Ben Miller

When Twitter was good, it was great for sharing bird news and sightings. But X is now just awful, and I’ve no desire to keep wading through the dross “adverts” on this platform. Like most other birders I know I’ll now only be posting on Bluesky @berkobirder.bsky.social

@DaveOnMyBoat Does Scotland have many Little Swifts to save?

@rbabox They are Roseate Spoonbills

An American Flamingo continues in Volusia County, Florida ebird.org/checklist/S257… Photo: Catherine Green #ABARare #birding

A long weekend in the Rio Grande Valley and south #Texas

The highlight around Tring this morning was a truly spectacular sunrise over a frozen Marsworth. Bird-wise, the five Russian White-fronted Geese remain in fields by Wilstone, and the Black-necked Grebe is still on @college_lake

@britishbirds Little Bunting

‼ WEEKEND QUIZ ‼ Last week's answer: Olive-backed Pipit We seemed to have gotten ourselves in a twist again! Can you tell us, what is the bird?

My walk home from the station this evening has been enlivened greatly thanks to a lengthy stand-off with this Red Fox

@britishbirds OBP

‼ WEEKEND QUIZ ‼ Last week's answer: Brown Booby We hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year? We're back to business with our weekend quiz. Here is this weekend's quiz. What is the bird?

Hawy New Year! Still showing well at Aldbury Church #Hertsbirds

I closed out local birding in 2024 with this BITTERN at roost at Marsworth with @TringBirds, one of 80 species seen during a once around Herts yeaterday. Good birding all in 2025 #Hertsbirds

@Hertsbirds Drake Ferruginous Duck and Fudge x Pochard hybrid

09.00.Fudge hybrid & 33 RCPochard Batchworth lake. RCPochard Bury Lake. #hertsbirds #londonbirds

Common Scoter remains on Startops, Tring this morning #HertsBirdNews

@harshithbirding I’m afraid it’s unlikely I’ll be visiting again to look for it, but I’m sure any news will be covered by @Hertsbirds. Good luck!

@BerkoBirder @Hertsbirds @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK could you keep updated perchance Ben? my birdgudes is acting odd. Thanks if so

Went looking again for the female Ferruginous Duck along the Colne Pits this morning before work, and ended up with this male! On Bury Lake, Rickmansworth #Hertsbirds

@RupertEvershed @Hertsbirds Congrats Rupert! Great effort. Your next target is 154, to beat the 153 I managed in 2022 when I went for it in a 10km around Tring & Berko. Have you added up your self-found? I managed 130 in 2022, and reckon you’ll be ahead of me!

I’ve done it! I reached my 150th species for the year within 5 miles of home. It really is amazing the variety of birds that can be found in such a small radius around #stalbans There’s still time for more too… @hertsbirds #hertsbirds Write-up here: rupertevershed.com/the-blog/and-j…

Blackcap in my #Berkhamsted garden this morning. Hopefully it’s the female back that has spent the last two winters with us

@themarshtit Ohh, red rings on left legs, are they Mike Reed scheme birds?

@ianbennell75 @jahanlon2 @stevedudley_ @Alexander_Lees Yep, found three garden birds in Berko over the years, at two different addresses. This the last one in ‘22. And every single one of them on 27th March!

@jahanlon2 @stevedudley_ @Alexander_Lees @BerkoBirder has had a couple and he’s not a million miles away so yeah some hope.

There are ~23 million gardens in the UK, ~3 million people may go birdwatching in the UK but likely to be only a few thousand people who would notice a calling Yellow-browed Warbler (YBW) in their garden - maybe fewer than there are YBWs. Open the window....

@RupertEvershed @JohnPri52195972 @bglynn500 @hertsessexbirds @Hertsbirds A Hobby SE down the valley over Berko 10am was a highlight here

Good garden #vismig 6.15-8.30am today: 78 House Martins east in 2 groups of 25 & 53, 8 Mipits (E/SE), 7 Pied Wags (all bar 1 west), Linnet, Swallow & 3 Song Thrush south. Also a Raven & Sparrowhawk through. @JohnPri52195972 @bglynn500 @hertsessexbirds @Hertsbirds #hertsbirds

@Matt_MMc @timmackrill @CambsBirdClub @RoyDennisWF @SeaEagleEngland Yes, just north of Whaddon. The field west of the A1198 just north of the Old Barn Shop, flew north over the Flecks Lane junction

@BerkoBirder @timmackrill @CambsBirdClub @RoyDennisWF @SeaEagleEngland I'm very envious as this is very close to me, was it near Bassingbourn/ Whaddon ?

Thanks to @timmackrill for confirming the White-tailed Eagle that nearly caused me to crash my car as I drove through in southern Cambs yesterday was G636, one of two wild-born males fledged in southern England earlier this year roydennis.org/category/sea-e…. Amazing!