David Minshall

Great to see that Bristol Naturalists’ Society has joined us here on Bluesky. @bristolnats.bsky.social

Great to see and enjoy your presence here! 👍

Finally caught sight of my first butterfly of the year today! A Red Admiral at Lamplighters Marsh, Bristol.

Red Admiral partially hidden by brambles

Redshank walking on muddy river side

Curlew and Redshank standing together

Buzzard soaring

Oooh! At last, caught sight or my first butterfly of the year this morning - a Red Admiral at Lamplighters Marsh NR, Bristol. A nice variety of bird by the River Avon too, including Redshank and Curlew, plus a pair of Buzzard. (03.03.26) #avonbirds #ukwildlife #ukbutterflies

The local community newspaper, Shire, got in touch recently. They were interested in the Avocet on the River Avon that I'd shared pictures of. The Avocet have since moved on, but nice to be able to share some 'wildlife news' in the local newspaper. See - www.shire.org.uk #avonbirds #ukwildlife

Lamplighters Marsh, Bristol. Every year I say I don't need more pictures of Robin! Then the sun comes out; they just find a nice spot to sit & sing, posing for passers by with a camera! Heronry at Pill was active. A couple of Canada Goose nearby too, plus two Buzzard circling about. 28.02.26 #birds

Lapwing

Greylag Goose

Bewick's Swan

On one of the rare sunny days so far this year took a trip to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre a few weeks ago. Always plenty to see there, including these; Lapwing, Greylag Goose and Bewick's Swan. (14.01.26) #glosbirds #ukwildlife #birds

Set by Alan, #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #WideOpenWings -
So, here's a Grey Heron coming in to land. Photo taken on the East Lyn River, near Watersmeet, Devon. (15.03.24) #DevonBirds #UKWildlife @alan678.bsky.social @exmoornp.bsky.social @everyheron.bsky.social

A fresh day for a stroll over Brean Down today (south of Weston-super-Mare), but nice to get out. Quite a few Stonechat about including this female. (25.02.26) #somersetbirding #ukwildlife #ukbirding #birds

I'm quite fond of the understated Dunnock - lots of subtleties to their colour when there's chance to see them closely. Enjoyed watching this one while visiting near St. Clears, Carmarthenshire (10.02.26). Regular visitors to my home garden too. #birdingwales #ukwildlife #birds

Black-tailed Godwit at Teifi Marshes, near Cardigan (10.02.26). When I'm in the area, it's always good to squeeze in a visit. The paths and hides offer good variety of habitat to enjoy; these photos were taken from Mallard Hide #birdingwales #ukwildlife #birds @birdsinwales.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme set by Rob is #RuffledFeathers - I think this Little Egret qualifies. Photographed at Magor Marsh in South Wales (08.08.25). #birdingwales #ukwildlife #birds #wildlifephotography @robcrank68.bsky.social

Long-tailed Tit sat on a branch

Long-tailed Tit sat on a branch

Blue Tit sat on a branch

Blue Tit with beak open sat on a branch

Rummaging through some recent photos, these just made me smile. Long-tailed Tit and Blue Tit at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve (14.02.26). We're lucky to have these delightful birds as regular garden visitors too. #avonbirds #birds #ukwildlife @wildportishead.bsky.social

Fly past from a Great Black-backed Gull along the River Avon. Lamplighters Marsh NR, Bristol, 19.02.26. #avonbirds #ukwildlife #seabirds

A dull afternoon for a wander, but good to be out without rain! Several Redshank and Curlew along the shoreline of the River Avon as the tide was falling - nice to see this pair of Curlew. Lamplighters Marsh, Bristol, 19.02.26. #avonbirds #ukwildlife

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #PeacefulSolitide - this Turnstone was enjoying just that on the beach near Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland (September 2025). Come to that, so was I...! 🙂 #ukwildlife #birds @alan678.bsky.social

Redshank in the early morning sunlight. These are regularly seen on the shore line of the River Avon from Lamplighters Marsh Nature Reserve, Bristol. (14.02.26) #avonbirds #ukwildlife #birds

Flitting around high in the tree tops and silhouetted it wasn't immediately clear - but a careful watch and a lucky photo was able to confirm a pair of Coal Tit. They're busy little birds! Eastwood Local Nature Reserve, Portishead. (14.02.26) #avonbirds #ukwildlife

What a delight, a Treecreeper in Eastwood LNR, Portishead. Well camouflaged, they can be quite difficult to spot - happily, Mrs. M. saw this one! Enjoyed watching it work its way up trees searching for food amongst the bark. (15.02.26) - #avonbirds #ukwildlife #birds @wildportishead.bsky.social

We must have wandered in a little after you. Didn’t see the Heron or Buzzard either. Two Little Grebe were quite active, but somewhat distant. Lovely day to be out.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #DivingForFood, birds that dive under water for food. It was a joy watching this Little Grebe diving for food to feed it's chick at Hestercombe House & Gardens, Somerset (August 2025). #somersetbirding #ukwildlife #birds @robcrank68.bsky.social

Reed Bunting (male) perched on a branch

Reed Bunting (female) perched in reeds

Reed Bunting (female) perched in reeds

Reed Bunting (female) perched on a branch

Reed Bunting; one male and three female. All photos taken at Teifi Marshes, near Cardigan, 10.02.26. I was struck by the colour variation of the females. Possibly associated with birds moulting at different times and the late winter transition into breeding plumage. #birdingwales #ukwildlife #birds

Grey Wagtail. Hayfield, Peak District. May 2024

Whinchat. Sugar Loaf, near Abergavenny. June 2024

A couple of pictures for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme, #Birds&Bugs (set by Alan). A Grey Wagtail at Hayfield in the Peak District, and a Whinchat seen while descending Sugar Loaf, near Abergavenny. May and June 2024 respectively. #birds #ukwildlife @alan678.bsky.social

The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #OddCouples, two different birds in one capture… .. This Oystercatcher and Curlew were photographed at Lamplighters Marsh, Bristol (03.01.26). #avonbirds #ukwildlife #birds @alan678.bsky.social

I just finished reading a chapter about Manx Shearwater and Skomer, in Stephen Rutt's book 'The Seafarers'. An enjoyable read and learning lots...

Song Thrush with a red berry in its bill

Redwing with a red berry in its bill

Theme for #BirdOfTheDay set by Alan is #birds&berries. Here's two pictures taken at Lamplighters Marsh, Bristol - a Song Thrush (03.01.26) and a Redwing (31.12.25) #avonbirds #ukwildlife #birds @alan678.bsky.social

The Stonechat is often seen perched prominently, sometimes popping up from its perch to catch a passing insect. This female was photographed in the early morning sunlight at Lamplighters Marsh, Bristol, yesterday. (04.02.26) #avonbirds #ukwildlife

Nice to see the heronry by the River Avon at Pill becoming active again. Passed by briefly yesterday (04.02.26) and there were at least a dozen Grey Heron perched in the trees. #avonbirds

A Dunnock tucked amongst brambles at Lamplighters Marsh (Bristol). Sometimes nicknamed "Hedge Sparrows" but they're not true sparrows and of a differnet family. Their thin pointed bill is a helpful quick way of distinguishing them from a sparrow with its chunky finch like bill. (04.02.26) #avonbirds