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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Nipped over to Farmoor on a speculative visit, with lots moving around the country due to Storm Claudia. Absolutely buzzing then to pick out this 1w Kittiwake on F1, a county ✔️ and 190 for the Oxon Big Year. Unfortunately didn’t hang about. Black Red was also still present #UKBirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Nearly had a heart attack when this beast flew into view whilst working around London last week. A juv dark-morph Gyr Falcon causing absolute chaos. Several expletives followed and then eventual clear views of a bird with telemetry equipment! #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Don’t often get to bird back in the homeland when I visit, so well chuffed to get over to South Gare for first time in yonks. OBP twitch with the eldest an unexpected bonus, whilst the Snow Bunting confiding as ever. Plus endless waders & seabirds - makes birding back in Oxon difficult. #UKBirding

Snow Bunting in amongst dune and foreshore habitat

Snow Bunting feeding on seeds in amongst dune and foreshore scree

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

A guaranteed annual on the SW London Waterbodies SPA, but nice to find two of these loafs on Wraysbury Reservoir last week. Don’t often get much on here, so this and the Sabs Gull in the last few weeks have been a real highlight. Would love to see one of these tanks flying over the m25! #UKBirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

After my recent poor form/luck on the Oxon Big Year, it seemed appropriate I’d spend yesterday morning dipping Pectoral Sandpiper. Quite remarkable then that a pair of Twite were found on Farmoor later that day by the same observer! The first since 2011 and a county ✔️ for lots of locals. #UKbirding

Twite feeding on Mayweed sp. In amongst lichen and moss.

Pair of Twite feeding in amongst lichen and weeds of Farmoor Reservoir bank

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

After the initial couple of flyby’s the juvenile Sabine’s Gull showed incredibly well. Not many birds that are as stunning in juvenile plum as adults but Sab’s are definitely one of those. Just a shame for it be on site with no access #UKbirding @birdguides.bsky.social @berksbirdclub.bsky.social

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Could not believe my eyes whilst surveying on Wraysbury Reservoir this morning when this juvenile Sabine’s Gull flew into view. Incredible views of a species I’ve only seen once before - just wish I had a better camera! #UKbirding @berksbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Well who on earth had Bluethroat on their Oxon bingo card? An incredible run of birds for the county continued with a 1w male Bluethroat at @rspbotmoor.bsky.social this morning, found late evening yesterday. Both a county and UK ✔️ for me! County Big Year now on 188 (+ GWT). #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

A good way to round out the summer fieldwork season, an atmospheric evening monitoring post-breeding flocks of Stone-curlew, just before the weather turned this week. A real pleasure to work with this species over the summer (under license of course). #ornithology #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Little Stint at Farmoor yesterday evening. Took some finding after disappearing at midday, but well worth the punt that it was still around. #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Finally a Wood Sandpiper in Oxfordshire this autumn. With so many records in bordering counties, I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever get one. #UKbirding

Wood Sandpiper in foreground, Greenshank in background

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Still ticking away on the Oxon Big Year with three new birds in August. Shag the standout rarity so far. Although very pleased to finally catch up with Greenshank (!) and Med Gull after worrying these may be glaring omissions. Now on 182, hoping for more wader action. #UKBirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Survey season pretty much closed out and it’s been a fantastic year monitoring my local ground nesting birds. Nice to see so many chicks, particularly Curlew, after a poor two years. Now looking forward to some quieter months though. #UKbirding

Woodlark family - newly fledged chick on right

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Early visits to Farmoor paid off again today when a Turnstone dropped in, picked up initially calling over F1. A new bird for the Oxon Big Year (178)and only present for c.30 minutes before departing once it the site got rammed by summer sailing lessons - who can blame it really! #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

A few visits to Farmoor this week finally paid off with a drake Common Scoter sat out on F1 yesterday am. A nice addition to the Oxon Big Year list, taking me to 177. Few bits also moving around - 2 Dunlin, 10+ Common Sand and 2 LRP in what felt like a birdy morning. #ukbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Largely given up on out of county twitching these days, but a Spotted Sandpiper 10 mins from my survey site in Cambs was too tempting. A stunner in summer plumage! What I wouldn’t give for another Oxon bird. #UKBirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

My eBird trip report from 2 weeks of birding in and around Nairobi, in between family commitments that is. A friendly bird filled city, looking forward to getting back again next year! ebird.org/tripreport/3... #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Garden birding has been incredibly productive in the suburbs of Nairobi. 102 species seen in just under 2 weeks! Some highlights below - very lucky to have some very birdy habitat bordering the garden. #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Mammals have also been a major highlight of the trip. 22 species seen between the NP and the local forests. #kenya

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Abundance and diversity of Sunbird has been amazing in Nairobi. 7 species seen on the trip so far, with 6 of those coming from the garden. #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

First experience of birding in sub-Saharan Africa. Fantastic amount of diversity in and around Nairobi and barely scratched the surface I imagine! #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

The spoils of a Christmas Day outing with the kids, at least 5 Hawfinch in the trees above East Lockinge Church. Probably more but not easy to keep track of! Fantastic birds in a beautiful setting. #UKbirding #Oxonbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

It only took four visits, 8+ hours and a change of year until I finally managed to connect with the Bearded Tit pair at Radley GPs. Not an easy bird in Oxon so very pleased to finally add it to my county list. Well worth the frostbite this am for cracking views. #UKbirding #Oxonbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

With all the county mega’s in the last 4 weeks and having missed most of them, it was great to see one today. Purple Sandpiper at Farmoor was the 3rd record since 2021. I missed both birds in 2021 and the previous record was before my time (2011), so really pleased to see this beaut. #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

More Water Pipit action this week, with the added bonus of a few Black-necked Grebe. Sparrowhawk and Peregrine patrolling kept most of the birds on the edge. #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Some very cold fieldwork today was brightened up by some classic winter species. Highlight though was an adult Kittiwake flying through at almost head height before departing NE. 2x Water Pipit, several Black-necked Grebe, Goosander and a handful of Goldeneye also made for a good day. #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

A non-birding 17k hike up in the Dales with my brothers and eldest boy at weekend. Despite the non-birding, nice to see Black Grouse and then finish the day with a Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl over the moorland. #UKbirding #Yorkshirebirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

GPS tagged LBB Gull “Francisca” who spent much of the last few weeks frequenting the gull roosts around my house, is now in Madrid! This where she spent last winter, before summering in the Netherlands. Fascinating to see these movements and certainly puts “local” birds in to context. #ornithology

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

Impossible to ignore the lure of an Oxon mega, especially with an unexpected free day. A nice year tick too! These two showed a lot better than the last Velvet Scoter I saw in the county in 2021. @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #birding #oxonbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 06/11/2024

The very late Sand Martin remains on my local STW in Abingdon, extending its status as the latest record for the species in the county. #oxonbirding #patchbirding #ukbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 04/11/2024

Did not have Sand Martin on my mind whilst walking the patch this morning! Certainly got the mind wandering for a few minutes, before common sense prevailed. #ukbirding #patchbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 29/10/2024

In better news and with more clear weather, one of the tagged Icelandic Redwing made landfall in NW Scotland on the 27th. Seems to have taken a more “direct” route than its unfortunate compatriot, both covering similar miles but with very different results! #birding #ornithology

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 27/10/2024

Have been following with interest a few GPS Icelandic Redwing staging along the coast southern Iceland. Looks like they finally began their journey with good conditions. Unfortunately this one appears to have not made it, having only been approx. 60 miles short! #birding #ornithology

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 11/10/2024

Finally got to see the Aurora down here in Oxon after missing it the last time round. Going at both ends of the night - left photo at 7:30pm and right photo at 5:30am.

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 09/10/2024

Not that long ago Cattle or Great White Egret were welcome patch ticks. Nowadays, an expected annual with the numbers of both present all year round in Oxon. Still, a nice way to brighten a patch walk whilst still not finding a YBW! A Ruff was a new bird for the year though #patchbirding #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 04/10/2024

A few hours spare whilst visiting family back in the homeland resulted in a classy day on the Yorkshire coast. Presumed Daurian Shrike and OBP both world lifers and RB Fly a long overdue UK ✔️. Nice supporting cast of Icterine Warbler, YBW & 1000s of Pink-footed Goose & seabirds. #UKbirding #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 29/09/2024

A pair of tame juvenile Hobby offered a rare opportunity to get a close up view of a species that is rarely stationary or close. A nice break from counting distant wildfowl for work! #birding #ukbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 28/09/2024

Some more birding highlights from a trip to Doñana. A fantastic place despite the clear degradation and intense agricultural pressures. #birding #birdingspain

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 24/09/2024

Easily the best bird of the recent trip to Spain - Red-necked Nightjar! Two birds roosting in the road whilst searching, in vain, for Iberian Lynx. Consolation prize of Wild Boar though, made for an epic evening. #birding #europeanbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

A sweep up the Iberian coast for the regions specialities. The Shrike was surprisingly easy, as was the Magpie in the right habitat. Both Ducks and the Coot were only seen at one site each, the WH and Coot at some horrid dumping pond! Eagle and Woodpecker missing means a future return is necessary.

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

A few of the highlights from Tarifa and the surrounding area. Black Storks were surprisingly the most common Stork for the first few days, with flocks of 20-25! Local Griffon colony was awesome as expected. Audouin’s a much wanted lifer. #birding #europeanbirding #straightsofgibraltar

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 21/09/2024

An epic few days birding Doñana NP, Tarifa and its surrounds. Crazy numbers of birds in the NP but missed the best of the migration spectacles. Caught up with most of the Iberian specialities, although surprised to miss the Woodpecker. eBird trip report here - ebird.org/tripreport/2... #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 08/09/2024

1 of 3 Whinchat on the local patch yesterday, taking me to 120 species for the village list. Not quite the Pied Fly @geoffbirdy.bsky.social had a few miles down river, but a nice species to catch up with locally all the same! #UKbirding #patchbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 07/09/2024

Come to end of the road with twitter. First post on here - a few of the highlights from last year’s trip to Morocco.

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