David Walsh
Suffolk birder, tour guide.
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- An excellent day’s birding in south Suffolk. With @joshuapeverley.bsky.social I enjoyed Tundra Bean Geese near the Deben and Snow Buntings at Landguard. Then nipped to Alton with another local young birder and saw Smew & Scaup, bettered by the two Bewick’s Swans which flew overhead calling: magic!
- Reposted by David WalshBittern, 80+ Snow Buntings and the Temminck's Stint were among the highlights on a recent trip to the Suffolk Coast with @david-walsh.bsky.social @noahbai-123.bsky.social @tsbirding.bsky.social @lucasnature.bsky.social and others!
- Reposted by David WalshJust to share the joy of a drake Smew on patch at Alton- the last one a few years ago had felt like a last chance to see already. Not the full set of white head plumes on this chap, but pearls of water on its back when it upped from dive. #BirdArt
- Delighted to watch a drake Smew at Alton Water today, my first there for many years. Another cracking find by Steve Babbs #suffolkbirding
- Reposted by David WalshA stunning snow day on the beach today Kessingland 03/1/2026
- Enjoyed a long-awaited day on the Suffolk coast today catching up with friends, seeing Snow Buntings, Eider and this Temminck’s Stint. The snow made life ‘interesting’ at one stage but ultimately proved to be a bonus! Thanks to the Westleton Crown for saving the day at lunchtime!
- This Temminck's Stint should be enjoying tropical Africa at the moment. Instead it's at #RSPB Minsmere, which was coated in a silver layer of snow today! #birds #photography #snow
- Happy New Year everyone! As per the last five years, I started 2026 birding within c10km of home, aiming to note as many species as possible, as part of a collective effort. 107 was a personal best (previous high 102). Jack Snipe seen with thermal (not flushed) & Great Northern Diver two highlights.
- I wasn’t expecting a second outing today, but the Red-necked Grebe just across into Essex and just 20 minutes from home was too good to resist. My first since December 2023. A super find by Matt Turner. #ukbirding
- Spent this morning along the Deben catching up with @joshuapev.bsky.social. We located the cracking Black Brant found two days ago by Paul Holmes, my first for ages, as well as 15 White-fronted Geese. #suffolkbirding #ukbirding
- Reposted by David WalshWhat a mega day!! Started by twitching Great Shearwater (Norfolk tick) off Winterton. Sooty Shearwater and Snow Buntings from there too. Then I found 8+ Tundra Bean Geese at Horsey. Then, at St. Benet's Abbey, I had great views of Black-winged Kite, Glossy Ibis, Short-eared Owl, and 7 cranes. Wow!
- Home from a good day out catching up with @tsbirding.bsky.social & his mum. Started at Minsmere as planned, then tootled to Carlton Marshes to enjoy the ‘white nun’ drake Smew which enjoyed spending time under water. First I’ve seen in Suffolk since I first bumped into Toby at Mins four winters ago!
- Reposted by David WalshWas pleased to connect with the Eastern Black Redstart today in Sheringham and had super views of it feeding along the seawall.
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- An excellent day catching up and birding with my niece y’day, first time in ages. Finding a Dartford Warbler amongst the highlights. I had time later to nip to Gedgrave where I was surprised to find the Tundra Bean Geese still present. Finally a dusk walk at Orford produced my first Merlin of 2025!
- Congrats to Sam on his award which is well deserved. The Sand Martin pic is really super and it was great to visit the site with Sam last April.
- Absolutely over the moon to win the urban animals category at the @rspcaoffficial.bsky.social Young Photographer awards yesterday with this image of a Sand Martin taken at Walthamstow Wetlands! I also got my photo featured in The Times, which is pretty cool!
- Reposted by David WalshThree Suffolk Shrikes - I have a signed, limited edition giclee print of a painting of the 3 rare shrikes in Suffolk this autumn (Isabelline, Turkestan and Brown). Just 50 available and only £50 window mounted (add £12 for P&P): PM me if interested and please repost, thanks
- Reposted by David WalshGreat to be out on Patch again at Walthamstow Wetlands today in glorious weather. I was certainly caught by surprise when I was looking through a Chiffchaff flock, and then this Common Whitethroat popped up! #ukbirding #patchbirding
- Guiding for Naturetrek today, and finally it coincided with a dry Friday even if it was rather grey. Walkaway views of male and female Crossbills, with the male in song. Also Dartford Warblers, Raven, Cattle Egrets, then an array of dabbling ducks (and a good cafe lunch!) at Hollesley #ukbirding
- Reposted by David WalshNot a field sketch that's for sure, but just pencilling out a top nice thing from the Stour today- wind lifting the nape of a Black-throated Diver enough to make a white crescent from the underlay. #BirdArt
- I headed to Raydon disused airfield this morning where recent visits have produced flocks of finches and pipits (so a chance of Merlin I thought….). No luck, but instead I found a Dartford Warbler, a rather extraordinary record for deepest mid-Suffolk. I was in disbelief when I first heard it!
- This Water Pipit was a nice surprise at Island Mere Minsmere just before dusk.
- The Temminck’s Stint at Minsmere today was distant but light was nice….
- On a gloriously sunny & calm afternoon I decided to head to Benacre hoping that the two Twite seen on Sunday (and also last Thursday) were still about. Eventually they reappeared & showed brilliantly feeding on vegetation along a cliff face. The first confirmed sighting in Suffolk for twelve months.
- Reposted by David WalshSUFFOLK BIRD GROUP November 27th Indoor Talk #SuffolkBirds
- Reposted by David WalshHad some great views of this Yellow-browed Warbler on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday for a few mins. Only my 3rd ever and all of them have been here! So nice to see that lovely bright supercilium and hear the call again! #ukbirding #patchbirding
- Reposted by David WalshHume's Warbler in Southwold churchyard brought up 220 for my patch this year, then almost immediately went to 221 with a Richard's Pipit that flew south calling - a scarce bird nowadays #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
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- Ravens are a much commoner sight in Suffolk than a few years ago, but I very much enjoy seeing and hearing this one in its favoured tree right outside my house!
- The autumn migration season at Landguard is nearly over for another year, but this week I have enjoyed watching the confiding Snow Bunting (yesterday) and, before that, the late Wheatear (on Sunday).
- With @joshuapev.bsky.social I enjoyed much better views of this Yellow-browed Warbler at Felixstowe Ferry than the photos suggest. Bird found by Mike Marsh and we all heard it calling which confirmed the id #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
- Headed up the coast for the first time in a month to see this cracking first-winter Isabelline Shrike at North Warren, my second ever in Suffolk. A superb find by Julian Flowers whilst doing his WEBS count earlier in the day #suffolkbirding #ukbirding
- Reposted by David WalshBoom! All the 'red-tailed shrikes' done in Suffolk this year with Isabelline Shrike at N Warren this afternoon. Made sweeter as it is a grip back for me too, having missed the previous birds. No matter what anyone says to me, I can't see such pale birds not being isabellinus
- Four mornings in a row at @landguardbo.bsky.social, with daily views of the wonderful Pallas’s Warbler, but the highlight turned out to be a butterfly! In the sunshine I found three Common Blues (two males), Suffolk’s latest ever by two days. Good to watch one with @landguardbirder.bsky.social.
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- Reposted by David WalshGreat views of European & Oriental Turtle Dove side by side at Hillwell, Shetland this evening. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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- Reposted by David WalshOur last day in the Shetlands, highlights were Steppe Grey Shrike, Humes Warbler, Waxwing, Red Breasted Fly, Ring Necked Duck, Northern Longtailed tit's, Northern Bullfinch, and the real highlight of the holiday was seeing the Northern lights.
- Much nicer weather at Landguard today. Firecrest & Woodlark looked like being birds of the morning until @joshuapev.bsky.social picked up a Little Auk flying along the beach. It conveniently landed just a few metres offshore! Great to watch it with @birderbill.bsky.social #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
- Reposted by David Walsh3 Zitting Cisticola showed distantly at Walberswick this morning (poss 4); at least 2 in moult - record shots only
- Perhaps unwisely given not on top form, I braved the rain at Landguard today for ‘Project Little Auk’ day two with @joshuapev.bsky.social. At 0950 one appeared 50m offshore, and a few minutes later another followed, landing near the jetty, affording amazing views. A highlight of any autumn: magic!
- Reposted by David WalshAfter yesterday's Shrike at Hollesley back at Landguard today with a Short-eared Owl, Grey Heron, Ring-necked Parakeet, Marsh Harrier, Brambling, plus singles of Swallow and House Martin putting in appearances
- Reposted by David WalshBrown Shrike, Upper Hollesley Common this afternoon. My fourth new bird for Suffolk this year - all since May: Bridled Tern, Zitting Cisticola, Turkestan Shrike and now this. Unfortunately, it kept its distance from me
- Reposted by David WalshAmazing to see the Upper Hollesley common Brown Shrike today, found by John Lewis. My 5th Uk shrike species of the year and third for Suffolk. Epic!!!
- Record shot of the Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common. First for Suffolk. Great find by Jon Lewis #ukbirding
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- Another cracking morning at Landguard. Seconds of the ultra elusive Pallas’s Warbler alongside a Firecrest, with views of a Yellow-browed Warbler shortly afterwards. Definitely my favourite bird trio! A privilege to see this Jack Snipe, just the fourth ever to be trapped/ringed at the site.
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- Reposted by David Walsh
- I’ve really enjoyed birding at Landguard regularly this autumn. Y’day was great, with Jack Snipe & Long-eared Owl amongst 50+ species. Today was epic! A self-found Yellow-browed Warbler then the magic moment of relocating a Pallas’s Warbler with Will Brame which he & Bill Mackie had found earlier.
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- Reposted by David WalshBrilliant morning along the river produced 2 #patch ticks with this juv Goosander and a flyover Redpoll! Also decent #vismig with 85 Mipits, 21 Redwing, 25 Linnet #ukbirding @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
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- After the second ‘heard only’ Yellow-browed Warbler in two days, this time at Landguard, it was great to find that this immature White-tailed Eagle was performing to order at Trimley. What a bird! We may see the species more often now than in the past, but every one remains special. #ukbirding
- Others have much better photos, but it was an amazing thrill to return for seconds and enjoy the celebrity Red-tailed Shrike at Dunwich this morning, a week after simply ‘ticking it’ in the rain. We watched it hunting (and impaling) dragonflies, beetles, wasps etc. What a privilege!
- Reposted by David WalshOh lawdy...!!! White-throated Needletail showing a bit well here at Bempton RSPB reserve @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
- Reposted by David WalshLapland Bunting, Dunwich yesterday. A scarce migrant through Suffolk (rarely over winters), Lapland Bunting numbers have varied from 6-21 (av. 11) in the county over the past 10 years and is now hard to connect with, so it was nice to find this #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
- Reposted by David WalshTurkestan Shrike at Dunwich Heath this afternoon; a real stunner #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
- Reposted by David WalshA superb day, mostly at Dunwich, with @noahbai-123.bsky.social and other friends. Highlight was the super adult male Red-tailed Shrike, my 400th world bird species! Great supporting cast of Glossy Ibises, Yellow-browed and Dartford Warblers, Crossbill and a late Whinchat! #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
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- A superb morning at @landguardbo.bsky.social today. Lots of finch and pipit vismig including a bonus Crossbill, multiple Redpolls seen in the hand as well as the first Firecrest of the autumn, and the icing on the cake was a Glossy Ibis overhead, my first of the year! ebird.org/checklist/S2...
- Reposted by David WalshSome better views and photos of the male Turkestan Shrike on Dunwich Heath this morning. Windy conditions not helpful #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
- Absolutely thrilled to have seen the Red-tailed Shrike at Dunwich early this morning before guiding a group at Minsmere. The small crowd stayed at a sensible distance and we had cracking scope views. A first for Suffolk and just my second ever (following the one at Bempton three years ago). Magic!
- Reposted by David WalshTurkestan Shrike - ad male, Dunwich Heath this afternoon. An excellent bird and find; photos in gloomy light not the best and was a little elusive early evening #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
- Reposted by David WalshA day book-ended by a Death's-head Hawk-moth at Bawdsey and this Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich Heath. Here is a short video late this evening in poor light.
- I was unexpectedly free this morning so headed to Shotley for a circular walk around the marshes. I knew there were Cattle Egrets about, but wasn’t expecting to tally 14! A Bearded Tit in reeds behind the river wall was a bonus. Clouded Yellow pic is from Landguard on Tuesday, one of eight.
- Reposted by David WalshJust returned from a much needed break to the Shetland Isles (my 14th visit) with @scottmayson.bsky.social and @wallcreeper1.bsky.social For me, my birding highlight of the trip was watching my 3rd Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler down to 20ft with 7 other birders whilst on Unst.
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- Reposted by David WalshAnother great morning for #vismig along the river, with 134 Mipits, 27 Skylarks, 2 Hobbies, 5 Yammers 2 Corn Buntings and a Sand Martin being highlights. Also my latest ever Reed Warbler! #patch #ukbirding
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- Reposted by David WalshFound this cracking Red breasted flycatcher at winterton this afternoon, initially very sluggish & napping, then became much more sprightly, even feeding on the floor a few metres away oblivious to my presence. Also 5 redstarts, winterton/horsey, song thrushes, robins & goldcrests. #norfolkbirding
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- Reposted by David WalshTo see the updated list of description species, committee members, and a whole lot more, take a look at our website at: norfolkbirds.weebly.com
