing, giving excellent views flicking around low down before disappearing into the trees. A great Lund record! #birding
A copse of tall, mixed deciduous trees in the northwest corner of Borgarparken where the Red-breasted Flycatcher gave excellent views on arrival in response to my pishing. The trees are on the left of the image with an open pathway covered in fallen leaves on the right hand side.
September 24, 2024 at 9:47 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
My first morning vismigging session of the autumn from Sankt Hans Backar produced a nice selection and of species including a Peregrine SW at 07.03, 160+ Golden Plover, 15+ Sand Martin, 50+ Tree Pipits and a Hawfinch. Also a smart Stock Dove showed well below the hill. #birding
A Stock Dove perched on the grass below the hill at Sankt Hans Backar. The bird is largely grey with an iridescent patch on the neck and some black markings on the wing coverts. The view looking west towards the Oresund Straight from the highest point at Sankt Hans Backar.
August 26, 2024 at 8:22 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
An early evening cycle to Stångby Våtmark with @elliepursey.bsky.social in sunny but blustery conditions produced my first patch Raven along with 3 Marsh Harriers, a Great White Egret and 6 Golden Plover SW! #birding
A male Marsh Harrier sat in a wheat stubble field immediately southwest of Stångby Våtmark. When perched the bird is largely dark brown with piercing yellow eyes and a short, hooked beak.
August 25, 2024 at 3:50 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
A pleasant evening visit to Stångby Våtmark produced three patch ticks - a female/1CY Wheatear in the field to the south, a couple of White Storks soaring distantly to the east, and this smart Great White Egret which appeared out of nowhere and gave excellent views in the SE corner! #birding
A Great White Egret stands in the water facing left. The bird is brilliant white with a long neck and a long yellow bill. The half-submerged legs are dark brown and pale towards the top of the tibia. In the foreground there is grassy vegetation and in the background a muddy shoreline with grass interspersed with white and purple flowers.
August 15, 2024 at 7:21 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Excellent hour at Stångby Våtmark with KS this morning was headlined by a juvenile Spotted Redshank and a juvenile Ruff which both dropped in after my arrival. A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was along the E side and a brief Sand Martin and 10+ Tree Pipits were overdue patch ticks! #birding
A poor phonescoped picture of a juvenile Spotted Redshank. The bird is stood in the water facing left. It has grey/brown wings with a paler belly and chest. The head is also pale with a dark place loral stripe through the eye and a paler supercilium above the eye. The bill is long and narrow and is largely black with a red base to the lower mandible. The legs are red. A juvenile Ruff stands on the edge of the water surrounded by 3 Lapwings. The ruff has brown wings and a white belly. The breast and face are pale buff with a peachy wash and the eye is small and dark. The bill is relatively short and all black and the legs are pale yellow.
August 13, 2024 at 6:59 AM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Incredible display from the Aurora looking north from the end of our road at the northern edge of Stångby about 30 minutes ago with @elliepursey.bsky.social! Also flyover Golden Plover and Common Sandpiper heard whilst watching the show. #aurora #nocmig #birding
The view looking north from the northern Stångby at the Aurora Borealis. There is a green band on the horizon with vertical banks of pink and purple above. The view looking north from the northern Stångby at the Aurora Borealis. There is a green band on the horizon with vertical banks of pink and purple above, which are particular strong on the right hand side. The view looking north from the northern Stångby at the Aurora Borealis. There is a green band on the horizon with vertical banks of pink and purple above.
August 12, 2024 at 9:48 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
An excellent morning of birding today started at Falsterbo where vismig was slow in strong W winds but an adult Black Tern heading SW and 4 Grey Plovers were new for the year. Also notable were a smart juvenile Caspian Gull and a hunting White-tailed Eagle! #birding
A summer plumage adult Grey Plover rests on the bank of the lagoon south of Nabben. It he bird is standing in a small puddle surrounded by sand. It has a black belly, breast and face with white neck sites and a spangled grey, white and black wings. The legs and hill are also black. In the left foreground is a shelduck which is black with a dark green head, a red bill and a chestnut band on the chest sides. A Juvenile Caspian Gull rests distantly on the waters edge of the lagoon at Nabben. The bird is various shades of brown with long pale pink legs and a pale head with a long, parallel-sided Black bill. To its left there is a sleeping Blqck-headed Gull. In the background there is scattered low vegetation amongst the dunes.
August 10, 2024 at 1:11 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
A late afternoon visit to Stångby Våtmark paid off when this smart juvenile Caspian Gull dropped in for a brief wash with a load of Common and BH Gulls. Greater Coverts perhaps a bit on the well-marked side but otherwise looked good for a pure casp - a nice patch tick! #lowcarbonbirding #patchgold
A juvenile Caspian Gull stands facing to the right with its legs in the water, behind it are three juvenile Black-headed Gulls. The bird is largely brown with a pale head and a long, black parallel-sided bill. A juvenile Caspian Gull stands facing to the right with its legs in the water, behind it are two juvenile Black-headed Gulls. The bird is largely brown with a pale head and a long, black parallel-sided bill.
August 8, 2024 at 3:59 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
An excellent walk around the 6km Linnérundan near Kristianstad yday with @elliepursey.bsky.social produced my first Kingfishers of the year and a flyover GWE. The highlight however was this massive Goat Moth caterpillar which Ellie spotted crossing the trail - a lifer for me! #birding #moths
A close up photograph of a large caterpillar at the edge of a gravel path with some grass to its left. The caterpillar is black on top with pinkish red stripes along the sides. The body is divided into obvious segments with the red colour bleeding up between the segments and the head is small and black.
August 7, 2024 at 2:17 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
A morning of birding around southern Skåne produced a good passage of waders, terns and gulls at Falsterbo and 4 Honey Buzzards near Havgårdssjön. The highly however was a visit to Maglarps Sandtag, where at least 2 adult Bee-eaters have excellent views visiting 2 occupied nests! #birding
A bee-eater sits in the entrance to a hole on a sandy cliff with its back facing the camera and its head faces right. Its curved black beak is holding a large insect. It has a golden yellow back and chin, a chestnut grey male and a bright turquoise blue forehead, upper chest and wings. The tail is also long and turquoise with longer central tail feathers tapering to a point. A bee-eater sits in the entrance to a hole on a sandy cliff with its back facing the camera and its head faces left. Its curved black beak is holding a large insect. It has a golden yellow back and chin, a chestnut grey male and a bright turquoise blue forehead, upper chest and wings. The tail is also long and turquoise with longer central tail feathers tapering to a point.
July 18, 2024 at 7:05 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Stunning evening walk around Stångby with @elliepursey.bsky.social produced a hunting male Marsh Harrier, a pair of Wheatears in suitable breeding habitat and a vocal pair of LRPs which appear to be on territory! #lowcarbonbirding
Ellie watches the a male Marsh Harrier hunting over wheat fields north of Stångby. She is stood on a gravel track with green verges with her back to the camera. In the background is the village. The sky is blue with light grey clouds.
July 18, 2024 at 6:46 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
My (almost) daily morning cycle to Stãngby Våtmark produced some interest with a stunning adult Hobby giving a couple of close flypasts as it hunted Hirundines over the wetland. Also 4 Dunlin, 2 Green Sands and a Common Sand present along with the usual scenic Brown Hares. #lowcarbonbirding
The observer looks over a grassy field with a small freshwater wetland on the middle left of the picture. On the horizon are some large deciduous trees. The sky is largely filled with dark grey cumulus clouds with some gaps of blue sky in between. A Brown Hare feeds in the long grass at the side of a gravel track.
July 14, 2024 at 1:27 PM
liamlangley1.bsky.social
Explored Örtofta Sockerbruksdammarna this afternoon by train and bike and it delivered on the wader front! 150+(!!!) Wood Sands, 20+ Common Sands, 15+ Green Sands, 5 Greenshank, 1 Spotshank, 2 Curlew Sands, 100+ Dunlin, 17+ Ruff, 5 LRP and 30+ Avocet! Also a imm WT Eagle and a White Stork! #birding
A view over a square pond with grassy banks in the foreground, deciduous trees in the background and a blue sky with fluffy light grey cumulus clouds.
July 12, 2024 at 4:17 PM