You can catch me & my sister Sarah on BBC1 - The One Show tonight! 🌻🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🏡 #butterflies #conservation

We have been praying for better weather this year after the #ButterflyEmergency was declared by @savebutterflies.bsky.social last year! It’s early days but was nice to record 34 butterflies along our recording transects today: 25 Peacock 6 Comma 2 Small Tortoiseshell 1 Holly Blue 😎

It’s always fascinating on the farms when the seasons are turning! Most of our wintering finch & bunting left last week. This morning there were 600+ birds, mainly passing migrants with an increasing element of returning local breeders It’s always nice to see Treecreeper & Grey Wagtail 😎

After 2024’s #ButterflyEmergency I make no apologies at all for sharing 3 of the 6 Comma butterflies (3rd species of ‘25) @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social today! All 6 were in Countryside Stewardship habitat along 7.75 km of transects! I also love Colts-foot so added some of it for variety 😂

It’s always fascinating on the farms when the seasons are turning! Most of our wintering finch & bunting left last week. This morning there were 600+ birds, mainly passing migrants with an increasing element of returning local breeders It’s always nice to see Treecreeper & Grey Wagtail 😎

Polite request Please DO NOT publicise details or images of scarce, persecuted or vulnerable breeding birds Enjoy your find, PREVENT unnecessary disturbance & report as sensitive to county recorder but DON’T put birds at risk that may be ON OR TRYING to establish a breeding territory

Spring’s arrived @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social with frogspawn, Chiffchaff & Brimstone 550 Linnet & 250 Chaffinch are on crop aftermath & supplementary feed Reed Bunting passage peaked at 15 earlier this week I’m looking forward to leading butterfly walks with Halesowen WI this year 🦋

Stonechat were infrequent passage birds here before we started Countryside Stewardship work! How things change! A day later than 2024’s record-breaker (9) there were 8 Stonechat on the farms today Breach is the stronghold for Yellowhammer so it’s great to see numbers building at Oatenfields too

That’s my Christmas money spent! Another fantastic piece by @stevelilart.bsky.social in support of @bosfonline.bsky.social. Great artwork for a great cause, many thanks to @chris4patches.bsky.social @brumbiosphere.bsky.social and all the other partners and supporters for their hard work👌

The wetter, milder conditions have reduced finch & bunting numbers on the farms to below 1,000 but it was great to see 30+ Yellowhammer & 7+ Reed Bunting today C200 Redwing & 3 Little Egret at Bibbey’s Hollow were notable We have a 2nd RN Parakeet nest site! 😳 The Dingles are awakening! 😎

Good to see so many birds feeding on supplementary feed @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social this weekend with a decent number of Linnet ringed along with several Dunnock. Shows how important it is to give Farmland birds a helping hand during the hunger gap.

Sunday book review: The Farming for Nature Handbook by Hart, Barry and Dunford. Review: markavery.info/2025/02/02/s... Published in Ireland but very UK-relevant. ‘Farming for nature can be addictive!’ @linesmartin.bsky.social @chris4patches.bsky.social #farming #nature #ireland #naturewriting

Linnet seen at Seth Somers Park, Halesowen West Midlands UK. Larger flock feeding on @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social on the crop. 29-01-25 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon

The Pixfra Sirius S650D has an OPTICAL ZOOM to deliver the best of both worlds, because it can switch from a 25mm, super-wide field of view for efficient detecting to 50mm with one of the biggest magnification available in hand-held thermal spotter. See it in action here: youtu.be/dXH6u-Pm8eg?...

More Long Tailed Tits. Can't resist!! Their nests are a thing to behold! In the garden - Birmingham UK - 12-01-25 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon

The snow has brought a further influx of finch and bunting with 1,514+ present on the farms this morning! 893+ Linnet 500+ Chaffinch 40 Goldfinch 23 Yellowhammer 20 Siskin 15 Greenfinch 10 Redpoll 8 Reed Bunting 4 Bullfinch 1 Brambling If another 150 birds arrive then it will set a new record

Finch & Bunting numbers continue to rise on the farms with the latest cold spell 1,304 present today: Linnet 750 Chaffinch 450 Goldfinch 50+ Greenfinch 15+ Yellowhammer 14 Siskin 10 Redpoll 5 Reed Bunting 5 Bullfinch 4 Brambling 1

How even just 15 minutes in nature can boost your wellbeing

Buzzard - one of a pair flying around the fields of Frankley Worcestershire UK - 30-12-24 #birds #ornithology #ukbirding #ukwildlife #uknature #nature #photooftheday #canon #worcestershire #photography

It was great to record 10 species of finch & bunting at Oatenfields today whilst topping up the feeding stations there and planning for 2025 It was also good to see that Yellowhammer numbers have risen to 15+ after a poor autumn 20+ Siskin 10+ Redpoll 5 Reed Bunting Brambling #BrumBiosphere

A Xmas present from West Midlands BC should reach members over the holidays. The latest copy of Comma magazine will be sent out next week. Full of articles about what's happening regionally in the world of butterflies & moths and details of events & activities planned for 2025.

This time last year 2023 - Female Reed Bunting seen at @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social Hunnington, North Worcestershire UK #birds #nature #ornithology #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #canon #photography #birdphotography

It was great to record 1,139 finch & bunting on the farms today: 500 Chaffinch 465 Linnet 140 Goldfinch 14 Greenfinch 10 Yellowhammer 5 Reed Bunting 4 Bullfinch Brambling Female Stonechat “XC” (WestMids) and a pair (Worcs) remain. Also male Goosander south, Little Egret & 38 Meadow Pipit

Robin, our latest Webs Count volunteer :)

Fabulous morning @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social ringing on the supplementary feed. Resulted in 34 new birds, 26 of them being Linnet, as well as Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Blue and great tit in the mix. Great to see birds having support through the winter.

We’re proud to be part of the #BrumBiosphere We’ll be working with 300 other farmers & land owners to restore nature and feed it into the city along its green & blue wildlife corridors You can find out more, pledge your support and buy artwork here: team4nature.co.uk/brum-biosphere

One or two Linnets!! Taken on @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social near Romsley Worcestershire UK on December 18th last year (2023). #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #photography #canon #birdphotography

A local farm @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social specialises in nature friendly farming and plants a bird food crop alongside their normal business. Recent count of nearly 300 chaffinch along with 350+ Linnet. Fantastic to see Dave. Great work going on there.

Who you looking at!! Face to face with a Blue Tit in the garden on a gloomy day. Bartley Green Birmingham UK - 03-12-24 #birds #ukbirding #ukwildlife #uknature #nature #ornithology #photography #canon

Linnet - seen at @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social nera Halesowen West Midlands UK - 02-12-24 #birds #ukbirding #ornithology #ukwildlife #nature

Not many of these about! In amongst a large flock of Linnet and Chaffinch on @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social - Brambling seen near Halesowen West Midlands 02-12-24 #birds #ukbirding #ukwildlife #uknature #nature #photography #canon #ornithology

Fantastic morning @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social ringing with @chris4patches.bsky.social 29 Linnet, 1 Dunnock and a single Wren. Dunnock often overlooked but are absolute stunners as the picture shows ❤️

It was great to welcome Jess Stuart-Smith & @fergh.bsky.social @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social back today - more on that later 👌 There’s now 8+ Reed Bunting on site and 650+ Linnet & Chaffinch with a Brambling amongst them @chris4patches.bsky.social followed a Kingfisher along the Stour afterwards 😎

@Chris4Patches had a fabulous session today monitoring post-thaw habits of finch & bunting on the farms (predictably off the supplementary food & onto crops, paddocks & dingles) The Merlin was seen again, this time at Breach Also 2 Snipe, 350+ Linnet, 290+ Chaffinch & plenty of portly Greenfinch!

A short visit to @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social last night for our 1st thermal survey of the season here, saw us add a new Jack Snipe to our DNA project, a Skylark and redwing also ringed. Woodcock, Common Snipe also seen.

We really enjoyed joining BCC Park Rangers Simon & Teresa for a walk from Eliot Street Park to Salford Park, via the canals beneath Spaghetti Junction. @chris4patches.bsky.social brought the journey to life with his brilliant insights into the birdlife thriving in the heart of Brum!

Half a Woodpecker!! A very shy Great Spotted! Back garden Birmingham UK - 20-11-24 #birds #ukbirding #ornithology #nature #uknature #ukwildlife #canon #woodpeckers

Hello everyone, we're on bluesky!

A cold morning for a meeting with @severnriverstrust to discuss, rivers, birds and habitat. Fantastic to see how @chris4patches.bsky.social is bringing landowners and partners together to make a real difference.

A Lesser Grey Shrike taxidermy. One of the Hastings rarities in Birmingham Museums collection

960+ finch & bunting were on the farms this morning: Linnet 565 Chaffinch 350 Goldfinch 20 Greenfinch 15 Yellowhammer 5 Reed Bunting 4 Brambling 1 4 Stonechat have also arrived on site to hopefully keep “XC” company Also all 4 #BrumBiosphere Birds of Prey (Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk)

Edgbaston res. 11.40 10 (ten) KITTIWAKE 6 of the ten below! #ukbirding

www.theguardian.com/environment/... Extreme weather are wreaking havoc on farm incomes, and unfair trade deals undercut UK farmers. We need fairer prices & proper support for the public goods we deliver - like flood defences & habitats. Food security and protecting nature go hand in hand

The reason it occassionally goes quiet in the garden! Female Sparrowhawk - Bartley Green Birmingham UK #birds #ukbirding #UKwildlife #UKnature #nature #canon

More @btobirds.bsky.social science @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social : Linnet numbers still low after fireworks with 355 today. Some are ringed so looking forward to exploring this with @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social Parakeet are on former Stock Dove territory already Stonechat “XC” is still on her own

More @btobirds.bsky.social science @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social : Linnet numbers still low after fireworks with 355 today. Some are ringed so looking forward to exploring this with @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social Parakeet are on former Stock Dove territory already Stonechat “XC” is still on her own

Long Tailed Tit - Illey Meadows, North Worcestershire UK - 14-11-24 #birds #ornithology #ukbirding #nature #canon

We now have a follower for every acre of our farms! And 300 is our lucky number! MASSIVE THANKS to everyone that is following our journey We have a load of exciting developments to share over the coming weeks to help farmland birds and take our work beyond the farm gates so please “stay tuned” 😎

I’m in Brussels discussing reporting climate change and meeting colleagues from across Europe. It’s really interesting stuff. So useful having a chance to stand back and assess.

The finch flocks are building nicely on the farms with 551+ Linnet 140+ Chaffinch 25+ Greenfinch and 1st Brambling of the autumn recorded on the transect today Female Stonechat “XC” looks settled and is using the hedgerows as corridors to range across the Worcs & West Mids sections of Breach Farm