Gary Pickles

Photo copied from ebird

Driving home from work; passing Skipton. Nine Whooper Swans in a field. The long migration home has begun. #birding

Slavonian Greb at Calder Wetlands. Excellent day in the Spring sun. #birding

Iceland Gull at Roundhay Park in Leeds. Coming here again; so many woodland birds and of course the Parakeets! #birding

A dead Puffin lies on wet sand, its black and white feathers darkened and slick against the beach. The bird rests on its side, wings folded, with its distinctive orange bill clearly visible against the pale sand.

Heartbreaking: Right now, thousands of Puffins are washing up along our coasts and further afield.

It is devastating to see.

These birds are Red-listed in the UK and already under serious pressure.

Mass deaths like this, known as a “seabird wreck”, can take years for colonies to recover from...

Birding on patch. Goosander - 4 males, 1 female, fields of Curlew, Lapwing and Geese all hunkering down out of the wind. And this cleverly disguised Moorhen.

Tundra Bean Goose

Dash up to south of Harrogate to catch this beautiful Tundra Bean Goose in a large mixed flock including Pink Footed.

Full day at Fairburn Ings @rspb.bsky.social Sunrise to sunset. Cold but at least dry, and lunch in hide overlooking the Main Lake. 32 species seen in total including this well dressed Great Crested Grebe.

Morning out at Calder Park Wetlands. Excellent view of Black-necked Grebe showing well. Field of mixed geese including White-fronted Geese in Pool on way home.

I think a lot of keen birders have seen more but it depends on a lot of factors.

After 1 month in 2026.
38 birds on patch .. 9 km radius from home.
60 Birds in the UK.

Just seen a Treecreeper on my patch! Sometimes I can go years without catching this master of disguise 🥸 #PWC2026 #birding

My bird of the week. A Little Grebe entertaining; diving and swimming on the River Wharfe #PWC2026 #birding

Marsh Harrier from over half a mile away with Nikon Coolpix p950. Over Wader Scrape at RSPB Old Moor. Enough to id. a bird which was my reason to get this camera . #birding

Drake Wigeon

Good to be sharing space with the overwintering wildfowl at Old Moor @rspb.bsky.social #birding

Out on my patch. Fields of Curlew and Lapwing but pleased to see a lone Oystercatcher in flight. And this Heron.. #PWC2026 #birding

Mystified trying to find the field north of @rspb.bsky.social Adwick Washlands to find the White Fronted Geese. Wandered many a mile. But it was worth the trek! Besides the White Fronted Geese saw Pink Footed Geese and a bonus Treecreeper. 😊

...and to close the day a Tundra Bean Goose on my patch! #PWC2026 #birding

Smew at Knotford Nook, Otley only a stones throw from home. Too wet and cold to get a photograph. Fabulous to see this splendid drake nevertheless. #birding

Saw my first Dipper of 2026 🙂 River Wharfe. #PWC2026 #birding

A serious birder for only 6 months of this year and hit 120 species 😊 Next year's target is 175 🎯 !! Final day of 2025 found me at St Aidans @rspb.bsky.social where me and these Curlew had a very early and cold start. See you next year! #birding

Canada Geese dropped on to my patch #PWC2025 #birding

Dropped on to my patch for Christmas! Greylag Geese 😊 #PWC2025 #birding

Day in Swillington at RSPB St Aidan's and RSPB Fairburn Ings. Caught this ace drake Red-Crested Pochard at St Aidan's on Bower Lake @rspb.bsky.social #birding

Out trying my hand at patch birding ready for the patchwork challenge 2026!! #PWC2025 #birding

Bullfinch showing well at @yorkswildlife.bsky.social North Cave Wetlands 👍🏼 #birding

RSPB St Aidans

Day at St Aidans to catch the 2 Glossy Ibis sighted on Middle Ings. Another miss but an excellent day never the less. Called in at Fairburn Ings on way home - greeted by scores of Redwing.
@rspb.bsky.social #birding
St Aidans ..👇

Final day and a trip up to Lindisfarne. This was the reason we came to this reserve - Brent Geese - Pale and Black bellied. #birding

...and pleased to see the good folk of Northumberland have a keen eye on conservation. #birding

Down Embleton Bay to Stag Rocks. Treated to many birds in flight, at sea and on land... including this Purple Sandpiper. Thoroughly enjoyed the day despite the cold and rain 😁 #birding

Fab. Guided day in the North East around Duridge Bay. Waders, Wildfowl including Long-tailed and Scaup, and flocks of Stonechat and Twite. Ended the day with a Starling Murmuration over East Chevington. Thanks to excellent Alan Tilmouth our guide. #birding