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nbgreywagtail.com
NB Grey Wagtail
@nbgreywagtail.com
190 followers 250 following 67 posts
Scientist, traveller and narrowboat owner.

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Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by NB Grey Wagtail
thames21.bsky.social
Our very own Liz Gyekye featured in this great @nytimes article. Glad that she was able to keep pushing this important issue into the spotlight, so the key stakeholders take urgent action to clear this waste up and protect the River Cherwell. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
You may have seen this on the news - there was a massive illegal dump of rubbish near the River Cherwell. If the river floods, the rubbish will end up in the river. Not good. Please consider signing the petition.

c.org/6PjfYkwKjh

#Cherwell #RiverCherwell #UKCanals #UKRivers #Thames
We Can Make an Impact.
Action Against Illegal Waste site on the River Cherwell
c.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Good news from the CRT about the Oxford Canal “we're pleased to let you know that, from today (Tuesday 18th November), navigation will be fully reopened between Claydon Top Lock (17) and Aynho Weir Lock (33) via Marston Doles.” More details on their website

#OxfordCanal #WaterShortage #UKCanals
November 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
One year ago today I set off on my first cruise on the Grey Wagtail. I was moving it from the Whilton to Cropredy Marina. I can’t believe it’s been a year and that I attempted such a journey for my first cruise. #WhiltonMarina #Cropredy #GrandUnion #UKCanals
A narrowboat moored along a quiet, tree-lined canal in autumn. The boat’s bow is decorated with red, white, and black diamond patterns, and fallen leaves cover both the towpath and the water’s surface. A person wearing a purple jacket stands on the towpath beside the boat, surrounded by golden and green foliage.
October 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
nbgreywagtail.com
The Claydon Lock Flight and the closed locks down to Lock 33, Aynho Weir Lock, on the Oxford Canal are due to open today for a week. Good luck to all who are trying to get through them. #LockClosures #ClaydonFlight #OxfordCanal #UKcanals

canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/0198...
Lock 17 Claydon Top Lock to Lock 33 Aynho Weir Lock
canalrivertrust.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 7:55 AM
nbgreywagtail.com
Good to see on the canals.

#rain #OxfordCanal #UKCanals #Cropredy
A brown duck rests on a wooden pontoon above the water on a rainy day, with ripples visible on the canal surface. Behind the duck, a green narrowboat with black hull and cream-framed windows is moored, creating a calm and peaceful canal scene.
October 20, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by NB Grey Wagtail
vickyoutenphoto.bsky.social
Grey wagtail

linktr.ee/vickyouten...

🪶🦉 #birds #wildlife #ukwildlife #nature #photography #ThePhotoHour #vickyoutenphoto #greywagtail
September 25, 2025 at 7:00 AM
nbgreywagtail.com
One year ago today I met the Grey Wagtail #UKCanals #Narrowboat
A smiling man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, glasses, and a T-shirt that reads “Life, the Universe and Everything” stands at the tiller of a red narrowboat named Grey Wagtail. The boat’s side panel is painted with traditional signwriting, showing the registration number and “Grand Union Canal.” A bright orange lifebuoy rests on the roof. The canal water reflects the sunny blue sky, and behind the boat stretches a peaceful rural landscape of green fields, hedgerows, and scattered trees.
September 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by NB Grey Wagtail
knsc.bsky.social
Not a lot happening at Brandon this morning. My 1st Wigeon of the winter, several Egrets and Grey Herons and min 3 Grey Wagtails (Carlton Hide).

#Nikon #photography #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #nature
September 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Good to see. For the first time in months I can open the engine room side-hatch on my boat. Water levels in Cropredy Marina on the Oxford Canal have come up a good 10 inches. #OxfordCanal #UKCanals #CanalClosures
A man with grey hair and glasses leans out of the open side window of a narrowboat, smiling toward the camera. The boat is painted grey with wooden shutters and red paneling. The boat is moored at a marina alongside other narrowboats, with a wooden pontoon leading between them. The sky above is bright with scattered white clouds.
September 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
nbgreywagtail.com
This evening I had a walk along the Oxford Canal north from Cropredy. The Canal is not looking good. Empty locks, some pounds down nearly two feet, dried out lock gates and a feeder canal from the Clattercote Reservoir that’s been dry for months. #ukcanals #UKdrought #OxfordCanal #ClaydonFlight
Broadmoor Lock, Oxford Canal north - A canal lock with closed wooden gates at the far end, partially filled with water, set within stone walls. On either side of the lock, grassy towpaths run alongside, bordered by trees and shrubs. A white ladder is fixed into the lock wall, and a signpost stands on the left bank. In the distance, narrowboats are moored along the canal under a canopy of trees. A close-up view of the inside surface of an old canal lock gate on the Oxford Canal. The weathered wooden planks are covered with algae, moss, and signs of water erosion, with cracks and rough textures visible. Some patches of orange lichen add colour to the grey and brown wood. The image captures the age and wear of the structure, showing the damp, rugged detail of the lock gate. Oxford Canal - A calm canal bordered by grassy banks and open fields under a cloudy sky. On the left bank, exposed tree roots and erosion are visible, while a single tree leans over the water, its reflection mirrored in the canal. In the background, a line of hedgerows and distant trees mark the field boundary, with a stone structure partly visible on the right-hand side. Oxford Canal - An old, narrow canal lock chamber with murky water partly covered in floating leaves and debris. The lock walls are made of worn stone and concrete, with two white painted bollards standing on either side of the entrance. A dry-stone wall runs alongside the lock, separating the canal from the open grassy fields beyond. In the background, trees line the horizon under an overcast sky
August 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
A worrying and sad read… #ukcanals #ukdrought #narrowboats

inews.co.uk/news/canal-b...
Canal boat holidays cancelled as drought brings waterways to a halt
Huge swathes of England's canals have closed due to the drought, as the ageing infrastructure struggles to cope with climate change
inews.co.uk
August 23, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by NB Grey Wagtail
nabo-official.bsky.social
Napton Locks 9-10 and 10-11, last night (photos Duncan Wright). #ukcanals #boaters
August 20, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by NB Grey Wagtail
watfordlocks.bsky.social
Tomorrow Tues 29th, is the last day to get onto or escape from the Leicester Line between Watford Locks and King's Lock, before the total closure of this stretch, until further notice. Locks open on Tuesday at 10am with the last boat through at 2.15pm. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.
#ukcanals
July 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Swan and cygnet alert!! I love seeing swans and their cygnets out on the waterways. An all too rare sight. #swans #cygnets #SwanCam #UKCanals
June 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Feeding time on the Oxford Canal #UKCanals #DuckCam #Ducklings
June 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Not a bad view from the kitchen this evening. #UKCanals #OxfordCanal
A tranquil rural landscape with a calm canal in the foreground, bordered by tall green grasses. Beyond the canal lies a wide open field with scattered sheep grazing. In the distance, a small village with red-roofed houses is nestled among trees and rolling hills under a mostly cloudy sky with patches of blue.
June 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
You are out for a walk along the Oxford Canal and who do you see @onedaymoreaboard.bsky.social
#ukcanals #CanalVloggers
June 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Another day …. Another thing learnt about narrowboats. Started my engine this evening, it immediately died and no power to the electrics panel. Phoned #RCR, they had an engineer on the phone in an hour. He suggested it was the starter fuse. Replaced it. Problem solved. #UKCanals #Narrowboating
June 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Fun day cruising down the Oxford Canal. Great weather. #UKCanals #OxfordCanal
A tranquil canal scene on a clear sunny day, with still water reflecting the lush green trees and blue sky. The narrow towpath runs along the left side, bordered by dense hedgerow, while tall trees and reeds line the right bank. The peaceful atmosphere suggests early morning or late afternoon light.
June 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Great to see the froglets and toadlets emerging from the pond. #toad #frog #toadlets #froglets
A tiny froglet with developed limbs sits in the palm of a person’s hand, emphasizing its very small size. The froglet is brownish in colour. The hand’s creases and texture provide scale and contrast.
June 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted by NB Grey Wagtail
iwa-uk.bsky.social
The climate crisis plus a lack of funding means ageing waterways assets could be a risk to life, finds parliamentary magazine The House. We were pleased to give comment. The story has gone national and has been picked up by ‪@theguardian.com‬ www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Cuts to England’s canal network could put lives at risk, experts say
Ageing assets and lack of funding could mean entire towns and villages vulnerable to flooding, investigation shows
www.theguardian.com
May 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
A very interesting watch.

#ukcanals #crt

youtu.be/IDKfaX1uAes?...
The UK's Canals are in CRISIS. This affects YOU.
YouTube video by Paul Whitewick
youtu.be
May 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Does it get any better than this?
#ukcanals #narrowboat #sunshine #tea
May 15, 2025 at 9:49 AM
nbgreywagtail.com
The May (hawthorn) flowers seem to be particularly good this year. Trees are heavy with them.

#Spring2025 #MayFlowers
A cluster of delicate white hawthorn blossoms in full bloom, arranged along a leafy branch against a backdrop of dense green foliage and ivy-covered undergrowth.
May 12, 2025 at 9:39 AM