Naturalist, author, editor, photographer, surveyor. Written 17 books, won two awards, but happiest when avoiding the computer. Norfolk. jameslowen.com
@jameslowenwild.bsky.social#aurora from the Lerwick-Aberdeen ferry last night.
James Lowen Wildlife
@jameslowenwild.bsky.social
@jameslowenwild.bsky.social@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialGiddy final hour on Shetland when news of ‘an American thrush, prob Swainson’s’ broke just 6 min away. We got there and found ourselves looking at a Grey-cheeked Thrush. And one with wacky white in the tertials too! #ukbirding
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialAt last we find a decent bird! Radde’s Warbler, Tangwick, Shetland. with @dbradnum.bsky.social @koneheadsegg.bsky.social @moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialSo calm on #Shetland today I could hear the mosquitos. We took advantage to search trees for migrant birds but failed again: Sibe Chiffs the best. So here are pics of an Arctic Warbler found by mates @stubutchart.bsky.social and Stitch, and one of three Minke Whales feeding close offshore.
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialFinding the leeward side of trees and woods was key on Shetland today - & even then it was only a warm-up for tomorrow. There were again migrant birds at each site we tried but we found nothing better than Sibe Chiff, Pied Fly and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, so here’s a Red-breasted Flycatcher instead
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialCharley Hesse and I nattered about all things Neotropical in this episode of the Naturally Adventurous podcast. Includes tales from Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. open.spotify.com/episode/5MzH... @neobirdconserve.bsky.social
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialAfter briefly genuflecting before HM Queen Eider, and testing the breakfast offering at Fjara, we headed north, rejecting twitching in favour of checking various sites while avoiding birders. Turned up Barred & 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, Pied Fly and 3 Otters (two in woodland!) #Shetland #ukbirding
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialThere be rares. We hope. A week to be spent jn coastal scrub, iris beds and isolated gardens. Shetland: bring it on. #ukbirding.
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialBOC of Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler at Gib Pt today. Starting our trip north with a goodie. And the new camera set-up already proving its worth. #ukbirding
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialThis lovely Autumnal Rustic was new for our Norwich garden last night. Not many records around the fine city - and I think the first I have seen in Norfolk. #MuchAdoAboutMothing
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialAnd there’s me, over on the right, sniffing goat
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialthat’s as mad as Madanga being a pipit
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialthat Lancey was inside an (open, dumped) fridge when i saw it!
@jameslowenwild.bsky.sociali have been very lucky since may, for sure. it has never happened before and will never happen again.
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialAnd here's the sound-recording. Bird audible towards start, but mainly worth a listen for the panicky crashing about as I get out of the car and try and find my binoculars in the boot... soundcloud.com/james-lowen-...
@bot.cowtools.orgReposted by @jameslowenwild.bsky.social“And don’t give me that ‘I’m only bird-watching’ line.”
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialWell, things have perked up further. Have just had a European Bee-eater high north 0942, calling - over Brightwell Lakes estate, Martlesham. Got eyes on and sound-recorded.
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialEnduring a 12h traffic survey in Suffolk today. (The things writers have to do to put bread on the table.) But already buoyed by a pre-dawn Polecat on the A140 roadside in S Norfolk, and a two displaying Woodlarks constantly audible at the survey site.
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialdamnit, richard. i have just got on the train at kings cross. had i seen your reply earlier, i would have pootled over to Granary Sq!
@jameslowenwild.bsky.socialAlways stay alert… Walking past some ivy on a southeast London street. My subconscious discerns a micromoth fizzing. Turns out to be Clepsis dumicolana. Turns out there are a dozen. Relatively recent, ivy-feeding colonist. And new for me.
