Phil Bishop
@philb86.bsky.social
Birder, gardener, wildlife photographer and occasional amateur astronomer
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
White Letter Hairstreak Chicksands Wood Beds. #butterfly
July 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
White Letter Hairstreak Chicksands Wood Beds. #butterfly
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
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 😲
Reposted by Phil Bishop
After yesterday's Goosander sighting at Fairlands Valley, today it was a female Goldeneye that turned up. Great find @philb86.bsky.social & Tony Hukin. Species #103 of 2024. @fairlandsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds
December 9, 2024 at 1:29 PM
After yesterday's Goosander sighting at Fairlands Valley, today it was a female Goldeneye that turned up. Great find @philb86.bsky.social & Tony Hukin. Species #103 of 2024. @fairlandsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds
Was intending to stay warm and dry today until I got a call, and managed to get to Fairlands main Lake in Stevenage as three Goosander had dropped in. The female left moments after I arrived but the two drakes lingered for twenty minutes.
#Ukbirding
#Ukbirding
December 8, 2024 at 10:31 AM
Was intending to stay warm and dry today until I got a call, and managed to get to Fairlands main Lake in Stevenage as three Goosander had dropped in. The female left moments after I arrived but the two drakes lingered for twenty minutes.
#Ukbirding
#Ukbirding
Pleased to see female Blackcap in the garden this afternoon. Last month there was a male so hoping they are more regularly seen now I am retired #Ukbirding
December 1, 2024 at 2:27 PM
Pleased to see female Blackcap in the garden this afternoon. Last month there was a male so hoping they are more regularly seen now I am retired #Ukbirding
Reposted by Phil Bishop
Thermal video of Short-eared owl tonight along Wallington road #ukbirding #thermalbirding
November 29, 2024 at 5:37 PM
Thermal video of Short-eared owl tonight along Wallington road #ukbirding #thermalbirding
First snowfall in Stevenage brought in a male Blackcap, two jays, two magpies and a carrion crow along with the usual suspects into the garden this morning
November 19, 2024 at 9:36 AM
First snowfall in Stevenage brought in a male Blackcap, two jays, two magpies and a carrion crow along with the usual suspects into the garden this morning
Lots of movement Fairlands Valley Stevenage early am, hundreds of Woodpigeon Lesser Black Back and Black Headed gulls heading south. Lots of Skylark, finches
Meadow Pipits and Wagtails as well. Best would have been first autumn Redpoll until I found a Hawfinch in the farmhouse Yews.
#UkBirding
Meadow Pipits and Wagtails as well. Best would have been first autumn Redpoll until I found a Hawfinch in the farmhouse Yews.
#UkBirding
October 27, 2024 at 11:44 AM
Lots of movement Fairlands Valley Stevenage early am, hundreds of Woodpigeon Lesser Black Back and Black Headed gulls heading south. Lots of Skylark, finches
Meadow Pipits and Wagtails as well. Best would have been first autumn Redpoll until I found a Hawfinch in the farmhouse Yews.
#UkBirding
Meadow Pipits and Wagtails as well. Best would have been first autumn Redpoll until I found a Hawfinch in the farmhouse Yews.
#UkBirding
Probably last chance of comet C/2023 A3 for some time. Used 300mm f2.8 lens from my Stevenage garden #astronomy #astrophotography #comet
October 19, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Probably last chance of comet C/2023 A3 for some time. Used 300mm f2.8 lens from my Stevenage garden #astronomy #astrophotography #comet
Comet C/2023 A3 tonight from my Stevenage garden. Wide field iPhone handheld, close up using phone on 65mm scope at 35x #astronomy #astrophotography #comet
October 18, 2024 at 6:37 PM
Comet C/2023 A3 tonight from my Stevenage garden. Wide field iPhone handheld, close up using phone on 65mm scope at 35x #astronomy #astrophotography #comet
Comet C/2023 A3this evening from North Hertfordshire. Full moon and increasing thin haze an issue.
Taken with iPhone #astrophotography #comet
Taken with iPhone #astrophotography #comet
October 17, 2024 at 7:31 PM
Comet C/2023 A3this evening from North Hertfordshire. Full moon and increasing thin haze an issue.
Taken with iPhone #astrophotography #comet
Taken with iPhone #astrophotography #comet
Last nights aurora from North Hertfordshire #aurora
Initially very cloudy from 2115 local time, activity suddenly increased from around 2145 and then declined from 2220.
Unfortunately missed the really intense display a few hours later.
Initially very cloudy from 2115 local time, activity suddenly increased from around 2145 and then declined from 2220.
Unfortunately missed the really intense display a few hours later.
October 11, 2024 at 10:39 AM
Last nights aurora from North Hertfordshire #aurora
Initially very cloudy from 2115 local time, activity suddenly increased from around 2145 and then declined from 2220.
Unfortunately missed the really intense display a few hours later.
Initially very cloudy from 2115 local time, activity suddenly increased from around 2145 and then declined from 2220.
Unfortunately missed the really intense display a few hours later.
Autumn arrived Fairlands Valley Stevenage this morning with first Siskin and Redwing. Skylark Meadow Pipit and finches moving through. Also Yellow Wagtail and several Swallows. 52sp including regular Caspian hybrid X307 #UkBirding
October 4, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Autumn arrived Fairlands Valley Stevenage this morning with first Siskin and Redwing. Skylark Meadow Pipit and finches moving through. Also Yellow Wagtail and several Swallows. 52sp including regular Caspian hybrid X307 #UkBirding
Yorkshire delivered today with an amazing array of birds. Pale Legged Leaf Warbler a lifer, Icterine and Arctic Warbler, two Red Breasted Flycatchers and a juvenile Pallid Harrier, not to mention Yellow Brows galore.
Lots of great birders too #UkBirding
Lots of great birders too #UkBirding
September 29, 2024 at 7:29 PM
Yorkshire delivered today with an amazing array of birds. Pale Legged Leaf Warbler a lifer, Icterine and Arctic Warbler, two Red Breasted Flycatchers and a juvenile Pallid Harrier, not to mention Yellow Brows galore.
Lots of great birders too #UkBirding
Lots of great birders too #UkBirding
Spotted Flycatcher Fairlands Valley Stevenage today. First local bird this year of a once regular summer visitor. #UKbirding
September 16, 2024 at 12:12 PM
Spotted Flycatcher Fairlands Valley Stevenage today. First local bird this year of a once regular summer visitor. #UKbirding