Joined April 2020
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398 Photos and videos
Jun 14
We saw many Great-Northern Divers around Skye & the Uists coastlines in May, it's always such a treat to get good views of them in their splendid breeding plumage.
#Hebrides
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Jun 14
Nearing the end editing my photos from the Uists last month... Raptors are never far away on the islands, we saw both eagles, though Hen Harriers seemed fewer than our previously, but good numbers of Short-eared Owls including these 2 near the roadside on Benbecula.
#Hebrides
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Jun 12
Always great to see "white-wingers" - we saw both Iceland & Glaucous Gulls on our recent trip to the Uists, both 2nd cy birds I think. The Iceland was at Ardivachar, & this bruiser of a Glaucous was on the rocks off Balranald beach one evening.
#Hebrides
ALT Iceland Gull.
ALT Glaucous Gull.
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Jun 12
Eiders are a near constant presence around the Hebrides, they are iconic birds of the northern coastlines. Often providing a gentle crooning soundscape to many a coastal walk, or equally at home offshore in rough seas during a seawatch. I always enjoy encountering them.
#Hebrides
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Jun 11
The Uists host important populations of breeding waders on coastline, moorland & machair. Redshank & Ringed Plover amongst them. We saw so many on our trip last month.
#Hebrides
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Jun 11
The insects in the decomposing seaweed on the hebridean beaches are the attraction for the waders, a food bonanza to fuel migration. These 2 breeding plumaged Knot happily fed as I sat nearby - likewise this Whimbrel, their calls always evoke spring migration to me.
#Hebrides
ALT Knot
ALT Knot
ALT Whimbrel
ALT Whimbrel.
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Jun 11
Sanderling (in many plumage variations), North Uist. May 2026.
#Hebrides
ALT Sanderling, dwarfed by Common Gull.
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Jun 11
Low evening sun at Balranald beach perfectly illuminated some of the waders stopping off on their way north to breed on our recent North Uist trip.
#hebrides
#shorebirds
ALT Turnstone
ALT Purple Sandpiper
ALT Dunlin
ALT Knot (in non-breeding plumage), Turnstone & Purple Sandpiper.
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Jun 11
Another of the attractions of the Uists in May are swirling flocks of migrating waders on some of the western beaches, mostly Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone etc many of which are in summer plumage, which I don't often get to see at home in Sussex...
#hebrides
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Jun 6
While watching a Golden Eagle over moorland from the house we stayed in on N.Uist one afternoon, this Corncrake started up in the field just over the garden wall. He went on for over 1.5h & gave incredible views (for a Corncrake!).
A very memorable afternoon!
#birdphotography
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Jun 3
Skua migration is what originally drew me to North Uist in May, such exciting birds to see. The winds were mostly not that helpful during our week this year, but still managed to make the most of it with 40 Arctics, 6 Bonxies, 38 Long-tailed, & 11 Poms when we did get W winds.🙂
ALT Long-tailed Skuas passing Aird an Runair, North Uist. 16.05.2026.
ALT Long-tailed Skuas passing Aird an Runair, North Uist. 16.05.2026.
ALT Pomarine Skua passing Aird an Runair, North Uist. 20.05.2026.
ALT Pomarine Skua passing Aird an Runair, North Uist. 20.05.2026.
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Jun 2
After the Pennines, a few days on Skye...incomparable landscapes & light...Whimbrels calling & Gt.Northern Divers at Lower Breakish, so atmospheric pleased to find Twite along with expected seabirds out west at Neist, with the Uists waiting for us across the Little Minch.
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Jun 2
Lucky to come across 2 pairs of Ring Ouzels in the north Pennine dales last month. Immediately retreated to a respectful distance & sat quietly watching m & f of both pairs collecting food, so presumably young in nearby nests.
Iconic birds.
(Heavily cropped pics from distance).
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May 31
On our way from Sussex to North Uist recently, we stopped off for a few days in the North Pennines, where the local Black Grouse didn't disappoint (all pics taken from car on public roads). I'm thinking the mottled plumage of the bird in the last pic must be a sub-adult?
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May 7
I saw my first Spotted Sandpiper on the shores of Buttermere in the Lake District 9 years ago - this one on the Ouse near Southease was rather more co-operative & the weather was better! A very pleasant hour watching this American vagrant wader in warm sunshine.
@SussexBirding
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May 6
Recent seawatching at Splash Point, Seaford - not the most prolific this year with lots of adverse wind from the north. Always one of my most anticipated parts of the birding year & great to see birds heading stoically east up channel en route to their northerly breeding grounds.
ALT Pomarine Skua
ALT Bar-tailed Godwits
ALT Whimbrel
ALT Brent Geese
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Apr 28
The soundscape of the oakwoods alongside the Pied Flycatchers includes Redstarts, Tree Pipits, Willow Warblers, Wood Warblers, the odd Cuckoo, & the occasional Garden Warbler in the scrubbier areas multitudes of singing Song Thrushes...not sure it gets much better than this...
ALT Male Redstart
ALT Tree Pipit
ALT Female Redstart
ALT Male Redstart
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