Matt Hall

@oscardewhurst.bsky.social's shout of Long-tailed Duck certainly shook me out of my grump at missing Grey Phalarope earlier in the morning. Juv type, briefly settling by the pipes at Severn Beach before appearing to head south inland. The excellent patch year continues! @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Another excellent morning of #vismig at Aust Highlights inc. Goosander Marsh Harrier Red Kite 12912 Redwing 656 Fieldfare 1099 chaffinch 9 Brambling 16 Redpoll 357 Goldfinch 38 Siskin 12 Reed Bunting @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @j-dunning.net

What a day on Scilly🤯. Feeding frenzy of Fin Whale, Minke + 100 C Dolphin. Then 180(!) Grey Phalarope, 600 Cory's Shear, 2 Bonxie, ringtail Harrier sp, Glossy Ibis, Red-backed Shrike, 2 YBW + point blank Sora at dusk @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @migrationmatt.bsky.social

Western Bonelli's Warbler St. Martins #Scilly today with @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds

An amazing start to our now annual week on Scilly. Sora at Porthellick right in front of the hide 😍 with @matthall95.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social and @oscardewhurst.bsky.social #Scilly #ukbirding #birds @birdguides.bsky.social

Excellent variety at New Passage yesterday morning - 3 Spoonbill SW, Merlin, Hobby, Spotted Redshank, 3 Golden Plover, 10 Barwit, 47 Blackwit, 2 Great White Egret, Pochard, Kingfisher and Siskin @oscardewhurst.bsky.social #ukbirding

Strange morning at New Passage - patch mega Nuthatch and escaped Greater Flamingo punctuated an otherwise extremely quiet visit. The joys of patch birding! @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Well I wasn't expecting this on my front lawn/driveway tonight. A juvenile Puffin. Number 171 for my house list. Will be released at Weston super Mare at midnight.

Given puffins fledge at night to avoid predators, and given the extreme tides, we released this one down the channel at high tide in the hope it will be encouraged back towards Lundy.

The 2 gorgeous adult Curlew Sandpiper still present on Pilning Wetland this evening, plus Whimbrel, 165 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpiper, 9 Common Gull and an impressive pre roost gathering of 500+ hirundines #ukbirding

7 singing Quail this morning at Marshfield. Wonderful place with Hobby, Spotted Flycatchers, presumed returning f-type Redstart plus stacks of farmland birds I don't see enough such as Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Yellow Wag @reuben-veal.bsky.social @jackwylson.bsky.social @hull24matt.bsky.social

Was quite the shock when 2 Great Shearwater appeared in my scope this morning at Severn Beach. Briefly came in towards Chittening then lingered distantly left of Denny Island. Presumably one of the duo currently being tracked down the estuary past Sand Point, Anchor Head and now Burnham #ukbirding

Seabirds galore at Severn Beach! 250+ Manx Shearwater, Great Northern Diver, Bonxie, Arctic Skua, Fulmar, 2 Storm Petrel, 2 Common Scoter and 4 Kittiwake this morning. Dark phase Arctic Skua, 2 Guillemot, 5 Common Tern and 2 Kitts last night @andy-1963.bsky.social @severnsidebirds.bsky.social

Surprisingly good estuary watch at Severn Beach with @severnsidebirds.bsky.social, with prolonged views of Storm Petrel, Spoonbill crossing NW to Wales, 5 Guillemot, Gannet, 9 Sanderling and 3 Whimbrel. Med Gull, Siskin and 2 late Tree Pipit also at New Passage

Point-blank views of Nightjar less than a mile from home - not what I expected this evening on the mean streets of Easton, Bristol! Enormous thank you to the homeowner for news and access #ukbirding

Rather splendid pair of Black-winged Stilt still at Pilning Wetland this morning with @andy-1963.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social

Patch record flock of 12 Cattle Egret briefly joined the cattle on Northwick Warth in a rain shower before heading NE. Not quite the fabled May 1st patch mega I was hoping for, but v smart in their summer finery! Highlights at Severn Beach first thing were single Common Tern and Hobby #ukbirding

Double #vismig sessions at Severn Beach today. @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social 54 Yellow Wagtail* 3 Whinchat 100 Bar-tailed Godwit* 38 Swift* 6 Arctic Tern 260 Swallow 44 Sand Martin 10 Sanderling 21 Whimbrel* Etc. www.trektellen.org/count/view/5...

Another good #vismig at Severn Beach yesterday. A bit quiet generally but some nice flocks of terns in the morning inc. 63 Arctic (16, 47)*, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Hobby, 2 Gannet and Brent Goose @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @andy-1963.bsky.social

Best time of year on the Severn! Vismig highlights at Severn Beach: 10 Black Tern, 1 Little Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 79 Common Tern, 30 Commics, 192 (!) Little Gull, 7 Grey Plover, 70 Whimbrel, 61 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank, 22 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 3 Redpoll and 3 Siskin #ukbirding

An epic #vismig day on Severnside w/ @matthall95.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social @severnsidebirds.bsky.social 8 Little Tern 24 Common Tern 74 Little Gull* Arctic Skua Hobby* Blue-headed Wag* (prob) 36 Yellow Wag 92 Sand Mart 605 Swallow* 159 House Mart www.trektellen.org/count/view/5...

Severnside's joint earliest record of Osprey seen from Severn Beach today with @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social & @aravindramesh19.bsky.social. Kettled up to find a thermal and then zoomed out over the estuary towards Wales. Patch magic. Boc pic: Matt Hall. #avonbirding #ukbirding

A beautiful morning of #vismig at Severn Beach yesterday. RB Merganser, 11 Gannet*, Avocet, House Martin, 19 Sand Martin* and 463 Meadow Pipit* the highlights with Jack Snipe, Ruff, 7 LRP and 90 Curlew* at Pilning Wetland later www.trektellen.org/count/view/5... @severnsidebirds.bsky.social

Really nice vismig at Severn Beach with highlights drake Red-breasted Merganser becoming my 3rd patch sawbill of the year (just need Smew to complete the set!), Avocet, 11 Gannet appearing out the murk, 19 Sand Martin and 447 Mipit. Plus first House Martin of the year, Jack Snipe and Ruff at Pilning

Spring is here and birds are moving! Sunny morning with easterly wind on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 2 gorgeous dip feeding Little Gull, male Wheatear, 14 Sand Martin NE, 5 LRP, Jack Snipe and 60 Knot @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @andy-1963.bsky.social #ukbirding

The Hooded Merganser that turned up on Pilning Wetland on Monday was not on anyone's radar - @andy-1963.bsky.social caused a panicked scramble from Severnside patchers to get to it before the light faded. Did the right thing for its credibility by summarily disappearing after a day of feeding!

Was thinking of knocking it on the head for the day, when I decided to take one more look at Pilning Wetland. Glad I did, as this Hooded Merganser had just arrived ahead of a bank of low cloud and drizzle. Needless to say, a patch lifer! Pic: @matthall95.bsky.social #ukbirding

Beautiful crisp morning and stacks of birds at New Passage with @j-dunning.net - 16 White-fronted Goose still, 2 Pintail, 4 Golden Plover, 5 Knot, 400 Blackwit, 3000 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, male Marsh Harrier and Redpoll. Brambling behind Aust Services. Dodgy phone scoped video of the dawn scene

The 8 White-fronted Geese on Northwick Warth were totally fearless this morning, happily bathing and drinking from the puddle closest to the seawall. Wonderful to see them so close. Fingers crossed they draw in some Beans over the New Year.... #ukbirding

Very pleased the goose influx made it this far west with 8 White-fronted Goose (1 juv) on Northwick Warth this morning. Cattle Egret, Red Kite and 2 Pintail at Pilning Wetland. 1 Penduline Tit at Aust Wetland with the other 2 at Cake Pill in a mixed tit flock in scrub. Pretty amazing! #ukbirding

Happy Christmas from Severnside Ringing (birding/vismig) Group 🪶

Unseasonal Garganey plus Ruff, Knot and 400 Black-tailed Godwit at Pilning Wetland. 2 Crossbill, male Goosander and 12 Brent Goose the best of the vismig at Aust. Looks like the Penduline Tit has moved on this morning #ukbirding

Absolute belter of a patch tick in the form of this Penduline Tit! On the reedy pool at the north end of Northwick Warth. Very grateful to the finders! #ukbirding