Toby Carter

2️⃣6️⃣ | Birder | BSc Env Conservation🎓🌿 | @ZEISSBirding | #ZEISSBirding #ZEISSNature

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Fantastic views of Curlew Sandpipers y'day at @RSPBFrampton with the majority of the flock being on Middle Scrape, reserve management at it's finest🤌
@RareBirdAlertUK

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

The Sunbirds of Aberdare National Park & Kinangop were simply spectacular. The views of Golden-winged were everything I was imagining but also seeing Malachite & Tacazze just topped the day off.

https://t.co/PyALJcqlsU

[Miles Cluff @miles_cluff]

Our written-up trip report from a sensational week watching the ultimate European bird migration spectacle of raptors crossing the Gibraltar Strait. Link to the report on CloudBirders:

https://t.co/zuI8pHQQQh

Also plenty of pics on my website as per:

https://t.co/GXUWHWhaYE

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Back in Leicestershire this week has been fruitful, starting with a YBW in the village but a visit to Eyebrook today resulted in connecting with the first-winter Gannet along with locating this Aythya hybrid (Common Pochard x Ferruginous Duck).

https://t.co/xCxT2sDvIv

[Miles Cluff @miles_cluff]

For many many years, I’ve wanted an opportunity to set up a little pop-up hide to see into the secretive lives of Jack Snipes. Set up at a promising looking pool in Nottinghamshire the other day, and wowzas!!!!! 3 bobbing away in front of me tonight!

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

@sferguk Very lucky with that individual, great birds

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

The Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi was a great introduction into birding Kenya, over 70 species personally recorded at the site.
Fantastic views of African Harrier-hawk, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatchers, African Paradise Flycatchers & Spot-flanked Barbets

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Who'd have thought Merthyr would become hotspot this autumn, the Yellow-browed Warbler was still present late afternoon skulking in the bushes bordering the abattoir. Good find @_dsbirding
https://t.co/xIGw4Dx8Wk

[Graham Appleton @GrahamFAppleton]

Three 'wader species from the east' for which numbers peak in August and September. If you're seeing juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, look out for Little Stints too!
Blog about wader migration:
https://t.co/a3zTBK4IN2
@BirdTrack graphic from 2019
#ornithology

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

@groughgruff @AndyWarr3 @lostintewkesbur Did it fly off after wading in or go back to the shoreline?

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

@AndyWarr3 @lostintewkesbur What time was that Andy, will check that area👌 been here for 2hrs

[Ashley Howe @Ashley_Howe1990]

Safe to say the Semipalmated Sandpiper showed very nicely on Fishtail Lagoon at Keyhaven, this morning.

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Karura Forest, Nairobi definitely set the bar high for birding in Kenya. Great views of Hartlaub's Turaco, Narina Trogon & Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater.

Plenty of edited photos to come.

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

@neild1962 Great one Neil, sadly was away but hopefully time for another this autumn

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

That puts a wrap on this whistle-stop tour of Kenya.

Seeing 263 species of which 210 were lifers in 11 days has been excellent.
Final bit of birding done with this Mountain Grey Woodpecker in the hotel hardens.

https://t.co/IOsWmHUxPv - full species list. Editing begins soon.

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Our day at Lake Naivasha truly spoilt us. A boat tour gave close views of Giant Kingfisher whilst African Fish Eagles put on a show.
The nearby woodland treated us to Grey-crested Helmetshrikes.

[Graham Appleton @GrahamFAppleton]

A spring 'trip' of Dotterel is a highlight for any European birder, but where are the birds going and what do they get up to?
Fascinating paper by Bart Kempenaers and colleagues is summarised in WaderTales blog #159:
https://t.co/eVVtixFgdA
#ornithology #birds

[Scilly Pelagics @Scillypelagics]

It was a pleasant and welcome surprise in a difficult year to hear that I won BBRC’s 2026 Carl Zeiss Award. Peer recognition is tops. Thank you (left, Andrew Holden, Chair BBRC)

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Today we were based at higher altitudes upto 3100m.
Surrounded by Sunbirds including Tacazze & Golden-winged whilst also seeing endemics such as Sharpe's Longclaw & Aberdare Cisticola

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Exploring the Rift Valley at Lake Elementaita today was a huge success, with 129 species recorded with huge thanks to our guide. We had the entire site to ourselves.

Amazing views of Secretarybird, White-crested Helmetshrike, Pearl-spotted Owlet & Southern Ground-Hornbills