A video is now available of the lecture I gave last week to the Linnean Society & British Ornithologists' Club in London, on woodland birds, Marsh Tits & Willow Tits (~45 mins): www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7HF... #ornithology #ukbirding @ukceh.bsky.social

A juv Greenshank dropped into the John Allen Pit, Oxon late p.m. Yellow flag on right tibia, code ATJ. Red ring on left tibia. Apparently a Norwegian scheme, email sent, hopefully will hear back from them. 3 Lesser Emperors and a Clouded Yellow the other highlights. #UKBirding

A juv Spot Fly, at the John Allen Pit, Oxon, ended a barren couple of months of patch birding, being the 1st year tick since May 14th. 3 Lesser Emperors, inc a male and female in tandem, in addition to last years sighting, suggests a liklehood they are breeding here. #UKBirding #PWC2025

A good selection of Odonata in Wittenham Wood today. Including 4 Clubtails, 2 more along the river, Several Broad-bodied Chasers, 20+ Beautiful Demoiselles, 2 Downy Emeralds.

A "mixed singer" Willow Warbler in Wittenham Wood, Oxon. Sings typical Willow Warbler song, typical Chiffchaff or a combination of the 2. Structure, primary projection, face pattern all good for Willow Warbler but a relatively dull plumaged bird with dark legs and feet. #UKbirding

The 1st Wheatears of the year on the Day's Lock patch. A Red Kite & a Crow in a "1st one to blink, loses the the Trout carcass" competition. #UKBirding #PWC2025

Merlin with prey in the fields west of Church Farm Backwaters, Day's Lock. Pushing levels of acceptability for video quality maybe but a great record for an Oxon patch. #PWC2025 #UKBirding

2 Little Gulls on the sailing club lake, a patch tick. A male Merlin also a highlight in recent weeks. A welcome return of the male Oystercatcher (on the right, BTO ring, slightly shorter bill) back on the patch for it's 5th consecutive year. Bishops Court Farm/Day's Lock Oxon #PWC2025 #UKBirding

A Little Owl at Day's Lock, Oxon. A highlight of a walk around the patch today @thamespathnt.bsky.social #PWC2025 #UKBirding

Out today, hope it’s well received.

Commensalism...One of the Bishop's Court Farm Cattle Egrets benefitting from a pig rootling in the turf. For all you would be Porcine aficionados, the pig is a young Oxford Sandy and Black, a rare breed and a gorgeous creature. #ukbirding

Thermal imager assisted Jack Snipe on the Day's Lock patch today #PWC2025 #UKBirding

Day on the patch around Day's Lock Oxon #PWC2025 Pleased to see this male Marsh Tit with a BTO ring, on its regular territory in Wittenham wood for it's 3rd calender year. Now 7 Cattle Egrets, usually with the pigs or Alpacas at Bishop's Court Farm #UKBirding

WeBS count along the Thames, Oxon. The highlight being this female Otter with 2 cubs. Otters are present but rarely seen, especially during daylight, these 3/4 size cubs will need regular feeding, hence increased activity. Positive result of the Earth Trust habitat creation - River of Life 1

Last few days of discount on my Seabird prints before Christmas, do take a look. It's been another fantastic year for seeing Shearwaters from the south west of the British isles, these are Manx & Cory's Shearwaters, showing plumage variation & moult. Follow link: johngaleart.co.uk/product-cate...

Last few days of discount on my Moth & Butterfly prints before Christmas, do take a look. These are the exquisite Spanish Moon moth found in the Spanish Pyrenees and stunning Peach Blossom moth, both showing larval food plant. Follow link: johngaleart.co.uk/product-cate...

Erland Cooper with a string quartet at SJE arts Oxford last night. An astonishly beautiful, moving concert. At one point, the Church was filled with the sound of 100's of Blackbirds singing, played via the audience's phones, magical. Experience this live if you can.

A welcome sunny morning on the patch at Day's Lock, Oxon. A lone Dunlin made a visit to the scrapes. What must surely be last year's wintering Cattle Egret has returned to the Alpaca paddocks at Bishop's Court Farm. 2 Great White and a Little make it a full set of Egrets around the site. #UKbirding

We all love a patch tick ✔️ 2 Knot on Bishop's Court Farm scrape, Day's Lock, Oxon this morning taking the #PWC2024 year list to a mighty 135. Redshank, Cattle, Great White and Little Egret also present. #BirdingUK

Had a flyover Richard's Pipit at Baliasta, Unst this afternoon, calling but not stopping. This Yellow-browed Warbler with missing throat feathers caused a little gasp when first glimpsed poorly through the leaves yesterday. Birding from the van during the showers produced a Wren on the bike rack.

Some Unst highlights. Otter in the sun at Haroldswick, Common Rosefinch, Wood Warbler Valyie. World renowned folk artists Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham at Haroldswick Hall My most northerly British gig and served with Sunday sandwiches and cakes... you don't get that with Oasis! #ukbirds

A showy Arctic Warbler, 1 of 2 found by @scottiew.bsky.social and Angela at Burrafirth. Barred Warbler, Wood Warbler, several YBW's and a stunning pale silver ghost acredula Willow Warbler made for a cracking 1st day on Unst. #Birds #rarebirdsuk #UKBirds

The dodgiest of record shots but this Pied Fly was a patch tick today 🤪 133 for #PWC2024 John Allen Pit, Oxon. Plenty of Willow Emeralds around the site as their numbers increase and westward range expansion continues #ukBirds #Birds @patchbirding.bsky.social

Finally managed to upload 4k video of the South Polar Skua past Porthgwarra on 25th Best viewed on a large screen and make sure 4k resolution selected. #RareBirdsUK #UKBirding m.youtube.com/watch?v=CVtA...

P G. Cornwall 2nd shift 15.00-20.30 Cory's Shearwater c250 Great Shearwater 34 Sooty Shearwater 12 Balearic Shearwater 5 Pomarine Skua 6 together at 19.20 Bonxie 4 Arctic Skua 2 Storm Petrel 12 Common Dolphin c10 Harbour Porpoise 4 Atlantic Blue-fin Tuna 2 #ukbirds #birds

P.G. Cornwall, 6.30-11.30 SOUTH POLAR SKUA 6.36 same bird as yesterday, seen with Steve Rogers. Cory's Shearwater c210 Sooty Shearwater 10 Balearic Shearwater 5 Storm Petrel 20 Bonxie 4 Arctic Skua 1 Arctic Tern 3 Pale Bellied Brent 4 Chough 6 #ukbirds #birds #rarebirds 2nd shift to follow ...

Porthgwarra, Cornwall 06.15 - 19.30 South Polar Skua 10.25 Image from Garry Taylor's video. Wilson's Petrel 09.10 Cory's Shearwater 300+ Great Shearwater 7 Sooty Shearwater 15 Balearic Shearwater 7 Storm Petrel c50 Great Skua 1 Probably Pomarine Skua 07.40 An exhilarating day #ukbirds #birds

#ukbirds #birds

Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, 06.15 - 18.15 Great Shearwater c350 Cory's Shearwater 8 Sooty Shearwater 6 Balearic Shearwater 5 Sabine's Gull 13 Storm Petrel 12 Arctic Skua 11 Great Skua 1 Common Scoter 10 Whimbrel 106 Chough 2

First post on Bsky and first patch year ticks since early May. Pleased with 2 Wood Sands on Church Farm Backwaters, Oxon this morning. @patchbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds #PWC2024