Working from home means I ovcasionally get to add to the garden list. Rook was not one I was expecting to see and hear in the skies over Stirchley. @ecorecord.bsky.social

Albino Crocodile spotted on Cannock Chase

Brilliant morning for butterflies at Rattlechain Lagoon. 8 species including Small Blue and Green Hairstreak. Sadly another important site at risk from developers. @westmbms-99.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

What I assume is a male Cucumber Green Orb Spider on the UoB Campus. Handsome fella @britishspiders.bsky.social

A classic day out in the Wyre Forest today: Redstart, Pied and Spot Fly, Tree Pipit, Dipper and Tawny Owl. Also Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Fallow Deer.

Lunchtime Birding at Winterbourne Gardens: 3 x Raven, 2 x Buzzard, Sprawk. Site is looking very promising !

Lovely mooch around Doxey Marshes today, Gropper nfy. Had to speak with a Photographer who was tapeluring at max volume. He proved (unsurprisingly) unresponsive. It was “his business”…

Found a Camberwell Beauty in the Jewellery Quarter!

First Sand Martin of the season.

Woodcock flushed from Camp Hill School playing fields on Vicarage Road @ecorecord.bsky.social

Just had a bat flying around outside my place of work. Medium sized, broad wings, flying fairly slow and agile at tree top height. Alighted a few times against the bricks. Can anyone narrow it down to a possible id?

My first ever visit to Newcastle (work related). Wasn’t expecting to see Siskin at head height in the city centre. #urbanbirding.

A grand day out to St Aidans RSPB with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social The weather was on our side and we enjoyed seeing Grey Partridge, PF Geese and Marsh Harrier amongst others.

🚨 NHS England is rolling out Palantir software for our health records - handing huge power to a US firm with a track record in surveillance, military technology and human rights abuses. Email your local Trust and say NO to Palantir in the NHS: notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-tar...

First visit to Edgbaston Pool this year. 90% frozen over, plenty of the usual gulls etc. 6 x G Heron and 2 x Shoveler of note, assuming other wildfowl have dispersed for now.

Folgeempfehlung 🐦‍⬛🦅🦉 Wir haben ein Starter Pack mit allen BirdLife-Partnerorganisationen erstellt, die auf Bluesky vertreten sind 👇

Female Kingfisher on the Rea at Dogpool Lane nfy @ecorecord.bsky.social

A leisurly walk along the Rea to get the year list started. Siskins, Ravens and Goosander were the highlights.

I don’t get to London very often, but when I do I make sure to pass by the International Brigades Memorial. “They went because their open eyes could see no other way”.

This has got to be a contender for the field guide of the smallest geographical area going. Unless the Vatican City have anything in print…

Having a Woodcock zoom over my head daytime on my own road certainly wasn’t on my 2026 Bingo card. Stirchley throws up a good surprise sometimes

Some nice incidental birding today. Kingfisher with catch on the Bourne at Pershore Road this morning. Good numbers of Shoveler, Wigeon and Gadwall at (re-opened!) Edgbaston Pool.

Time to put an end to this madness.

The joy of bi-lingual birding: brilliant article on Black Redstarts by Dr Bernd Nicolai. Lots of insights that are of use to urban birders looking for this species in our cities.

Indeed!

Heavy fog and a record low water level at Edg Res this morning w/ @robhemming25.bsky.social A magnificent patch tick for me in form of 8 Rock pipits on the shore beneath the old Tower Ballroom.

Super breezy at Gibraltar Point today with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were RT Diver, Curlew Sand and Knot.

A chance find and lovely addition to my New Naturalists collection. Clifford & Rosemary Ellis’s cover designs remain unmatched.

Productive day out to St Aidans with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were BN Grebe, Black Tern, Spoonbill, Whinchat and this gang of Yellow Wags.

Team Edgbaston away at Walton Hill for this rendition of the #westmidsalldayer A superb Goshawk flyby puts us on 52. @thehairycrisp.bsky.social @robhemming25.bsky.social

When interests collide (birding x anarchism)

A lovely surprise on my walk back from work: a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Busy feeding and darting about amongst the flowers. An uncommon sight in Selly Park.

Birmingham City 2 Black Redstart July pic Great! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds

Overdue visit to the patch. 50+ Swift, 100+ House Martin, 4 Yellow Wag, Swallow and Hobby were a good result.

Preach!

Was sat contemplating on how nice the trunk of this Dawn Redwood looked, when this Treecreeper appeared out of a crevace. I think it agreed.

7 Ravens at Selly Park Rec this morning, a new site record count for me. Good to see them thriving here.

Birmingham, it’s official: today is Flying Ant Day.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in our garden this eve. B30 @ecorecord.bsky.social

Brilliant day out to Upton Fen and Strumpshaw Fen, with @britishdragonflies.bsky.social Lots of firsts for me today. Highlights were Hen Harrier, Crane, Smew, Fen Orchid, Norfolk Hawker, Scarce Chaser and the mighty Swallowtail!

The dreaded “Day-after Twitch”! No sign of the Woodchat Shrike at Doxey Marsh. 2 x Wood Sand was a decent consolation prize though.

***GIVEAWAY*** This signed/stamped Advance Readers Copy of TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES, forthcoming Nov 2025 from @fsgbooks.bsky.social! Like=1 entry, Share=1 entry, Like + Share=2 entries. Will randomly select winner on Friday, May 23, 2025. US addresses only. Preorder info: shorturl.at/OXr0Z #booksky

Popped a bird box in the garden the other year, probably in an unwise position as no birds ever took to it. Today I discovered that it has been claimed by a swarm of Tree Bumblebees. How appropriate!

Another fun #westmidsalldayer came to close yesterday, with Team Edgbaston finishing up on 60 (if you include two bits of plastic). A true urban birding marathon with @robhemming25.bsky.social also turned up 3 badgers, 1 skinny dipper and Rob’s pet Pike. Roll on Autumn!

Good luck to all sites and participants of tomorrow's Spring edition of the #westmidsalldayer - clear skies, NW winds and glorious sunshine wouldn't be my conditions of choice. With a few regulars missing I will be doing Middleton Lakes - please message me any notable sightings

Good days birding at Frampton Marsh today in glorious sunshine with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were Spoonbill, Green-winged Teal, Whimbrel and Marsh Harrier. #UKBirding

Open day at the BMAG Collection Center yesterday. Those Egyptians sure knew their birds of prey.

Frogspawn getting active in the sunshine in the garden pond.

What an opportunity for young people! Well done BTO, more initiatives like this are sorely needed.

My all time favourite author. Do yourself a favour and get stuck into his work. “The Death Ship” is a good place to start.