Patch birding in Oxfordshire and further afield
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@tmbirding.bsky.socialThanks Victor, it's for Tim G!
Thomas Miller
@tmbirding.bsky.social
@tmbirding.bsky.social@tmbirding.bsky.socialVery much a work in progress (hopefully finished this week) not my usual style but it works for this particular commission of a Wood Warbler amongst beech leaves
@tmbirding.bsky.socialCombined with the lack of WIP file I find this to be slightly problematic!
@tmbirding.bsky.socialThe @britishbirds.bsky.social rarity report is a beautiful piece of work with lots of great photos and a couple of surprises, but it's a shame that the list of records found not proven is no longer included in the report. This means that there is no communication about record status unless accepted
@markavery.bsky.socialReposted by @tmbirding.bsky.socialWhere's Kazakhstan? The tale of a rare bird, donations from delighted twitchers and where the money went markavery.info/2026/09/28/w...
@birdguides.bsky.social #cotswolds #shrike #twitch
📷 Dave Collins/BirdGuides
@tmbirding.bsky.socialBOC of the Knot...
@tmbirding.bsky.socialMoody light at Farmoor for testing out a new (and hopefully improved) dual camera/scope setup. Juvenile Knot, Common and Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, and the now regular 3w Caspian Gull best of the birds #ukbirding
@tmbirding.bsky.socialDigging a little deeper - the pine on the terrace is labelled as Pinus sylvestris "Watereri", a dwarf Scots Pine cultivar and hence not imported from abroad. It was, however, supplied by Deepdale Trees, a nursery in Bedfordshire, where presumably this adventive must be present amongst their stock...
@tmbirding.bsky.socialYes, to be honest, despite the more diagnostic features fitting it just doesn't have the same kind of jizz to it does it! Especially compared to today's. Hmmmm. Although I have found that the structure is much harder to assess when they're sitting on water, especially with the male-types
@snake-spider-et-al.bsky.socialReposted by @tmbirding.bsky.socialAn amazing find - indeed the first record for Oxfordshire; when I got to see her she was sitting right on the pine. Thanks @tmbirding.bsky.social, I've only ever seen this spider once before and for about 2 seconds. (Fingernail for scale in the second pic)
@tmbirding.bsky.socialThink this digiscoped pic makes it look the most pratincole-like... Ridiculous bird
@tmbirding.bsky.socialAnother adult Baltic-type in the Farmoor roost this evening, a much more impressive candidate than the other week with a superb structure to it, as well as the mantle colour and moult state. A Caspian Gull also roosted #ukbirding
@tmbirding.bsky.socialSome internet research and help from @snake-spider-et-al.bsky.social confirms this as Dendryphantes rudis, an import from Europe which has established in a couple of areas. Not sure if there have been any in Oxfordshire before but certainly derived from the terrace pines @britishspiders.bsky.social
@tmbirding.bsky.socialDespite having done my PhD on spider vibration sensing I confess I haven't exactly developed my ID skills for British spiders - nonetheless I did recognise this as something interesting today when it jumped onto my leg whilst birding from the garden terrace at the Life and Mind Building, Oxford 1/2
@tmbirding.bsky.socialThe second Red-necked Phalarope I've seen in Oxfordshire this year - thanks to Nick Marriner for this great find on his golf course patch #ukbirding
@tmbirding.bsky.socialStrong westerly wind and raining at Farmoor this morning, massive numbers of downed hirundines instead of the hoped-for waders or seabirds - salvaged by this adult female Osprey over south (second one I have seen this year!). 6 turnstones and 2 Casps (3cy and 4cy) best from last night #ukbirding
@tmbirding.bsky.socialArrived at the tail end of a "classic" Farmoor day in easterlies and rain - managed to connect with a few passage waders including county scarce Curlew Sand and Knot, plus found a new juvenile Caspian Gull. Then finally a view which every Baltic Gull enthusiastic waits for... 1/2