Thank god that’s over and I can go to bed

Really pleased that Errol’s Hot Wax are releasing National Park, outside, on ltd vinyl on 21st Aug. It comes with an 8-page 12x12 booklet with photos, flyers and lyrics. There’s a @monorailmusic.bsky.social version as part of the Glasgow School series which comes with National Park plectrums too.

Magpie Moth just flown in the patio door and settled down in front of the telly to watch the football. Definitely heard it tut when the advert break started. #teammoth

ITV appear to have put Emma Hayes in a kitchen.

Apparently Beckham starred as the Kestrel in Kes

RadMac's #6music love letter to David Beckham's acclaimed film career is raising a smile this morning.

RIP Hamish. A real pleasure to have had the opportunity to work on these recordings.

Good news!

Merlin outdid itself this morning. On three separate occasions, it pinged the slightly creaky leather of my walking boots as Woodcock. Juv GSW calling from a nest came up as LSW. I lost count of the number of times it failed to pick up a Redstart singing close by.

Wyre Forest - highly productive morning in the area between the old railway line and the Visitor Centre. 4(!) Wood Warbler, including two males singing barely 100 metres apart. Spotted Flycatchers displaying (at least six seen), Marsh Tits feeding fledglings, plus all the usuals. #worcsbirds

On wife's car door on south Birmingham this morning. Pale Tussock apparently? #teammoth

The Spotted Sandpiper at Earlswood this evening is my 250th UK bird species, 172nd for 2026, 105th for May 2026 and 171st for Warks. Gotta love @birdtrack.bsky.social

Both Spotted Sandpiper and Sanderling still present and showing well at Earlswood 6.50pm

Anyone know whether the Spotted Sandpiper is still around? A diversion may be in order on my way to Redditch later if so.

Talking to a colleague at work this afternoon, lives in south Birmingham. "I had these odd birds in my garden in the winter a couple of years ago. I'll send you a picture."

Wyre Forest - 2 singing Spotted Flycatcher, Dipper (finally), good numbers of Redstart and Pied Flycatcher, Cuckoo, Mandarin, Tree Pipit etc. Then spent 3.5 hours walking various areas with good Wood Warbler habitat and found nothing. #worcsbirds

Between Hearts, St Pauli, and this cup final it’s been a terrible day for football

Mistle Thrush living up to its Stormcock reputation over the road from work. Every time we have a heavy shower, it starts singing.

Decent day out, this. The Fall, New FADS, James, Pale Saints, Bridewell Taxis, Bradford (in Bradford), Primal Scream. In a tatty nightclub. 9 quid.

Just did a Google search for the first Fall gig I saw (Futurama, Bradford 1989). MES works his magic from beyond the grave.

Excellent thread. Just hope he's right about Reform's diminishing chances. The Farage/crypto billionaire/dodgy house purchase stories are well-timed but too many pensioners have already been radicalised by GB News and they will vote.

Goosander with 8 young on the Severn near Bewdley at lunchtime. Family visit to Wyre Forest produced Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, two Kingfisher, plenty of Willow and Garden Warbler, Cuckoo. No Wood Warbler or Dipper, but apparently both have been seen this morning by others. #worcsbirds

Bartley and Frankley finished on 68(!) species, a new record for the patch. Six observers. Highlights - Whimbrel and LRP found by @stuhares.bsky.social on the concrete at Bartley Res. 4 showy Lesser Whitethroat. Crossbill and a very obliging mid-morning Tawny Owl. #westmidsalldayer

Labradford Live at Lounge Ax on 1994-02-12 https://archive.org/details/ajc03235_labradford_1994-02-12

Anyone know whether these birds are still at Upton Warren, and what time the Flashes closes tonight? @wheatearlp.bsky.social #worcsbirds

Clifton Pits - 4 doggers, with 3 off the lead dogs, throwing a ball to encourage the dogs towards the water. #worcsbirds

Bredon Hill - the Scrubby Triangle of Dreams delivers again. Redstart, multiple Tree Pipit song flights, Whitethroats squabbling over territory, Garden Warbler, loadza Willow Warbler, loadza Yellowhammer, Stonechat, singing Mistle Thrush, Red Kite, 2 Raven. Plus all the usual.

Terrific early performance of the three-bass line-up, with added bonus(?) of Ricky Gervais as compere.

Today's Daily Telegraph (I didn't buy it, before anyone starts questioning my sanity) has a Beginners Guide to British Birdwatching including this lovely photo of a House Sparrow

University of Birmingham have a live feed for the nesting Peregrines on the Old Joe clock tower. www.youtube.com/live/4dsZIFf...

Not so secret - many of these recordings were made with the active encouragement of the bands concerned.

Traffic calming measures? That'll be the potholes. So THAT'S why the last Tory govt massively defunded every council in England - more potholes means calmer traffic. Makes sense really.

Shustoke - 7 Little Gull just done a splash-and-dash, feeding for 10 mins before flying out north. Dozens of hirundines, inc 30+ House Martin. 2 Common Sandpiper. Biggest surprise was finding a Brambling feeding under the oak in the car park. Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat.

@prolapseband.bsky.social any idea on stage times for this evening?

Now 7 LRP on the causeway

Blithfield - Scaup pair, Mandarin pair, Ruddy Shelduck in Blythe Bay. Green Sandpiper and GBBG on the dam. LRP on the causeway. 2GWE. 20+ Sand Martin. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Ring Ouzel still present at Lutley Wedge horse paddocks 2pm

Bredon Hill - 100+ Fieldfare west of the tower, but no Ring Ouzel despite 30 mins trawling through them as they endlessly flushed and resettled (4 Buzzard and 2 Red Kite weren't helping). 2 Marsh Tit, singing Corn Bunting, 20+ Yellowhammer, Stonechat and finally year-ticked Red-legged Partridge!

Memorials 'All Clouds Bring Not Rain' rapidly becoming my favourite album of the year so far. memorialsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/all-cl...

The orange idiot needs to tell Infantino to slow down with the fossil fuel burning.

No amount of historical revisionism can heap 'big indie band' status on 1991 Stereolab. And are we saying that, for example, Primal Scream would have run shy of 10 seconds of Moog at the start of Screamadelica?

Rachel's live debut. Jason Noble on Bob Weston - "I'm just thankful I get to see that man come out of the shower in a towel every morning"

What a goal that was. These lads are making Sadler's team selection look pretty questionable. First half wasn't great, mind.

Not what I was expecting to find on the path outside the back gate at work just now.

Steve Lamacq's lost the plot. He's just played a live track by Night Bus, back-announced as one of their own songs. Steve, it's a Joy Division cover. #6music

There can't be many Bailter Space shows as long as this. Nearly two hours. Ear-melting.

RSPB Middleton - LRP in weedy field between Jubilee North and the canal. 2 Avocet, 5 Redshank, Marsh Harrier, Bittern booming. Apparently the LSW went through the car park at 6.30 this morning.

Lower Bittell - 6 Sand Martin through heading north, 4pm #worcsbirds

This ends with a 28 minute take on Do You Know How to Waltz? with support act Godspeed You Black Emperor. Decent.