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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Really chuffed with this Wryneck, a very welcome patch tick at Bishop's Court Farm, Oxon this morning. #UKBirding #PWC2026 #patchgold

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Juv Baird's Sandpiper, Ardley ERF Lagoon, Oxon. #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A rare trip away from the Day's Lock Patch to see this gorgeous juv Baird's Sandpiper at Ardley lagoon. A 1st for Oxon. A great find by Gareth Casburn. Enjoyed catching up with some Oxon birders.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

The dead Tengmalm's Owl at Lea Gardens Tresta, Shetland poses an interesting question. It's the same garden that hosted a Tengmalm's Owl in 2019 and again in 2020. Was it a returning bird or 2 or 3 different vagrants finding optimal habitat? Either answer is astonishing. #UKBirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

@dannykellywords.bsky.social The Dude Abides...all strength to you in your abiding ✊❤️

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Super zoom pics of the Caspian Gull at Day's Lock on Friday 13th revealed the yellow ring code as B:G A swift reply informs it was ringed at the nest on De Kreupel island, Ijsselmeer, Netherlands on 16/5/25 #UKBirding Tate Lloyd also informed it was at Ogmore estuary, South Wales on March 4th.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

A gorgeous 2nd c/yr Caspian Gull at Day's Lock/BCF scrape this morning. Yellow colour ring on right tibia with a 2 letter/number combo that frustratingly remained unread. A metal ring on left tibia, appears to be a Dutch scheme. Hope to find out more info. #UKBirding #PWC2026

A 2nd calender year Caspian Gull on the edge of a flooded field next to the Thames in Oxon.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Question for @patchbirding.bsky.social and the Patchwork Challenge community. I turned up this Ruddy Shelduck on my Day's Lock patch yesterday. Do others count them on their #PWC2026 List? I didn't count a Ruddy Shelduck seen in 2022 🤔 #BirdingUK

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

This juv Marsh Harrier spooking the Teal on Church Farm Backwaters and a Merlin were great additions to the #PWC2026 year list. #UKBirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Pleased to join the White-fronted Goose bonanza as predicted by @tombedford.bsky.social yesterday. 11 over the patch toward Clifden Hampden and 23 on the John Allen Pit, Bishop's Court Farm. #130 for the 3km² patch year list #PWC2025 #UKBirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

A quiet couple of months ended with a bumper 3 year ticks today at Day's Lock area #PWC2025 Goldeneye & Med Gull on John Allen Pit, 2 Caspian Gulls in the Sailing Club Gull roost. #UKbirding

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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

A video is now available of the lecture I gave last week to the Linnean Society & British Ornithologists' Club in London, on woodland birds, Marsh Tits & Willow Tits (~45 mins): www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7HF... #ornithology #ukbirding @ukceh.bsky.social

youtube.com

A Quietening of the Woods | The Decline of Woodland Birds

YouTube video by Linnean Society

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

A juv Greenshank dropped into the John Allen Pit, Oxon late p.m. Yellow flag on right tibia, code ATJ. Red ring on left tibia. Apparently a Norwegian scheme, email sent, hopefully will hear back from them. 3 Lesser Emperors and a Clouded Yellow the other highlights. #UKBirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

A juv Spot Fly, at the John Allen Pit, Oxon, ended a barren couple of months of patch birding, being the 1st year tick since May 14th. 3 Lesser Emperors, inc a male and female in tandem, in addition to last years sighting, suggests a liklehood they are breeding here. #UKBirding #PWC2025

A juvenile Spotted Flycatcher sat in a Hawthorn bush.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

A good selection of Odonata in Wittenham Wood today. Including 4 Clubtails, 2 more along the river, Several Broad-bodied Chasers, 20+ Beautiful Demoiselles, 2 Downy Emeralds.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

A "mixed singer" Willow Warbler in Wittenham Wood, Oxon. Sings typical Willow Warbler song, typical Chiffchaff or a combination of the 2. Structure, primary projection, face pattern all good for Willow Warbler but a relatively dull plumaged bird with dark legs and feet. #UKbirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

The 1st Wheatears of the year on the Day's Lock patch. A Red Kite & a Crow in a "1st one to blink, loses the the Trout carcass" competition. #UKBirding #PWC2025

A male Wheatear perched on a fence post.

A Red Kite protects a Trout carcass from a Carrion Crow.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Merlin with prey in the fields west of Church Farm Backwaters, Day's Lock. Pushing levels of acceptability for video quality maybe but a great record for an Oxon patch. #PWC2025 #UKBirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

2 Little Gulls on the sailing club lake, a patch tick. A male Merlin also a highlight in recent weeks. A welcome return of the male Oystercatcher (on the right, BTO ring, slightly shorter bill) back on the patch for it's 5th consecutive year. Bishops Court Farm/Day's Lock Oxon #PWC2025 #UKBirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

A Little Owl at Day's Lock, Oxon. A highlight of a walk around the patch today @thamespathnt.bsky.social #PWC2025 #UKBirding

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Reposted by Geoff Birdy

Richard Lewington @rlewington2.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Out today, hope it’s well received.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Commensalism...One of the Bishop's Court Farm Cattle Egrets benefitting from a pig rootling in the turf. For all you would be Porcine aficionados, the pig is a young Oxford Sandy and Black, a rare breed and a gorgeous creature. #ukbirding

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Thermal imager assisted Jack Snipe on the Day's Lock patch today #PWC2025 #UKBirding

A Jack Snipe partially hidden in grass. It relies on it's cryptic plumage to remain undetected.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Day on the patch around Day's Lock Oxon #PWC2025 Pleased to see this male Marsh Tit with a BTO ring, on its regular territory in Wittenham wood for it's 3rd calender year. Now 7 Cattle Egrets, usually with the pigs or Alpacas at Bishop's Court Farm #UKBirding

A Marsh Tit bearing a silver BTO ring on its right leg.

Marsh Tit with a silver BTO ring on its right leg, with a seed clasped in it's left foot.

5 Cattle Egrets sitting on a gate and fence surrounding a paddock for pigs, a sixth Cattle is partially obscured in the field behind pigs.

2 Alpacas grazing on grass a lone Cattle Egret walking behind them.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

WeBS count along the Thames, Oxon. The highlight being this female Otter with 2 cubs. Otters are present but rarely seen, especially during daylight, these 3/4 size cubs will need regular feeding, hence increased activity. Positive result of the Earth Trust habitat creation - River of Life 1

An adult female Otter crossing a path between the river Thames and Earth Trust created backwater habitat

The mother Otter, partly obscured on the left of the image, 2 smaller, darker cubs follow.

Blurry photo of a mother Otter and 2 cubs.

Blurry photo of the 2 cubs, they had been chasing each other.

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John Gale @johngale8.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Last few days of discount on my Seabird prints before Christmas, do take a look. It's been another fantastic year for seeing Shearwaters from the south west of the British isles, these are Manx & Cory's Shearwaters, showing plumage variation & moult. Follow link: johngaleart.co.uk/product-cate...

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Reposted by Geoff Birdy

John Gale @johngale8.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Last few days of discount on my Moth & Butterfly prints before Christmas, do take a look. These are the exquisite Spanish Moon moth found in the Spanish Pyrenees and stunning Peach Blossom moth, both showing larval food plant. Follow link: johngaleart.co.uk/product-cate...

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Erland Cooper with a string quartet at SJE arts Oxford last night. An astonishly beautiful, moving concert. At one point, the Church was filled with the sound of 100's of Blackbirds singing, played via the audience's phones, magical. Experience this live if you can.

Erland Cooper, composer sits at a Grand Piano, violinist Freya Goldmark pauses.

A large reel to reel tape machine and a digital control box near to the piano seat.

St John the Evangelist Church on the Iffley Rd Oxford, lit up against the night sky. The venue for the concert.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

A welcome sunny morning on the patch at Day's Lock, Oxon. A lone Dunlin made a visit to the scrapes. What must surely be last year's wintering Cattle Egret has returned to the Alpaca paddocks at Bishop's Court Farm. 2 Great White and a Little make it a full set of Egrets around the site. #UKbirding

A winter plumaged adult Dunlin on the floods at Day's Lock.

The same Dunlin wading, feeding in the flooded Thames riverside meadow.

A Great White Egret on the edge of the flood on Thames side meadow, a couple of Jackdaws in the background.

A Cattle Egret sat hunched on a fence post, an Alpaca is in the foreground.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

We all love a patch tick ✔️ 2 Knot on Bishop's Court Farm scrape, Day's Lock, Oxon this morning taking the #PWC2024 year list to a mighty 135. Redshank, Cattle, Great White and Little Egret also present. #BirdingUK

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 01/10/2024

Had a flyover Richard's Pipit at Baliasta, Unst this afternoon, calling but not stopping. This Yellow-browed Warbler with missing throat feathers caused a little gasp when first glimpsed poorly through the leaves yesterday. Birding from the van during the showers produced a Wren on the bike rack.

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 01/10/2024

Some Unst highlights. Otter in the sun at Haroldswick, Common Rosefinch, Wood Warbler Valyie. World renowned folk artists Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham at Haroldswick Hall My most northerly British gig and served with Sunday sandwiches and cakes... you don't get that with Oasis! #ukbirds

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 24/09/2024

A showy Arctic Warbler, 1 of 2 found by @scottiew.bsky.social and Angela at Burrafirth. Barred Warbler, Wood Warbler, several YBW's and a stunning pale silver ghost acredula Willow Warbler made for a cracking 1st day on Unst. #Birds #rarebirdsuk #UKBirds

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 07/09/2024

The dodgiest of record shots but this Pied Fly was a patch tick today 🤪 133 for #PWC2024 John Allen Pit, Oxon. Plenty of Willow Emeralds around the site as their numbers increase and westward range expansion continues #ukBirds #Birds @patchbirding.bsky.social

Pied Flycatcher, female or juvenile. A new bird for me on the birding patch at John Allen Pit, Bishop's Court Farm, Dorchester, Oxon

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Reposted by Geoff Birdy

GT1366 @gt1366.bsky.social · 30/08/2024

Finally managed to upload 4k video of the South Polar Skua past Porthgwarra on 25th Best viewed on a large screen and make sure 4k resolution selected. #RareBirdsUK #UKBirding m.youtube.com/watch?v=CVtA...

m.youtube.com

South Polar Skua 4k

YouTube video by Garry Taylor

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 26/08/2024

P G. Cornwall 2nd shift 15.00-20.30 Cory's Shearwater c250 Great Shearwater 34 Sooty Shearwater 12 Balearic Shearwater 5 Pomarine Skua 6 together at 19.20 Bonxie 4 Arctic Skua 2 Storm Petrel 12 Common Dolphin c10 Harbour Porpoise 4 Atlantic Blue-fin Tuna 2 #ukbirds #birds

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 26/08/2024

P.G. Cornwall, 6.30-11.30 SOUTH POLAR SKUA 6.36 same bird as yesterday, seen with Steve Rogers. Cory's Shearwater c210 Sooty Shearwater 10 Balearic Shearwater 5 Storm Petrel 20 Bonxie 4 Arctic Skua 1 Arctic Tern 3 Pale Bellied Brent 4 Chough 6 #ukbirds #birds #rarebirds 2nd shift to follow ...

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 25/08/2024

Porthgwarra, Cornwall 06.15 - 19.30 South Polar Skua 10.25 Image from Garry Taylor's video. Wilson's Petrel 09.10 Cory's Shearwater 300+ Great Shearwater 7 Sooty Shearwater 15 Balearic Shearwater 7 Storm Petrel c50 Great Skua 1 Probably Pomarine Skua 07.40 An exhilarating day #ukbirds #birds

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 24/08/2024

Pendeen Watch, Cornwall, 06.15 - 18.15 Great Shearwater c350 Cory's Shearwater 8 Sooty Shearwater 6 Balearic Shearwater 5 Sabine's Gull 13 Storm Petrel 12 Arctic Skua 11 Great Skua 1 Common Scoter 10 Whimbrel 106 Chough 2

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Geoff Birdy @geoffbirdy.bsky.social · 12/08/2024

First post on Bsky and first patch year ticks since early May. Pleased with 2 Wood Sands on Church Farm Backwaters, Oxon this morning. @patchbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds #PWC2024

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