Great to talk about the “Birds of the Lye Valley” at the Friends of Lye Valley AGM this evening. Their work is critical in maintaining this important SSSI urban site, more details here: www.friendsoflyevalley.org.uk @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #ukbirding #patchbirding #oxford

New guidelines advise that you should not use AI tools to edit bird photos if you intend to upload them onto eBird #ukbirding #eBird

Hang on, there is photographic evidence... of a kind! Closer examination of the photos reveals the admittedly out-of-focus and blurred right wing of a flyover Cuckoo. A near-impossible mystery bird photo, saved for future use. #flightshot #recordshot #ukbirding #PWC26

A flyover Cuckoo this morning is only the fifth patch record and the first ever in autumn. This species was not recorded between 2020 and 2026 and is an exceptionally rare bird in the city. Also the first Yellow Wagtail of the year overhead 👌🏻 @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #ukbirding #Oxford

Fantastic views of at least three Hummingbird Hawkmoths feeding at Rousham in Oxfordshire today #moths #HummingbirdHawkMoth #Oxford

A rare journey to the Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire border to see Britain's third-ever Long-tailed Shrike, and what a bird for my 250th species for Oxfordshire! An incredible inland record enjoyed with @tmbirding.bsky.social, Mark and Jason. #OxonBirding #RareBirdsUK #Long-tailedShrike #UKbirding

An early start for my Waterways Breeding Bird survey for @btobirds.bsky.social along the River Thame from Cuddesdon. Great to hear 12 singing Reed Warbler, a site record due to habitat improvement by @riverthamect.bsky.social. 2 Hobby were also notable 👌🏻 #ukbirding

If you’re in the Oxford area next Friday, 12th June, I’m talking about the “Birds of the Lye Valley Area” at 1:45pm, with lots of pictures and sound recordings. Lunch is also available (but is not compulsory!): www.bullingdoncommunityassociation.co.uk/articles/com... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social

This is turning out to be an incredibly year for Painted Lady butterflies, they were everywhere in the Lye Valley area, Oxford, today. These pictures were taken in the Churchill Hospital car park! @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @ouhospitals.bsky.social #paintedlady #butterfly

Greater Flamingos at Cervia, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, on the TV coverage of today’s stage of the Giro d’Italia #giro #ukbirding #birdingbybike #BirdsOfTheGirod’Italia

A Gadwall, the first I’ve recorded in the 12 years that I’ve surveyed the River Thame at Cuddesdon, was an intriguing record on the river this morning for the Waterways Breeding Bird Survey. ebird.org/checklist/S3... #WBBS @riverthamect.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

A singing Lesser Whitethroat was the first spring record in four years in the Lye Valley area of Oxford: macaulaylibrary.org/asset/656178... Whilst more common in rural areas, this is a rare bird in the city in spring. Species #79 for the year. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #PWC2026 #ukbirding

2/ Oxfordshire, being fairly flat, is one of the few counties where the Big Day record is non-motorised. Yesterday's 115 species was the 3rd-highest, meaning 2 of the 3 highest totals have been set by teams using bikes, including the record, 118 species in 2024. #UKbirding #BirdingByBike #BigDay

1/ A fantastic Oxon Big Day by Bike yesterday, with @sheldonbirds.bsky.social @tmbirding.bsky.social & Max Buckley. 115 species is 3 short of our record, weather was too good this year! Covered 175km by bike, 15km on foot: www.outofthebluesky.co/oxon-big-day... #UKbirding #BirdingByBike #BigDay

The Holy Grail of urban birding in spring, a male Redstart, was on Warneford Meadow, Oxford, today. It has taken eight years, but was worth every moment this morning. It even burst into song on a couple of occasions, just magical! @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #UKbirding

An urban Sedge Warbler, singing on Warneford Meadow, Oxford, today was only the 3rd patch record and the 1st in 5 years! All records have been between 9th and 27th April, today’s bird being the earliest. macaulaylibrary.org/asset/654556... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

4 Sand Martin over Warneford Meadow, Oxford, this morning were only the 3rd Lye Valley area record & the first in 7 years! This is a rare bird in urban areas with no open water. A memorable way to mark my 900th patch visit to the Lye Valley! @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

No expectations of anything in the fog today, but the first Meadow Pipit and Skylark of the year passed over & take me to 66 species in the Lye Valley, Oxford, in just 68 days. 85% of last years points total already, how will this end?! @patchbirding.bsky.social @friendlyevalley.bsky.social

There is a stunning golden moon, rising in the east over Headington, Oxford, right now… @headingtonnews.bsky.social #moon #fullmoon #oxford

💥 patch mega 💥 An urban Firecrest in the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning, only the second here in over 7 years! ebird.org/checklist/S3... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchgold #ukbirding

6 Redpoll, including this bird demolishing a silver birch seed pod, and some nice Sparrowhawk vs Magpie interactions, in the Lye Valley, Oxford, this morning. My eBird checklist is here: ebird.org/checklist/S3... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #UKbirding

This single Redwing was singing on Warneford Meadow, Oxford, this morning, quivering its tail as it did so: macaulaylibrary.org/asset/649952... Odd to hear Redwing and Blackcap singing simultaneously! Hazelnut catkins were another #SignOfSpring 👌🏻 @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #ukbirding

The local Great Spotted Woodpeckers are fully into the aerial pursuit phase of their breeding season. Three birds were chasing each other continually over the Lye Valley area, Oxford, this morning, giving these calls: macaulaylibrary.org/asset/649848... @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #UKbirding

Bringing the birds of the Lye Valley to the people of Oxford, talk#2. A huge thanks to all who turned up, and in such numbers on a Friday night! A great shame we couldn’t safely fit everyone into the venue, but inspiring to see such interest in local birds. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social #ukbirding

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

I see your patch drowned doll. I raise you my patch one-handed nutcracker figure #patchbirding

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

Warneford Meadow this morning, but just before the fog formed. There was beautiful light either side of the brief fog event #oxford

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