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manchesterbirder.bsky.social
CM
@manchesterbirder.bsky.social
700 followers 900 following 1.1K posts
Birder from Manchester.
Irregular blog at: https://themanchesterbirder.blogspot.com
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manchesterbirder.bsky.social
16 miles walked, 81 species seen in the Big Day in the 10k today. Highlights of Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Siskin, Redpoll, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and huge numbers of thrushes made for an excellent day of birding. #ukbirding #birds
A male Yellowhammer in the late afternoon sun Female Goosander shaking her wings after a splash landing. The glorious surrounds of West Manchester - dipping a Dipper but seeing the only House Sparrow of the entire day. Sun lowering over Little Woolden Moss.
November 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Good to get out birding in Northumberland and Cumbria for a couple of days. Various amazing experiences, but a gorgeous Purple Sandpiper, a ringtail and a roof-perching Black Grouse were highlights. #ukbirding #birds
Purple Sandpiper standing on sand coloured rocks in front of white water foam of waves. Three (of nine) Whooper Swans landing on a lake. Long-tailed Duck facing right. Distant male Black Grouse perched on a rooftop.
November 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Tomorrow I'm attempting a Big Day in the 10K, a chance to see over 100 species within a 10km circle of home, with as much on foot as possible. Thermals out at 6am! #ukbirding. More on my 10k on my blog here in a post from June this year: themanchesterbirder.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
The view from Little Woolden Moss in the South of the 10k towards Burnt Edge in the North.
October 31, 2025 at 6:50 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
The Short-eared Owls came out later yesterday and in poor light. Sad for the 20+ university students that had come to observe them and missed them by half an hour. #ukbirding #birds
Short-eared Owl gliding left to right, looking at a Crow (out of shot) that was mobbing. Short-eared Owl showing dark forewing patterns and orange-toned based to primary feathers.
October 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
They're back! Short-eared Owls not far from home this evening. Such incredible birds, it always makes me happy to see them return. #ukbirding #birds
A rear view of a Short eared Owl being chased by a Kestrel against a pale blue sky. Short eared Owl taking off from a field of long brown grass. Its heavily feathered legs are clearly visible.
October 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Settings all wrong for a bird in flight, but I spent a happy hour most days on St Mary's taking photos of Black Redstarts sitting on rocks across the beaches. At least 7 individuals present at Porthcressa on this particular day. #ukbirding #birds
A female or young male Black Redstart taking off from a lichen stained rock in strong sunlight. The wings are blurred and at full extension, almost symmetrical as the bird arrows away.
October 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
My 10 year old daughter took this photo with my (very heavy) camera this morning. Willow Tit isn't a bad species for a first picture of a bird! #ukbirding #birds
A Willow Tit on a branch in low light.
October 25, 2025 at 10:45 AM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
It's been a tough week, but there's always hope things can get better. Sorry there's been no blog for a while, but there's some writing almost ready. #ukbirding #birds
The view over my patch this week An obliging Black Redstart last week at Porthcressa.
October 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
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 Wryneck in very bright sunlight at the edge of a cliff. A Wryneck in very bright sunlight showing its cryptic plumage.
October 20, 2025 at 8:04 AM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
A couple more of the Mourning Dove on St Agnes from Wednesday last week. #ukbirding #birds
Mourning Dove in flight, with wings angled forward and down Mourning Dove against a backdrop of metal tubes.
October 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
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
A Wryneck perched on the edge of a rock on the cliff off Penninnis head. Cryptic plumage illuminated by the sun. A firecrest, mostly the head, showing the thick white eye stripe. A Prickly Stick Insect at Old Town Church. The view from Penninnis in the sun this afternoon.
October 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
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
Back of camera shot of the Mourning Dove perched and awake (for a change). Back of camera shot of the Mourning Dove looking back, over its shoulder, I can see that look in your eye. I never dreamed it could be over, I never wanted to say goodbye. Yellow-browed Warbler pinging about in a tree overhead. Grey Plover flyby displaying the classic black armpits.
October 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
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
Red-throated Pipit
October 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Following the Rosefinch a very brief Wryneck and an almost-missed Rosy Starling on St Mary's took my UK year list to 300 today. Black Redstart also showing showing very well was a pleasure to watch. #Ukbirding #birds
Back of the camera shot of the juvenile Rosy Starling that appeared and then vanished near the Old Town Inn this afternoon. Black Redstart on rocks at Porthcressa Beach
October 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Common Rosefinch at Porth Hellick on Scilly Day 2. #UKbirding #birds
Back of camera photo of a Common Rosefinch
October 12, 2025 at 9:26 AM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Mind-blowing views of the Mourning Dove on St Agnes with Andy Stockhausen, Owen Parsons and a host of others. #ukbirding #birds
Mourning Dove sitting on a blue pallet.
October 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay is seabirds, so here's a Laughing Gull in Cornwall, England, a very long way from home earlier this year.
A Laughing Gull in summer plumage in flight creating a loose right angle with its wings. It has a piece of bread in its dark red beak. The Laughing Gull looking contemplative, showing the crisp white eye crescents in its full dark hood.
October 6, 2025 at 6:47 AM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
3 hours at Rossall Point and a further 2 at New Brighton and I *still* haven't seen a Leach's Petrel. Autumn 2025 has quickly become my most dull autumn of birding in memory. Little Gull and an Arctic Skua rescued what would otherwise have been a largely fruitless day. #ukbirding #birds
Little Gull in winter plumage flying in very strong onshore winds. The black underwing is visible as the bird banks in the air.
October 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Slightly better photos (only slightly) of the unringed (😄) Ross's Goose at Marshside. Hopefully wild, but if not, simply a great bird in Lancashire. #UKbirding #birds
A Ross's Goose feeding on a grassy bank A Ross's Goose feeding on a grassy bank A Ross's Goose feeding on a grassy bank A Ross's Goose feeding on a grassy bank
October 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Back of camera shot of the Ross's Goose at Marshside this afternoon. No idea of provenance, but a beauty of a bird either way. #ukbirding #birds
A blurry back of camera photo of a white goose with black tail feathers and a neat pink bill
October 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Much more fungi than birds on patch at the moment. Not sure what kind of ink caps these are, but they're bigger than others I've seen. Lots of Fly Agaric about too.
Single ink cap growing in a green field edge. A pair of ink caps rolling up as they grow older. Fly Agaric splitting as they invert.
September 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Red-necked Phalarope at Nosterfield this morning never came close enough for my camera to get any real pictures, but was brilliant to watch in the scope. This and Siberian Stonechat take me to 293 species in the UK this year. #ukbirding #birds
Red-necked Phalarope and reflection behind a rock Red-necked Phalarope with narrow bill open to feed, the reddish neck patterns showing. Rear left view of the Red-necked Phalarope showing the red neck well.
September 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Red-necked Phalarope showing well if a little distantly at Nosterfield this morning. A real beauty to watch as the sun rises. #ukbirding #birds
September 29, 2025 at 7:06 AM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Not quite the absolute feast of birds out east, but Grey Partridge on patch this morning. #ukbirding #birds
Grey Partridge in long grass Grey Partridge in flight
September 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
manchesterbirder.bsky.social
Great day around Banks & Marshside, with my first 7 Whooper Swans of the winter, thousands of Pink-footed Geese, Golden Plover everywhere, and Wheatear still passing through. The mobile and elusive Glossy Ibis let us catch up with it at Martin Mere, though always at distance. #ukbirding #birds
Distant Glossy Ibis standing on one leg in shallow water, surrounded by Lapwings. Skylark in a gap in very green grass. A well marked Wheatear perched amongst green shoots.
September 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM