Great Reed Warbler at Shapwick singing on and off all day but still not seen. Best chance of seeing it seems likely to be 'scoping south from the main path. Best heard from Noah's hide or approaching track but the area the bird appears to be is a screened by trees #somersetbirds

Got a singing Great Reed Warbler at Noah’s hide, Shapwick. Chilly and breezy here, haven’t seen it yet 🍺🙂👍

Here’s an example of LSW young calling from a nest (there were three young not far off fledging in this nest) @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

These 2m and 2f LSW young will fledge in the next few days. Two other Somerset nests have already fledged on Thursday. There will be young calling from LSW and GSW nests over the next two weeks @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social

Great day on the levels with @p-sharpe.bsky.social. Lots of Beardies from the Avalon Hide, 2 Bitterns (one of which gave great perched views near VP2. Later we had brief views of a harrier sp at Westhay which was debated all afternoon!

As usual, a superb days birding at RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath.

@bramberbirder.bsky.social @woodworser.bsky.social Very warm & gr8 day out on Levels. Ham Wall & Greylake. 60+ Species including Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Crane, Hobbies, many Garden Warbs, Cettis, Reed, Willow warbs, Reed Buntings, Marsh Harriers, Grt White Egret, Cattle Egret, Bearded Tit etc. #UKBirding

6 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests have been monitored in Devon and Somerset this year. One failed at the hatching stage, others will be fledging in the next few days, 1-2 weeks early. Young can now be heard calling in nests @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Applications now open for our FREE Young Leaders Course! 🎉 Apply at www.bto.org/young-leaders This residential course is for young people aged 18–25 who want to make a difference for the natural world. 🌳🐦 📆 27-31 July 2026. 📍 Cameron’s Cottage, Hampshire. 📝 Deadline for applications: 22 June.

Migratory bird numbers fall in Britain despite last year’s warm spring

Arctic-bound waders, cross-country Long-tailed Skuas and Fair Isle Bluethroats - find out about that and more in our latest migration blog #ukbirding www.bto.org/our-work/new... Bluethroat, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO

A great selection of flora and fauna out on the Mendips this morning. A lovely walk in beautiful scenery so good for the soul! #somersetbirding #ukbirding

Join SOS for a walk at Hodders Combe, in the Quantocks, this Saturday for some #Somersetbirding A great location for Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler and Redstart. Details on the website: somersetbirding.org.uk/events/hodde....

(1/) Today, we focus on the similar looking sneezy Marsh Tit and wheezy Willow Tit. Marsh Tit declined by 53% across the UK 1995-2024. This has been especially pronounced in Southeast England, where its numbers have dropped by half. @btobirds.bsky.social JNCC RSPB Science

1/ The latest Winter Gull Survey revealed that over the two decades since the last count, the total number of gulls wintering in the UK has decreased from 3.9 million to just under 2.5 million! 📉 #Ornithology #Seabirds 📖 Read the report www.bto.org/WinGSReport#Ornithology#Seabirds

Spotted Flycatcher by Ham Wall RSPB VP2 today. Feeding well despite the drizzle. @somersetbirds.bsky.social

🐝Garden Bumblebees are active April–September. Look for yellow bands on the thorax, one yellow band on the abdomen, and a white tail. Their long face and tongue help them feed from foxgloves, honeysuckle, vetches, and red clover.🌸 Seen one? Add them to your list! 📸 Debbie Frazer (GBW Ambassador)

Great day at Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall today with 6 Bearded Tit, 6 Marsh Harrier, 4 Bittern, 4 Black-Tailed Godwit, 1 Crane, 1 Hobby, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Garden Warbler, and 1 Pochard #SomersetBirds #SomersetLevels

Had a perfect chill out at RSPB Greylake this evening. Loads of Reed Warblers. 6 Different Warblers. Photogenic Common Cranes (4 in total). Bitterns Booming. Yellow Wagtails heard not seen

Back on my #BTO Woodcock Survey square at West Harling after a gap of two years (life was busy!). Pleased with one Woodcock fly past and amazing views of a Tawny Owl that swooped in and perched up close for a few seconds. Surveyed this square on and off since 2013. #NorfolkBirding

A little distant for photos but over the moon to see at long last our first UK Monty’s. Some good prolonged views across Tealham Moor this morning, shared with a good crowd of Somerset birders. #somersetbirding #ukbirding

(1/) Wales’ version of two up, two down has yielded some interesting results: There has been a 10 year increase of the distinctive Stonechat. It increased by 160% 2014-24 across the country. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @btocymru.bsky.social #Ornithology

1 Spoonbill on the Parrett pools, Otterhampton marsh, Steart this morning @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

It’s May, so no more seed and peanuts in bird feeders. BTO Senior Research Ecologist Dr Kate Plummer, part of the Technical Steering Group that carried out the evidence review on which the new guidance is based, sets out the reasoning behind the changes in this BTO blog ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/new...

Montagu's Harrier at Tealham Moor this evening (18 May 2026)

If you take part in the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey on your BBS square, why not consider voting for your favourite butterfly using this post by @savebutterflies.bsky.social? David W from the BBS Team has already voted for White Admiral, but we definitely don't want to influence your vote!

BTO's Garden BirdWatch has a central role in understanding how changes in garden bird feeding are affecting bird populations across the UK. By recording what you see (and what you're feeding) each week, you become part of the evidence. Take part 👉 bit.ly/GBWLogin

Had a female Montague's Harrier less than an hour ago at Tealham Moor

I was lucky to photograph this male Bittern on the Somerset Levels yesterday 😍

Barn Owl at Ham Wall RSPB. They've got some fat young judging by the amount of food they were carrying. Plus a few less Water Voles!

I've tried for years to photograph Grasshopper Warbler. This one today (25 April 2026) along the Parrett Estuary.

Short video of the bittern at ham wall this morning amazing it stayed up in view for so long. But focus isn't great probably just me but also the reeds in front of it could be a reason 🙄. #UKBirding #Somersetbirds.

Today is the May WeBS Priority Core Count! What have you seen on your WeBS site today? #ornithology #birdingUK

Ham Wall early this morning for the savi's warbler, it was reeling away & showed on & off but couldn't get pics. Barn owl and especially this bittern were different. Bittern stayed out in open for 20 mins. Swifts, Bearded tits & much more seen on a very cold morning #UKBirding #Somersetbirding.

The third (and last!) of our videos on submitting records: on breeding evidence, and the standardised codes that are used to define it… S for singing male, NY for nest with young, etc. Please add these to your submitted records to make them as valuable as possible! youtu.be/nYEtKaAH7RU?...

Dead wood! And dying wood. And dead tree stumps that have been loved with a digger and are now spiriting new shoots. Marsh harriers, deer, yellow wagtails, diverse warblers and more down on the Levels sites today. Still too early for most of the flowers and insects but they are coming.

Yeovil Peregrine Update! This week the three chicks were ringed by one of the Hawk and Owl Trust team. Due to the size of the chicks we suspect they are all male also known as tiercels. Ringing is carried out to monitor survival, population and dispersal of Peregrine Falcons.

NEW BLOG, following up our recent video: how to how to submit records of rare breeding birds rbbp.org.uk/2026/05/15/s...

The recommended SMP colony count period for terns is here! As per the instructions of the Sandwich Tern below: Get surveying! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

This weekend is the May WeBS Priority Core Count! Let's go out and count our wetland birds!

Grey Partridge, today near Marshfield

Purple Heron 🤩 We were delighted when our team spotted this Heron out on our Nunnery Lakes Reserve in Thetford, Norfolk this week! What's been your favourite spring bird encounter so far? #NorfolkBirding 📷 Nick Moran

(1/) This Cuckoo wants to tell you that we are now halfway through the BBS & WBBS survey season! Thank you to all of you who have done your Early visit to your square or stretch. Extra thanks if you have already entered your data. @btobirds.bsky.social JNCC RSPB Science

A few of the Shelducks and many more at Otterhampton Marshes yesterday evening, some Avocets chased off a grey heron, Cuckoo, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch.

Want to get to know the bumblebees in your garden? 🐝 Join our introductory online course next week! 📆 Tuesday 19 May, 7pm-9pm. Book here ➡️ bit.ly/_19May 📆 Wednesday 20 May, 10am-12pm. Book here ➡️ bit.ly/_20May 📷 Rob Jaques

Crazy views of Pomarine Skua off Burnham on Sea this evening (13 May 2026).

Honeybuzard circling high over West Coker just now before drifting off NE towards Yeovil, i'll have that as a Coker tick, wonderful bird!!

Afternoon spent on The Blackdown Hills didn't produce the expected species unfortunately, but a Wheatear, 3 fledged Stonechat & a couple Hares were much appreciated. @somersetbirds.bsky.social

(1/) A Firecrest for a Friday! Today, we share trend information about this small but mighty bird species. It increased by 334% across the UK 2014-2024. Read on to find out more about this colourful little gem of a bird… @btobirds.bsky.social JNCC RSPB Science #Ornithology