Thomas Miller
@tmbirding.bsky.social
Patch birding in Oxfordshire and further afield
tmbirding.blogspot.com
tmbirding.blogspot.com
Just landed in South Africa for birding trip and upon opening my phone the first message I see concerns a Spotted Redshank on Port Meadow (would be a patch tick). Disastrous scenes
November 19, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Just landed in South Africa for birding trip and upon opening my phone the first message I see concerns a Spotted Redshank on Port Meadow (would be a patch tick). Disastrous scenes
Like many others enjoyed the two Pallid Swifts and Dusky Warbler at Foreness Point this morning, no opportunity for frame filling photos unfortunately as the birds were high over the housing estate but pleased to get a few shots with both in the frame #ukbirding
November 8, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Like many others enjoyed the two Pallid Swifts and Dusky Warbler at Foreness Point this morning, no opportunity for frame filling photos unfortunately as the birds were high over the housing estate but pleased to get a few shots with both in the frame #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
Sorry for the late news, ridiculously busy first couple of hours so not had time to post a photo of the Black-faced Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field on the first net round of the day - ta to Duncan Walbridge for this pic
November 6, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Sorry for the late news, ridiculously busy first couple of hours so not had time to post a photo of the Black-faced Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field on the first net round of the day - ta to Duncan Walbridge for this pic
As usual it seems I've totally failed at finding my own birds during my visit to Portland but at least managed to connect with this Pallas's Warbler at Avalanche Road this morning - a particularly difficult individual to see and photograph well #ukbirding
October 31, 2025 at 5:42 PM
As usual it seems I've totally failed at finding my own birds during my visit to Portland but at least managed to connect with this Pallas's Warbler at Avalanche Road this morning - a particularly difficult individual to see and photograph well #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
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
October 16, 2025 at 9:02 AM
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
A 1cy Caspian Gull currently in Sennen Cove. Digiscoped pic as it's miles off on the island #cornwallbirds #ukbirding
October 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A 1cy Caspian Gull currently in Sennen Cove. Digiscoped pic as it's miles off on the island #cornwallbirds #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
One of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding
October 11, 2025 at 8:06 PM
One of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding
Quick turnaround for a blog post about today's Bluethroat event in Oxfordshire, written from Flamborough #ukbirding
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/last...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/last...
Last days in Oxford
1w male Bluethroat, Otmoor Up until today I was pretty certain that my last few days as a permanent resident of Oxfordshire would end with a...
tmbirding.blogspot.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Quick turnaround for a blog post about today's Bluethroat event in Oxfordshire, written from Flamborough #ukbirding
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/last...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/last...
Dual blog posts summarising local birding and some trips away over the past couple of months. Now I've got the backlog cleared can hopefully be a bit more timely with future trip reports this autumn! #ukbirding
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/loca...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/non-...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/loca...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/non-...
Non-local birding
Rainbow over Portland Bird Observatory I've had some rather good birding trips away from Oxfordshire over the last few weeks, which I'll aim...
tmbirding.blogspot.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Dual blog posts summarising local birding and some trips away over the past couple of months. Now I've got the backlog cleared can hopefully be a bit more timely with future trip reports this autumn! #ukbirding
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/loca...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/non-...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/loca...
tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/non-...
Reposted by Thomas Miller
Yellow-browed Bunting trapped, ringed and released at the Swannery. It's flown to the hedge which runs alongside the Swannery grounds and the bird may be viewable from the permissive path heading west from Grove Lane.
September 29, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Yellow-browed Bunting trapped, ringed and released at the Swannery. It's flown to the hedge which runs alongside the Swannery grounds and the bird may be viewable from the permissive path heading west from Grove Lane.
Getting in on the influx - Glossy Ibis just flown low west over Port Meadow just now, photo taken straight into the sun! Think this is the 7th one I have seen on patch #ukbirding
September 28, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Getting in on the influx - Glossy Ibis just flown low west over Port Meadow just now, photo taken straight into the sun! Think this is the 7th one I have seen on patch #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
Collected leaf-mines of Dialectica scalariella on Viper's Bugloss/Echium vulgare from Freshwater Bay, Portland (VC 9) on 13th Sept - adults emerged on 25th Sept
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Collected leaf-mines of Dialectica scalariella on Viper's Bugloss/Echium vulgare from Freshwater Bay, Portland (VC 9) on 13th Sept - adults emerged on 25th Sept
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Some good vismig on patch with the change in wind over the past two days so decided to go out ringing yesterday with @plewin.bsky.social and caught over 200 birds. 81 Chiff, 33 Blackcap, 33 Mipit, a late Whitethroat and the first Stonechat ringed on site being the highlights #ukbirding
September 21, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Some good vismig on patch with the change in wind over the past two days so decided to go out ringing yesterday with @plewin.bsky.social and caught over 200 birds. 81 Chiff, 33 Blackcap, 33 Mipit, a late Whitethroat and the first Stonechat ringed on site being the highlights #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
LESSER KESTREL on #StKilda! Retrospectively identified from Will Miles' excellent images on 16th Sept. We'd recorded a Kestrel from 12th, possibly the same bird, but sadly not relocated today.
@birdguides.bsky.social
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@hebridesbirds.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@hebridesbirds.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
LESSER KESTREL on #StKilda! Retrospectively identified from Will Miles' excellent images on 16th Sept. We'd recorded a Kestrel from 12th, possibly the same bird, but sadly not relocated today.
@birdguides.bsky.social
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@hebridesbirds.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@hebridesbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Miller
With @tmbirding.bsky.social finding so many Caspian Gulls at Portland, I was hopeful some might make it to Keyhaven (still scarce here). At least two 1w birds yesterday and a third today, plus a bonus distant Grey Phal #patchbirding #ukbirding #hantsbirds
September 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
With @tmbirding.bsky.social finding so many Caspian Gulls at Portland, I was hopeful some might make it to Keyhaven (still scarce here). At least two 1w birds yesterday and a third today, plus a bonus distant Grey Phal #patchbirding #ukbirding #hantsbirds
The Portland Caspian Gull deluge continued today with at least 3 new birds (3 seen together at Culverwell + another or one of the same on this morning's seawatch). Wrecked Sabine's in Chesil Cove also good to see after fleeting views of one off the Bill earlier this week #ukbirding
September 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The Portland Caspian Gull deluge continued today with at least 3 new birds (3 seen together at Culverwell + another or one of the same on this morning's seawatch). Wrecked Sabine's in Chesil Cove also good to see after fleeting views of one off the Bill earlier this week #ukbirding
A new and rather pristine-looking cachinnans today. Pied Fly best of the rest of this morning's efforts #ukbirding
September 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A new and rather pristine-looking cachinnans today. Pied Fly best of the rest of this morning's efforts #ukbirding
Seemingly a small influx of Caspian Gulls at Portland in amongst thousands of gulls brought in by inclement weather - 3 in the area including this massive male showing point blank off the Bill @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 10, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Seemingly a small influx of Caspian Gulls at Portland in amongst thousands of gulls brought in by inclement weather - 3 in the area including this massive male showing point blank off the Bill @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
BOOTED WARBLER trapped in the Crown Estate Field
September 8, 2025 at 12:28 PM
BOOTED WARBLER trapped in the Crown Estate Field
Reposted by Thomas Miller
Stonking Oxon county Mega on Friday in the form of a Marsh Sandpiper. Write-up here:
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/09/oxon...
Photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/09/oxon...
Photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Stonking Oxon county Mega on Friday in the form of a Marsh Sandpiper. Write-up here:
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/09/oxon...
Photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/09/oxon...
Photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social
Not the storm-driven small gull (or spinny wader...) that I was hoping to find, but these are always such a delight - adult winter Little Gull currently at Farmoor, dip-feeding on F2 #ukbirding
September 2, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Not the storm-driven small gull (or spinny wader...) that I was hoping to find, but these are always such a delight - adult winter Little Gull currently at Farmoor, dip-feeding on F2 #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
I was about to give up in the miserable weather on Saturday when I noticed an unusually large roost of gulls on Keyhaven Lagoon. Persistence led to patch gold - Bonaparte's Gull! Appears to be the 1st for the reserve. #patchbirding #ukbirding #hantsbirds
September 1, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I was about to give up in the miserable weather on Saturday when I noticed an unusually large roost of gulls on Keyhaven Lagoon. Persistence led to patch gold - Bonaparte's Gull! Appears to be the 1st for the reserve. #patchbirding #ukbirding #hantsbirds
Had a pleasant time yesterday evening watching this juvenile Little Stint at Farmoor (before all the Marsh Sand excitement). Interesting to see that its favourite food was flying insects. Photos were a bit soft in the poor light and intermittent heavy rain but managed to salvage a few #ukbirding
August 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Had a pleasant time yesterday evening watching this juvenile Little Stint at Farmoor (before all the Marsh Sand excitement). Interesting to see that its favourite food was flying insects. Photos were a bit soft in the poor light and intermittent heavy rain but managed to salvage a few #ukbirding
Ropey pic of the juvenile Marsh Sandpiper found yesterday at Standlake Pit 60 by Jeremy Dexter but not confirmed until this morning. In the pouring rain! #ukbirding
August 29, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Ropey pic of the juvenile Marsh Sandpiper found yesterday at Standlake Pit 60 by Jeremy Dexter but not confirmed until this morning. In the pouring rain! #ukbirding
Reposted by Thomas Miller
Autumn getting into full swing at our Oxford ringing site today 🍂 62 birds, mostly blackcap and chiffchaff.
Highlights were the first willow warbler of the autumn, a juvenile female Sparrowhawk, a rare pulse of acros for the site and the hoped-for addition of tree pipit to the site ringing list!
Highlights were the first willow warbler of the autumn, a juvenile female Sparrowhawk, a rare pulse of acros for the site and the hoped-for addition of tree pipit to the site ringing list!
August 24, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Autumn getting into full swing at our Oxford ringing site today 🍂 62 birds, mostly blackcap and chiffchaff.
Highlights were the first willow warbler of the autumn, a juvenile female Sparrowhawk, a rare pulse of acros for the site and the hoped-for addition of tree pipit to the site ringing list!
Highlights were the first willow warbler of the autumn, a juvenile female Sparrowhawk, a rare pulse of acros for the site and the hoped-for addition of tree pipit to the site ringing list!