Phil Bishop
@philb86.bsky.social
Birder, gardener, wildlife photographer and occasional amateur astronomer
October 13, 2025 at 12:23 PM
First proper bird movements Fairlands Valley Stevenage this morning. Over 150 Redwing west in small flocks. Several Skylarks Pied Wagtails and Song Thrush. Big unidentified finch flock-chaffinch brambling and Crosshill reported nearby.
Also 5 Egyptian Geese, first three Wigeon of autumn...
Also 5 Egyptian Geese, first three Wigeon of autumn...
October 13, 2025 at 12:21 PM
First proper bird movements Fairlands Valley Stevenage this morning. Over 150 Redwing west in small flocks. Several Skylarks Pied Wagtails and Song Thrush. Big unidentified finch flock-chaffinch brambling and Crosshill reported nearby.
Also 5 Egyptian Geese, first three Wigeon of autumn...
Also 5 Egyptian Geese, first three Wigeon of autumn...
Pectoral Sandpiper showed well at Stanborough GP this afternoon. My second county tick in four days, having seen the Red Throated Divers at Tring at the weekend. #UkBirding
October 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Pectoral Sandpiper showed well at Stanborough GP this afternoon. My second county tick in four days, having seen the Red Throated Divers at Tring at the weekend. #UkBirding
Lesser Grey Shrike showed very well this morning at Winterton ##UkBirding
September 28, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Lesser Grey Shrike showed very well this morning at Winterton ##UkBirding
Long awaited by most Herts birders.😄
September 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Long awaited by most Herts birders.😄
Had a good 90 minutes mid morning from the sea watching hide. Had 45+ Sooty, my highest ever total, 4+ Balearic and loads of terns and skuas. Missed the Long Tailed though.
September 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Had a good 90 minutes mid morning from the sea watching hide. Had 45+ Sooty, my highest ever total, 4+ Balearic and loads of terns and skuas. Missed the Long Tailed though.
No sign of the Stork on the way home. Long time since we visited Snettisham and with the tide in our favour it was absolutely brilliant. 82 sp in total, including Titchwell which was a bit quiet. Great to bump into you again as well.
July 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
No sign of the Stork on the way home. Long time since we visited Snettisham and with the tide in our favour it was absolutely brilliant. 82 sp in total, including Titchwell which was a bit quiet. Great to bump into you again as well.
White Letter Hairstreak Chicksands Wood Beds. #butterfly
July 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
White Letter Hairstreak Chicksands Wood Beds. #butterfly
Played a blinding set. Glad I got home in time to see it.
June 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Played a blinding set. Glad I got home in time to see it.
Always felt the Wayland car park was a bit risky, but at least you could still get Willow Tits back then
May 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Always felt the Wayland car park was a bit risky, but at least you could still get Willow Tits back then
Yes, a bit beyond the second viewing mound
April 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Yes, a bit beyond the second viewing mound
Having failed yesterday, the RSPB Ouse Fen Great Reed Warbler is showing very well this afternoon #UkBirding
April 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Having failed yesterday, the RSPB Ouse Fen Great Reed Warbler is showing very well this afternoon #UkBirding
Stayed till 4pm, but gone quiet.
April 25, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Stayed till 4pm, but gone quiet.
I assumed you were still out there when the news came out. Might try myself first thing but have other commitments later in day.
April 20, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I assumed you were still out there when the news came out. Might try myself first thing but have other commitments later in day.
Stroll around Fairlands Valley lakes Stevenage this morning. Third singing Willow Warbler ( only a passage Bird these days).
First two Sand Martins and a single Swallow of the year, but carried on through the cold head wind.
First two Sand Martins and a single Swallow of the year, but carried on through the cold head wind.
April 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Stroll around Fairlands Valley lakes Stevenage this morning. Third singing Willow Warbler ( only a passage Bird these days).
First two Sand Martins and a single Swallow of the year, but carried on through the cold head wind.
First two Sand Martins and a single Swallow of the year, but carried on through the cold head wind.
Fun day in the Fens. Cold start at Deeping Lakes but got the Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret and 1w Little Gull.
Nine cranes at Willow Tree Fen with my first Swallows and House Martins.
Three Garganey on Ouse Fen and finally my first Yellow Wagtail on the Ashwell (Herts) dung heaps.
#UkBirding
Nine cranes at Willow Tree Fen with my first Swallows and House Martins.
Three Garganey on Ouse Fen and finally my first Yellow Wagtail on the Ashwell (Herts) dung heaps.
#UkBirding
April 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Fun day in the Fens. Cold start at Deeping Lakes but got the Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret and 1w Little Gull.
Nine cranes at Willow Tree Fen with my first Swallows and House Martins.
Three Garganey on Ouse Fen and finally my first Yellow Wagtail on the Ashwell (Herts) dung heaps.
#UkBirding
Nine cranes at Willow Tree Fen with my first Swallows and House Martins.
Three Garganey on Ouse Fen and finally my first Yellow Wagtail on the Ashwell (Herts) dung heaps.
#UkBirding
Very warm today, and my first local butterflies this year. Several Brimstones and one or two Peacocks. None made it into the garden though.
Also heard my first singing Chiffchaffs.
Also heard my first singing Chiffchaffs.
March 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Very warm today, and my first local butterflies this year. Several Brimstones and one or two Peacocks. None made it into the garden though.
Also heard my first singing Chiffchaffs.
Also heard my first singing Chiffchaffs.
First clump of frogspawn in my Stevenage garden yesterday
February 28, 2025 at 11:40 AM
First clump of frogspawn in my Stevenage garden yesterday
With the recent warm spell, the frogs are starting to get a bit frisky in the pond. Expecting spawning soon.
February 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
With the recent warm spell, the frogs are starting to get a bit frisky in the pond. Expecting spawning soon.
Expecting cold weather to bring in birds in the garden, but not this 😲
January 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Expecting cold weather to bring in birds in the garden, but not this 😲
And I managed to get 93 of them , a personal best for the site #Ukbirding
December 31, 2024 at 5:49 PM
And I managed to get 93 of them , a personal best for the site #Ukbirding
Looks like a Pochard Tufted Duck hybrid
December 30, 2024 at 3:51 PM
Looks like a Pochard Tufted Duck hybrid
Hopefully will get refound 🤞
December 28, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Hopefully will get refound 🤞
Spent 4.5 hours there . Apparently far fewer birds around (per LGRE) than in recent days, but it’s a vast area and few strayed far from the alders.
It is supposed to be very vocal and can be heard from some distance.
It is supposed to be very vocal and can be heard from some distance.
December 28, 2024 at 3:56 PM
Spent 4.5 hours there . Apparently far fewer birds around (per LGRE) than in recent days, but it’s a vast area and few strayed far from the alders.
It is supposed to be very vocal and can be heard from some distance.
It is supposed to be very vocal and can be heard from some distance.