If you are in the Oxford area on Friday evening, I’m presenting a talk about the birds of the Lye Valley area. It’s a one hour multimedia celebration (sounds and pictures!) of some of the amazing birds recorded in this area of the city. All welcome. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #Oxford #birds

The first Peregrine Falcon in four years was the highlight over the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning. Also large numbers of thrushes, some Siskins and Redpolls and the first Raven of the year: ebird.org/checklist/S2... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

The first drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year is always a nice moment. This is a typical date for the first bird here in Oxford, plus Nuthatch, Starling, Jackdaw etc on the recording: macaulaylibrary.org/asset/648748... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #UKbirding

Amazing to see how cold weather forces birds into the city. Lapwings overhead on Monday, a flyover Snipe on Tuesday and a TEAL on this inner city stream right by the Churchill Hospital today! Only the 2nd daytime record of Teal in 856 visits! @patchbirding.bsky.social @friendlyevalley.bsky.social

Frozen solid under the supermoon before sunrise in the Lye Valley this morning. Another glimpse of the Water Rail in Boundary Brook, but still waiting for the cold weather to deliver🤞🏻 @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding

The year ends with a 💥in the Lye Valley, Oxford, with a megaflock of 13 Snipe! For context, this is only the 4th occurrence of Snipe here in the city, a cumulative total of only 6 birds in 7 years until today. What else will the cold snap bring? 🤞 @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #PWC2025 #ukbirding

My first Tundra Bean Geese in southern England since 2007, and my first ever in Oxon, were part of the flock of 18 birds on @rspbotmoor.bsky.social this afternoon. Good to see @tmbirding.bsky.social and @josephtobias.bsky.social too 👌🏻 #Oxonbirding #ukbirding #TundraBeanGeese

Out first thing on a chilly Christmas morning to see the 15 Tundra Bean Geese that arrived at Otmoor yesterday afternoon: part of the widespread influx of wild geese across the South of England. A rare bird locally - these the first for quite a few years. Also 10 Russian White-fronted Geese here.

It’s beginning to feel that the end is in sight. The proofs of the new 'Birds of Fair Isle' book are now being checked by the team of authors. That’s more than 400,000 words on 938 pages! Details on how to order will be announced in the New Year. www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/bofi #BirdingScotland

Is this the world’s first Siberian Thrush Christmas cake?! My cake celebrates this bird, seen with @sheldonbirds.bsky.social on our way back from Fair Isle in October. Made from clay & painted (badly) in acrylics. Happy Christmas all! #SiberianThrush #ChristmasCake #UKbirding #UKwildlife

A remarkable 45 species in urban Oxford this morning, my highest December total ever, inc the first-ever winter record of Reed Bunting here. Plus recordings of Redwing, Treecreeper, Song Thrush etc: ebird.org/checklist/S2... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

-3° in the Lye Valley, Oxford, this morning, but wintering warblers were the highlight. A record winter count of 6 Blackcaps, plus 2 Chiffchaffs, were present. Pyracantha berries were most popular with the Blackcaps. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding #oxford #ukbirding

Divers still at Covenham Reservoir this morning @lincsbirding.bsky.social @lincswildlife.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #Birds #UKBirding

Good news; the section of Lye Valley fen boardwalk destroyed by arson in the summer has been repaired by Oxford City Council Parks staff- thanks! @friendlyevalley.bsky.social

October Oxon Birding round-up is now up! A superb month with the county in fine form for rarities: Bluethroat lingering into the 1st week, then a Pec Sand and finally two Twite – a real inland mega these days. And all 3 found by the same birder! #UKbirding oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/11/octo...

Bringing the Birds of the Lye Valley to the people of Headington Quarry, Oxford, this evening. Great to share pictures and stories about local birds with so many interested people. I’m repeating this talk in January, watch this space! @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding #headington #Oxford

Delighted to spot this Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) in the Valley this morning. An occasional visitor here, they love fishing in our ponds. 😍 #birds #UKWildlife #OX3 #OxfordshireFens 📷 @everyheron.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

Finally caught up with the Kingfisher that has been visiting the Lye Valley top ponds. Also a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs are still hanging on into November in the Lye Valley woods. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #ukbirding #OxonBirding

If you are in the Oxford area next Thursday, I’m giving a talk on the birds of the Lye Valley area. It’s a multimedia presentation (pictures and calls!) covering the resident and migratory birds recorded in this part of the city. See you there! @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #Oxonbirding #Oxford

Are you ready for the annual eBird/Clements taxonomy update? Happening as soon as tomorrow! Details at ebird.org and explore the species on Birds of the World (birdsoftheworld.org). The site will be open access from 29 Oct-7 Nov. birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home

Comet Lemmon was visible between the clouds over Headington, Oxford this evening. Pictures taken on my phone, through my birding ‘scope. #CometLemmon #Oxford @headingtonnews.bsky.social

Twite is a rare bird in Oxfordshire, the last being in November 2011. News of two birds at Farmoor late afternoon led to mad dash out to the reservoir on the bike, but great views in fading light and rain #Oxonbirding #UKbirding

The first hour of light produced a decent selection of overhead migrants over the Lye Valley area, Oxford, this morning, incl the 8th Linnet and 5th Brambling records for this site. The audio highlights are here: macaulaylibrary.org/asset/643926... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #ukbirding #vizmig

Great find and pictures Conor, what a memorable experience!

A longer blog post about a week on Fair Isle with @sheldonbirds.bsky.social: www.outofthebluesky.co/2025/10/11/a... Many thanks to all at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social, a fantastic place with incredible food! Honourable mentions for @lukemarriner1.bsky.social and @philwoollen.bsky.social #ukbirding

Leaving Shetland after 8 super days birding Fair Isle & Shetland with @tombedford.bsky.social. A superb mix of rarities, scarcities, common migrants, seabirds & spectacular scenery based at the brilliant @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social - thanks to all. eBird trip report ⬇️ ebird.org/tripreport/4...

A bit of relief to get flight off Fair Isle this morning ahead of impending arrival of Storm Amy, otherwise we'd have been stranded till Monday! A great first visit, capped off by @tombedford.bsky.social and I finding an Olive-backed Pipit (first seen yesterday evening, not confirmed till today)

Day 3 on Fair Isle: SE gale again, but pre-dawn rain & heavy cloud brought in new birds with many Song Thrushes & Goldcrests in sheltered geos. Highlights of the day a Corncrake by North Light (@tombedford.bsky.social photo), stunning male Red-backed Shrike trapped at Obs & Red-Breasted Flycatcher

Just back from a pelagic trip out to the Whittard Canyon area on the continental shelf edge with @scillypelagics.bsky.social @scottinscilly.bsky.social @nomadbirder.bsky.social Madeiran Storm Petrel reclassified from MEGA!!! to scarce summer visitor in one evening with 84 counted last night! 😂

An exceptional day river watching at Severn Beach. Highlight was the 1st Sooty Shearwater record for 51 years. I even managed to see it from upstairs for my 169th species seen from home. Other sightings included Sabine's Gull, 3 Grey Phalarope, 3 Leach's Petrels, 4 storm Petrel, Arctic Skua etc

Coal Tits migrating at Falsterbo... Their excitable flocks were wizzing past at eye-level into a strong head-wind today, then climbing south.

Common Grackles are great generalists - likely to have survivorship on boats as they do things like [checks notes] killing and eating Snow Buntings! see: ebird.org/checklist/S1... 4/4

Mostly cloudy in Oxford, but a brief glimpse of the lunar eclipse over Headington this evening, the Earth’s shadow covering the right-hand side. #lunareclipse #oxford @headingtonnews.bsky.social

A round up of an exciting month of birding in Oxon - topped by a 2nd for the county and proper grip back for those who missed the 1st. Other highlights include an unseasonable Wood Warbler, a storm blown Shag and a southward bound Honey-buzzard #UKbirding oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...

Good to see this being discussed.

Ropey pic of the juvenile Marsh Sandpiper found yesterday at Standlake Pit 60 by Jeremy Dexter but not confirmed until this morning. In the pouring rain! #ukbirding

Incredible footage of Goshawk predating Hobby chick. Will likely return 😬 - watch live here: www.youtube.com/live/MJaRwj4... #birds #ukbirds #ornithology Web cam by the amazing Wildlife Windows www.wildlifewindows.co.uk

Watch Out!

The first Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn arrived on Warneford Meadow, Oxford, this morning. This is the equal earliest ever, after a bird on 11th August 2022. The latest Lye Valley area record is 30th September, a long migration window here. #ukbirding @friendlyevalley.bsky.social

Vance is staying at Dean Manor, the home of Johnny Hornby, founder of lighting firm Luceco. The village has a rich tradition of hosting clowns, formerly being home to comedian Ronnie Barker. It was also David Cameron’s constituency home as MP for Witney. #fourcandles

Tree Pipit over my Headington, Oxford garden this morning! #ukbirding #monstergardentick macaulaylibrary.org/asset/640070...

A blog post from the incredible oak and chestnut forests of north-east Portugal: www.outofthebluesky.co/2025/08/01/i...

Motherfucking wind farms…

❗ ANNOUNCEMENT ❗ It's not currently possibly to safely or easily walk the full length of the Lye Valley after some mindless vandal(s) set fire to part of the boardwalk last night. The City Council are aware of the situation, and are visiting today. @headingtonnews.bsky.social

Incredible garden bird on Saturday morning, in urban Oxford, a flyover Mediterranean Gull, calling constantly! Just about managed to record two calls on my phone before it disappeared (volume up): macaulaylibrary.org/asset/638850... #gardentick #ukbirding

Trying to identify birds on the Tour de France coverage usually involves looking for birds flashing by or for soaring raptors. Until today! Stage 3 saw an extended discussion about a nearby bird reserve, plus Common Terns, Little Egrets etc on screen! #birdsoftheTourdeFrance #ukbirding #birdsontv

Patch mega! A singing Reed Warbler in urban Oxford, in the tiny patch of reeds in Churchill Meadow this morning. Only my second record (and the patch 4th) in 7 years. #patchgold #patchbirding @friendlyevalley.bsky.social

Remembering this great tweet on the Summer Solstice

The Ravenscar "bottleneck" came into its own this morning with a decent southerly finch movement. Highlights 165 Crossbills and 619 Siskins. Full counts here: www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1... @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social

The Lye Valley area of Oxford was full of young fledged birds this morning: ebird.org/checklist/S2... Winning the numbers competition was Eurasian Jackdaw, with a record patch count of 136 birds, about half of which were juveniles @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding