Chris Toop
@birdingcyclist.bsky.social
Birds, bicycles, hills, family (not necessarily in that order)
Visited the patch this morning. Chiffys in with every group of tits, calling Bullfinches, 19 Cormorants in River Ouse roost, Cettis behind Acomb Waterworks, Parakeets displaying at nest holes. Then... Short-eared Owl high over Manor School when I was walking home @yorkbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
October 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Visited the patch this morning. Chiffys in with every group of tits, calling Bullfinches, 19 Cormorants in River Ouse roost, Cettis behind Acomb Waterworks, Parakeets displaying at nest holes. Then... Short-eared Owl high over Manor School when I was walking home @yorkbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
October 13, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Been neglecting the patch so jumped at the chance to get out this am. Lots of migrants either leaving or arriving including Chiffy, Blackcap, Stonechat, Redwing and Pinkies over. A few snaps here #UKBirding
October 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Been neglecting the patch so jumped at the chance to get out this am. Lots of migrants either leaving or arriving including Chiffy, Blackcap, Stonechat, Redwing and Pinkies over. A few snaps here #UKBirding
Still a few House Martins over Tadcaster today @nybirdnews.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Still a few House Martins over Tadcaster today @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Also from last week in Scotland, I finally got up An Teallach! And remembered to do a write up for @walkhighlands.co.uk #Munro
September 3, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Also from last week in Scotland, I finally got up An Teallach! And remembered to do a write up for @walkhighlands.co.uk #Munro
You can tell it's "autumn" when York's feral geese fly between the city centre and the fields to the west every day (volume up) #evening #UKBirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
July 22, 2025 at 9:14 PM
You can tell it's "autumn" when York's feral geese fly between the city centre and the fields to the west every day (volume up) #evening #UKBirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Took advantage of the 'dead time' twixt end of exams and end of school for a bit of bonding time with the eldest. Quick intro to Lakes ridge scrambling in a brief spell of decent weather. Helvellyn then Blencathra on consecutive days
July 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Took advantage of the 'dead time' twixt end of exams and end of school for a bit of bonding time with the eldest. Quick intro to Lakes ridge scrambling in a brief spell of decent weather. Helvellyn then Blencathra on consecutive days
@rachaelmaskell.bsky.social Thank you Rachael. I'd rather have you as my MP than someone who votes to make kids and disabled people poorer. @teamlabouruk.bsky.social are a disgrace and seem afraid to do what most people voted for. They will let Reform in unless they change #York #Acomb
July 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
@rachaelmaskell.bsky.social Thank you Rachael. I'd rather have you as my MP than someone who votes to make kids and disabled people poorer. @teamlabouruk.bsky.social are a disgrace and seem afraid to do what most people voted for. They will let Reform in unless they change #York #Acomb
Quite often have a lull in patch enthusiasm in high summer but dragged the youngest and the dog out today. Was going to be all about the K's: Kestrels have fledged a juv, Kingfisher's along the river and a Kite over the cut meadows, but then had a couple of Jays! #UKBirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social
July 12, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Quite often have a lull in patch enthusiasm in high summer but dragged the youngest and the dog out today. Was going to be all about the K's: Kestrels have fledged a juv, Kingfisher's along the river and a Kite over the cut meadows, but then had a couple of Jays! #UKBirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Had drawn a (scientifically important) nil result from 3 Woodlark squares in @btobirds.bsky.social #heathlandsurvey which was disheartening, but one square was also down for Nightjars, so the relief last night when this happened was immense! Few roding Woodcock too
June 22, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Had drawn a (scientifically important) nil result from 3 Woodlark squares in @btobirds.bsky.social #heathlandsurvey which was disheartening, but one square was also down for Nightjars, so the relief last night when this happened was immense! Few roding Woodcock too
More of a day for dragon, damsel and butter-flies than birds, but a min of 4 Little Egrets and 14 singing Sedge Warblers between Redhouse and Poppleton along the river this morning, lots of Reed Bunt, other warblers and hirunds too @yorkbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
June 21, 2025 at 12:39 PM
More of a day for dragon, damsel and butter-flies than birds, but a min of 4 Little Egrets and 14 singing Sedge Warblers between Redhouse and Poppleton along the river this morning, lots of Reed Bunt, other warblers and hirunds too @yorkbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
More #Swift spam! Enjoyable screaming parties over the Tadcaster Viaduct. Looked like a few fledged Sand Martins around the Bridge too @nybirdnews.bsky.social #UKBirding
June 13, 2025 at 12:27 PM
More #Swift spam! Enjoyable screaming parties over the Tadcaster Viaduct. Looked like a few fledged Sand Martins around the Bridge too @nybirdnews.bsky.social #UKBirding
A good 40+ Swifts over the house this morning. Feeding over the fields between Acomb and the ring road then heading back to the colony. Managed a couple of snaps @yorkbirding.bsky.social #YorkSwifts #Acomb #UKBirding
June 9, 2025 at 7:31 AM
A good 40+ Swifts over the house this morning. Feeding over the fields between Acomb and the ring road then heading back to the colony. Managed a couple of snaps @yorkbirding.bsky.social #YorkSwifts #Acomb #UKBirding
At least one of the Kingfisher pairs on the Ouse has been successful. Great to see two fledged juveniles sitting in a Willow waiting to be fed this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social #Ings #UKBirding
June 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
At least one of the Kingfisher pairs on the Ouse has been successful. Great to see two fledged juveniles sitting in a Willow waiting to be fed this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social #Ings #UKBirding
Finally! Some clear justification for having a "messy" garden.... @mammalsociety.bsky.social #York
June 4, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Finally! Some clear justification for having a "messy" garden.... @mammalsociety.bsky.social #York
Reposted by Chris Toop
We’re calling on everyone who cares about nature: write to your MP now.
Show them we won’t stand by while vital protections are ripped up: action.rspb.org.uk/page/159517/...
Show them we won’t stand by while vital protections are ripped up: action.rspb.org.uk/page/159517/...
Help stop the Planning and Infrastructure Bill tearing up nature protections
I've written to my MP to demand that the UK Government adopts a nature-friendly approach to planning and development. Will you take action too?
action.rspb.org.uk
May 24, 2025 at 8:22 AM
We’re calling on everyone who cares about nature: write to your MP now.
Show them we won’t stand by while vital protections are ripped up: action.rspb.org.uk/page/159517/...
Show them we won’t stand by while vital protections are ripped up: action.rspb.org.uk/page/159517/...
Common Sandpiper moving up the Ouse this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social Didn't have my camera, so here's one from earlier this week! #UKBirding
May 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Common Sandpiper moving up the Ouse this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social Didn't have my camera, so here's one from earlier this week! #UKBirding
Garish, but always photogenic. Mandarin on the River Don near Long Sandall today @s-yorksbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
May 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Garish, but always photogenic. Mandarin on the River Don near Long Sandall today @s-yorksbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
May 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Full patch tick Cettis today and a Gropper (1st for 3 years) yesterday giving typical views. #Patchbirding #York #UKBirding
April 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Full patch tick Cettis today and a Gropper (1st for 3 years) yesterday giving typical views. #Patchbirding #York #UKBirding
WFH today with occasional distractions. Pair of Buzzards displaying really high then grappling each other in a dizzying spiral, Sparrowhawk through setting everything off, and this beauty being harassed... #raptors #UKBirding #York
April 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
WFH today with occasional distractions. Pair of Buzzards displaying really high then grappling each other in a dizzying spiral, Sparrowhawk through setting everything off, and this beauty being harassed... #raptors #UKBirding #York
In time for @btobirds.bsky.social #BlackbirdsInGardens survey I finally worked out where 'my' resident pair were nesting. Unfortunately, so did the local Magpies...
April 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
In time for @btobirds.bsky.social #BlackbirdsInGardens survey I finally worked out where 'my' resident pair were nesting. Unfortunately, so did the local Magpies...
Cracking walk up Ingleborough with the family today. Added Wheatear and Redstart to the year list. No Ringo's but there was a full adult fem Marsh Harrier passing below the summit headed to Morecambe Bay which I assume had returned from warmer climes #UKBirding Bonus Green Hairstreak too
April 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Cracking walk up Ingleborough with the family today. Added Wheatear and Redstart to the year list. No Ringo's but there was a full adult fem Marsh Harrier passing below the summit headed to Morecambe Bay which I assume had returned from warmer climes #UKBirding Bonus Green Hairstreak too
Working down the Humber today. Which was nice. Yellow Wag took me to #152 for the year but no pic as I was enjoying just watching it! #UKBirding 🪶
April 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Working down the Humber today. Which was nice. Yellow Wag took me to #152 for the year but no pic as I was enjoying just watching it! #UKBirding 🪶