Friends of Lye Valley
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friendlyevalley.bsky.social
Friends of Lye Valley
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
900 followers 310 following 2.5K posts
We care for this 14,000 year-old internationally rare habitat, a tufa-forming alkaline spring fen, together with the calcareous grassland of Rock Edge. Headington, Oxford.
www.friendsoflyevalley.org.uk
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tverc1.bsky.social
Want to improve your botanical identification skills and confidence? Try one of the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire #Plant #Identification courses this year:
Education Group - ANHSO
Education Group We started our identification courses with a pilot basic course in 2002. Following on that success we have expanded our programme and hope to expand it more. We have found that there is a great demand for our special offering, a rigorous, scientific approach to species identification...
anhso.org.uk
February 14, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
judywebb.bsky.social
Volunteer work rejuvenating blackthorn scrub at tiny Barracks La Meadow in Oxford to favour egg-laying of the rare Brown Hairstreak butterfly. Site is a hot spot for this sp. but also need to stop blackthorn shoots colonising rich old meadow flora adjacent by digging & tree -popper in good use.
February 14, 2026 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
For @javajanegallery.co.uk's #SmallBirdSaturday, I have a Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) taking a short break from hunting insects in the Lye Valley in Oxford.
#birds #UKWildlife #nature #photography
A small bird with a white chest and tummy, and a mix of light, dark and buff patterned back is clinging to the side of an ivy covered tree trunk on the left of the photo. It has a down-curved thin beak, and a long tail pressed against the tree trunk. The background is a jumble of thin twigs.
February 14, 2026 at 10:10 AM
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
We found a fine crop of Witches' Butter (Exidia glandulosa) on a dead log this week. It's normally darker than this, but perhaps this batch is new? #FungiFriday #FungiFriends @fungiflowers.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social
A dead log supported by a jumble of sticks is covered with thick gelatinous looking brown disks.
February 13, 2026 at 10:42 AM
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
Delighted to spot our first Scarlet Elf cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca) fungi of the season in the fen this morning. Here's two of around a dozen we found.
#FungiFriends #OxfordshireFens #OX3 @judywebb.bsky.social
In the centre of the photo two small cup shaped fungi one above the other. The insides are a rich deep red colour, while the outsides are a paler orange colour. They're growing among leaf litter with chips of old decaying wood and a few blades of green grass.
February 11, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
Inner city #patchgold this morning, with the first Woodcock since Nov 24 in Boundary Brook woods. My 7th Woodcock record in over 7 years, but the first outside of November/December. Perhaps an elusive wintering bird? 🤯

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
eBird Checklist - 9 Feb 2026 - Lye Valley & Warneford Meadow - 37 species
Submitted by Tom Bedford.
ebird.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
A #landscape view of winter #sunlight over Oxford's Lye Valley fen for today's #BlueSkyArtShow theme.
(Or if anybody's lost a star, I've got it! 😀)
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
A view down a shallow valley. There is short vegetation in the foreground, and a boardwalk runs from bottom right and winds its way along the valley. There's a row of bare trees starting top right, and a few trees on the left. Upper centre there's the sun captured as a star burst. There are a few fluffy white clouds in an otherwise blue sky.
February 7, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
judywebb.bsky.social
Try the Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire (FSO) for a start
www.fungusoxfordshire.org.uk
February 6, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
For @robcrank68.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Reflections, here's a Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) looking for insects.
#birds #UKWildlife #photography #EastCoastKin #LyeValley #Oxford @friendlyevalley.bsky.social
A medium sized bird with light grey head, back and tail has a lemony yellow and white chest and tummy. It's facing to the right of the photo, standing in shallow water with its left leg raised. It's almost perfect reflection is below it.
February 3, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
judywebb.bsky.social
Dreich is good for the #fen (lots of rain...) if not people; but tomorrow promises to be the one dry day this week. Wednesday is volunteer day in the valley. Why not visit and chat to us about all the good works for wildlife we are achieving?
rossmackenzie.bsky.social Ross Mackenzie @rossmackenzie.bsky.social · 12d
Dreich morning in the Lye Valley, feels like -3C #Oxford
Lye Valley in the rain Lye Valley boardwalk in the rain Lye Valley boardwalk in the rain Lye Valley boardwalk in the rain
February 3, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
I've shared this photo before, but it seems like a perfect candidate for today's #BlueSkyArtShow. Sunset over Oxford's Lye Valley with #altocumulus #clouds. A #SSSI, it's a 14,000-year-old internationally rare habitat, a tufa-forming valley-head alkaline spring fen. #Landscape #EastCoastKin
The upper part of the photo shows blue sky filled with white fluffy clouds. Low down and to the right the sun is setting, with visible rays coming from it. The rest of the scene is a shallow valley with a boardwalk running from the foreground into the distance. There are trees on either side, and low green vegetation either side of the boardwalk.
January 31, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
This single Redwing was singing on Warneford Meadow, Oxford, this morning, quivering its tail as it did so:

macaulaylibrary.org/asset/649952...

Odd to hear Redwing and Blackcap singing simultaneously! Hazelnut catkins were another #SignOfSpring 👌🏻

@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
Hazelnut catkins Hazelnut catkins
January 31, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
The local Great Spotted Woodpeckers are fully into the aerial pursuit phase of their breeding season. Three birds were chasing each other continually over the Lye Valley area, Oxford, this morning, giving these calls:

macaulaylibrary.org/asset/649848...

@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#UKbirding
Great Spotted Woodpeckers in aerial pursuit (picture from 2022 at the same site). Great Spotted Woodpeckers in aerial pursuit (picture from 2022 at the same site).
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
At least two Blackcaps were in song in the Lye Valley today:

macaulaylibrary.org/asset/649848...

As our wintering birds come from eastern Europe, do these winter singers have a slightly different song from our breeding birds (currently in N Africa)?
#UKbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
ML649848039 - Eurasian Blackcap - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML649848039; © Tom Bedford; Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
macaulaylibrary.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
judywebb.bsky.social
This has been confirmed by DNA analysis as being Cortinarius lividomalvaceus. With oak on a road verge in Oxon. Maybe new to Britain...Hoping to get the verge a County Road Verge Nature Reserve, the first for fungi in county! many other nice woodland fungi here as well #fungifriends
January 27, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
Some winter sunshine triggering ten species into song in the Lye Valley, Oxford, this morning, including the first singing Greenfinches of the year and a very brief burst of Blackcap song (in January!):

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
@patchbirding.bsky.social
#ukbirding
eBird Checklist - 24 Jan 2026 - Lye Valley & Warneford Meadow - 40 species
Submitted by Tom Bedford.
ebird.org
January 24, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
Magpie (Pica pica) displaying its fantastically colourful tail feathers for Rob's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #TailsUp. And to think many people think of Magpies as just being black and white!
#birds #UKWildlife #EastCoastKin #LyeValley #WildlifePhotography
A medium sized bird facing the camera but with its head down is standing on a large old log. Its head and back appear black, though there's a white stripe on the wing and a blue patch at the base of its back. It's tail feathers are slightly spread out and appear as iridescent greens, purples and blues.
January 22, 2026 at 9:48 AM
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
🎵 We're raking in the rain,
Just raking in the rain,
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again 🎵

Despite heavy rain this morning we continued to rake cut material on part of our #SSSI onto drag sheets to build up the soft eroded peat banks of the Lye Brook.
#FenRestoration #OxfordshireFens #OX3
🌰🌍
A man in a light blue anorak, dark blue trousers and a cap is raking a pile of cut vegetation onto a drag sheet. There are many other piles of cut material around him. In the background an area with short vegetation. There are green bushes in the background to the right, and bare trees on teh background on the left.
January 21, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
For @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme today I have a Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) on an old log pile in low #WinterLight in Oxford's #LyeValley. Such restless birds!
#birds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #EastCoastKin
A small rounded brown bird with a short erect tail is standing on the cut end of an old log facing left. It's highlighted against a freshly sawn log showing light wood still covered in bark.
January 19, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
If you are in the Oxford area on Friday evening, I’m presenting a talk about the birds of the Lye Valley area. It’s a one hour multimedia celebration (sounds and pictures!) of some of the amazing birds recorded in this area of the city. All welcome.
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxford #birds
January 19, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
The first Peregrine Falcon in four years was the highlight over the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning. Also large numbers of thrushes, some Siskins and Redpolls and the first Raven of the year:

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
@patchbirding.bsky.social
#ukbirding
Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon (with prey) The Churchill Meadow reedbed, the trees of Lye Valley behind.
January 17, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #raptor, here's another Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) from Oxford's Lye Valley.
#birds #UKWildlife #EastCoastKin #NaturePhotography @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
A medium size bird with brown head, and speckled brown and white chest and tummy is standing on an old small tree stump. It's looking to the left and its eye is in sharp focus. There's a single reed head crossing over the stump leaning to the right. The background is a diffuse mixture of light and darker browns.
January 15, 2026 at 9:14 AM
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
Another freezing cold start for our volunteers today. Spot the scyther in the mist! 🌍 🌰
#OxfordshireFens #FenRestoration #OX3
@judywebb.bsky.social
A view down a shallow valley. Starting at bottom left and leading up through the photo a frost covered boardwalk. Just right of centre in the mid distance a pollarded Willow has branches growing upwards. In the background are some trees mostly hidden by the mist. There's a small patch of warmer sunlight top right in the background. In the mid distance left of centre a solitary figure with his back to the camera.
January 14, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
tombedford.bsky.social
The first drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year is always a nice moment. This is a typical date for the first bird here in Oxford, plus Nuthatch, Starling, Jackdaw etc on the recording:
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/648748...

@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
@patchbirding.bsky.social
#UKbirding
ML648748146 - Great Spotted Woodpecker - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML648748146; © Tom Bedford; Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
macaulaylibrary.org
January 12, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Friends of Lye Valley
drtonygillie.bsky.social
For @robcrank68.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme #MoodyFaces, here's a rather twiggy Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) from Oxford's #LyeValley.
#birds #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #EastCoastKin @friendlyevalley.bsky.social
Just to the right of centre a large bird with a mix of dark and light brown feathers has its back to the camera. It's perched on a horizontal branch with lots of thin twigs growing up. It's looking over its shoulder and its left eye and short curved beak are visible.
January 10, 2026 at 10:08 AM