Don't miss out on upcoming FREE BTO Youth events for young people including at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Thurrock. Book a space at www.bto.org/youth-events #EssexBirding

This month's online talk on Friday evening is a fascinating one about Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Full details at www.ebws.org.uk/talks/jan26 #essexbirding

1/2 A new site for counting for WeBS which I’ve generically called Longdon Heath but is essentially the flooded fields & wet grassland south of Upton upon Severn, site of the recent influx of White fronted & Bean Geese. Also good no’s of wildfowl in winter so important to get the data #worcsbirds

A new year means more breeding seabird monitoring! Watch our recap video for a reminder of the SMP's aims, Key Sites, and how you can find out more/get involved. We look forward to working with you to benefit seabirds this year! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

An exciting opportunity for anyone looking to contribute to the amazing data set generated on the Isle of May every year. A beautiful island and brilliant team!

Back to work today so made my first pre-work walk around East Wretham Heath. Ringmere frozen and few birds around- recorded 21 species, best a pair of Ravens. Stunning morning to be out, -5 and beautifully crisp. #NorfolkBirding

We are returning once again to Hull in 2026 for the City Nature Challenge! Join us & make observations throughout the city between 24th April - 27th April 2026 using @inaturalist.bsky.social. Our project is already up and running - join here for updates: uk.inaturalist.org/projects/cit... 🔎📱

Delivered Bethany back to Uni in Hull today and we stopped for a couple of hours at Far Ings NR. Our first visit here. Pools mostly frozen but lovely walk around and great views of the Humber.

Here's 'Lucy' the Bewick's Swan that we saw at Station Road, Welney today. Amazed to see that Lucy was at Slimbridge on 28th and 29th December and now in the Cambs/Norfolk Fens. Reading colour-rings is very rewarding. zwergschwan.de/karte-sender... #NorfolkBirding

Ten Bewick's Swans at Welney WWT this afternoon, bringing the day total to 91 Bewick's Swans in the Norfolk fens between Feltwell and Welney. Most remarkable sighting of the day was a Jack Snipe on Station Road as we left Welney in the dark! #NorfolkBirding

I am looking at purchasing a new waterproof coat and am tempted by the Paramo Halcon or Halcon 360 but interested to know if anyone has any knowledge on if the Halcon 360 is worth the extra money? #birdinggear

Quick look at my @birdtrack.bsky.social stats for 2025. Up 5 species on 2024. More effort to my patch at East Wretham Heath and to Welney this year. Holidays to Cornwall and few days in Wales, work trip to Scotland and Northumberland. Lots of East Anglian birding.

Stunning sunset to end the day in the Norfolk Broads and marshes. Afternoon at Buckenham Marshes produced the Green-winged Teal, 21 Ruff and thousands of duck. Walked to Cantley Marshes to view 500+ Russian White-fronted Geese.

Wishing our members and all birders visiting Northumberland a bird-filled 2026. If you have outstanding records for 2025 please submit to our county recorder Tim Dean as soon as possible ([email protected]). NTBC are supporting the International Swan Census in Jan - details on website.

Discover what BTO has achieved in 2025 for birds and people ➡️ youtu.be/NDZ96B_tVZM Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year, and helped make our work possible. 💚

Last visit of the year to East Wretham Heath - 23 species, highlight 3 Shoveler, 42 Teal. Ringmere mostly iced over. Hoping for 3 things next year - water in Langmere, NWT to tackle Birch saplings by Fenmere and some good birds! #NorfolkBirding

Productive birding in the Norfolk Fens with 6 Tundra Bean Geese, 14 Russian White-fronted Geese, 19 Bewick's Swans on Methwold Fen. Also 2 Tundra Beans and 5 Bewick's Swans on Southery Fen. Over 1000 Whooper Swans in the fields. #Norfolkbirding

Another Welney super sunset. Good birding again with thousands of birds to look through. Distant goose flock beyond Lady Fen had 9 Tundra Bean Geese, 50+ Russian White-fronted Geese and 7 Barnacle Geese. Also 3 Pinks a bit closer. #NorfolkBirding

Merry Christmas to you all! Hope you have a lovely day with family and friends. Good birding if you're out and about.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from the BBS Team at BTO HQ! We hope you get an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the wildlife in your local area over the course of the festive season. See you in 2026! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology

With colder temperatures and easterly winds we are starting to see some arrivals of White-fronted Geese and Tundra Bean Geese, as well as the smart Smew. Numbers of Smew wintering in the UK fell by 84% between 1996/97 and 2022/23 #ukbirding Smew, by Graham Catley / BTO

Water levels up at WWT Welney yesterday. 17 Cattle Egret, 3 Goldeneye, over 5000 gulls roosted. Water Pipit seen on the 19th. Thousands of duck to scan through. #NorfolkBirding

Similar to Goldcrest, Wren is very susceptible to cold winters. It is also able to recover quite quickly after a population decline, as it can have more than one brood in a year and it typically lays around five eggs in a clutch. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

1/ Can you help us count Bewick's and Whooper Swans for the International Swan Census on 17-18 January 2026? 🦢 Visit the vacant site map to request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/pub... #Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

Our new festive BTO blog post looks back at BTO Christmas cards across the years. Grab yourself a cuppa (or a mulled wine), sit back and enjoy.🎄☃️❄️ www.bto.org/our-work/new... #ornithology

We were passing through King's Lynn on Christmas present delivery duties so popped into South Wootton flood and was surprised to see the Whinchat in the field at the south end. First one I've seen in December. Shame the light was so dire! #NorfolkBirding

Nuthatch has increased markedly across the UK in recent years. It increased by 110% across the UK between 1995 and 2023. It is also now regularly seen in Scotland. It is often found around Oak trees, and can be very vocal at times. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

This artwork featuring Robins is by renowned wildlife artist Robert Gillmor, and is signed here with the pseudonym 'Gerry Prin'. The artwork featured on the back cover of the Annual Dinner menu from the BTO Conference at Swanwick in 2000. Today it is held safely in BTO's Archives. #NationalRobinDay

A day at Abberton Res birding with Pete and a good friend. As always, over-whelming numbers of waterbirds to scan through. We saw six Smew (2 drakes, 4 redheads), Lesser Scaup, 10 Greater Scaup, 2 Slavs, 3 Common Scoter. Couldn't find the Little Stints. Beautiful light. #Essexbirding

Last orders: the Alula Elves are accepting final orders for priority UK shipping up to midnight Friday 19th. #BirdArt #ByBirdersForBirders

That's a great opportunity to hear some fantastic talks for free

Join BTO Youth for a Young Birders Walk at @rspbengland.bsky.social Rainham Marshes! Book a FREE space ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/eve... Enjoy a guided walk, learn bird ID tips & discover BTO surveys including @webs-gsmp.bsky.social 🪶 Open to beginner birders, but any level welcome! #EssexBirding

1/🧵 New analysis gives a total wintering waterbird population estimate in Great Britain of 12.8 million individuals. 🦢 This is for 2017/2018 to 2022/2023 & the total is unchanged from the previous estimate, however there have been notable shifts including ⬇️ #Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

With their distinctive call, yellow-tipped bill, and large size, Sandwich Terns are an unmistakable UK breeding seabird—but by late summer they migrate to West Africa, where they'll spend the winter! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

🦉 Spring Volunteers Wanted at Spurn! Live on site, help monitor migration & carry out daily surveys. Strong bird ID (sight & sound) essential. Apply by 11 Jan 👉 forms.gle/9u4X65F4Vn5M... ▶️ spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/were-re...

New #PECBMS update! The Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme gathers data from monitoring schemes across Europe on breeding bird populations. BTO contributes data through @bbs-birds.bsky.social and the Waterways Breeding Bird Survey.

The Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme has published 2025 update on indices and trends! Unfortunately, it still shows an overall decline in common birds breeding in Europe, with the most pronounced decline among farmland species. Read more about the new update: pecbms.info/what-is-new-...

Acoustic monitoring for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers - LesserSpotNet is fully involved with this excellent initiative being developed by BTO which is all positive for the conservation of LSWs

Where to now?! A number of seabirds covered by the SMP are migratory, spending the winter away from the UK. Storm Petrels are a great example, wintering off the coast of southern Africa in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

1/ The Scottish Bird indicators are out now! These data – a lot from @bbs-birds.bsky.social from 1994-2024, show how birds in Scotland are faring in different habitats. Woodland birds are doing comparatively well, whereas upland birds are in decline. www.nature.scot/doc/official...

Would you like to feed your January WeBS count into the International Swan Census? If you would like to count for the ISC at your WeBS site, please email us at [email protected] to get involved. 🦢 📷Sarah Kelman/BTO @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social #UKBirding

You'll grouse if you're not swift about it. Last orders for Alula Designs for standard UK delivery (16th December), first class (19th) and priority (21st). aluladesigns.co.uk/ #ByBirdersForBirders

Really enjoyable second visit for the Winter Bird Survey on my @bbs-birds.bsky.social square in Thetford Forest. First transect was packed with Blackbirds, Redwings and many Crossbills over. Second transect through the coniferous forest was much quieter, mainly Coal Tits!

📰'Overwinter population estimates of waterbirds in Great Britain' has been published in @britishbirds.bsky.social, using WeBS & GSMP data from 2017/2018 to 2022/2023 to provide a total wintering waterbird population estimate of 12.8 million individuals. Abstract ⬇️ www.bto.org/our-work/sci...

The new update to the BirdTrack app introduces several features aimed at helping us collect accurate bird data and alert you to those slip of the finger data entry errors #ukbirding

Portland Harbour North is now a vacant Wetland Bird Survey site. If there are any local birders willing to take it on, a couple of hours one Sunday morning a month. Then please let me know. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

The International Swan Census is nearly here! UK coverage looks strong, but key Whooper/Bewick's sites still need volunteers for 17–18 Jan 26. If you can help, please reach out to @btobirds.bsky.social. Check map for vacant sites lnkd.in/eWqWm7GW Thanks to all who are taking part! Photo: Ben Andrew

We’ve had a few finches, now it's time for the UK’s only resident member of the accentor family, the Dunnock! This species is the ultimate skulker. It is one of several woodland species to have declined across the UK in recent years. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social