Paul Bright-Thomas 💙

Landlocked birder
#vizmig #nocmig #gulls

[Toby Carter @_TCartz]

Huge personal target in Armenia was the White-throated Robin. Safe to say our views weren't to be forgotten, the wait continues for another in the UK...

More photos on eBird - https://t.co/6v15wLh4mv

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

Review of 2024 #nocmig (and some good sightings too) over at bluesky as "paulbt". Enjoy!

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@gninwoDeoJ @sferguk I was on a Simonstown pelagic 20y ago with some SA birders and I believe that back then you needed to be on 700+ to be a high lister. Astounding!

Seasickness caused at least one of them to miss several star birds (Spectacled Petrel, both YN Albos; Manxie was good there too!)

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@ArjunDutta230 @xenocanto @SoundApproachUK @BirdGuides @SurreyBirdNews There have been eight over the garden since Sunday, with six seen. Always a delight!

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@ArjunDutta230 @xenocanto @SoundApproachUK @BirdGuides @SurreyBirdNews Well done, great bird. Still missing for me, was hoping for a 5th consecutive autumn of recording flyover Hawfinch. There's still time, but this morning was quiet ...

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@exitthelemming Happy Birthday #TimothyWest!

Have a great day.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@MrEdByrne @BrooklynBrewery @LuckySaintBeer @Michellesfunny And for yours.

Few comedy performances are absolutely packed with laughs, yet truly moving. And could be re-heard many times because of the heart in it. I feel this is one.

Mark Steel's "Who do I think I am?" in the same category of moving truth, but excellent comedy.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@GyrCrakes @PatchBirding I was delighted to get 4 Gadwall over my garden in my 19th year there ... rare is relative!

It's nice to value all variety and add to the richness of your patch.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@surreywallcreep @SurreyBirdNews Good sightings. I've had nuffink so far.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

Tried some Tower 42- style birding (https://t.co/MYgxK2eguJ) from a rooftop in the City of London, but zero raptors seen (admittedly only 10 mins). No Crows, hirundines ... almost nothing. One Goldfinch...

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@PaulUpwey @YeovilBirder That looks very much a Tawny to me.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@ATRightMovies Romeo + Juliet is a classic.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@lizardschwartz @AcroDWade I've only seen one Western Bonelli's but my impression was "Chiffchaff washed in Persil" ... super bright white underpants, zingy bright colours above, plain face isolated eye.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@pilning @MigrationMatt @PortlandBirdObs A long time coming too, perhaps the most overdue species for the island. And a cracking young male too.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@CantleySteve I also really enjoyed seeing pockets of numerous formerly common migrants, and a scattering everywhere else. Autumn magic!

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@norfolkcanary29 Good birding!

Wells had tons of birds, but the Icterine eluded me. Spot Flys galore!

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@Jamiewa50042387 Sparrowhawks are awesome, been behind one on a lane several times. I was also stuck at temp lights when a "sprawk" skimmed down the white line between queues of stationary traffic.

But my favourite was a Sparrowhawk patrolling maize in winter, like some craft in a sci-fi movie.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@Vaasetter Great focus on the goal ... the plan was a good one!

More Norfolk magic at the end of the afternoon, two Turtle Doves at Snettisham. Fantastic wader movement ahead of the advancing tide, but we had to leave before the spectacle reached its height.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

Staying at YHA Sheringham, remembering YOC holidays there in 1981 & 82. Good times.

Yesterday's southerly breeze was not optimum, but Spotted Flycatchers at Gramborough and Blakeney Point had got through. 2 Garganey found, Wood Sand, 10 Cattle Egret and 2 Great. Lovely day.

[Paul Bright-Thomas 💙 @_pbt_]

@Vaasetter The YOC perhaps ran two weeks in '82, 'cos our week was low on high-impact birds, relative to '81, which had yielded LTS on the beach at Blakeney, Barred Warbler and Wryneck.

We got close to a White-rumped Sand at Cley, but as we got to the hide, a Sea King put everything up 🤦