Paul Rhodes
@paulrhodes.bsky.social
Birder and naturalist. St Agnes Isles of Scilly always on my mind. Lover of Real Ale. Lifelong supporter of Stafford Rangers FC UTB. Mainly patch birding in Netherlands based in Leiden.
Polders Poelgeest SE wind. Excellent morning 4 whooper swans dropped in then flew south. Hawfinch brambling 48 + siskin 60+ fieldfare skylark female pintail 22 greater white fronts good no's starling redwing chaffinch & wood pigeon goldcrest stonechat. Yellow browed finally gone #birds #dutchbirding
October 31, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Polders Poelgeest SE wind. Excellent morning 4 whooper swans dropped in then flew south. Hawfinch brambling 48 + siskin 60+ fieldfare skylark female pintail 22 greater white fronts good no's starling redwing chaffinch & wood pigeon goldcrest stonechat. Yellow browed finally gone #birds #dutchbirding
Heard news tdy that there were 50,000 blue tits on Vlieland & similar numbers on Texel during the recent irruption!!! At Polders Poelgeest today the yellow browed warble again it's 12th day & further possible heard. 2 stonechats f brambling 350 starling 100 wood pigeon #birds #dutchbirding
October 30, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Heard news tdy that there were 50,000 blue tits on Vlieland & similar numbers on Texel during the recent irruption!!! At Polders Poelgeest today the yellow browed warble again it's 12th day & further possible heard. 2 stonechats f brambling 350 starling 100 wood pigeon #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest NL found a yellow browed warbler ! Vismig 17 gwhite fronts 500 wood pigeon 550 redwing 12 fieldfare mistle &10 song thrush 8 brambling 350 chaffinch 2 marsh harrier 4 GWE 12 skylark pintail on the deck 8 redpoll 6 goldcrest 2 stonechat 15 song thrush mpintail #birds #dutchbirding
October 19, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Polders Poelgeest NL found a yellow browed warbler ! Vismig 17 gwhite fronts 500 wood pigeon 550 redwing 12 fieldfare mistle &10 song thrush 8 brambling 350 chaffinch 2 marsh harrier 4 GWE 12 skylark pintail on the deck 8 redpoll 6 goldcrest 2 stonechat 15 song thrush mpintail #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL light north wind. A crossbill south was new for me here &1st record since 2013 also a few bramblings over &80 woodpigeon juvenile stonechat continues great egret has taken up residence for it's 3rd winter 7 snipe only a few chiffchaffs now on Polders #birds #dutchbirding
October 16, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL light north wind. A crossbill south was new for me here &1st record since 2013 also a few bramblings over &80 woodpigeon juvenile stonechat continues great egret has taken up residence for it's 3rd winter 7 snipe only a few chiffchaffs now on Polders #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL a flock of 48 fieldfare were first of the autumn 6 siskin 25+ redwing & a few meadow pipits & chaffinch all S also 2 stonechat min 10 common snipe no firecrest today barnacle roost continues for 5th day c350 this am never happened before here #birds #dutchbirding
October 13, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL a flock of 48 fieldfare were first of the autumn 6 siskin 25+ redwing & a few meadow pipits & chaffinch all S also 2 stonechat min 10 common snipe no firecrest today barnacle roost continues for 5th day c350 this am never happened before here #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL west wind. Little/ no movement the whinchat remains but a little more obliging a few redwing over + 15 chaffinch & c10 meadow pipits 5 barn swallow a little grebe new in last 3 spoonbill headed south c150 starling on pylons c50 barnacle geese in roost #birds #dutchbirding
October 8, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL west wind. Little/ no movement the whinchat remains but a little more obliging a few redwing over + 15 chaffinch & c10 meadow pipits 5 barn swallow a little grebe new in last 3 spoonbill headed south c150 starling on pylons c50 barnacle geese in roost #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL a misty start then brighter SW wind record 220 barnacle geese left the roost a late whinchat &common redstart first goldcrests of autumn (2)small no's of redwing& meadow pipits through south min 7 water rail &9 cettis calling/singing 3 pochard new in # birds #dutchbirding
October 7, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL a misty start then brighter SW wind record 220 barnacle geese left the roost a late whinchat &common redstart first goldcrests of autumn (2)small no's of redwing& meadow pipits through south min 7 water rail &9 cettis calling/singing 3 pochard new in # birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL 1st redwings(5) 3 white wagtails 5 chaffinch 20 meadow pipits 5 swallow skylark and spoonbill all south on a NE going easterly wind 2 whinchat & 2 short toed tree creeper on deck +3 reed bunting blackcap water rail peregrine through 25+chiffchaff #birds #dutchbirding
September 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL 1st redwings(5) 3 white wagtails 5 chaffinch 20 meadow pipits 5 swallow skylark and spoonbill all south on a NE going easterly wind 2 whinchat & 2 short toed tree creeper on deck +3 reed bunting blackcap water rail peregrine through 25+chiffchaff #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden crisp north wind but sunny brought first pintails of the autumn a firecrest & male stonechat. Overhead 30 spoonbill went south (see picture zoom in required)+a few common buzzards & meadow pipits small influx of chiffchaff a new blackcap common snipe #birds #dutchbirding
September 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden crisp north wind but sunny brought first pintails of the autumn a firecrest & male stonechat. Overhead 30 spoonbill went south (see picture zoom in required)+a few common buzzards & meadow pipits small influx of chiffchaff a new blackcap common snipe #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL south wind but a little disappointing. Little egret 2nd record this year despite being common in UK not so here. Also marsh harrier 4 spoonbill through no hirundines a few meadow pipits white wagtail 2 shelduck still holding on #birds #dutchbirding
September 20, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL south wind but a little disappointing. Little egret 2nd record this year despite being common in UK not so here. Also marsh harrier 4 spoonbill through no hirundines a few meadow pipits white wagtail 2 shelduck still holding on #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden NL south wind some movement 2 honey buzzard,hobby, marsh harrier all S or SE 4 reed warblers 100 + house martin 40+swallow whinchat garganey still for 5th day a few snipe through and common buzzard more chiffchaffs tdy robins appearing 6 water rail #birds #dutchbirding
September 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden NL south wind some movement 2 honey buzzard,hobby, marsh harrier all S or SE 4 reed warblers 100 + house martin 40+swallow whinchat garganey still for 5th day a few snipe through and common buzzard more chiffchaffs tdy robins appearing 6 water rail #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest NL Viz mig on SE wind. All S. Honey buzzard 3 marsh harrier 2 hobby 2 peregrine 20 wigeon 58 common snipe green sandpiper 200 starling 4 yellow wagtail 60 swallow sand martin 4 house martin on the deck 9 common snipe 2 wigeon f pochard 125 shoveler 2 spoonbill #birds #dutchbirding
September 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Polders Poelgeest NL Viz mig on SE wind. All S. Honey buzzard 3 marsh harrier 2 hobby 2 peregrine 20 wigeon 58 common snipe green sandpiper 200 starling 4 yellow wagtail 60 swallow sand martin 4 house martin on the deck 9 common snipe 2 wigeon f pochard 125 shoveler 2 spoonbill #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden SE wind clear skies but some decent migrants honey buzzard marsh harrier yellow wagtail 2 greenshank 2 reed warblers 2 whinchat willow warbler great egret 3 spoonbill white stork common tern + small no's of barn swallow and house martin through #birds #dutchbirding
September 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden SE wind clear skies but some decent migrants honey buzzard marsh harrier yellow wagtail 2 greenshank 2 reed warblers 2 whinchat willow warbler great egret 3 spoonbill white stork common tern + small no's of barn swallow and house martin through #birds #dutchbirding
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen near Zandvoort two invasives for the price of one in this picture. Thorn apple pm so flowers closed thrives here as fallow deer can't eat it 😉 and narrow leaved ragwort found now through large areas of Zuid Holland it flowers late into the year #wildflowerhour
September 4, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen near Zandvoort two invasives for the price of one in this picture. Thorn apple pm so flowers closed thrives here as fallow deer can't eat it 😉 and narrow leaved ragwort found now through large areas of Zuid Holland it flowers late into the year #wildflowerhour
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen near Zandvoort SW wind. Good late August birds 3 bluethroat 2 pied flycatcher com redstart 2com whitethroat 3 tree pipit 8 + woodlark 6 whinchat imm male &f marsh harrier goshawk c30 stonechat 6+ willow warbler intermediate form Lt tit great egret #birds #dutchbirding
August 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen near Zandvoort SW wind. Good late August birds 3 bluethroat 2 pied flycatcher com redstart 2com whitethroat 3 tree pipit 8 + woodlark 6 whinchat imm male &f marsh harrier goshawk c30 stonechat 6+ willow warbler intermediate form Lt tit great egret #birds #dutchbirding
Nodding bur marigold Klass Hennepoelpolder Polders Poelgeest Leiden #wildflowerhournl
August 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Nodding bur marigold Klass Hennepoelpolder Polders Poelgeest Leiden #wildflowerhournl
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL. Promising SE wind but fairly quiet after ydys wheatear and stonechat. Minimum of 5 whinchat a late sand martin & sedge warbler tree pipit 3 willow warbler a peregrine through first 3 groups of starling heading south largest 25 55 species am #birds #dutchbirding
August 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL. Promising SE wind but fairly quiet after ydys wheatear and stonechat. Minimum of 5 whinchat a late sand martin & sedge warbler tree pipit 3 willow warbler a peregrine through first 3 groups of starling heading south largest 25 55 species am #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL the unhelpful NE wind continues but a little more variety early am with whinchats up to 5 plus 3 lesser whitethroat a garden warbler min 2 willow warbler chiffs c20 single sand martin and no swallows a great egret over SE was a another hint of autumn #birds #dutchbirding
August 21, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL the unhelpful NE wind continues but a little more variety early am with whinchats up to 5 plus 3 lesser whitethroat a garden warbler min 2 willow warbler chiffs c20 single sand martin and no swallows a great egret over SE was a another hint of autumn #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL clear & NE wind produced first 2 whinchat of "autumn" a skylark over south was unusual garden warbler new in no sign of any garganey tdy 1 or 2 willow warbler 14 spoonbill 2 common sandpiper common gull through kingfisher #birds #dutchbirding
August 19, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL clear & NE wind produced first 2 whinchat of "autumn" a skylark over south was unusual garden warbler new in no sign of any garganey tdy 1 or 2 willow warbler 14 spoonbill 2 common sandpiper common gull through kingfisher #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden east wind. Juvenile garganey new in on Veerpolder 1st returner a few days later than normal here, otherwise a little disappointing hobby tried to take a GSW ! Single swift a few more willow warblers st tree creeper a scarcity just about annual here #birds #dutchbirding
August 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden east wind. Juvenile garganey new in on Veerpolder 1st returner a few days later than normal here, otherwise a little disappointing hobby tried to take a GSW ! Single swift a few more willow warblers st tree creeper a scarcity just about annual here #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL SE wind then E. Modicum of movement tree pipit over +ad common gull. Common redstart common whitethroat & willow warbler on the deck also a 1st summer GBB gull dropped in mid am 2 water rail calling so newly arrived more green sandpipers c4+ 3 common #birds #dutchbirding
August 11, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden NL SE wind then E. Modicum of movement tree pipit over +ad common gull. Common redstart common whitethroat & willow warbler on the deck also a 1st summer GBB gull dropped in mid am 2 water rail calling so newly arrived more green sandpipers c4+ 3 common #birds #dutchbirding
Polders Poelgeest NL wind westerly cool. Surprised to find a juvenile & accompanying female bluethroat on Klass Hennepoelpolder likely bred & gone undiscovered 3 prs bred this year. 2 unseasonal meadow pipits on Veerpolder 6 swift 15 house martin 6 sand martin 4 spoonbill garden warbler in sub song
August 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Polders Poelgeest NL wind westerly cool. Surprised to find a juvenile & accompanying female bluethroat on Klass Hennepoelpolder likely bred & gone undiscovered 3 prs bred this year. 2 unseasonal meadow pipits on Veerpolder 6 swift 15 house martin 6 sand martin 4 spoonbill garden warbler in sub song
Guwahati Assam May with @brianstretch.bsky.social and @andywarr.bsky.social one of the grimmest birding sites I have visited Guwahati refuse dump. Dusty, sickly stench sticky heat loose cattle & refuse pickers .However, a reliable place to see greater adjutant stork #birds #birdsseenin2025
August 5, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Guwahati Assam May with @brianstretch.bsky.social and @andywarr.bsky.social one of the grimmest birding sites I have visited Guwahati refuse dump. Dusty, sickly stench sticky heat loose cattle & refuse pickers .However, a reliable place to see greater adjutant stork #birds #birdsseenin2025
Return to Nameri, Assam early May with @brianstretch.bsky.social & @andywarr.bsky.social for the white winged duck but sadly another no show other species seen included orange bellied green pigeon a huge group of green imperial pigeons and bengal bush lark #birds #birdsseenin2025
July 31, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Return to Nameri, Assam early May with @brianstretch.bsky.social & @andywarr.bsky.social for the white winged duck but sadly another no show other species seen included orange bellied green pigeon a huge group of green imperial pigeons and bengal bush lark #birds #birdsseenin2025