Tom Bedford
@tombedford.bsky.social
Obsessive patch birder in the Lye Valley, Oxford | eBird reviewer for Oxfordshire | bird surveys for BTO.
Part of a 2024 team that set the current Oxon Big Day record by bike, beating the motorised record 🚴🏼♂️👊🏻✅
Blog 👇🏻
https://www.outofthebluesky.co/?p=5909
Part of a 2024 team that set the current Oxon Big Day record by bike, beating the motorised record 🚴🏼♂️👊🏻✅
Blog 👇🏻
https://www.outofthebluesky.co/?p=5909
-3° in the Lye Valley, Oxford, this morning, but wintering warblers were the highlight. A record winter count of 6 Blackcaps, plus 2 Chiffchaffs, were present. Pyracantha berries were most popular with the Blackcaps.
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding
#oxford #ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding
#oxford #ukbirding
November 20, 2025 at 12:19 PM
-3° in the Lye Valley, Oxford, this morning, but wintering warblers were the highlight. A record winter count of 6 Blackcaps, plus 2 Chiffchaffs, were present. Pyracantha berries were most popular with the Blackcaps.
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding
#oxford #ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding
#oxford #ukbirding
Bringing the Birds of the Lye Valley to the people of Headington Quarry, Oxford, this evening. Great to share pictures and stories about local birds with so many interested people. I’m repeating this talk in January, watch this space!
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding #headington #Oxford
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding #headington #Oxford
November 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Bringing the Birds of the Lye Valley to the people of Headington Quarry, Oxford, this evening. Great to share pictures and stories about local birds with so many interested people. I’m repeating this talk in January, watch this space!
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding #headington #Oxford
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchbirding #headington #Oxford
Finally caught up with the Kingfisher that has been visiting the Lye Valley top ponds. Also a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs are still hanging on into November in the Lye Valley woods.
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
#OxonBirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
#OxonBirding
November 3, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Finally caught up with the Kingfisher that has been visiting the Lye Valley top ponds. Also a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs are still hanging on into November in the Lye Valley woods.
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
#OxonBirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
#OxonBirding
If you are in the Oxford area next Thursday, I’m giving a talk on the birds of the Lye Valley area. It’s a multimedia presentation (pictures and calls!) covering the resident and migratory birds recorded in this part of the city. See you there!
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
October 28, 2025 at 9:40 PM
If you are in the Oxford area next Thursday, I’m giving a talk on the birds of the Lye Valley area. It’s a multimedia presentation (pictures and calls!) covering the resident and migratory birds recorded in this part of the city. See you there!
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#Oxonbirding
#Oxford
Comet Lemmon was visible between the clouds over Headington, Oxford this evening. Pictures taken on my phone, through my birding ‘scope.
#CometLemmon #Oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
#CometLemmon #Oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Comet Lemmon was visible between the clouds over Headington, Oxford this evening. Pictures taken on my phone, through my birding ‘scope.
#CometLemmon #Oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
#CometLemmon #Oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
Twite is a rare bird in Oxfordshire, the last being in November 2011. News of two birds at Farmoor late afternoon led to mad dash out to the reservoir on the bike, but great views in fading light and rain
#Oxonbirding
#UKbirding
#Oxonbirding
#UKbirding
October 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Twite is a rare bird in Oxfordshire, the last being in November 2011. News of two birds at Farmoor late afternoon led to mad dash out to the reservoir on the bike, but great views in fading light and rain
#Oxonbirding
#UKbirding
#Oxonbirding
#UKbirding
Mostly cloudy in Oxford, but a brief glimpse of the lunar eclipse over Headington this evening, the Earth’s shadow covering the right-hand side.
#lunareclipse
#oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
#lunareclipse
#oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Mostly cloudy in Oxford, but a brief glimpse of the lunar eclipse over Headington this evening, the Earth’s shadow covering the right-hand side.
#lunareclipse
#oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
#lunareclipse
#oxford
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
The first Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn arrived on Warneford Meadow, Oxford, this morning. This is the equal earliest ever, after a bird on 11th August 2022. The latest Lye Valley area record is 30th September, a long migration window here.
#ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
The first Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn arrived on Warneford Meadow, Oxford, this morning. This is the equal earliest ever, after a bird on 11th August 2022. The latest Lye Valley area record is 30th September, a long migration window here.
#ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
It might depend on when you were watching! If you have an X account, check out our (now abandoned) Birds of the Tour de France account. Think I recall there were video clips of Black Kite, Griffon Vulture and Honey Buzzard posted from last year’s coverage.
#BirdsOfTheTDF
#BirdsOfTheTDF
July 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
It might depend on when you were watching! If you have an X account, check out our (now abandoned) Birds of the Tour de France account. Think I recall there were video clips of Black Kite, Griffon Vulture and Honey Buzzard posted from last year’s coverage.
#BirdsOfTheTDF
#BirdsOfTheTDF
Trying to identify birds on the Tour de France coverage usually involves looking for birds flashing by or for soaring raptors.
Until today! Stage 3 saw an extended discussion about a nearby bird reserve, plus Common Terns, Little Egrets etc on screen!
#birdsoftheTourdeFrance
#ukbirding
#birdsontv
Until today! Stage 3 saw an extended discussion about a nearby bird reserve, plus Common Terns, Little Egrets etc on screen!
#birdsoftheTourdeFrance
#ukbirding
#birdsontv
July 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Trying to identify birds on the Tour de France coverage usually involves looking for birds flashing by or for soaring raptors.
Until today! Stage 3 saw an extended discussion about a nearby bird reserve, plus Common Terns, Little Egrets etc on screen!
#birdsoftheTourdeFrance
#ukbirding
#birdsontv
Until today! Stage 3 saw an extended discussion about a nearby bird reserve, plus Common Terns, Little Egrets etc on screen!
#birdsoftheTourdeFrance
#ukbirding
#birdsontv
This really is a tiny reedbed, amazing it can pull in a Reed Warbler in the city 🙂
June 28, 2025 at 8:03 AM
This really is a tiny reedbed, amazing it can pull in a Reed Warbler in the city 🙂
Even managed the classic image of a pin-sharp reed 👌🏻
June 28, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Even managed the classic image of a pin-sharp reed 👌🏻
Patch mega! A singing Reed Warbler in urban Oxford, in the tiny patch of reeds in Churchill Meadow this morning. Only my second record (and the patch 4th) in 7 years.
#patchgold #patchbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchgold #patchbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
June 28, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Patch mega! A singing Reed Warbler in urban Oxford, in the tiny patch of reeds in Churchill Meadow this morning. Only my second record (and the patch 4th) in 7 years.
#patchgold #patchbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchgold #patchbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
The Lye Valley area of Oxford was full of young fledged birds this morning:
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Winning the numbers competition was Eurasian Jackdaw, with a record patch count of 136 birds, about half of which were juveniles
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Winning the numbers competition was Eurasian Jackdaw, with a record patch count of 136 birds, about half of which were juveniles
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding
June 21, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The Lye Valley area of Oxford was full of young fledged birds this morning:
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Winning the numbers competition was Eurasian Jackdaw, with a record patch count of 136 birds, about half of which were juveniles
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Winning the numbers competition was Eurasian Jackdaw, with a record patch count of 136 birds, about half of which were juveniles
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social #patchbirding
Great to meet @anthrobirder.bsky.social today and show him the Lye Valley, as part of his patch birding project:
andrewjwhitehouse.wordpress.com/patch-birdin...
In sweltering 31 degree heat, Oxford probably felt a very long way from his patch at Girdleness, Aberdeen!
#ukbirding #patchbirding
andrewjwhitehouse.wordpress.com/patch-birdin...
In sweltering 31 degree heat, Oxford probably felt a very long way from his patch at Girdleness, Aberdeen!
#ukbirding #patchbirding
June 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Great to meet @anthrobirder.bsky.social today and show him the Lye Valley, as part of his patch birding project:
andrewjwhitehouse.wordpress.com/patch-birdin...
In sweltering 31 degree heat, Oxford probably felt a very long way from his patch at Girdleness, Aberdeen!
#ukbirding #patchbirding
andrewjwhitehouse.wordpress.com/patch-birdin...
In sweltering 31 degree heat, Oxford probably felt a very long way from his patch at Girdleness, Aberdeen!
#ukbirding #patchbirding
An amazing moment this morning, as 4 Crossbills flew from the Lye Valley towards Warneford Meadow, over the Churchill Hospital in urban east Oxford. Constant “chip-chip-chip” flight calls, and huge bills seen! Second patch record ✅👌🏻
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#PWC25 #patchgold
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#PWC25 #patchgold
June 9, 2025 at 10:22 AM
An amazing moment this morning, as 4 Crossbills flew from the Lye Valley towards Warneford Meadow, over the Churchill Hospital in urban east Oxford. Constant “chip-chip-chip” flight calls, and huge bills seen! Second patch record ✅👌🏻
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#PWC25 #patchgold
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#PWC25 #patchgold
This Reeves’s Pheasant was filmed yesterday by runner Julien L’homme (one of the fastest men in the county) on Shotover Hill, Oxford. An impressive burst of speed as the pheasant overtakes Julien, this is the nearest thing you’ll see to a Roadrunner in Oxfordshire!
#ukbirding #OxonBirding
#ukbirding #OxonBirding
June 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This Reeves’s Pheasant was filmed yesterday by runner Julien L’homme (one of the fastest men in the county) on Shotover Hill, Oxford. An impressive burst of speed as the pheasant overtakes Julien, this is the nearest thing you’ll see to a Roadrunner in Oxfordshire!
#ukbirding #OxonBirding
#ukbirding #OxonBirding
Waterways Breeding Bird Survey for @btobirds.bsky.social today. No floods or illegal raves, wasn’t attacked by cows or horse flies: result!
11 singing Reed Warbler is double the usual number, also Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Raven. No Hobby or Kingfisher recorded this year #ukbirding
11 singing Reed Warbler is double the usual number, also Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Raven. No Hobby or Kingfisher recorded this year #ukbirding
May 26, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Waterways Breeding Bird Survey for @btobirds.bsky.social today. No floods or illegal raves, wasn’t attacked by cows or horse flies: result!
11 singing Reed Warbler is double the usual number, also Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Raven. No Hobby or Kingfisher recorded this year #ukbirding
11 singing Reed Warbler is double the usual number, also Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Raven. No Hobby or Kingfisher recorded this year #ukbirding
May 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Accompanying Dave Lowe, who does the BTO breeding bird surveys for the Lye Valley area. The first Garden Warblers for the year and 2 flyover Greylag were the highlights. Needless to say, as soon as I left him, Dave found the second spring record of Reed Bunting for my patch. He’s now banned.
April 30, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Accompanying Dave Lowe, who does the BTO breeding bird surveys for the Lye Valley area. The first Garden Warblers for the year and 2 flyover Greylag were the highlights. Needless to say, as soon as I left him, Dave found the second spring record of Reed Bunting for my patch. He’s now banned.
Beautiful morning for my Waterways Breeding Bird Survey for @btobirds.bsky.social along the River Thame from Cuddesdon. 2 Goosander were a surprise, good numbers of Reed and Sedge Warblers singing, plus Cuckoo.
@nickmarriner.bsky.social
@riverthamect.bsky.social
#UKbirding
@nickmarriner.bsky.social
@riverthamect.bsky.social
#UKbirding
April 29, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Beautiful morning for my Waterways Breeding Bird Survey for @btobirds.bsky.social along the River Thame from Cuddesdon. 2 Goosander were a surprise, good numbers of Reed and Sedge Warblers singing, plus Cuckoo.
@nickmarriner.bsky.social
@riverthamect.bsky.social
#UKbirding
@nickmarriner.bsky.social
@riverthamect.bsky.social
#UKbirding
Whilst the Headington Shark is one of Headington’s best known local landmarks, let’s not forget the Headington Whale (in nearby Kennett Road), which is coming along nicely too!
@magnuswdhh.bsky.social
#headingtonshark
#headingtonwhale
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
@magnuswdhh.bsky.social
#headingtonshark
#headingtonwhale
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
April 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Whilst the Headington Shark is one of Headington’s best known local landmarks, let’s not forget the Headington Whale (in nearby Kennett Road), which is coming along nicely too!
@magnuswdhh.bsky.social
#headingtonshark
#headingtonwhale
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
@magnuswdhh.bsky.social
#headingtonshark
#headingtonwhale
@headingtonnews.bsky.social
Project Patch Hoopoe, day 15. Still no Hoopoe.
3 singing Willow Warblers is a decent urban count in the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning
#hoopoe
#patchbirding
3 singing Willow Warblers is a decent urban count in the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning
#hoopoe
#patchbirding
April 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Project Patch Hoopoe, day 15. Still no Hoopoe.
3 singing Willow Warblers is a decent urban count in the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning
#hoopoe
#patchbirding
3 singing Willow Warblers is a decent urban count in the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning
#hoopoe
#patchbirding
April 7, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Despite a cold start in a freezing NE wind, 40 species were recorded in the Lye Valley area (Oxford) this morning. The earliest ever Swallow (by a day) flashed over and Linnet was a notable flyover. More here: ebird.org/checklist/S2...
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
April 5, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Despite a cold start in a freezing NE wind, 40 species were recorded in the Lye Valley area (Oxford) this morning. The earliest ever Swallow (by a day) flashed over and Linnet was a notable flyover. More here: ebird.org/checklist/S2...
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding