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mikeholley.bsky.social
Birder, and budding Odonata-er. Commonly found across Worcestershire. Often seen in adjacent counties, infrequent elsewhere. Habitat wetlands, meadows, heath, woodland, can occur in coastal areas.
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At least 47 Avocet at The Flashes at #uptonwarren this morning, plus Tawny Owl, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Shelduck. Water Rail and Cetti’s showing at Hen Brook. Best of Moors: 2 Jay, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Lapwing, GSW, Chaffinch flock. Singing Chiffs and Song Thrush across reserve. #worcsbirds #UKBirding

submitted 2 days ago • 3 comments

The Black-headed Gulls at #ladywalkNR took exception to the Egyptian Goose that dropped in to B Pool this morning. The EG put up some resistance, and tried to continue foraging, but eventually gave in to the persistent Gulls. #UKBirding

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Decent morning birding for first visit to #ladywalkNR this year. Notables: Tawny Owl, Kingfisher through, GWE, 3 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Snipe, Water Rail, c40 Lapwing, Egyptian Goose, 5 Goosander (B Pool and river), Pochard pair. 3 GSW. 6 Redwing. General photos. #UKBirding #warksbirds

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Mid-morning walk in the Wyre Forest with Mrs H. We enjoyed cracking views of a pair of very active Dippers gathering nest materials, which they delivered to (presumably) their nest site nearby. #UKBirding #worcsbirds

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Early fog then full sun made for difficult viewing conditions at Grimley this morning. Notables: 2 Oystercatcher on Church Farm, with c120 Wigeon. Best of CLP pools: GWE, 4 Little Egret, 2 Snipe, Water Rail, 4+ Goldeneye, 14+ Pochard. Only 4 Lapwing, on Sling Pool (Holt). 1/2 #UKBirding #worcbirds

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

Two hours around Earlswood paid off with first Treecreeper of 2025. One of the Marsh Tits (presumably the male) showed well, making foraging trips behind Terry’s. Best of the rest - 2 Nuthatch, Jay, 3 drake and 2 female Goosander (Terry’s), Great Crested Grebes in courtship. #UKBirding #warksbirds

submitted 8 days ago • 3 comments

Two of the 20 Avocet at The Flashes at #uptonwarren yesterday. The birds were spread across the first and second Flashes, foraging in small groups of two to five. #UKBirding

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

A cold start and patchy mist at #uptonwarren this morning to kick March off. Notables - Moors: 5 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Oystercatcher, lone Lapwing, single injured Avocet, 5+ Pochard, 6 Shelduck, Kingfisher. Flashes: 20 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Lapwing, 4 Shelduck, Grey Wag. #UKBirding #worcsbirds

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

First visit of 2025 to Slimbridge. Best of an excellent day: Adult and juv Spoonbill, 2 Little Stint, Dunlin and Golden Plover flocks. Good numbers of Redshank, Ruff and BlackWit, Avocet. 10 Crane, soon to be departing Bewick’s and Whooper Swans. Coal Tit (scarce here). #UKBirding #glosbirds

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

This week’s #WaderWednesday contribution is an Avocet foraging in shallow water on The Flashes at Upton Warren Nature Reserve, Worcestershire, on Saturday 22nd February. #UKBirding #waders

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

3 hours at Grimley from dawn - CLP, Church Farm, Wagon Wheel. Notables: Ring-necked Duck still, 7 Snipe, Water Rail, GWE, 8 Little Egret, 3 Goldeneye, 12+ Pochard. Skylarks & Reed Buntings perched and singing, Stonechat. No Lapwing anywhere. Many species in courtship display. #worcsbirds #UKBirding

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

5 of the 13 Avocet now on the Flashes at #uptonwarren getting a little boisterous with each other. Probably the hormones… #UKBirding

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

A foggy start to the morning at #uptonwarren. Best of a misty Moors: 7 barely visible Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, c135 Lapwing, 2 Water Rail, 3 Shelduck, 8 Pochard, Siskin/Redpoll flock. Best of a clearer Flashes: 13 Avocet, 3 Curlew, Oystercatcher, 1st singing Chiff, 4 Shelduck. #UKBirding #worcsbirds

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

3 hours around #uptonwarren from sunrise. Usuals at the Moors, with 5 Curlew, 16 Snipe, Oystercatcher, Kestrel, and Siskin / Redpoll flock on the east track about the best. A Water Rail and a Cetti’s showed briefly at Hen Brook, with a Buzzard through low. Flashes was virtually birdless. #UKBirding

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

No apologies for featuring the wintering Curlew at Upton Warren again for #WaderWednesday. 6 have been present this winter, with 5 visiting regularly. They often forage in front of the Lapwing Hide, providing up close views of this iconic yet threatened wader. 1/2 #UKBirding

submitted 28 days ago • 2 comments

A case of “square peg, round hole” (or round bird, narrow slit) for this Blue Tit at Clowes Wood, Earlswood, Warwickshire today. It tried repeatedly to squeeze into the bat box, presumably as a place to build a nest. After several visits it finally gave up. #UKBirding #warksbirds

submitted 29 days ago • 1 comment

Couple of hours around a grey, drizzly Earlswood this morning. I hoped for a Treecreeper or Goldcrest but no luck. Marsh Tit pair showed well again at the back of Terry’s. Best of the rest: 7 Goosander (Terry’s), 19 Snipe (Engine rafts), 4 Nuthatch, Little Egret. #UKBirding #warksbirds

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments