iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Lovely to meet you finally and my pleasure

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Thanks - It was initially on the Reservoir before moving to South Lagoon at 21:20

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Reposted by Simon Nichols

Buckinghamshire Bird Club @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

A quick reminder of our next event. Dec 4, 2025 7:30 PM Winter warmer social St Anne's Hall, Wendover Our chance to actually see each other face to face! Four speakers with a focus on Bucks birding, with half-time tea and refreshments. Non-members welcome!

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Current - Bucks (main one even though i now live in Lincs !) Shetland, Scilly and still have an old Norfolk one.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

My pleasure mate - glad you loved it

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

We have stayed in Scalloway for the last 4 years and I have checked those bushes multiple times a trip - we found Barred Warbler last year and this year the Thrush :-) and a Bluethroat. Def worth checking more often.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

It was my pleasure to see that face peering out of an Elder bush :-) and an even bigger pleasure when other birders started to arrive, so glad you connected and enjoyed what a stunning bird its is - can’t believe it’s still here today. Adrenaline will wear off soon :-)

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Just listened to the song of a Sibe Thrush - it’s quite pleasant :-) it’s not singing on Shetland - in today’s weather, we hope it’s surviving :-)

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

I would move the 10k dot about 1/2k to the east if that were me ! Get all of both islands in …

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Wow - so with a following wind, a few more rarities - potentially 170 on the cards … that’s bonkers

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

And over the next three hours I was able to wrack up 65 species including Spoonbill and Barn Owl. As well as the usual suspects (Avocets, Curlews and Oystercatchers) Migrants were thin on the ground with Whimbrel, Common Tern, Swallow and Sand Martin the obvious ones. No Kestrel or Chiffchaff though

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Better area ! Being on the opp side of the river to Frampton means that my vantage point should nest some decent species, little did I know that almost the first bird of the day at 05:35 was to be a fantastic Purring Turtle Dove in the paddock next to the garden! Fabulous.It was then focus time 2/3

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

A Purrfect Morning The last time I did a big sit, was November 2020 during the 2nd lockdown when all around the country we gathered in our gardens for a few hours each week to see what we could see. I decided to do a big sit this morning (the day after my Birthday) as I have moved to a slightly 1/3

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Tales from the Bank - Day #264. What an evening, 54 Corn Buntings into the Saltmarsh roost, Barn Owl posing in the Paddock, Avocets, Curlews and Oystercatcher trying to out call the Greenshank that flew around for 5 minutes TewTewTew’ing and the sunset. Of Carlsberg did April Birding #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Tide is high … I wasn’t just holding on, I was basking, the recent spring high tides and the glorious weather have meant more sojourns on the bank. The Avocets are back (and took rightful place as the 100th species in or over my garden in the last 8 months) The river is alive with spring.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

#ukbirding - an incredible thread from one of the finest Birder-Storytellers of my generation. Relive the past glories of our wonderful hobby and try not to think of the fact that as a minimum most of these birds were over 35 years ago … I salute you @markgolley.bsky.social thank you.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Mate, what a trip down memory lane, @hasanalfarhan2.bsky.social sent me the link y’day and said, “you saw some of these” I did and I have now re-seen them in my minds eye, I would have been there with you on many of those first days, apart yet together over that shared love of the bird. Thank you.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Back on bank… 8 days away is too much, a road warrior these last few weeks, it was great to be greeted by a pair of Med Gulls over the garden calling. A Song Thrush in full pelt (we have only seen a single Song Thrush over the winter) Oystercatcher and Curlew in full display. Missed it #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Life on the Bank … it’s been an incredible few days with enormous skies and brilliant sunsets and the birds, Barn Owls most mornings, Merlin today and the first Chiffchaff back on territory - what’s not to love #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

A short walk… to the car today along the bank produced Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatcher all calling and a brilliant Barn Owl (this was Browny - there is also Ghost, an almost pure white one that also hunts this stretch) Bank Bliss. #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Today I am mostly seeing … Golden Plover, and Brent Geese, few Curlew over and piping Oystercatchers back displaying at the end of the garden. If Carlsberg did morning Coffee … (I appreciate they don’t) but not a bad start to the day. #ukbirding #hobholeobs

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

That’s a whole different world of pain :-) can’t help you there :-)

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Same here (50% hearing loss in both ears) - this is a great tool to help, my one is in the garden and runs 24 hours a day, really helps if I think I heard something go over and then check a minute later in the live feed and get it confirmed. Good luck.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Ah sorry Jonny - all my fault - I got a Puc a few months ago and loving it, so very keen to spread the word. Sorry to cross the wires.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

That’s what I meant - see consummate professional :-) thanks Steve

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

@stevedudley.bsky.social - not clever enough to link stories into posts yet (or even know what the right words are :-) ) could you link the discussion story for Puc #ukbirding

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Reposted by Simon Nichols

John Hague @shrikebirding.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Fancy some drumming this February? Join us via shrikebirdingtours.com #ukbirding

A flyer for a shrikebitdingtours.com trip to look for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at RSPB Middleton Lakes

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Loved reading this mate - awesome effort from an incredibly passionate birder. I hope 2025 is equally bird packed !

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

2 P for me and C at 65% - Great Bittern is basically Trees moving and the Green Sandpipers are Dunnocks. Which is annoying as I have had Green Sandpiper over the Garden!

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Today was sponsored by Gurgling Brent Geese, Pinking Pinks, Bugling Curlews, sipping Meadow Pipits and a swirling maelstrom of Starlings over the Garden. Hope your day was also bird filled with sight and sound. #ukbirding

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Reposted by Simon Nichols

Mark W @markmwphoto.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Just on the slim chance that anyone is aware of anyone magically acquiring a new pair of binoculars or you see them offered for sale .... my Leica Ultravid 10 x 42 binoculars were stolen from a hide at WWT Slimbridge on 11 December. The serial number is 1593393. #BirdingGear

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Its not just the confidence setting, it’s also the probability setting that is responsible, I lowered the confidence level on purpose as while it picks up the annoying anomalies, it was ignoring Redshank (which is a daily occurrence)

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Dunnock doesn’t half get in the way of all these STT !! As well as Kingfishers. Green Sandpiper and Hawfinch are always Robins. I am deleting when I can !

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

I am the Puc just to the NW of the Wash, all of my Crested Tits are Blue Tits except for one whereby a broken branch in next doors garden was squeaking !!

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Listen openly Steve :-) I am going to set up a live go pro soon that will hopefully match up the visuals of the river movements as well.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Good luck - you will have plenty of fun Hobhole.com going strong today - although the wind (Bittern) and the Goldfinches (Red Legged Partridge) are throwing me some interesting curveballs but Grey and Golden Plover over the garden this morning is always nice #ukbirding

hobhole.com

Birding at Hobhole

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Reposted by Simon Nichols

Jamie Dunning @j-dunning.net · 06/12/2024

Welcome to the UK & Ireland Birding feed. For an introduction to Bsky and feeds see here - bou.org.uk/blog-dudley-... Otherwise, see the feed notes attached.

Feed notes for UK Birding:
Post are picked up using a single relevant tag (no need to use several) in the post or alt text.

There are excellent feeds for all bird related content (Birds), academic ornithology (BOU/Ibis Ornithology), Bioacoustics, Birding in Scotland, Wales and several local regions.

Research ornithology is permitted where relevant to birds on the British list (otherwise, see the BOU/Ibis Ornithology feed)

Hashtag stacking is not permitted on the feed. Pure photography posts should be posted to the Birds feed

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

I hear you John, Milton Keynes was only just getting regular birds when I left and Lincs has almost none :-) so that squawk is still a wow moment. But having birded South Bucks and the South East - I sympathise (my first RNP tick was at Sevenoaks :-) in the 1980’s)

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

The big smoke. Two days of training meant an overnight stay in London. Normally I am on it, with regard to birding, but arrival and departure have both been in the dark. The only bird I consciously saw all day was a brilliant Ring Necked Parakeet. For us northerners it’s still a novelty #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Can’t wait to see (hear !) what you get steve - just checked mine ( I am on London Underground ) and seems like a few anomalies to sort out :-) (the Woodcock yday was someone sawing wood :-)) #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

The Small Things. Not much been happening on the Bank in the last few days, work and weather have not been kind to my birding endeavours, but a male Brambling in the garden not only enthralled me for 10 mins as it fed around the feeding station, but also the first I had seen in any of my gardens.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Yes - I am currently on the following - it does mean that all my Long Eared Owls are Collared Doves, Crested Tits and Short T Treecreepers are Dunnocks, My Green Sandpipers are mostly Goldfinch and I have quite a few Rohawfinchbins :-) but overall it’s pretty spot on.

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I am normally on 25 - 35 Species and 900+ Detections by this time :-)

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Bert doesn’t deliver. Storm Bert, while exhilarating and exciting to be out in has blown all the birds elsewhere. My BirdWeather Puc only recorded 3 species overnight and my dog walk recorded 1 Curlew and 1 Redshank - normally loads. The best sight was 2000 Brents battling the breeze #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

the 1K patch in 119 days since we moved … hoping I can keep ahead of the days - but think they will meet soon :-) My 5k list is #158 and Garden is #94 #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

And still they come. A cracking morning dog walk on the Bank, the 4 Little Grebes were still hanging around as were the two Goldeneye, 10 Ruff and 2 Knot were feeding with the small flock of 20 or so Dunlin but the crème de la crème was the Red Throated Diver that was on the Haven - making 124 for

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Just noticed that I had a Flick of Ruff yday not a Flock. Thinking on how their wings were glistening in the winter sunshine, a Flick of Ruff is now the norm. It’s a beautiful day on the Lincs coast today but not been up the bank yet so dining room window birding only. #ukbirding

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Sorry Neil. I do miss my Bucks roots :-) but waking up to Whooper Swans and Pink Footed Geese calling as they fly over your garden is compelling !

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Simon Nichols @hobhole.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

It’s just nice, it’s all about the birding and the people, no agendas or forced accounts. Just birders supporting birders in my feed - @stevedudley.bsky.social and @jamiedunning.bsky.social are doing incredible things for the community - you will love it.

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