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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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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
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
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
nbgreywagtail.com
I would say it was 8 to 10. The marina and canal appear to be 4 to 6 inches below where they should be. My well deck gunwale was level with the dock and now I have to step over it.
Oxford Canal - opposite Cropredy Marina - A straight section of steel canal edge piling with a grassy bank behind it, bordered by dense green hedgerow with patches of red berries. The calm, greenish canal water is in the foreground. Oxford Canal - stop planks at the Cropredy Marina. A marina scene with a row of moored narrowboats in the background, including a red boat named “SHARP.” In the foreground, a temporary barrier made of wooden beams, black plastic sheeting, and sandbags stretches across the water near the bank, with reeds and brickwork at the edges.
September 4, 2025 at 1:37 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
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
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
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
nbgreywagtail.com
Great weekend out on the boat. Stunning weather #ukcanals #OxfordCanal #narrowboat
View from inside a narrowboat looking out through the rear hatch over the stern; the tiller is visible in the center, with calm canal water stretching ahead, flanked by lush greenery and a moored green boat on the right; the boat’s wooden interior frames the scene with polished panels, storage cubbies, and a stove pipe to the right. A serene canal scene on a bright day, with a narrowboat cruising toward a small brick bridge in the distance; both banks are lined with lush greenery and trees covered in white blossom, perfectly reflected in the still water beneath a clear blue sky. A narrowboat moored along a peaceful canal towpath, with vibrant traditional paintwork on its bow; the path is lined with lush grass and overhanging trees, while the opposite bank is dense with white-blossomed shrubs reflecting softly in the calm water.
May 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
A toad up date - I popped by the spawning pond today and it was great to see the tadpoles coming on. #toads #tadpoles #frogs #nature #spring2025
May 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Great walk out today looking at bluebells. #bluebells #chilterns #woodland #spring2025
A close-up photo of blooming bluebells in a sunlit woodland clearing. The vibrant purple flowers stand out against a backdrop of tall green grass and softly focused foliage, with dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. A close-up of a rare white bluebell flower standing tall among a field of more common purple-blue bluebells. The scene is set in a lush, sunlit woodland with green grass and leafy vegetation in the background. A sun-dappled woodland scene in spring, with a dense carpet of blooming bluebells covering the forest floor. Tall, slender trees with fresh green leaves let light filter through, casting gentle shadows over the vibrant purple flowers below. A peaceful woodland scene bathed in sunlight, with a thick carpet of purple-blue bluebells stretching across the forest floor. Trees with fresh green leaves cast dappled shadows, creating a serene, springtime atmosphere.
April 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Great to see on the River Thames.

#Narrowboat #FuelBoat #WorkingBoat #UKCanals #RiverThames #NotJustCanals
A traditional working narrowboat named “Merchant” is seen cruising on a the River Thames in Henley on Thames. The boat is painted in blue, black, and red, with signage on the black covered cargo area indicating it provides diesel bunkering and solid fuel for inland waterways services. Residential houses and boathouses line the riverbank in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
April 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
A great walk to see the bluebells… #bluebells #Spring2025 #Chilterns
A woodland scene in springtime, with a dense carpet of blooming bluebells covering the forest floor. Tall trees with fresh green leaves and textured bark rise among the flowers, their trunks leaning at various angles. The undergrowth is lush with green foliage, and scattered fallen branches add to the natural, untamed look of the forest.
April 20, 2025 at 6:50 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
A few weeks ago I published a video on YouTube about some toads migrating to their spawning pond. Today I went back to see if I could see any tadpoles. I was shocked at what I saw. #spring #toads #tadpoles #spring2025
April 12, 2025 at 7:22 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Some photos from one of my trips to Myanmar (Burma). Looking at these makes me wonder how much of Mandalay is left. #Burma #Myanmar #Mandalay #EarthQuake
A multi-story hotel building named “Hotel Mandalay” with large vertical signage and arched windows. The facade is cream and light blue with decorative window awnings. The entrance features traditional Burmese-style architecture with a red-tiled pagoda-style roof supported by columns. Several cars are parked in front of the hotel, and various national flags are displayed on poles nearby under a clear blue sky. Ornate covered walkway in a Buddhist temple, featuring a polished tiled floor and a high green metal roof supported by decorated pillars. The passage leads to a richly adorned red and gold archway, with intricate carvings and traditional Burmese architectural details. People are seated on the floor and walking through the corridor, creating a serene and spiritual atmosphere. Sunlight filters through, highlighting the vivid colors and reflective surfaces. Row of white stone stupas at the Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay, Myanmar, each housing a marble slab inscribed with Buddhist scriptures. The structures are aligned in a straight line along a paved walkway, flanked by trees with green and bare branches. The stupas feature ornate carvings and small golden spires on top, showing signs of age and weathering. The scene is peaceful under a clear sky, with a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. Symmetrical rows of white stone stupas at the Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay, Myanmar, forming a narrow pathway between them. Each stupa is ornately decorated with carvings and crowned with a small golden spire. The structures house marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist scriptures, making up the world’s largest book. The view down the path creates a strong sense of depth and repetition, with the aged, weathered texture of the stupas adding character under a soft, hazy sky.
April 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
You go away for a few days and you come back and spring has arrived. #spring #spring2025 #Bluebells
A close-up of a vibrant patch of bluebells and a few white wildflowers growing beside a rural dirt path, bordered by a wooden fence and hedgerow. The scene is bathed in spring sunlight, with trees and greenery stretching into the distance under a blue sky.
April 8, 2025 at 4:51 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
A few days away. This is going to be good. Sestriere, Italy. #skiing #snow #Sestriere #Italy

w3w.co/jock.mopped....
A scenic view of a snow-covered ski resort with multiple groomed ski slopes on forested mountains under a clear blue sky. Several ski lifts run up the slopes, and snow cannons line the runs. At the base, there are ski facilities, red banners, and a few vehicles, including a white camper van. Two people are walking in the foreground near the entrance area. Sestriere, Italy
March 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Here I am at the bridge that closed nearly three years ago. You can help by signing the petition - chng.it/vd5kL7PTtv

#ThamesPath #EnvironmentAgency #RiverThames
A bridge that has been closed for three years waiting for repair by the Environment Agency. Photo shows a bridge closed off with a metal barrier. The barrier has several weather worn notes on it. Behind the barrier is an unsafe horse bridge that connects Marsh Lock on the River Thames with the bank. The bridge is part of the Thames Path.
March 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
nbgreywagtail.com
Not the usual cause of a traffic jam… #swans #birds #wildlife #trafficjam
Two swans holding up traffic by wandering down a busy A road.
March 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM