Pagan Birder
@paganbirder.bsky.social
aka Penny, a love of all of nature especially Birds, Butterflies & Orchids. Often found on the Quantocks & the Somerset levels with my better half, Ann
Trapped in the hide by heavy rain but rewarded by this bright jewel of a Kingfisher as it pondered it’s next move in the rain. Stratford Hide, Chew Valley Lake this morning. #bristolbirding #ukbirding
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Trapped in the hide by heavy rain but rewarded by this bright jewel of a Kingfisher as it pondered it’s next move in the rain. Stratford Hide, Chew Valley Lake this morning. #bristolbirding #ukbirding
With our birding adventures greatly hindered at the moment it was great to see several Cattle Egrets in various fields during a drive across the Somerset Levels. Brilliant characters to take time to watch as they interact with the cattle. #ukbirding #somersetbirding
November 7, 2025 at 7:22 AM
With our birding adventures greatly hindered at the moment it was great to see several Cattle Egrets in various fields during a drive across the Somerset Levels. Brilliant characters to take time to watch as they interact with the cattle. #ukbirding #somersetbirding
A very pleasant morning spent around Chew Valley between the showers. Great to catch up with 7 Whoopers currently on the lake plus a bonus Red crested Pochard and so much more amongst some beautiful autumn colours. #bristolbirding #ukbirding
November 2, 2025 at 4:08 PM
A very pleasant morning spent around Chew Valley between the showers. Great to catch up with 7 Whoopers currently on the lake plus a bonus Red crested Pochard and so much more amongst some beautiful autumn colours. #bristolbirding #ukbirding
A bright spark on a dull day, a Firecrest busily feeding around Shapwick carpark late morning. What a treat! #somersetbirding #ukbirding
October 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A bright spark on a dull day, a Firecrest busily feeding around Shapwick carpark late morning. What a treat! #somersetbirding #ukbirding
Treasure hunting again on the magical Quantock Hills, a very good year for fungi 😀 #quantockhills #ukfungi
October 6, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Treasure hunting again on the magical Quantock Hills, a very good year for fungi 😀 #quantockhills #ukfungi
A flock of 20 Glossy Ibis flew into Herriots Pool for a while for a wash and brush up before flying high and heading to Herons Bay. So uplifting to see and watch, amazing to see such a large flock of Ibis in the UK. #avonbirds
October 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
A flock of 20 Glossy Ibis flew into Herriots Pool for a while for a wash and brush up before flying high and heading to Herons Bay. So uplifting to see and watch, amazing to see such a large flock of Ibis in the UK. #avonbirds
‘Look up!’ Porcelain Fungi (Oudemansiella mucida) amongst the Beech trees on the Quantocks. A beautiful looking fungi and one of my favourites, good to see a good crop of them this year. #quantockhills #SomersetWT #ukfungi
October 4, 2025 at 5:32 AM
‘Look up!’ Porcelain Fungi (Oudemansiella mucida) amongst the Beech trees on the Quantocks. A beautiful looking fungi and one of my favourites, good to see a good crop of them this year. #quantockhills #SomersetWT #ukfungi
A very misty and damp start to our walk on the Quantocks yesterday. After an hour or so the mist cleared, the sun appeared and so did the Fly Agarics. Found them in several areas along our route, a good year it would seem for these beauties 😀🍄 #ukfungi #quantockhills #somersetwildlife
September 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
A very misty and damp start to our walk on the Quantocks yesterday. After an hour or so the mist cleared, the sun appeared and so did the Fly Agarics. Found them in several areas along our route, a good year it would seem for these beauties 😀🍄 #ukfungi #quantockhills #somersetwildlife
A lovely morning in East Devon at the LORP with great scope views of the Baird’s Sandpiper before it flew high and north. Continued with a very relaxing autumnal walk around the reserve, beautiful place and environment. #ukbirding
September 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
A lovely morning in East Devon at the LORP with great scope views of the Baird’s Sandpiper before it flew high and north. Continued with a very relaxing autumnal walk around the reserve, beautiful place and environment. #ukbirding
A very good and enjoyable local birding day. The R B Shrike showed well this morning at Portbury Wharf and at Cheddar Reservoir a plethora of birds from Grey Phalaropes, Curlew Sandpipers, Black Terns, Glossy Ibis etc. Cheddar well worth a visit at the moment. #somersetbirding #avonbirds #ukbirding
September 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A very good and enjoyable local birding day. The R B Shrike showed well this morning at Portbury Wharf and at Cheddar Reservoir a plethora of birds from Grey Phalaropes, Curlew Sandpipers, Black Terns, Glossy Ibis etc. Cheddar well worth a visit at the moment. #somersetbirding #avonbirds #ukbirding
The Wryneck gave brilliant views in the area around the Turf locks on the River Exe this morning to the delight of many people. Glad it stayed for another day, a magical bird to see 😀 #ukbirding #devonbirds
August 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The Wryneck gave brilliant views in the area around the Turf locks on the River Exe this morning to the delight of many people. Glad it stayed for another day, a magical bird to see 😀 #ukbirding #devonbirds
For the briefest of moments the Sabines Gull at Burnham, Somerset this morning. It flew by, landed for seconds and was then lost to view. Many thanks to Andy @burnhambirder.bsky.social for putting the news out and glad we got there in time #somersetbirding #ukbirding
August 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
For the briefest of moments the Sabines Gull at Burnham, Somerset this morning. It flew by, landed for seconds and was then lost to view. Many thanks to Andy @burnhambirder.bsky.social for putting the news out and glad we got there in time #somersetbirding #ukbirding
Caspian Gull following the boat ‘Kellys Hero’ out into Lyme Bay on Friday. Many thanks to Mike @clennonvalley for his sharp gull skills 😀👍 #ukbirding
August 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Caspian Gull following the boat ‘Kellys Hero’ out into Lyme Bay on Friday. Many thanks to Mike @clennonvalley for his sharp gull skills 😀👍 #ukbirding
A brilliant Lyme Bay pelagic from Brixham on Friday aboard ‘Kellys Hero’. Common Dolphins, Balearic & Manx Shearwaters, Arctic Skuas, Black, Common & Arctic Terns etc but the highlight for us a stunning Caspian Gull which followed the boat for a while #ukbirding
August 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A brilliant Lyme Bay pelagic from Brixham on Friday aboard ‘Kellys Hero’. Common Dolphins, Balearic & Manx Shearwaters, Arctic Skuas, Black, Common & Arctic Terns etc but the highlight for us a stunning Caspian Gull which followed the boat for a while #ukbirding
A day trip to the stunning Isles of Scilly yesterday our first ever visit, couldn’t believe we would also get our first ‘Scilly twitch’ and a UK lifer a Western Bonelli’s Warbler #ukbirding
August 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
A day trip to the stunning Isles of Scilly yesterday our first ever visit, couldn’t believe we would also get our first ‘Scilly twitch’ and a UK lifer a Western Bonelli’s Warbler #ukbirding
A brilliant morning trekking on the Quantocks the scenery stunning as always. Several species of bird ‘youngsters’ busily feeding up, plenty of Grayling & Small Heath butterflies, a Golden-ringed Dragonfly & the first ‘shroom’ of the season etc #somersetbirding
July 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
A brilliant morning trekking on the Quantocks the scenery stunning as always. Several species of bird ‘youngsters’ busily feeding up, plenty of Grayling & Small Heath butterflies, a Golden-ringed Dragonfly & the first ‘shroom’ of the season etc #somersetbirding
Couldn’t resist taking a look at the White-winged Black Tern at Frampton this morning, a beautiful looking bird #GlosBirds #ukbirds
July 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Couldn’t resist taking a look at the White-winged Black Tern at Frampton this morning, a beautiful looking bird #GlosBirds #ukbirds
Pretty sure this is a Yellow-legged Gull viewed from Woodford Lodge at Chew Valley Lake this morning? #avonbirds #ukbirding
July 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pretty sure this is a Yellow-legged Gull viewed from Woodford Lodge at Chew Valley Lake this morning? #avonbirds #ukbirding
Stars of the show for me at Slimbridge today were numerous Ruff giving great views from the Discovery Hide, and would you believe the first ones we have seen this year! … 🤔 #ukbirding
July 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Stars of the show for me at Slimbridge today were numerous Ruff giving great views from the Discovery Hide, and would you believe the first ones we have seen this year! … 🤔 #ukbirding
A pleasant morning at Slimbridge between the showers and despite the ‘unknown origin’ of the Tundra Bean Goose nice to see it amongst the Greylags. #ukbirding
July 20, 2025 at 3:13 PM
A pleasant morning at Slimbridge between the showers and despite the ‘unknown origin’ of the Tundra Bean Goose nice to see it amongst the Greylags. #ukbirding
Black-crowned Night Heron at Camp Lane Pools, Grimley Worcestershire this morning gave good views through the branches of Willow etc if you peered through the right gap … 😀 #ukbirding
July 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Black-crowned Night Heron at Camp Lane Pools, Grimley Worcestershire this morning gave good views through the branches of Willow etc if you peered through the right gap … 😀 #ukbirding
An early visit to Barrow Tanks near Bristol this morning and pleased to see that the juv Wood Sandpiper was still in residence and feeding busily on small frogs etc. 2 common Sandpipers also seen as well as at least 5 Cattle Egrets #ukbirding
July 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
An early visit to Barrow Tanks near Bristol this morning and pleased to see that the juv Wood Sandpiper was still in residence and feeding busily on small frogs etc. 2 common Sandpipers also seen as well as at least 5 Cattle Egrets #ukbirding
Small Copper - Draycott Sleights on the Mendips. We don’t see many of this species out and about these days, so nice to spot one amongst the grasses. #ukbitterflies
July 11, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Small Copper - Draycott Sleights on the Mendips. We don’t see many of this species out and about these days, so nice to spot one amongst the grasses. #ukbitterflies
Essex Skippers also from SWT Draycott Sleights on the Mendips this morning #ukbutterflies
July 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Essex Skippers also from SWT Draycott Sleights on the Mendips this morning #ukbutterflies