With our recent accreditation to become an official Bird Observatory, we welcome a new warden to the island, Simon, as well as a new Bird Observatory Warden Thomas with additional help from Eleanor and other members of the staff. Keep up with the latest socials... lundybirdobs.org.uk/news-and-sig...

After a wet and windy winter, the start of March saw the mist nets back up in Millcombe for the season ahead. A nice warm period last week saw the first migrants arriving back to the island including Chaffinch, Stonechat and Goldcrest. All birds ringed under license and with relevant permissions.

Black-tailed Godwit & Avocet in flight over Brownsea lagoon this am, seen from the @harbourbirds.bsky.social Winter Safari boat trip. Also 2 Spoonbill & Greylag ringed U611 on the lagoon. @wildontheroad.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

@thomasweston.bsky.social 2 Greylag Holes Bay SE from Tony. 10 on Brownsea Friday 20/2, at least 2 ringed but distant

Blustery & chilly Winter Safari boat trip this am with @harbourbirds.bsky.social but still very enjoyable. Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Spoonbills at Shipstal & ringed Greylag (U678?) on Brownsea lagoon. Also 2 distant WTEs. @thomasweston.bsky.social @wildontheroad.bsky.social

Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier and Buzzard in Wareham Channel, and Greylags U257 & U272 on Brownsea lagoon this morning, seen from the @harbourbirds.bsky.social Autumn Safari boat trip. @thomasweston.bsky.social

A juvenile Shag & Fulmar were nice finds by @thomasweston.bsky.social at Severn Beach. Hopefully the first of some decent seabirds over the next few days (Sabine's Gull & Wilson's Petrel have already been seen in the Bristol channel in the last 2 days). The Shag showed nicely off New Passage later.

Juvenile Shag upriver past Severn Beach 1018 now by Shaft rocks. @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @martynhayes.bsky.social @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Shag off Severn Beach drifting upriver @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @bristolbirding.bsky.social @martynhayes.bsky.social

Fulmar currently floating up to the new Severn Bridge before preforming short flights to avoid going under. Tide still rising so presume the bird will spend the remaining hour and a half here. @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @martynhayes.bsky.social @severnsidebirds.bsky.social

Fulmar Severn Beach 0903 @bristolbirding.bsky.social @severnsidebirds.bsky.social

5 Garganey (pic pf all), 3 Spoonbill, 2 Great egrets, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Cranes and more from the Zeiss this afternoon at Slimbridge WWT. @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social @wwtworldwide.bsky.social #Glosbirds

Some of the great species currently on show at Slimbridge WWT recently. The Wood sand on the Tack Piece, 1/2 Spoonbill on the Rushy, the Tundra Bean Goose (first I've seen since Iceland 2023, with previous at Slimbridge one winter long ago), and the Blackwit flock with a fresh Juv. #Glosbirds

Slimbridge WWT south lake highlights from yesterday: Showy Garganey, 1/2 Spot Red, and a colour ringed Herring Gull from one of the local urban areas. Tundra Bean, large Godwit flocks, 1st juv Ruff of autumn and 6 Pochards. @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social #Glosbirds

Crossbills on the move again on the South Coast. Keep an eye out @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social for more! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Lesser white fronted goose of dubious origin at Poole Park today! @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

One of the largest Toads I think I've ever seen was a highlight of my @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys last night on a quiet bog in Dorset. The surveys were made less quiet by the 18 Nightjar territories recorded in what seemed another super active evening on the heath! Amazing.

##30DaysWild Day 14. Look how much they've grown! The greylag goslings are about 4 weeks old now and they've quadrupled in size. Good to attentive parents successfully raising them #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

To find a Heathland Bird Survey area near you visit the map on our website: www.bto.org/get-involved... Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far!

Dorset birders in the Wareham area, if you have a spare 45mins from 21:15 - 22:00 and would like to help the @btobirds.bsky.social record Nightjars as part of the Heathland Bird Survey, then this is the survey for you! Any help is much appreciated. In 10 nights of surveys I had 120 recorded!

29 Crossbill migrating along the Dorset Coast around Lulworth Cove today in three flocks. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Hide and Sika with this one today on the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys. This young one was very cosy and snug in his grassy bed, allowing a quick pick before I retraced my steps and left him to it.

One of many Dartford Warbler juveniles exploring their Heathland habitats the past week. It's great to confirm breeding on my @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys with many more yet to emerge from their nests just yet! Look at those cute faces. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Actually 9 goslings... the ringed pair still have 3! @thomasweston.bsky.social

An evening overload of cute... greylags making their way up the Villa Road 🩵✨️ #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

What a view I had this morning whilst undertaking the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Survey. Not sure how many kilometres I walked today but target species noted, great views all round, lovely weather, butterflies out all over the place, some breeding seabirds, and a cake stop too. #Fieldwork

Correction on the nervous pair previously posted... ring numbers U257 and U272. Out on the lagoon today 🩵 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

U257 and U242 and three goslings. Very wary so had to be quick with the numbers... I think they're correct! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

Two unringed greylag pairs on Church Field this evening. Goslings growing fast! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

Unringed greylag pair and goslings on Church Field, Canada and family, and gorgeous male mute swan out for a stroll 🩵✨️☀️ #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

UO54 and 76 chilling on Church Field... until he took exception to a crow and rushed off to 'sort it' 😅 #WildBrownsea @thomasweston.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

U224 and 279 with their two goslings #WildBrownsea @thomasweston.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Unringed greylag pair with three goslings on the Villa Road this evening 🥰 #WildBrownsea @thomasweston.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Great to hear my first churring Nightjar on @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird surveys today on an undisclosed heath. A tad surprised but very cool nonetheless. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A few really lovely days surveying this week on the Heathlands of Dorset for the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Birds Survey. Amazing numbers of singing Tree Pipits, Cuckoos, fresh Crossbill juveniles, colour ringed Greylags in the forest, WL, DW and more!!! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Today's greylags.... UO54 and 76 have really taken a liking to the Lookout channels 😊 Plus unringed pair on the Villa Road #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

1/⚠️ Blackbirds are in trouble & we need your help! Threatened by the Usutu virus, we need you to submit your garden Blackbird sightings so scientists can better understand the virus’ spread & potential impacts on these songbirds. 🌍 Sign up ➡️ www.bto.org/blackbirds #UKBirding #Ornithology

Another great day on the Dorset heaths undertaking the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys on a phenomenal undisclosed site. Nice to finally find a Hoopoe and another 3 Ring Ouzels spotted by myself and a colleague. More Dartford Warblers too! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

🚨Publication in @globalchangebio.bsky.social by Lameris et al. → Early snowmelt = earlier egg-laying, but only 2 waterfowl arrived earlier. → Over time, most arrived earlier—regardless of snowmelt or laying. → Why? Faster migration: shorter stopovers = earlier arrival. 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/gcb....

A great day of surveys out on the Dorset Heaths as part of @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Survey. All undisclosed sites but another WT Eagle, 6 Ring Ouzel (1 by me, 5 by colleague), a Wryneck (colleague), Redstart, Wheatear, Firecrest and Dartfords showing too! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Bumped into UO76 and 54 on the Villa Rd this morning. These two are such a polite couple... not hissy at all and very photogenic 🩵😊 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

Whilst completing the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys, I stumbled across a field of 8 Cattle egrets amongst a herd of cattle. They were all just getting their breeding plumage, and due to their location, the site is being withheld - S Dorset. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

My @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys today in Dorset included an incredible selection of species today inc Woodlark, Dartford Warblers and 3 Tree pipits on the heath, a flyover WT Eagle, passage of hirundines, Redstart, Willow warblers, Yellow wag, and even 2 Greylags in off and high N!!

Pair of unringed (and quite shy) greylags on the Villa Road this morning. More on the lagoon but I have yet to catch ring numbers! UO76 and 54 still keen on hanging out near the Lookout too #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

Two unringed Greylags past Portland yesterday. A nice vis mig species and wonder where they are off to? @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Nice to see old favourites UO54 and UO76 back in their spot on Church Field this evening 🩵 #WildBrownsea @thomasweston.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Calling Dorset Birders, if you would like to help survey Dartford Warblers, as part of the UK-wide Heathland Bird Survey, you can find the map of vacant squares here. Let's get close to 100% coverage bto.org/our-science/pr… @btobirds.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

It's lovely to be out on the heaths surveying heathland birds whilst the weather has been favourable. I've had some amazing encounters inc this showy Dartford Warbler. Why not take part in the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Survey and monitor these amazing species? 1km2 Squares available!

A drake wild Goldeneye from yesterday at Slimbridge WWT as part of the #WWDGetLost in a Wetland. Other species seen included White-fronted geese, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, 20+ Ruff, 12 Cranes (3 unringed adult flock), 11 Cattle egrets, GW egret, 1000+ Golden Plover and 1500+ Lapwing. #Glosbirds

Nice to see 6 Hawfinches this afternoon from a traditional and well-known Glos spot with nobody else but us around. Within the flock a colour ringed female was also present who was ringed in March 2024 near Chepstow. #Glosbirds