Keith McMahon
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mcmahok.bsky.social
Keith McMahon
@mcmahok.bsky.social
Immigrant. Field site manager for the Wytham tit project. Bird ringer. Sports fan. Sometimes gets annoyed by politicians. He/Him
Has there been an irruption of Red Crossbills this year? Second time in a week I've found a small flock in Wytham Woods, having previously seen none in 12 years here. #ukbirding
September 30, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Also masses of acorns and beech nuts on the ground
September 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Quick walk around the woods just now, noticed a commotion at the big old beech. A flock of tits were jumping in and out of the water filled crotch (I believe thats the technical term)
September 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Someone made this and it was 😘👌
September 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Sorry not replying about the book thing, but your dog looks like my old dog (no longer with us), I thought you'd stolen his picture 😂
September 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Haven't had a chance to do much birding in France so far but found a family of spotted flycatchers today and what I think is a middle spotted woodpecker.
August 6, 2025 at 2:13 PM
So far France is incredibly beautiful. Not seen many birds yet. Hoping to catch a bearded vulture or a nutcracker as we head up into the mountains.
August 6, 2025 at 11:43 AM
In France and I don't know what this sign means nor do I care to, all I can think of is this. #got
August 1, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Had a Mere wainscot in my trap the other day. Looks like there aren't many records of this moth in Oxfordshire. #moths #ukmoths
July 15, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Quick stroll to stretch the legs in Wytham woods just now. Lots of Gatekeeper butterflies out and almost stepped on this Dark bush cricket 🦗
July 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Finally had a buff tip in the garden moth trap. Favourite of my 5yr old.
June 28, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Close up of the superb looking lesser tawny crescent- only 4-5mm in length
June 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Horrible night for sleeping last night, but amazing diversity in my moth trap. 255 moths of 45 species. Majority were Bird-cherry ermine and water veneer(all dead, males die once they mate with wingless females). But lots of new species too. #ukmoths #moths
June 20, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Snap, I also had one of the small variety!
June 18, 2025 at 11:08 AM
First small elephant hawk moth for my garden, pictured next to an elephant hawk moth. #ukmoths #moths
June 18, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Another new moth for me in our building at work. A Clay triple lines. Larvae feed on Beech, which we're surrounded by here. #ukmoths
June 10, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The stuff of nightmares. Hen fleas. Sure sign of an empty nest box. Just waiting for something warm blooded to get close so they can launch themselves onto it. Not today, hen fleas. Not today.
June 5, 2025 at 9:36 AM
One of many ticks I've picked off my trousers today. Never seen so many. Despite my defensive operation (all clothes tucked in, tick wash, insect repellent) I'll be amazed if I get out of the woods today without one attached somewhere.
June 4, 2025 at 9:41 AM
New moth for me, on the bathroom window at work. Pretty chalk carpet.
June 3, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Better picture to show the scale of the privet hawk moth. My son's 4 yr old index finger for scale.
May 31, 2025 at 8:25 AM
A herd(?) of elephant hawk moths in the trap this morning, plus the monster Privet hawk moth.
May 31, 2025 at 8:11 AM
One of our breeding females. She's lost practically every feather on her head. Not uncommon in our breeding birds. Could be due to a range of things; stresses and strains of raising a brood, feather mites could be involved too. She'll begin her annual moult soon and these feathers will be replaced
May 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Freeze frame. Record scratch. You might but wondering how I got here.

The eagled eyed among you might notice that there are 2 blue tits in amongst this brood of great tits.
Mini 🧵
May 18, 2025 at 10:56 AM
A rogues gallery of great tits captured today for crimes against research. The offence: breeding without proper ID. They've all been ringed (banded) and tagged (RFID ankle bracelets). They'll now be monitored as part of Wytham tit project. All released under caution. @egioxford.bsky.social #ukbirds
May 18, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Sunrise over Oxford from Wytham woods. Not sure why I bothered with the photo it never looks as good as the real thing.
May 14, 2025 at 4:16 AM