Dream-pop at its most divine: Cocteau Twins’ 20 greatest songs – ranked! Forty years on from the release of their Victorialand album, we rank the Scottish band’s 20 best tracks, from goth beginnings to weightless masterpieces

The kind of list I can get behind. They really were fabulous.

www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...

A Sparrowhawk feeding on a bird it has caught on a grass lawn

Something of a surprise to find a second Sparrowhawk feeding this morning @robhbirder.bsky.social @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social #ukbirding #bucksbirding

Sparrowhawk feeding on a pigeon on a grass lawn

Sparrowhawk feeding on a pigeon in our back garden this afternoon

High Wycombe:

www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk/birding-in-b...

Exciting sign of Spring in Bucks 🙌Cameras have been keeping an eye on pairs at Aylesbury & High Wycombe for several years now.
The cams for 2026 are now on. Visit the club website to view @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social

Aylesbury:
www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk/birding-in-b...

Photo courtesy of Lynne Lambert

Photo courtesy of Lynne Lambert

Two new barn owl boxes funded by Bucks Bird Club went up today near Marsh Gibbon.These boxes are part of a new farmer cluster on the River Ray. 10 boxes funded by the club and to be installed over 2 years - thanks to all club members - your membership being put to good use 👍👏👏

#ukbirding

Photo by Jim Rose

Photo by Marcus Warden

Don’t forget to keep posting your Buckinghamshire Song Thrush and House Sparrow records on the sightings page - www.goingbirding.co.uk/bucks/birdne...
Unfortunately both species appear to be less numerous than they once were, so this year we would like to assess their current status.

The College Lake Slavonian Grebe - photo by Tony James

Russian Whitefronts - photo by David Bevan

A good morning to be out and about in Bucks. Slavonian Grebe still at College Lake (first in the county since 2021). 43 Russian Whitefronts in the fields just outside Ivinghoe, and two Marsh Harriers at Gallows Bridge. There’s also a Smew in the Herts section of Marsworth Reservoir.

#ukbirding

First time out since joining @patchbirding.bsky.social Above average no’s of wildfowl at Linford NR, esp Wigeon & Tufties. 2 Oycs were - if breeders - very early returnees. Herons nest-building. @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social #PWC2026 #ukbirding

Brilliant write up in British Birds of his local Bucks patch by Bucks Bird Club member @harryswildlife.bsky.social .
It was also the venue for one of our January field trips, led of course by Harry !

The latest sightings reports for September through to November are now up on our website. Some great records, excellent analysis and cracking photos. Well worth a read .

www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk/club-news-an...

Year finishes with 132spp in my 10km circle. A decent total that took alot of hard yards. Sadly v poor for waders (no decent habitat) and the usual declining species hard to find.
Highlights inc this GND, Merlin, Kittiwake, Wood Sand, Whooper Swan, Bittern & White-fronts #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

A quick reminder of our next event.

Dec 4, 2025 7:30 PM

Winter warmer social
St Anne's Hall, Wendover

Our chance to actually see each other face to face! Four speakers with a focus on Bucks birding, with half-time tea and refreshments. Non-members welcome!

‘It explored the spectrum of humanity’: the enduring pleasures of Northern Exposure The quirky early 90s drama ran for 110 episodes, had fans in Joni Mitchell and Bon Iver, and showed one of TV’s first gay weddings. Now, having been forgotten for years, its warm-hearted charms are be...

Random delight, an article about one of my favourite ever TV shows. Criminally hard to find on dvd for years, absent from streaming…until now 🙌

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Still almost defies belief. An Alpine Accentor in Bucks. That was a good day…. #ukbirding
Oh yes, the annual report - consistently excellent!

My home county bird club is now on Bluesky. Welcome Bucks Bird Club!
Please follow for news from our county where the rarities are few but birder’s commitment never wanes #ukbirding

bsky.app/profile/buck...

This Great Northern Diver at Foxcote today was perhaps overdue, but still an unexpected patch mega. Looked very sluggish when I was there, but was seen catching a fish earlier. So hopefully it’s in good health #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

Another super day at Titchwell. 2 1st-w Ring Ouzels in-off at Thornham Pt, Little Gull, Goldeneye & Red-b Merg on the sea, Merlin harassing Skylarks, showy Firecrest, and a big Starling roost to boot #ukbirding

Spectacular Starling passage at Titchwell today, birds piling through at 9-10k/hr all day, right up til dusk. Awesome to see.
Not much other vis-mig - Snow Bunt in off, 100+ Chaffinch, handful of Redwing & Fieldfare. Merlin & Caspian Gull best of the rest #ukbirding

New planning bill could jeopardise UK’s trade deal with EU, ambassador warns Exclusive: Proposed legislation removes EU-derived nature protections as government hopes to boost economic growth

So much for "boosting growth".
All this vandalism will do is leave us with devastated ecosystems, fewer green spaces, worse quality of life, while neither solving the housing crisis (because the problem IS NOT AND NEVER WAS "bats and newts") nor creating "growth".
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Picture of a young Scaup on calm but grey water. Scaups are medium sized ducks. This one is generally a chocolate brown colour all over, with lighter grey or white patches on the back and sides.

This Scaup at Foxcote is my best patch find for quite a while. Follows one yesterday near Tring. After being very rare in Bucks for about 10 years, we’ve had 7 since March 2023. Thanks to @paulgibbs.bsky.social for the pic #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

A Curlew Sandpiper - a small wading bird - feeding on mud. The bird has mottled brown wings, a buffy brown neck and head, clean white underparts, and a slim black bill which is slightly downcurved.

A Great Green Bush Cricket resting in the sun on a pavement.

A sunny view of Hugh Town harbour, St Marys, the Isles of Scilly. In the foreground are two wooden benches and a railing. The sea is calm and blue, with multiple small boats moored in the harbour. The sky is almost the same colour as the water, dotted with high fluffy clouds.

A view of St Michael’s Mount, Marazion. The village is in the foreground, white rooftops protruding from thick vegetation. The Mount Is in the middle distance, sitting amongst calm still water. In the far distance is the rocky coast between Newlyn and Mousehole.

Another superb 2wks in autumnal Cornwall. Excellent birding as always, with some modest finds - Pied Fly, Turtle Dove, Curlew Sand, plus Great & Sooty Shear from the Scillonian. Birds eclipsed by two longed-for insects- Monarch & Vagrant Emperor. Until next time, Kernow 🙌 #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

1st-w Turtle Dove, Spotted Fly & 3 Wheatear the best of the birds at a sunny Porthgwarra today. But best of all was a Monarch butterfly batting its way along the coast path, my first ever. Also Clouded Yellow & dozens of Red Admiral & Painted Lady. Glorious #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

Evening photo of St Michaels Mount in Cornwall. A brown pebble beach in the foreground sweeps left, with the mount sitting atop a calm blue sea under a crisp sky which is almost the same colour.

Curlew Sand the highlight amongst a nice group of waders on Marazion beach this evening. Beautiful evening to just sit, chill, and watch the sea #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

Impressive hirundine passage at Marazion today. Birds streaming east in poor weather, about 60-70/min for 4hrs. Mostly House Martins & Swallows skimming over rooftops and skirting cliff edges. No let up until the sun came out #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

Bottom trawling to continue in English protected waters, government rules Defra says blanket ban on ‘destructive’ fishing practice disproportionate as MPs urge minister to reconsider

This is infuriating. What is the point of a Marine Protected Area if trawlers are allowed to keep ploughing it?
Yet again, the government has succumbed to commercial lobbying.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The most influential UK politician of the 21st century.
Which is freaking depressing.

Juv Marsh Harrier at Foxcote this morning. No sign of yesterday’s Wood Sand. Pretty much a whole autumn’s excitement packed into two days! #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

Wood Sand at Foxcote this morning, also 3 Common Sands. Easterlies finally deliver 🙌 #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

A female Redstart perched atop a fencepost in the sunshine, with bramble and hawthorn leafs in the background

Been a slow autumn on patch, but two Redstarts today were worth the early start. Hedges bouncing with commoner warblers, plus a Yellow Wag over #bucksbirds #ukbirding