Philip
@wildlifeprecey.bsky.social
nature geek, bibliophile, middle child, amiable misanthrope, angry conservationist
Wildlife Travel Director and sometime tour leader
#NotARealJob
Wildlife Travel Director and sometime tour leader
#NotARealJob
Reposted by Philip
What a time to be alive!! #FliesofBritainandIreland coming out SOON
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Our new 416pp #FliesofBritainandIreland covering over 1300 species & with over 1500 photos is now being printed - due mid Feb 2026. You can still pre-order until 31 Jan bit.ly/4dqQI8Z
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social
January 13, 2026 at 5:22 PM
What a time to be alive!! #FliesofBritainandIreland coming out SOON
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
in a moment of idleness during a 24 hour layover yesterday, I found this tool for analysing @inaturalist.bsky.social records
& discovered that seven of my records are the sole occurrence for that species amongst the 250million+ inat records
which signifies nothing, but made me smile
#NotARealJob
& discovered that seven of my records are the sole occurrence for that species amongst the 250million+ inat records
which signifies nothing, but made me smile
#NotARealJob
January 12, 2026 at 9:21 AM
in a moment of idleness during a 24 hour layover yesterday, I found this tool for analysing @inaturalist.bsky.social records
& discovered that seven of my records are the sole occurrence for that species amongst the 250million+ inat records
which signifies nothing, but made me smile
#NotARealJob
& discovered that seven of my records are the sole occurrence for that species amongst the 250million+ inat records
which signifies nothing, but made me smile
#NotARealJob
Reposted by Philip
Lot of wonderful photos from @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social holidays now available at www.flickr.com/photos/wildl..., including mine from the joy-filled Cyprus Christmas 2025 trip and some amazing bird images from @wildlifeprecey.bsky.social in Bhutan…
Ideal to banish the winter blues!
Ideal to banish the winter blues!
January 11, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Lot of wonderful photos from @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social holidays now available at www.flickr.com/photos/wildl..., including mine from the joy-filled Cyprus Christmas 2025 trip and some amazing bird images from @wildlifeprecey.bsky.social in Bhutan…
Ideal to banish the winter blues!
Ideal to banish the winter blues!
well worth the early start
this morning we had Tharpaling Monastery and it's famous Himalayan Monals all to ourselves.
#Bhutan has been mind-blowing: stunning scenery, friendly people, good food, easy travel and AMAZING wildlife
this morning we had Tharpaling Monastery and it's famous Himalayan Monals all to ourselves.
#Bhutan has been mind-blowing: stunning scenery, friendly people, good food, easy travel and AMAZING wildlife
January 7, 2026 at 4:00 AM
well worth the early start
this morning we had Tharpaling Monastery and it's famous Himalayan Monals all to ourselves.
#Bhutan has been mind-blowing: stunning scenery, friendly people, good food, easy travel and AMAZING wildlife
this morning we had Tharpaling Monastery and it's famous Himalayan Monals all to ourselves.
#Bhutan has been mind-blowing: stunning scenery, friendly people, good food, easy travel and AMAZING wildlife
all the #oof used up for today, with a hyperactive group of Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornises?) at Latong La, Bhutan
well, that's the colour scheme for the spare room sorted!
#NotARealJob #BirdsArentReal
well, that's the colour scheme for the spare room sorted!
#NotARealJob #BirdsArentReal
January 6, 2026 at 10:56 AM
all the #oof used up for today, with a hyperactive group of Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornises?) at Latong La, Bhutan
well, that's the colour scheme for the spare room sorted!
#NotARealJob #BirdsArentReal
well, that's the colour scheme for the spare room sorted!
#NotARealJob #BirdsArentReal
Bhutan is full of exciting, exotic, near mythical birds: Himalayan Monal, Beautiful Nuthatch, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Ibisbill, Ward's Trogon...
but the bird I most wanted to see was this one, White-crested Laughingthrush, a feature of childhood nature books and zoo visits
#DreamBird #JobDone
but the bird I most wanted to see was this one, White-crested Laughingthrush, a feature of childhood nature books and zoo visits
#DreamBird #JobDone
January 5, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Bhutan is full of exciting, exotic, near mythical birds: Himalayan Monal, Beautiful Nuthatch, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Ibisbill, Ward's Trogon...
but the bird I most wanted to see was this one, White-crested Laughingthrush, a feature of childhood nature books and zoo visits
#DreamBird #JobDone
but the bird I most wanted to see was this one, White-crested Laughingthrush, a feature of childhood nature books and zoo visits
#DreamBird #JobDone
glad I packed my shorts...
January 4, 2026 at 4:34 AM
glad I packed my shorts...
another couple for the Redstart fans
White-throated Redstart (hiding his white throat) and Plumbeous Redstart (minus any red at all)
Bumthang, Bhutan
White-throated Redstart (hiding his white throat) and Plumbeous Redstart (minus any red at all)
Bumthang, Bhutan
January 3, 2026 at 6:20 AM
another couple for the Redstart fans
White-throated Redstart (hiding his white throat) and Plumbeous Redstart (minus any red at all)
Bumthang, Bhutan
White-throated Redstart (hiding his white throat) and Plumbeous Redstart (minus any red at all)
Bumthang, Bhutan
Reposted by Philip
consider that gob well and truly smacked
the first thing my guide did when I arrived in Bhutan, was manage my expectations. Spring is the time for pheasants: maybe we will find Blood Pheasant, Kalij perhaps, but for the others... no chance.
a male Satyr Tragopan ambling calmly across the road
wow
the first thing my guide did when I arrived in Bhutan, was manage my expectations. Spring is the time for pheasants: maybe we will find Blood Pheasant, Kalij perhaps, but for the others... no chance.
a male Satyr Tragopan ambling calmly across the road
wow
January 2, 2026 at 11:29 AM
consider that gob well and truly smacked
the first thing my guide did when I arrived in Bhutan, was manage my expectations. Spring is the time for pheasants: maybe we will find Blood Pheasant, Kalij perhaps, but for the others... no chance.
a male Satyr Tragopan ambling calmly across the road
wow
the first thing my guide did when I arrived in Bhutan, was manage my expectations. Spring is the time for pheasants: maybe we will find Blood Pheasant, Kalij perhaps, but for the others... no chance.
a male Satyr Tragopan ambling calmly across the road
wow
Reposted by Philip
well there's a thing I never thought I'd see: not one but two Critically Endangered White-bellied Herons, of which perhaps no more than 60 birds exist, and even that is thought to be an optimistic count
Bhutan is probably the best last hope for this stately bird
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdTours
Bhutan is probably the best last hope for this stately bird
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdTours
January 2, 2026 at 5:56 AM
well there's a thing I never thought I'd see: not one but two Critically Endangered White-bellied Herons, of which perhaps no more than 60 birds exist, and even that is thought to be an optimistic count
Bhutan is probably the best last hope for this stately bird
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdTours
Bhutan is probably the best last hope for this stately bird
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdTours
Reposted by Philip
and at last the temperatures rose high enough to get some butterflies on the wing
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#ButterfliesOfBhutan
#VisitBhutan with @langurecotravelsbhutan
and @tourismbhutan
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#ButterfliesOfBhutan
#VisitBhutan with @langurecotravelsbhutan
and @tourismbhutan
January 1, 2026 at 3:27 PM
and at last the temperatures rose high enough to get some butterflies on the wing
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#ButterfliesOfBhutan
#VisitBhutan with @langurecotravelsbhutan
and @tourismbhutan
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#ButterfliesOfBhutan
#VisitBhutan with @langurecotravelsbhutan
and @tourismbhutan
Reposted by Philip
Bhutan day 4: travelled down from Trongsa into the foothills, spending time with this characterful crew along the way
jst in case it hasn't become immediately obvious, we will definitely be bringing a group to #Bhutan. Get your name on the list for spring 2027: you won't regret it!
#VisitBhutan
jst in case it hasn't become immediately obvious, we will definitely be bringing a group to #Bhutan. Get your name on the list for spring 2027: you won't regret it!
#VisitBhutan
January 1, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Bhutan day 4: travelled down from Trongsa into the foothills, spending time with this characterful crew along the way
jst in case it hasn't become immediately obvious, we will definitely be bringing a group to #Bhutan. Get your name on the list for spring 2027: you won't regret it!
#VisitBhutan
jst in case it hasn't become immediately obvious, we will definitely be bringing a group to #Bhutan. Get your name on the list for spring 2027: you won't regret it!
#VisitBhutan
Reposted by Philip
and I'm not the only one stalking these Bhutan roadsides...
came round the corner this morning to see a pack of Dhole, who quickly put some distance between us
and the same stretch of road had some very fresh Tiger pug marks
#MammalWatching and #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
came round the corner this morning to see a pack of Dhole, who quickly put some distance between us
and the same stretch of road had some very fresh Tiger pug marks
#MammalWatching and #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
December 31, 2025 at 7:55 AM
and I'm not the only one stalking these Bhutan roadsides...
came round the corner this morning to see a pack of Dhole, who quickly put some distance between us
and the same stretch of road had some very fresh Tiger pug marks
#MammalWatching and #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
came round the corner this morning to see a pack of Dhole, who quickly put some distance between us
and the same stretch of road had some very fresh Tiger pug marks
#MammalWatching and #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
Reposted by Philip
a wing-flicking Wallcreeper, just before lunch
road verges are a bit different in Bhutan!
#VisitBhutan #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
road verges are a bit different in Bhutan!
#VisitBhutan #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
December 31, 2025 at 7:48 AM
a wing-flicking Wallcreeper, just before lunch
road verges are a bit different in Bhutan!
#VisitBhutan #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
road verges are a bit different in Bhutan!
#VisitBhutan #WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
Reposted by Philip
December 31, 2025 at 6:12 AM
as the sun sets for the last time in 2025, it turns out a Wallcreeper just before lunch was my 1010th bird of the year, including 152 lifers
there have been some crackers, from Emperor Penguin to Ibisbill and 2spp of Helmetcrest, with a party of Red-headed Bullfinch as bird number 1000
there have been some crackers, from Emperor Penguin to Ibisbill and 2spp of Helmetcrest, with a party of Red-headed Bullfinch as bird number 1000
December 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
as the sun sets for the last time in 2025, it turns out a Wallcreeper just before lunch was my 1010th bird of the year, including 152 lifers
there have been some crackers, from Emperor Penguin to Ibisbill and 2spp of Helmetcrest, with a party of Red-headed Bullfinch as bird number 1000
there have been some crackers, from Emperor Penguin to Ibisbill and 2spp of Helmetcrest, with a party of Red-headed Bullfinch as bird number 1000
Reposted by Philip
Today's journey took us to Phobjikha Valley, home to Hodgson's Wagtail, Royle's Pika, swarms of Plain Mountain-Finches and at least 150 Black-necked Cranes
Fingers crossed for closer crane encounters tomorrow...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
Fingers crossed for closer crane encounters tomorrow...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
December 30, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Today's journey took us to Phobjikha Valley, home to Hodgson's Wagtail, Royle's Pika, swarms of Plain Mountain-Finches and at least 150 Black-necked Cranes
Fingers crossed for closer crane encounters tomorrow...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
Fingers crossed for closer crane encounters tomorrow...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Bhutan
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
Reposted by Philip
today we drove east, from Thimphu, the capital, to Bhutan's largest protected wetland, the Phobjikha Valley, via two passes over 3,000m asl, some good looking redstarts and a couple of exciting Himalayan finches
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
December 30, 2025 at 2:07 PM
today we drove east, from Thimphu, the capital, to Bhutan's largest protected wetland, the Phobjikha Valley, via two passes over 3,000m asl, some good looking redstarts and a couple of exciting Himalayan finches
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
#VisitBhutan #BhutanBirdingTours
five minutes from the airport...
a bird I first looked for 25 years ago, unsuccessfully, on the Kosi River with @birdingdad.bsky.social
something tells me I'm going to enjoy Bhutan!
a bird I first looked for 25 years ago, unsuccessfully, on the Kosi River with @birdingdad.bsky.social
something tells me I'm going to enjoy Bhutan!
December 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
five minutes from the airport...
a bird I first looked for 25 years ago, unsuccessfully, on the Kosi River with @birdingdad.bsky.social
something tells me I'm going to enjoy Bhutan!
a bird I first looked for 25 years ago, unsuccessfully, on the Kosi River with @birdingdad.bsky.social
something tells me I'm going to enjoy Bhutan!
Headed to the Himalayas for New Year, I had a spare day to spend in transit in Delhi
spent it in a jetlagged blur of little brown jobs, masses of waterbirds and ten lifers around Sultanpur National Park, thanks to Sanjay from Asian Adventures
spent it in a jetlagged blur of little brown jobs, masses of waterbirds and ten lifers around Sultanpur National Park, thanks to Sanjay from Asian Adventures
December 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Headed to the Himalayas for New Year, I had a spare day to spend in transit in Delhi
spent it in a jetlagged blur of little brown jobs, masses of waterbirds and ten lifers around Sultanpur National Park, thanks to Sanjay from Asian Adventures
spent it in a jetlagged blur of little brown jobs, masses of waterbirds and ten lifers around Sultanpur National Park, thanks to Sanjay from Asian Adventures
Screamers, done
Northern Screamer, my third and final member of the #Anhimidae doing what screamers do best, on the outskirts of Barranquilla.
only 28 years after I last looked for it, whilst backpacking in Venezuela
Northern Screamer, my third and final member of the #Anhimidae doing what screamers do best, on the outskirts of Barranquilla.
only 28 years after I last looked for it, whilst backpacking in Venezuela
November 29, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Screamers, done
Northern Screamer, my third and final member of the #Anhimidae doing what screamers do best, on the outskirts of Barranquilla.
only 28 years after I last looked for it, whilst backpacking in Venezuela
Northern Screamer, my third and final member of the #Anhimidae doing what screamers do best, on the outskirts of Barranquilla.
only 28 years after I last looked for it, whilst backpacking in Venezuela
Reposted by Philip
a brightly coloured morning in the dry coastal forests of Los Flamencos
expecting things to take on more of a rosy hue this afternoon...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
expecting things to take on more of a rosy hue this afternoon...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
November 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
a brightly coloured morning in the dry coastal forests of Los Flamencos
expecting things to take on more of a rosy hue this afternoon...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
expecting things to take on more of a rosy hue this afternoon...
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
Reposted by Philip
major oof-age up in the clouds of Los Nevados, with a friendly Buffy Helmetcrest
smiles all round
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
smiles all round
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
November 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
major oof-age up in the clouds of Los Nevados, with a friendly Buffy Helmetcrest
smiles all round
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
smiles all round
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
Reposted by Philip
while the hummers buzzed about, some more sedated visitors entertained us at the feeders
#WildlifeTravelling at Hacienda El Bosque
#WildlifeTravelling at Hacienda El Bosque
November 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM
while the hummers buzzed about, some more sedated visitors entertained us at the feeders
#WildlifeTravelling at Hacienda El Bosque
#WildlifeTravelling at Hacienda El Bosque
Reposted by Philip
we spent this morning at the dairy farm turned ecotourism hotspot, Hacienda El Bosque, where birds are now the major economic driver
yet more wonderful hummers, including those with the longest (Sword-billed Hummingbird) and shortest (Purple-backed Thornbill) bills
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
yet more wonderful hummers, including those with the longest (Sword-billed Hummingbird) and shortest (Purple-backed Thornbill) bills
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
November 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
we spent this morning at the dairy farm turned ecotourism hotspot, Hacienda El Bosque, where birds are now the major economic driver
yet more wonderful hummers, including those with the longest (Sword-billed Hummingbird) and shortest (Purple-backed Thornbill) bills
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia
yet more wonderful hummers, including those with the longest (Sword-billed Hummingbird) and shortest (Purple-backed Thornbill) bills
#WildlifeTravelling in #Colombia