Steve Groves
@swannerysteve.bsky.social
Swanherd & patch birder. Posting only Abbotsbury Swannery bird sightings & other wildlife news.
Here I go again! Re the ‘Wyke Regis’ Desert Wheatear… Just a reminder that ‘Wyke Regis’ Bridging Camp is not in Wyke Regis it’s in the Civil Parish of Chickerell. So it’s the Chickerell Desert Wheatear… And don’t even get me started on ‘Littlesea’! 🤨😂
November 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Here I go again! Re the ‘Wyke Regis’ Desert Wheatear… Just a reminder that ‘Wyke Regis’ Bridging Camp is not in Wyke Regis it’s in the Civil Parish of Chickerell. So it’s the Chickerell Desert Wheatear… And don’t even get me started on ‘Littlesea’! 🤨😂
Only a phone-scoped shot but you can see what it is 😅 It doesn’t show in the pic but head plumage has advanced a lot in a week so now pretty convinced that there has only been the one bird all along. So the female ‘type’ was the same 1cy drake.
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Only a phone-scoped shot but you can see what it is 😅 It doesn’t show in the pic but head plumage has advanced a lot in a week so now pretty convinced that there has only been the one bird all along. So the female ‘type’ was the same 1cy drake.
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
It was the WeBS this morning & a thorough search of the Swannery embayment for Baikal Teal (or Baikal Teals?) with @nickurch.bsky.social & Al Barrett drew a blank. I did find a rather dinky Yellow-legged Gull though, no doubt last Sunday’s bird. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It was the WeBS this morning & a thorough search of the Swannery embayment for Baikal Teal (or Baikal Teals?) with @nickurch.bsky.social & Al Barrett drew a blank. I did find a rather dinky Yellow-legged Gull though, no doubt last Sunday’s bird. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Couldn’t find the Baikal Teal or yesterday’s reported Scaup this afternoon but light abysmal. Ad. Yellow-legged (or Caspian) Gull on the beach but very distant.
November 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Couldn’t find the Baikal Teal or yesterday’s reported Scaup this afternoon but light abysmal. Ad. Yellow-legged (or Caspian) Gull on the beach but very distant.
Two freshly arrived trans-Atlantic vagrant Wood Ducks this morning 😉 @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Two freshly arrived trans-Atlantic vagrant Wood Ducks this morning 😉 @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
I can’t find the Baikal Teal in the western embayment this morning, where the bulk (500+) of the Teal are. Eastern embayment completely burnt out by strong sun light currently. Our first Scaup of the autumn however. 1cy ♂. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 8:40 AM
I can’t find the Baikal Teal in the western embayment this morning, where the bulk (500+) of the Teal are. Eastern embayment completely burnt out by strong sun light currently. Our first Scaup of the autumn however. 1cy ♂. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Not working today & stuff to do this morning but couldn’t resist popping down the Swannery this afternoon & bingo! A rather nice 1cy Caspian Gull on the back of the beach. Not even tried to find the Baikal Teal yet. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Not working today & stuff to do this morning but couldn’t resist popping down the Swannery this afternoon & bingo! A rather nice 1cy Caspian Gull on the back of the beach. Not even tried to find the Baikal Teal yet. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
This afternoon’s Baikal Teal, Abbotsbury Swannery. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
This afternoon’s Baikal Teal, Abbotsbury Swannery. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Baikal Teal at Abbotsbury Swannery this afternoon with 500+ Teal. Flock very mobile. Swannery open 10am tomorrow. No entry before 10am. Doubtfully viewable from rights of way other than grounds. There is no right of way SE of tank traps on beach. If you walk beyond fence there everything will flush!
October 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Baikal Teal at Abbotsbury Swannery this afternoon with 500+ Teal. Flock very mobile. Swannery open 10am tomorrow. No entry before 10am. Doubtfully viewable from rights of way other than grounds. There is no right of way SE of tank traps on beach. If you walk beyond fence there everything will flush!
The Pink-footed Goose reappeared mid-day in the Swannery grounds. Obviously in one of the outlying fields somewhere this morning. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
September 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The Pink-footed Goose reappeared mid-day in the Swannery grounds. Obviously in one of the outlying fields somewhere this morning. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Caspian Gull (1cy) at the Swannery. @joestockwell.bsky.social will have better pics 😁 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Caspian Gull (1cy) at the Swannery. @joestockwell.bsky.social will have better pics 😁 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Juv Caspian Gull at the Swannery late afternoon. Not sure whether it’s @joestockwell.bsky.social’s bird from Sunday? And/or @axebirder.bsky.social’s from earlier today? @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Juv Caspian Gull at the Swannery late afternoon. Not sure whether it’s @joestockwell.bsky.social’s bird from Sunday? And/or @axebirder.bsky.social’s from earlier today? @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Pied Flycatcher by the Swannery entrance this evening. Whinchat, 12 Wheatear a few Yellow Wagtails at adjacent Chapel Hill/ Ditchmoor meadows. Wader highlights today… Knot, Sanderling, Little Ringed Plover, 4 Green Sandpipers. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Pied Flycatcher by the Swannery entrance this evening. Whinchat, 12 Wheatear a few Yellow Wagtails at adjacent Chapel Hill/ Ditchmoor meadows. Wader highlights today… Knot, Sanderling, Little Ringed Plover, 4 Green Sandpipers. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Today’s Swannery wader tally… Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, Knot, 3 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin & the usual Oystercatchers, Lapwing & Common Sandpipers. Ditchmoor held a Whinchat, 8 Stonechat & 6 Wheatear. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
August 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Today’s Swannery wader tally… Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, Knot, 3 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin & the usual Oystercatchers, Lapwing & Common Sandpipers. Ditchmoor held a Whinchat, 8 Stonechat & 6 Wheatear. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Still at least one Little Gull around today at the Swannery & a Little Ringed Plover for its 3rd day. 1st Osprey of the autumn too. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
August 8, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Still at least one Little Gull around today at the Swannery & a Little Ringed Plover for its 3rd day. 1st Osprey of the autumn too. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Still 2 (2cy) Little Gulls this am… 1 beginning to look quite smart now. 2 or 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3+ Dunlin & the usual smattering of Lapwings & Common Sandpipers between myself, Charlie & @joestockwell.bsky.social. 1 or 2 (Juv) Yellow-legged Gulls at the weekend. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
July 28, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Still 2 (2cy) Little Gulls this am… 1 beginning to look quite smart now. 2 or 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3+ Dunlin & the usual smattering of Lapwings & Common Sandpipers between myself, Charlie & @joestockwell.bsky.social. 1 or 2 (Juv) Yellow-legged Gulls at the weekend. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
A (juv) Yellow Wagtail & 2 (2cy) Little Gulls were among the Swannery highlights today, along with 2 Little Ringed Plovers. A Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank & a few Common Sandpipers & Lawings also. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A (juv) Yellow Wagtail & 2 (2cy) Little Gulls were among the Swannery highlights today, along with 2 Little Ringed Plovers. A Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank & a few Common Sandpipers & Lawings also. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
2 Little Gulls again at the Swannery this evening. The returning wader migrant tally was 1 Greenshank & 3 each of Lapwing & Common Sandpiper. A few Cattle Egrets beginning to reappear too. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
July 4, 2025 at 8:09 PM
2 Little Gulls again at the Swannery this evening. The returning wader migrant tally was 1 Greenshank & 3 each of Lapwing & Common Sandpiper. A few Cattle Egrets beginning to reappear too. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
All 3 Little Gulls present at the Swannery this evening (& last). 3 Black-tailed Godwits too but nothing else of any real note. @joestockwell.bsky.social @bexbirder.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
June 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
All 3 Little Gulls present at the Swannery this evening (& last). 3 Black-tailed Godwits too but nothing else of any real note. @joestockwell.bsky.social @bexbirder.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
I think the red belly & coarse barring do make this a Common Ian but not sure 🤔
June 24, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I think the red belly & coarse barring do make this a Common Ian but not sure 🤔
Very distant Stone-curlew at the Swannery this evening. Only my 2nd on patch in 37 years & 1st self found. The 3 Little Gulls still too. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
June 21, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Very distant Stone-curlew at the Swannery this evening. Only my 2nd on patch in 37 years & 1st self found. The 3 Little Gulls still too. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Although being a little more elusive of late, all 3 regular Little Gulls were present at the Swannery this evening. I couldn’t get them to pose together though. 🙄
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@bexbirder.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@bexbirder.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
June 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Although being a little more elusive of late, all 3 regular Little Gulls were present at the Swannery this evening. I couldn’t get them to pose together though. 🙄
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@bexbirder.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@joestockwell.bsky.social
@bexbirder.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
I didn’t see the Roseate Tern today though it was reported. Very dark-billed nominate Common Tern though. Also a 2cy Common Tern, 3 2cy Little Gulls & an ad. summer Common Gull. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
May 31, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I didn’t see the Roseate Tern today though it was reported. Very dark-billed nominate Common Tern though. Also a 2cy Common Tern, 3 2cy Little Gulls & an ad. summer Common Gull. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Connected with the Roseate Tern this evening at the Swannery, that @joestockwell.bsky.social found earlier. The 3 (2cy) Little Gulls all still present too. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
May 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Connected with the Roseate Tern this evening at the Swannery, that @joestockwell.bsky.social found earlier. The 3 (2cy) Little Gulls all still present too. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social