John Boorman
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johnboorman.bsky.social
John Boorman
@johnboorman.bsky.social
200 followers 130 following 550 posts
Interest in natural history. Birder since teens. Monitor Peregrine sites in association with LPP incl. Sutton, and Morden which I helped to establish in 2015.
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johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden wildlife. Some Grey Squirrel love in the garden this morning! 🐿️❤️🐿️
Two amorous Grey Squirrels on the trunk of a Silver Birch tree, and with some Privet hedge in the background. Two amorous Grey Squirrels on the trunk of a Silver Birch tree, and with some Privet hedge in the background. Two amorous Grey Squirrels on the trunk of a Silver Birch tree, and with some Privet hedge in the background. Two amorous Grey Squirrels on the trunk of a Silver Birch tree, and with some Privet hedge in the background.
January 25, 2026 at 5:40 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. A brief visit to my apple tree from a Redwing this morning. Photos taken through the bedroom window. #londonbirds #birds
A Redwing, a small Thrush with orange/red underwings, white eye stripe and dark brown cheeks, and perched in an apple tree. A Redwing, a small Thrush with orange/red underwings, white eye stripe and dark brown cheeks, and perched in an apple tree. A Redwing, a small Thrush with orange/red underwings, white eye stripe and dark brown cheeks, and perched in an apple tree. A Redwing, a small Thrush with orange/red underwings, white eye stripe and dark brown cheeks, and perched in an apple tree.
January 24, 2026 at 6:21 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Sutton Peregrines. A nice close courtship display at about 12.00 today. Male on the left, female on the right. #londonbirds #birds
January 18, 2026 at 6:22 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Local birding. A rather nice Common Gull close to home in Collingwood Recreation Ground this morning. #londonbirds #birds
A medium sized Gull, grey above and white below, and with black and white wingtips. It's looking for food in the grass of a playing field/recreation ground. A medium sized Gull, grey above and white below, and with black and white wingtips. It's looking for food in the grass of a playing field/recreation ground. A medium sized Gull, grey above and white below, and with black and white wingtips. It's looking for food in the grass of a playing field/recreation ground. A medium sized Gull, grey above and white below, and with black and white wingtips. It's looking for food in the grass of a playing field/recreation ground.
January 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Local birding. A Pied Wagtail in Morden town centre this morning. I've noticed that many urban Pied Wagtails seem to have missing feet (usually one), and this one, sadly, seems to have issues with both its feet though it was behaving normally. @btobirds.bsky.social #londonbirds #birds
A small black, white and grey bird, on a pavement. It has damaged feet. A small black, white and grey bird, on a pavement. It has damaged feet. A small black, white and grey bird, on a pavement. It has damaged feet. A small black, white and grey bird, on a pavement. It has damaged feet.
January 17, 2026 at 4:51 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Local birding. 1/2. A Little Egret and a very approachable female Kingfisher (in 2/2) at a small London park this morning. @davidelement.bsky.social #londonbirds #birds
A Little Egret (a small white heron) with dark beak and legs and yellow eye surround, in a small stream. It also has yellow feet, but these are out of view. A Little Egret (a small white heron) with dark beak and legs and yellow eye surround, in a small stream. It also has yellow feet, but these are out of view. A Little Egret (a small white heron) with dark beak and legs and yellow eye surround, in a small stream. It is reflected in the water below. It also has yellow feet, but these are out of view. A Little Egret (a small white heron) with dark beak and legs and yellow eye surround, in a small stream. It also has yellow feet, but these are out of view.
January 17, 2026 at 4:48 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Morden Peregrines. One on Crown House for a short while this morning. #londonbirds
A Peregrine Falcon with a black and white front, grey back and black and white head, perched on the corner of an office building.
January 17, 2026 at 4:33 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Sutton Peregrines. Quite unexpectedly, the juvenile male made an appearance early this morning! I've not seen or heard him in person or on camera since 19 December, though it is possible he's been back since. He's on the right in this video, with the adult male to his left. #londonbirds #birds
January 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. The small visiting flock of about 10-15 Feral Pigeons has usually been made up of quite dark/grey birds, but recently they've been joined by a brown and white one. From the size of its cere, dark eye, and behaviour, it is likely a quite a young bird. @a-london-pigeon.bsky.social
Two Feral Pigeons, one brown and white, the other mainly grey and black. Three Feral Pigeons, one brown and white, the others mainly grey and black. Four Feral Pigeons, one brown and white, the others mainly grey and black with some green iridescence on their necks. Four Feral Pigeons, one brown and white, the others mainly grey and black with some green iridescence on the necks of the two facing ahead.
January 12, 2026 at 3:10 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. In the less frozen/defrosting remains of the leaf litter, this Robin found an Earthworm! #londonbirds
January 6, 2026 at 2:26 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. 1/2. The importance of providing water, which at the moment can mean removing ice several times a day! Visitors drinking and bathing today included Dunnock, Robin, Grey Squirrel, Great Tit,
January 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Sutton Peregrines. Both adults were perched on the High Street building for a while this morning - my first views of them this year! There were a few Parakeet feathers about too - these ones outside the Metro Bank. #londonbirds #birds
Two Peregrine falcons perched on a building. One, the male, is on the top rail and the other, the female, is on the lower wall below, in front of the third window from the left. A Peregrine falcon perched on a building. A Peregrine falcon perched on a building. A couple of feathers from a Ring-necked Parakeet, found on the pavement in Sutton High Street, and from a bird predated by one the Peregrines.
January 1, 2026 at 4:25 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Local wildflowers. 1/2. A few plants still in flower in the wildflower area at West Sutton Station today. #londonwildlife
January 1, 2026 at 4:10 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Sutton Peregrines. 1/2. I thought I'd end the year with photos of both adults from this morning, the male on Quadrant House (in the mist) and the female on the High Street building. The additional photo of the adult male is from yesterday, taken as he flew off. #londonbirds #birds
December 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. I often see one, sometimes two, Dunnocks in the garden - today there were three! #londonbirds #birds
Three small grey/brown birds feeding on the ground.
December 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. The Collared Dove was singing again from local aerials this morning, and presumably the same bird paid a brief visit to the garden - the first one to visit this year (the last was on 26/12/24). Also, 3 Chaffinches now (2f, 1m), and a fairly regular Coal Tit. #londonbirds #birds
A pale, pinkish-brown-grey dove with a black neck collar, and a male Chaffinch - a small bird with a blue-grey cap/nape, brown back, white wing bar and rust-red underparts. Both feeding on the ground. A pale, pinkish-brown-grey dove with a black neck collar, and feeding on the ground. A female Chaffinch - a small pale brown bird with a white shoulder patch and wing bar, and feeding on the ground. A Coal Tit - a small buff coloured bird with a black cap and white nape patch. It's on a garden bird feeder containing sunflower hearts.
December 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. So far this winter I've regularly seen in the garden just one female Chaffinch (these photos were taken this morning), and an occasional male. In previous years I've seen about 6, so hopefully some more will appear soon. #londonbirds
A small pale brown bird with a white shoulder patch and wing bar, and a greenish rump. It's perched on a tree branch. A small pale brown bird with a white shoulder patch and wing bar, and feeding on the ground. A small pale brown bird with a white shoulder patch and wing bar, and feeding on the ground. A small pale brown bird with a white shoulder patch and wing bar, and feeding on the ground.
December 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. A nice surprise to hear a Collared Dove singing from an aerial across the road this morning. A bird I rarely see in or near the garden now, though they are often at West Sutton station, less than 10 minutes walk away. They do seem to like living by railway lines!
A pale, pinkish-brown-grey dove with a black neck collar, perched on an aerial. A pale, pinkish-brown-grey dove with a black neck collar, perched on an aerial. A pale, pinkish-brown-grey dove with a black neck collar, perched on an aerial. A pale, pinkish-brown-grey dove with a black neck collar, perched on an aerial.
December 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
This tiny insect, less than 1mm overall, appeared on a magazine I was reading on my bed yesterday. I've failed to ID it, ruling out what might be expected. It's shape looks quite distinctive, and I presume it is a first instar of some kind of bug. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social
December 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Sutton Peregrines. 1/3. The juvenile male was feeding on a small prey item this morning, and after he finished he spent some time on the rail during which time both adults independently arrived and went down to the roof to do some scraping - male first, then the female. #londonbirds #birds
December 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. The regular pair of Jackdaws and some Ring-necked Parakeets visiting the feeders this morning. #londonbirds #birds
Two black/grey birds (Jackdaws) and several Green Parakeets (Ring-necked Parakeets) on and around some garden bird feeders that are hanging from branches of an apple tree. Two black/grey birds (Jackdaws) and several Green Parakeets (Ring-necked Parakeets) on and around some garden bird feeders that are hanging from branches of an apple tree. A black/grey bird (Jackdaw) and several Green Parakeets (Ring-necked Parakeets) on and around some garden bird feeders that are hanging from branches of an apple tree. Two black/grey birds (Jackdaws) and several Green Parakeets (Ring-necked Parakeets) on and around some garden bird feeders that are hanging from branches of an apple tree.
December 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden wildlife. 1/2. I managed to find eight Segestria florentinas last night on the house and fence, and all in the usual relatively localised area. There were a couple of places/webs where I didn't see one where I have before, and sadly there were no big ones -
A spider in its web behind a gate hinge support. A spider in its web in the pointing between bricks. A spider in its web between a painted wooden door frame and bricks. A spider in its web between a painted wooden door frame and bricks.
December 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Sutton Peregrines. Both adults looking good together on the High Street building late this morning. Female left, male right in the first photo, then the female and male individually. #londonbirds #birds
December 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Sutton Peregrines. 1/2. I've not personally seen the juvenile male on site for a while, but he is still here. When I first saw the clip from this morning I'd assumed it was the beginning of a courtship display by the adults, but the first bird to appear was actually the juvenile
December 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
johnboorman.bsky.social
Garden birding. The now regular visiting male Blackbird having a bath today - and it was raining at the same time too! #londonbirds #birds
A black bird with a yellow bill and eye ring, bathing in a garden bird bath. A black bird with a yellow bill and eye ring, bathing in a garden bird bath. A black bird with a yellow bill and eye ring, bathing in a garden bird bath. A black bird (his yellow bill and eye ring are not visible in this photo), bathing in a garden bird bath.
December 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM