Craig Reed
@MidlandsBirder
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Birder │MSc Wildlife Conservation│C permit ringer │Bird surveyor│ Digiscoper │ Patchwatcher │ Occasional twitcher │
Midlands, UK
Joined October 2009
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Incredibly lucky to see so many Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on my local lockdown cycles. This female joined me as I sat in a patch of woodland scrub watching Goldcrests & Coal Tits, gently tapping away at the branches just above my head to reveal her presence. A perfect 10 minutes
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One of the least expected bird I had ever hoped to see in
#Worcestershire
. Crazy to watch 2 Chough wheeling above British Camp this afternoon after briefly being in Hereford. The first county record since the 19th century!
#BirdsAreAwesome
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Absolutely life-changing views of Wallcreeper this morning! A lot of hard work and searching but so worth the effort!
#Butterfly
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DAY ABSOLUTELY MADE! I've searched so many times in
#WyreForest
for Oecophora bractella and I've just fluked finding my first!! What a stunner!! 😍
#MothsMatter
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After finding a number of emergence holes in previous years, I've been checking trees regularly on my way into work. Today I finally saw what emerged from those holes!! HORNET CLEARWING! Not one... not two... but three newly emerged individuals enjoying the sun!
#MothsMatter
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Just caught a group of cretins setting fire to
#SwanbrookValley
. Luckily spooked them before it took hold, and managed to stub it out with my boots. One partially melted sole to my shoe and one Whitethroat nest saved. I dispair at the way people treat their green spaces :(
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Well, I think it is safe to say that the Rock Thrush was showing phenomenally well this morning. What a stonker!
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HOLY SHIT!!! A PURPLE HERON HAS JUST FLOWN OVER SHEEPWASH URBAN PARK. HEADING NORTH ALONG CANAL TOWARDS WOLVES
@BirdGuides
@WestMidsBirding
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A staggering count of 709+ Ring-necked Parakeet at roost in the Black Country this morning. At a site where even as recently as this spring you could only manage single digits of birds... Yikes!
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A bucket list tick this morning with stunning views of the delectable Ross's Gull along the R. Plym. I've wanted to see one of these for a very long time, and a pink adult was the perfect way to do it! 😍
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A very special moment, just me and a drake Garganey together on the Marsh this morning. Absolutely stunning!
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Absolutely stunning views of a Bittern at Titchwell this afternoon!
A real show off 😍
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When walking up to West Park lake this wasn't what I expected to be one of the first birds I look at. A stonking drake Ferruginous Duck! No sign of any rings, fully winged and shy around approaching people. Who knows with Athyas, but it seems to tick all the boxes!
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Stonking morning birding in the Wyre Forest mapping territories of early breeders. Highlight by far some of the best views I've had of Lesser spotted Woodpecker in a very long time. At least 4, with 2 territorial males 'dog-fighting' through the canopy. Stunning to watch
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Cycling along a random canal towpath in North Worcestershire. Never looked here before and just found a delightful drumming male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. A completely unknown territory in some lovely wet Willow and Alder woodland. They are out there to be found!
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Can a day be double made?! Juvenile Lesser Spotted Woodpecker being fed by its parent 😍
#WyreForest
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Well. I was not expecting to see a Pied Flycatcher today in
#Wyre
while heading out to look for WilWa & TriPi. My earliest ever by far & the earliest ever recorded in the WMBC region. 10km walked, 59 Chiff counted in total & 3 LSW, but I still didn't find either of the target sp
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Ever since having first looked at Indian Courser in my field guide back in 2015, I knew it was a species I had to see... Today that came true, when our group located 46 (!) on arid grassland north of Bharatpur. A few gave stunning views! 😍
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Another amazing spectacle this evening. THOUSANDS of Demoiselle Cranes flying around their day roost at Khichan 😍
#BirdersStoreOnTour
@BirdersStore
@AsianWildlife
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Fantastic to find a unrecorded pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the extreme north of Worcestershire this morning. I seem to be saying this every year recently, but they're out there to be found!
#WorcsBirds
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Nice to find this lovely male Channel Wagtail paired with a female flavissima near Shenstone this morning
@WorcsBirding
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An interesting way to start the year. Great Horned Owl in Sedgely 🤣
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After 3 years, I graduated with a 1st class BSc(Hons) degree under the gaze of a Peregrine, the study species of my undergrad dissertation
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Todays flypast 1s PURPLE HERON still hasn't sunk in. The local grape vine in action & a successful interception by
@ianbutlerphoto
over his garden no less. I had to take 20 mins during this mornings
#WeBS
to let it sink in. Seemingly a first for WM county. Absolutely buzzing!!
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As we were nearby, it would have been rude not to drop in to see the two Pallid Swifts at Aust. Enjoying the two when a third bird flew into my bino view! Wonderful views overhead.
@Southglosbirds
Excellent find
@matthewjhall95
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Something I wasn't expected to come across in
#Wyre
today was this unusual duo! A Ringlet and a Meadow Brown mating!? Anyone ever come across this before?
@BC_WestMids
@savebutterflies
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Outrageous views of the juvenile Great northern Diver in Kidderminster this morning. If that wasn't crazy enough, even more so to hear its haunting call echoing down a canal in landlocked Worcestershire!
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Thought I had relocated the Iceland Gull when I saw a white winger dropping into Parkes Hall Reservoir this evening... Couldn't believe it when I saw this on the water! A cracking 1w Kumlien's Gull!! Last seen flying south at 4pm. Thanks to everyone who confirmed ID.
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After poking its head out a few times, the
@slimbridge_wild
Bittern gave itself up late morning. Stunning views! 😍 Also a Great Egret, 3 Greenland White-fronts, 59 E WFG , 41 Bewicks and Marsh Harrier north.
#Glosbirds
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Well... What a great way to spend my Christmas eve! Sitting on the edge of a lake with a Black-throated Diver sailing about in front of me! A county tick. Perfect!
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I won't bore you with a breakdown, but I will share the standout highlight of my birding year. The Bempton Black-browed Albatross! Just as incredible as I had hoped for in my dreams. Happy New Year to all my followers. See you all in 2022!
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Three species of Woodpecker a couple of trees apart, a great boxing day treat from the wilds of Worcestershire this morning. Lovely views of a pair of LSW moving through the treetops with
@JoshT01UK
as well as some brief half-hearted attempts to drum in todays sunshine.
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Whatever its origins, I still got that pulse of excitment when I looked up to see a WHITE STORK overhead at Blackstone. Even better to share with at least five other observers across four different sites along the river corridor as it flew south. Fantastic!
#VisMig
#WorcsBirds
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FINALLY! After playing hard to get since they arrived, a local flock of Waxwings finally gave themself up this morning. Always fantastic to spend time with these scandinavian berry marauders.
@WestMidsBirding
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Exhausted! A 35 mile round cycle, but so worth it for cracking views of the Laughing Gull at Belvide early this morning. 18 Blackwit (15+1+2), Goldeneye & a flythough Red Kite secured a great visit! Singing Yellowhammers and zipping Kingfishers on the ride home!
#GreenBirding
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Just about the last thing I expected to flap lazilly low over the centre of the
#WyreForest
while in a work meeting this afternoon, an OSPREY! A chorus of Pied Flycatcher in the background. Seeminly a fantastic year for the latter in the forest
#WorcsBirds
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Fantastic start to 8 days birding East Anglia. Semipalmated Sand, Lesser Yellowlegs, self found Lapland Bunting, Little Stints, Curlew Sands and this utterly fantastic Buff-breasted Sandpiper. What a start. What a reserve!!
@RSPBFrampton
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Absolutely fantastic views of this Grey Phalarope in Dartmouth Park today with a lot of patience. Showing down to a meter is no exaggeration! Incredible birds.
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A few rushed photos of tonights Pied-billed Grebe at
#Chelmarsh
. Ran to the opposite side of the reservoir to get these in the fading light. Out of breath, shaking, fogged up optics and still using last weeks roost ISO settings, but who cares! What a find by
@saloplarus
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Good to catch up with the Ferruginous Duck in the sun again this morning. Complete contrast behaviour wise to last week where the bird was shy & stayed in the centre of the pool. Now happily feeding with Tufties in the food rich areas near the edges and showing down to c30ft.
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Worth getting soaked for. Fantastic views of the redhead Smew in
#SandwellValley
after it had relocated to Swan Pool mid-morning
@WestMidsBirding
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With
@BirderGaz
finding Waxwings on seemingly every other street in Wolverhampton this morning I thought I'd try my luck locally. A couple of miles walking later & amazingly four Punk Hypocolius flew past me, relocating them just around the corner feeding on berries. Fantastic!
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8 hours of effort finally rewarded! Black Redstart on north face at east end of Worcester Cathedral. Slowly working its way clockwise around the building
@WorcsBirding
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Couldn't resist a second look at the stunning s/p Lesser Yellowlegs at Clifton this morning, its yellow legs glowing in the sun while we were getting blown over in the gale. Awesome bird!
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I've always wanted to see a summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe, so when news came though of one at Stubbers Green, it was a no brainer to head over. It was just as stunning as I could have hoped! Mainly at the northern end, it was kicked around by paddleborders a number of times
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A pristine juvenile Dotterel on a windblown Worcestershire hilltop. Yes please! Still showing in pathside stubble at Bredon Hill earlier. Also a late'ish Tree Pipit over lower slopes.
#WorcsBirds
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Hoopoe showing well for much of the afternoon in Wall Heath. Stunning bird
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Some fantastic birding on the south Worcestershire floods recently. Drake Green-winged Teal still at Hill Court Farm, where a juv Marsh Harrier was hunting 2500+ Teal this AM while the adjacent Longdon 'north' Marsh held 177+ Pintail, 149+ Shoveler, c400 Wigeon & GWE
#WorcsBirds
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Great to finally get some decent views of Richard's Pipit in the UK when the Sudmeadow bird 'shreep'ed into view early this morning. Some lovely scope views in the end. Always amazes me how many of these show up in Gloucestershire.
#GlosBirds
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Today I got to live a life goal, seeing the largest animal to have ever existed, the BLUE WHALE! Amazing! Unbelievably my first were a mating pair! A 5 cetacean SP day, including some equally amazing Risso's Dolphins. Great to get involved with some marine biology work
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With a free day & a need to explore, it felt right to go birding somewhere different. The first train of the day took me to Stafford & after failing to find it roosting, great to catch up with the Alpine Swift when it reappeared over Doxey. Great to share it with friends.
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Is there a much better way to spend a day than being surrounded by 4 singing male Wood Warblers?! A lucky digiscoped
#Flightshot
from this mornings walk.
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Excellent first day on
#Fuerteventura
. Only 35 species but some amazing quality. Tristram's Warbler, Dwarf Bittern, Fuerteventura Chat, Plain swift among many potential subspecies splits
@rarebirdspain
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With it being low tide at the Gann, we weren't expecting to find much. But a scan of the c40 Dunlin revealed this interloper, a stunning summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper! What a bird!!
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A great
#Vismig
session in Bewdley with
@Philmfan100
this morning, 481 Meadow Pipit (S), 101 Swallow (S), 31 Siskin (NW/W/SW), 23 Skylark (S), 20 Redpoll (W), 27 alba & 7 Grey Wag (S), Crossbill (NW) , Reedbu & a fantastic juvenile Goshawk SE.
#WorcsBirds
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Welcome to the world little ones. This young Avocet, freshly hatched, hasn't quite got control over its feet yet.
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THE BIRDING GODS DELIVERED! OSPREY slowly north over
@BirdersStore
at 9:13 flushing every Gull within a half mile radius. Thanks so much for the shout
@BirderJB
, it took 45 minutes to cover the 5 miles between Clifton and here.
#WorcsBirds
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It's always a fantastic day when it starts with Waxwings! Two still at
@ashnurs
this morning until 9:35, when they flew off towards Stourbridge. Hopefully more to come!
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REDPOLLS! Unexpected SW movement of 129 over
#SedgleyBeacon
this morning, including some decent flock sizes. Are we in for a Redpoll winter?! Also 92 Siskin, 376 Meadow Pipit, 107 Linnet, 43 Swallow,40 alba & 10 Grey Wag, 2 each Yellowhammer + ReeBu & a surprise Golden Plover SE.
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Back home after an amazing trip exploring Western and Southern India. Too much to mention in one tweet, but 374 bird species, 35+ Mammals, Crocodiles, Gharials, River Dolphins and countless inverts gives a clue as to how great it was. What a country 😍 Full trip report soon!
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A short train ride & an 18 miles cycle/walk through north Worcs, surveying all the way. As well as the mentioned LSW pair, an elusive Ring Ouzel at Penorchard Meadows, Clent, a male Redstart in a rather random hedge near Broome & 2 White Wagtail were near Blakedown
#WorcsBirds
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Driving past Bobbington and thought to drop in on the off chance the Hen Harrier may still be around... and it was hunting the very first field I looked at!!
@Staffsbirdnews
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Nice to find a 'new' wintering Bunting flock close to home last week. Went back to confirm numbers today, 13 Yellowhammer & 4 Reed Buntings. c150-200 mixed finches attracted to 2 wild bird crops +a showy Buzzard posing for a
#phonescoped
pic. Not bad for a short walk from home :)
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The White-tailed Plover showing wonderfully yesterday evening
@RSPBSandwell
. An absolute dream to see it on a local reserve!
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Well that was unexpected!! 25+ Waxwings in trees adjacent Moorhall Marsh, Stourport just!!
#WorcsBirds
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A fabulous afternoon at Grimley, where TWO (!) Osprey flew over together before circling for c10 mins, 2 Avocet circling the pools briefly while hundreds of hirundies, 1 White & 2 Yellow Wag fed on the flies. Bonus of three Otter which swam across the pool.
#WorcsBirds
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A very Merry Christmas to all of my Twitter followers. 2020 has been a difficult year, but the constant of nature has pulled me, and I'm sure many followers through. It has been a pleasure to follow all of your incredible wildlife moments throughout the year. Thank you all!
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Redhead RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on river Severn at Blackstone, also Goldeneye still
@WorcsBirding
#worcsbirds
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Incredible views of the juvenile Purple Sandpiper at Edgbaston Reservoir this morning. No optics required!! Also, a surprise vismig Wheatear bounded it's way along the dam, before flying of NE. Both within eye and earshot of Birmingham city centre!
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Spotty 😍 Spotted Sandpiper still giving great views at
#UptonWarren
Moors. Fantastic find
@gertcorfield
!!
#WorcsBirds
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Superb morning territory mapping in the
#WyreForest
. 12 Pied Flycatcher, 8 Wood Warbler, Cuckoo, 10 Tree Pipit and 5 male Redstarts rattling their hearts out across the treetops
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My first Hornet Clearwings of the year out in Worcester this morning. Five seen! 🥳
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Thanks
@ChaterTodd
Wood Warbler still showing (but not calling/singing) in SE corner of Grange Park, Dudley adjacent allotments.
#WestMidsBirds
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My first Lesser Spotted Woodpecker of the year just, a female feeding beside a Goldcrest. Absolutely miniscule 🥰
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I went out today with the goal of finding a Whinchat. 37km of cycling and walking later and I'm back home having found two. A happy lad! :D
#UrbanGreenBirding
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Walking in circles around a very foggy Worcestershire Beacon eventually reaped rewards when the Snow Bunting reappeared on the NE side of the Hill. The
@BiotopeOffice
Snow Bunting T-shirt once again proving its effectiveness at guaranteed SnoBu sightings!
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A Great Northern Diver on the commute to work?! Who could say no to that. Performing like a star early this morning. Lovely colours reflecting off the water.
@WorcsBirding
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A Grey Phalarope doing what a Grey Phalarope does at
@RSPBTitchwell
last weekend. Together with a chorus of Golden Plover in the background. Perfect 😍
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Didn't think I'd be seeing one of these in the West Midlands this weekend. The stunning male Red-backed Shrike still showing well around midday at Sutton Park. The last time I saw one in this plumage was 10 years ago!
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DIVE! The Long-tailed Duck doing what it does best!
@EcoRecording
@WestMidBirdClub
@WestMidsBirding
@DudleyNature
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Wonderful views of the juv Little Tern at Bartley this afternoon, often with the two Black Terns in the same field of view. After a few close misses, great to finally connect with one of these little stunners in the Midlands.
@WestMidsBirding
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The local Hawfinch flock has proved difficult to catch up with this winter, disappearing frequently and when present, often in private areas. Up to 16 have been present recently. It was wonderful to have this lovely close encounter just over a week ago.
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If you're going to be a couple of minutes late to work at
@BirdersStore
, the best possible excuse is because you found a flock of four Spotted Flycatcher just around the corner with a mixed warbler flock.
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It may have taken nearly 5 hours, but the 1w Iceland Gull finally flew into Edgbaston Res at 14:21 and with a bit of patience, gave some stunning views along the south shore. Digibinned with
@SwarovskiOptik
NL Pures
@WestMidsBirding
@BirdersStore
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Absolutely supreme birding today at Keoladeo NP. A group total of 143 bird species incl. Siberian Rubythroat, nesting Dusky Eagle Owl plus Black and Yellow Bittern. The sheer spectacle of the birdlife is hard to write in words. The best days birding I've ever had! Mind blowing!
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