Andrew Wappat

Whiskered tern with catch, the Nile, Aswan 🇪🇬, Friday 23.10.26. Only one spotted amongst many more gull-billed terns and a handful of white-winged black tern during three days here. #birdsofegypt #birds

Egyptian goose, in actual Egypt. Took a while to spot some, ultimately on the Nile on small rocky islands, Aswan. Eye make-up now makes sense. And often depicted in tomb paintings and hieroglyphics. 🪿❤️ #birdsofegypt #birds

Ferruginous duck, with Nile West Bank backdrop, Aswan, Egypt 🇪🇬. The most common duck by far, a relatively recent breeding success story. With thanks again to Ismael Khalifa for the boat trip out on Wednesday. #birdsofegypt #birds 21.10.26

Sooty falcon studies, Giftun al Saghir, Hurghada 🇪🇬 Whilst everyone else on the Red Sea was snorkelling, I persuaded a skipper to only take us around the islands instead. Eventually saw a distant pair, who then took on a long-legged buzzard. 🌏 Life ✅ #1216 #birdsofegypt #birds

Indian silverbill, Elephantine Island, Aswan 🇪🇬. Seen a few of these now, this one from the allotments this morning. Another invasive species here, but only one small flock seen. 🌏 Life ✅ #1219 #birdsofegypt #birds

Hoopoe, Elephantine Island, Aswan 🇪🇬 Always fun to watch, digging for grubs, this time here in the allotments. Locally called ‘the hudhud’ الهدهد in Arabic, and widely known because of the Sufi text ‘Conference of the Birds’. Stunning. ‪#birdsofegypt‬ ‪#birds‬

Clamorous reed warbler, West Bank of the Nile, Aswan 🇪🇬 on Wednesday. Largely silent currently, but kind enough to come out of the reeds. With the excellent @Aswanbirding for a few hours to complete my Egypt list. 🌏 Life ✅ #1220 #birdsofegypt #birds

Desert wheatear, Dome of Abu Al-Hawa, West Bank of the Nile, Aswan 🇪🇬. Thought I’d better hike a little into the desert early this morning, in homage to the Durham, UK bird found yesterday. Thanks to Ismael Khalifa for the suggested area. #birdsofegypt #birds

Reed cormorant, Aswan, Egypt 🇪🇬. One of three seen on the Nile yesterday with Ismael Khalifa. Further north than usual range, good to see again, and have one fly overhead too. #birdsofegypt #birds

Red avadavat, Elephantine Island, Aswan, Egypt 🇪🇬. Lifer for me today, have dipped in Spain previously. Naturalised exotic feeding on the allotments here. #birdofegypt #birds

Little crake, West Bank of the Nile, Aswan, Egypt 🇪🇬 this morning. Finally caught up with this Lifer today, after dipping in a couple of countries this year. Brilliant early morning 3 hours out with Ismael Khalifa of Aswan Birding #birdsofegypt #birds

Sooty gull, Giftun Island, Hurghada 🇪🇬 Handful amongst the numerous white-eyed gull on the jetty. First 🌏 Life ✅ of our Egypt trip, enjoying the Red Sea by boat. 16.10.26 #birds #birdsofegypt

Southern white-faced owl, Nossob Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park, South Africa 🇿🇦. Only one seen during the two weeks, stunning bird. ❤️🦉08.02.2025 @andymalley53.bsky.social @stuartbb.bsky.social @philflam.bsky.social

Beautiful sunbird, Pirang Forest NP, Gambia 🇬🇲 7.11.2025. Excellent visit with Ousman Joku, and lovely to meet warden Mariana Camara. Highly recommended spot to support when you are in the country. #birdsofgambia #birds

I see you … Red grouse, Sleddale the other day. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.bsky.social #birds

Spotted redshank, Nosterfield LNR Has always been a bogey bird for me in North Yorkshire, finally caught up with one today at the ever glorious @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social. Thanks to the local original finder. 🙏 @nybirdnews.bsky.social @teesbirds.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Sparrowhawk vs rook, Sleddale Prolonged chase mid-afternoon today, as I heading home. Not sure what the beef was, but not as risky as with a WTE I imagine. 😊@nybirdnews.bsky.social @teesbirds.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Few more of the roseate terns amongst the tern roost at South Gare yesterday. Counted at least three, but could have been more. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Raven, North York Moors Local pair seen this morning, largely overcast up here currently. Chill in the air. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

24 pink-footed geese through Sleddale this morning. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

White-tailed eagle with corvid escort, Sleddale this evening, in failing light. Eventually left the drystone wall and headed along railway towards Kildale. Lucky to have for another year. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

White-tailed eagle, Sleddale Completely chilled on the drystone wall towards Commondale, just now 18:45. I’ve felt a bit guilty not making the effort for my local bird; thanks to the Hinleys for kicking me at Scaling Dam earlier today. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Roseate tern, South Gare One of at least three currently amongst common and sandwich, high tide. A good year. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Purple sandpiper, South Gare Couple with a single turnstone early afternoon. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Red knot, Redcar Rocks Plenty of waders feeding on the high tide seaweed line of the embankment currently. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

23 brent geese on Redcar Rocks currently, 10.40am @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Soggy crested tit, Kolka, Latvia 🇱🇻 Downpour at dawn, but then some rewards as I walked the beach, Baltic Sea to Gulf of Riga and back. 😊 #birds #birdsoflatvia

Little stint, Lielupe Estuary, Jürmala, Latvia 🇱🇻. Seeing as there appears to be an influx in North Yorkshire, here’s one of two yesterday amongst the shoreline seaweed. #birds #birdsoflatvia @waderquest.bsky.social

Temminck’s stint, Lielupe Estuary, Jürmala, Latvia 🇱🇻 Amongst a small group of waders, after hiking through the woods and dunes to reach the shoreline. Confiding in the brilliant lunchtime sunshine. #birds #birdsoflatvia @waderquest.bsky.social

Long-tailed skua, Mangalsala, Riga, Latvia 🇱🇻. Wish I’d spent a bit more time on this juvenile out in the field, as I initially just assumed is was Arctic and grabbed some record shots. Not until reached a cafe and looked more carefully … 🌍 Life ✅ #1212 #birds #birdsoflatvia

Broad-billed sandpiper, Mangalsala, Riga City, Latvia 🇱🇻. One of several different waders dropping in on the breakwater this lunchtime. My best ever views of one, having seen my first in Hungary in May. @waderquest.bsky.social #birds #birdsoflatvia

Spotted flycatcher, Turaida, Latvia 🇱🇻 One of two flitting about this afternoon on the museum grounds. 24.8.26 #birds #birdsoflatvia

White storks enjoying harvest time here in Estonia, up close and personal with the machinery. These from Vönnu, Tartumaa 19.8.26

Willow tit, Selli-Sillaotsa Trail, Valmaotsa, Estonia 🇪🇪. Noisy group of six with a single crested tit, on the forest fringe with the Laeva bog. Enjoyed two black woodpeckers further into the trees. 21.8.26 #birds #birdsofestonia

White-tailed eagles, with Russian 🇷🇺 backdrop today. A couple of adults together; enjoyed watching them from Piirissaar Island, Estonia 🇪🇪, on Lake Peipus, adjacent to the border. #birds #birdsofestonia

Pied flycatcher, Sibelius Park, Helsinki 🇫🇮 Kind enough to pose, unlike its scarcer UK cousins. 14.8.26 #birds #finlandbirding

African goshawk, Gunjur, Gambia 🇬🇲 One from the archives, 12 Nov 2025, with Ousman Joku and Lamin Baldeh. #birds #birdsofgambia

Hooded crow, Kaivopuisto, Helsinki

Great spotted woodpecker, Commondale. Soggy in the garden today. Juvenile coming back daily at the moment, but the noisy green woodpecker is refusing to show itself. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Sanderling studies, South Gare this lunchtime. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @teeswildlife.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Greenshank, Scaling Dam in early morning sunshine. Lingering bird with 3 juvenile dunlin. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @teeswildlife.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Peacock and campanula, Commondale, yesterday evening.

Dark green fritillary, Commondale Enjoying buddlea yesterday evening. @northyorkmoors.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

Black guillemot, Magilligan Point, Northern Ireland. Several appeared to be nesting in the Lough Foyle Ferry jetty. Smart birds. 18.7.26 #birds #ukbirding

Song thrush, Commondale Resident bird with breakfast, feeding two young in the nest, almost ready to fledge. Briefly hassled by a jay. New spotted flycatcher location too. Flipping hot this morning already. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Common snipe, Scaling Dam A couple feeding right in front of the hide amongst the meadow flowers, last Friday. Regular spot for them currently. @teesbirds.bsky.social @teeswildlife.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Dunlin reflections, South Gare Small group present on Tuesday, numbers dwarfed in comparison to the numbers of little tern. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding

Osprey, North Yorkshire Completely the wrong time of day for a sighting, and baking heat yesterday, but surprised to get a flyover, having not been around for Scarborough and Nosterfield birds earlier in the year. Always a thrill. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding