Birding, nature, wildlife and photography. What’s not to like! Patch is north Essexhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mvl5ibgnyc27Golden Plover from Copt Hall this afternoon. #essexbirding15 Sep 2026 17:27 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvl5ibgnyc27https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mvb6wkwkfs2eGreat to see two Spot Flys on my local patch today. Thanks goes to @olicwildlife.bsky.social for finding them! #essexbirding11 Sep 2026 18:26 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvb6wkwkfs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3muhuidrjrs2vA nice morning spent watching at least 4 Spot Fly at Wigborough Church, then onto Abberton where there were a couple of Spoonbills! Finally to Mersea for Clouded Yellow and Wall Brown butterflies. #essexbirding01 Sep 2026 16:43 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3muhuidrjrs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mtnzmumy7c25After several failed attempts, I finally saw the Ring-necked Duck at Abberton yesterday. This is also, a ✅ for me! #essexbirding22 Aug 2026 10:05 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtnzmumy7c25https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mt5242mzik2vPopped across the Strood to Mersea Island today. Lucky enough to see Spot Fly and Wheatear. #essexbirding15 Aug 2026 15:59 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt5242mzik2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mt2pcjpbdk2tIt was baking hot today 🥵, but I still managed 20 mins at Abberton this afternoon. Here is one of the 20+ Spoonies from the causeway. #essexbirding14 Aug 2026 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2pcjpbdk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mszpg4iwdk2nPopped across to Mersea Island yesterday. Here are a few photos of some of my sightings. #essexbirding14 Aug 2026 08:09 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mszpg4iwdk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3msjhkxheq22jHaving barely visited Abberton in weeks, I cycled there today and was rewarded for my efforts with 2 Wood Sandpipers dropping onto the causeway. The Osprey was still around too, which was nice! #essexbirding07 Aug 2026 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3msjhkxheq22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mr6htcfj6s25Had my first visit to Abberton in weeks today. Osprey was chilling on what I understand is its favourite perch. Ruddy was about but I couldn’t pick out the Ring Necked Duck even though it was reported again. Also, I snuck out to Manningtree last week for the Hudwit - life✅. #essexbirding21 Jul 2026 18:46 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6htcfj6s25https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mqmcieglpc2lI was up on the Suffolk heath yesterday and saw a few bits and bobs.14 Jul 2026 13:23 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmcieglpc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mpyui2kxn22eHad a walk around the lower part of Friday Woods, Colchester this morning before the worst of the heat. Still can’t track down Purple Emperor in last years territory but did have WL and Purple Hairstreak, plus Brown Arg and W Admiral.06 Jul 2026 19:52 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpyui2kxn22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3monsbw5ak225Nice (hot 🥵) walk around the southern part of Friday Woods, Colchester this am. Nice to see White Admiral, Banded Demoiselles and an active, showy Nightingale. Then some parenting going on nearby. #essexbirding19 Jun 2026 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3monsbw5ak225https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mobe3igvq222Birders, I’ve now been to two bird named pubs/bars…The Crow Inn (Sheffield) and today, The Rook Taproom (Brighton). It’s always a joy to find bird related places, and both of these were excellent. What bird related/named places have you been to? Gull pic from Brighton yesterday #birding14 Jun 2026 18:02 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mobe3igvq222https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mnopwhdpz224Minsmere had some great birds this week when I headed up there for the day with @swallowbirding.bsky.social and @esbr-essex.bsky.social. Pictures include Roseate Tern, Dartford Warbler, Sand Martin and a Marsh Harrier following a successful hunt! It was a great day! #suffolkbirding07 Jun 2026 08:13 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnopwhdpz224https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mmjkffq6oc2lI carried out a BTO Birds in Greenspaces survey at a local site the other day. Nice to see some busy Swallows while I was there. #essexbirding @btobirds.bsky.social23 May 2026 13:26 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmjkffq6oc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mljaj7gcyk2oBack from a few days in Hungary where the focus was more beer than birds, but couldn’t help squeezing a bit of birding in. Hooded Crow, Tree Sparrow and Black Redstart were the highlights. Checked East Mersea Stone point #essex on the way out too 😉 #birding10 May 2026 17:04 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mljaj7gcyk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mkg6cyegls22A very showy Nightingale on the local patch today. #essexbirding26 Apr 2026 18:21 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkg6cyegls22https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mk425alyqk2vLocal patch walk first thing was mainly about butterflies including whirling Speckled Wood and Green Hairstreak. Also had my first Swifts of the year over Abberton today too. #essexbirding #ukbutterflies22 Apr 2026 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk425alyqk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mjzmy6ftak2eAlso from Tiptree, a very busy Song Thrush (one of many), and one of at least 3 Nightingales. #essexbirding21 Apr 2026 18:39 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzmy6ftak2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mjzlqdgoy22eNice little stop off in Tiptree this afternoon for one of my favourite songs of spring! Sorry about the 💨 noise! #essexbirding21 Apr 2026 18:17 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzlqdgoy22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mjulfczqjc2vPhotos of a few sightings at Abberton yesterday. #essexbirding19 Apr 2026 18:27 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjulfczqjc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mjkllxigsc2nBlack Tern, Common Sand, Barn Swallow and Sand Martin from Abberton today. #essexbirding15 Apr 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkllxigsc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mjjf372mhk24Went for a near on 10 mile pedal powered 🚲 circuit taking the local patch and beyond the other day. Mistle Thrushes, Skylarks and a fresh in Nightingale were noted. Bluebells looked nice in the sunlight too. #essexbirding. #lowcarbonbirding15 Apr 2026 07:35 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjjf372mhk24https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mjaf3emsw22oAbberton has continued to deliver this week. Little Gull and Ring Ouzel from today. Wheatear and Bonapartes Gull yesterday, the latter of which was the first I’ve seen, so that was ace ✅. Thanks to the finders! #essexbirding #birdsseenin202611 Apr 2026 17:41 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjaf3emsw22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mj3jkpetrc2nThis week around Abberton and my local patch - LRP, Swallow, Yellow Wagtail and Red Kite. Also managed to catch up with my first Willow Warbler of the year - I love their song! #essexbirding09 Apr 2026 19:18 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3jkpetrc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3miwpvxw23s2lAbberton was the place I heard Nightingale for the first time this spring. I followed that up with one on the local patch later in the day, which was nice. #essexbirding07 Apr 2026 21:28 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3miwpvxw23s2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mitirtkzhk2vAbberton and Tiptree Heath were looking lovely in the sunshine today. #essexbirding06 Apr 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mitirtkzhk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mhku44mzh225Purple Sandpiper from Holland Haven yesterday. #essexbirding #birdphotography21 Mar 2026 10:46 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhku44mzh225https://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mgxphcv7322fSiskin and Redpoll from castle park, Colchester today and my first Chiffchaff from the local patch earlier this week. #essexbirding13 Mar 2026 20:02 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgxphcv7322fhttps://bsky.app/profile/fivefootseven.bsky.social/post/3mfweuod7ks2hOne of two Black-necked Grebes at Abberton this afternoon. Plus some busy Cormorants and a Cattle Egret that was making itself at home with the gulls. #essexbirding28 Feb 2026 13:55 +0000at://did:plc:jf4yjon4tnfbkkrw7fdbjagb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfweuod7ks2h