Thomas Miller

Small gulls With the South Africa series of blog posts currently languishing in development hell (various parts written; most photos edited but just a t...

Blogging slowly continues #ukbirding

tmbirding.blogspot.com/2026/02/smal...

Highlights of Oxon birding in 2025, in roughly chronological order from top left to bottom right: Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Goose, Smew, Scaup, Long-eared and Short-eared Owl (all Jan); Ring-necked Duck, Merlin, Hawfinch, Med Gull & Woodlark (Feb); Whooper Swan & Little Gull (March); Grasshopper Warbler & Ring Ouzel (April); Nightingale sonogram, Temminck's Stint, Red-footed Falcon & Savi's Warbler (May); Redstart (July); Little Stint, Sandwich Tern, Osprey and Marsh Sandpiper (Aug); Wood Sandpiper, Manx Shearwater & Knot (Sept); Bluethroat, Pectoral Sandpiper & Twite (October); Water Pipit (Nov) & Tundra Bean Goose (December). All photos/recordings in Oxfordshire in 2025 by self, except Red-footed Falcon by Thomas Miller.

Traditional collage of record shots of a rewarding yr's local birding. Highlights: Red-foot, Savi's Warb, Marsh Sand, Bluethroat, Twite & Tundra Bean; most of all friendly year-listing with @conormackenzie.bsky.social @tmbirding.bsky.social Simon Myers & Peerawant Chiaranunt collectively 202 species

Patch geese The reality of urban birding - rare grey geese about to be flushed by a dog! It's been quite a while since my last blog post. Despite saying...

Starting to focus on the blog again, ahead of preparing South Africa write-up #ukbirding

tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/12/patc...

Part of a flock of 21 White-fronted Geese (18 visible here) flying northwards over Port Meadow, Oxfordshire, with trees in background, 26 Dec 2025.

Flock of 21 White-fronted Geese flying northwards over Port Meadow, Oxfordshire, with trees in background, 26 Dec 2025.

More of the current wild goose influx today with @tmbirding.bsky.social's flock of 21 Russian White-fronted Geese on Port Meadow a rare chance to see undoubtedly wild birds at this urban site. Inevitably disturbed by dogs off lead - hard to conceive that there was once a regular wintering flock here

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

Ah, likewise - good to meet you anyway. Was pleased with views of the warbler in the end despite it giving everyone the run around

Amazingly changeable in shape

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

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

Very hard to tell - with that yellow darvic could well be a German cactus type thing?

Thanks Joe. Yes, it's a wonder why young people even get into birding what with the state of migration these days!

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

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

Caspian Gull sat on rocks with seaweed

A 1cy Caspian Gull currently in Sennen Cove. Digiscoped pic as it's miles off on the island #cornwallbirds #ukbirding

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

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...

Quick turnaround for a blog post about today's Bluethroat event in Oxfordshire, written from Flamborough #ukbirding

tmbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/last...

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...

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-...

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.

Back of camera photo of Glossy Ibis

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

Mine of Dialectica scalariella on Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare)

Larva of Dialectica scalariella, exposed from its mine

Adult Dialectica scalariella

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

Had this bird at Ferrybridge on 13th- it's a really nice one isn't it!

Juvenile male Stonechat in the hand

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

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

Nice - something seriously odd happening with Casps in the southwest this year...

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

Juvenile Sabine's Gull over the sea

Juvenile Caspian Gull over the sea

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

1cy Caspian Gull sitting on grass

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

BOOTED WARBLER trapped in the Crown Estate Field

Sadly not but feel free to message me any further questions