Back from a great @lesserspotnet.bsky.social weekend in Kent discussing the monitoring, ecology and conservation of our smallest woodpecker. Infectious enthusiasm and a wealth of skills and experience shared, topped off by actually seeing them! xeno-canto.org/1086062 #ornithology

Out deploying audio recorders today in the hope of detecting Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Cambs. First singing Chiffchaff plus Comma and lots of Brimstones.

1/ Five leading charities forge partnership for bird conservation for the Bird Atlas 2027–31! 🐦 But what is the Bird Atlas? ⬇️🧵 #Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social

New 'letter to the editor' criticising a previous paper published in Ecological Indicators is well worth a read: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Includes this quote 'At least two of them (Marazuela Pinela and López Espí) are self-proclaimed silvestristas—the Spanish term for songbird trappers'

For a limited time only (until midnight Sunday), Sand Martins will be delivering all Alula Design products for free as they head north. Order now to avoid disappointment. aluladesigns.co.uk/ #BirdArt #UKBirding #Freepost

The Woodpecker Network is encouraging birders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers by using passive acoustic sound recorders:

A nice surprise at work today when @arjuncdutta.bsky.social found these Tundra Bean Geese at @btobirds.bsky.social HQ. Instructive trying to age them with @sconebirding.bsky.social #UKBirding

Been working a lot on woodpeckers recently, which inspired this new design for @aluladesigns.bsky.social

We are receiving increased reports of dead auks, including Puffins, particularly in North East Scotland. It's quick and easy to report any dead or sick birds you find through the 'Deceased bird' function on the home page of the BirdTrack app Photo: Puffin by Richard Selman / BTO #ukbirding

1/ Survey! 📝 How are automated species identifications from passive acoustic monitoring verified and quality-assured in practice? #bioacoustics Take part here ➡️ forms.gle/Ak3eYgZivUPa...

Want to learn what birds are singing? Join our Bird Sound ID in Early Spring training course ➡️ www.bto.org/training #Ornithology

Free UK delivery on all Alula Designs clothing and mugs this weekend, from 9am Friday to midnight Sunday. Visit aluladesigns.co.uk/ for our latest designs #Birds #BirdArt #UKBirding

1/ Spotted Flycatchers are in trouble, declining by 92% in the UK between 1967 and 2020. New work led by @cateden91.bsky.social & involving BTO has revealed the importance of rivers for the survival of this Red-listed migratory species. ⬇️ #Ornithology 📖 www.bto.org/Spotted-Flyc...

⭐️An exciting opportunity for a fully funded PhD with BTO British Trust for Ornithology and Liverpool John Moores University, to study the population-level movement patterns of over-wintering #Curlew!⭐️ #ornithology #movementecology

✂️ Yesterday I finally responded to @agakowalska.bsky.social’s challenge to make a collage from a single piece of packaging. I present to you a green (tea) woodpecker, made from a big Yorkshire Tea box. It was fun and I’ll be rooting through our recycling bin for more materials later on ♻️

A four Aythya lunchbreak - as well as Tufted Duck and Pochard, drake Scaup and Ferruginous Duck at Milton Country Park. Top find by @jonheath.bsky.social #UKBirding

Sorting through some old stuff and found this incomplete Egyptian Plover painting. Really need to get back to painting! #BirdArt

A snowy but unsuccessful attempt to see the Black-winged Kite at Ludham (missed it by 15 mins!). Consolation in form of Bewick's Swans (a group of 6 over, then same or different 4), Water Pipit and 6 White-fronted Geese. #UKBirding

For various reasons 2025 has been a challenging year and my lowest birding effort for years. Somehow still saw 200+ species and found a couple of local rarities. Hopefully more birding in 2026! Happy #UKBurding

Red-necked Grebe, the best from a 10k walk around Flamborough today. Also hundreds of Guillemots already on the cliffs #UKBirding

Also at Filey, one of two Purple Sandpipers feeding in the wrack #UKBirding

Birders' Christmas 'robin' - the Eastern Black Redstart at Filey. It put on quite a show, actively feeding at the base of the cliffs and among the rocks #UKBirding

Thanks to @lothianrecorder.bsky.social for picking out the White-winged Scoter at Ferny Ness. Extremely distant in low light and on the edge of ID range with my optics. Photo shows general view, not the WwS, probably #UKBirding

Flat calm at Ferny Ness, Lothian today. 50+ Long-tailed Ducks, including the first I've ever heard displaying in the wild. 20 Slavonian and 1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Black-throated and 4 Red-throated Diver. Unfortunately the Velvets were mostly too far out for me to find the White-winged. #UKBirding

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

Last call for UK priority shipping: the Alula Elves are closing the shop at midnight tonight to go birding, so get your final orders in now!

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

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

BTO's Acoustics Pipeline has identified Bush-crickets in ‘bat’ data collected for the Landscape-scale Species Monitoring of Agri-environment Schemes Project & assessed the effects of agri-environment management on these species➡️ www.bto.org/Bush-cricket... #bioacoustics @naturalengland.bsky.social

Hard to believe that 30 years ago today I started work at @btobirds.bsky.social. In that time I've been fortunate to work on some amazing projects with great colleagues and awesome volunteers. Hopefully more of the same with atlases and acoustics on the horizon

Nice to see some water on the Ouse Washes yesterday, and plenty of Whooper Swans. But sadly 2 dead juv Whoopers likely avian flu victims. Reported via #BirdTrack and Defra website #UKBirding

Birdsong is not only beautiful, it’s also full of information. This is where Acoustic Monitoring comes in. Will you support the development of this new and important work? Find out more and donate today ➡️ www.bto.org/acoustic... #bioacoustics #ornithology

After missing a flock of Brent Geese over the patch this morning I was very pleased to pick up 2 adult winter Little Gulls over Ditton Meadows - a mega patch tick! Super views of a displaying Kingfisher too #LowCarbonBirding

One minute of Wigeon whistles #Birds soundcloud.com/user-9092529...

Today I collected an audio recorder I left in the Fens with the aim of getting some nice Wigeon recordings. Incredibly it also picked up this Richard's Pipit flying through on the morning of 6th November! xeno-canto.org/1053297 #UKBirding

Breezy walk at Coveney Byall Fen. Whooper Swans, Cranes and an obliging Stonechat

I'm considering getting a camera for birding (record shots/video, not looking for pro quality). Thinking bridge rather than dslr/mirrorless owing to lens costs. Anyone using Nikon P1100 or Sony RX10 for this purpose? Pros/cons? Am I missing anything obvious? Any advice appreciated ta #BirdingGear

🪶 Free UK shipping is happening all weekend at aluladesigns.co.uk 📦 Stock up on our bird-inspired designs while the post flies free 🐦 Offer ends Sunday at midnight – don’t miss it!

New @aluladesigns.bsky.social mug so I can relive seawatching season #UKBirding

Amidst a big nocturnal passage of thrushes last night, this Ring Ouzel passed over my Cambridge garden. Detected using the BTO Acoustic Pipeline's nocmig classifier xeno-canto.org/1047905 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #UKBirding 🔉

🐦‍⬛Ever been in awe of the huge journeys some birds undertake each year? That’s what inspired us. Celebrate #WorldMigratoryBirdDay with clothing that captures the magic of migration and wear what moves you. 🪶 For bird lovers. For nature lovers. For you. 🛒aluladesigns.co.uk #Birding #BirdArt #WMBD2025

Went to see the stunning Turkestan Shrike today with @sconebirding.bsky.social, seeing it catch beetles, tipulids and even a hawker dragonfly. Also lots of singing Dartford Warblers, a Woodlark and 24 Crossbills. But no joy with the Zitting Cisticolas so couldn't pull off a two-tick day #UKBirding

✨🐦‍⬛FREE POSTAGE THIS WEEKEND!🐦‍⬛✨ This weekend only, we’re offering FREE UK delivery on all orders. Autumn migration is in full swing. Whether you’re spotting Redwings or searching for that rare vagrant, get everything you need delivered free. 🛒[aluladesigns.co.uk] #UKBirding #SiberianThrush #BirdArt

We are seeking an ornithologist/modeller for a 2-year POST-DOC in Turin. Using archaeological remains, we will reconstruct past avian communities to understand the impacts of climate change and human pressure on birds through time. For details see cutt.ly/irN76QDZ PLEASE RT. #ornithology #AviArch

I'm glad these are small! Devil's Coach-horse Beetle @flamboroughbird.bsky.social. A good couple of days' birding with a wide range of species.

My recent seawatching-inspired artwork for @aluladesigns.bsky.social, a Fea's type Pterodroma petrel #SuperSeabirdSunday #BirdArt

Great day birding Fen Drayton and surroundings with @scottmayson.bsky.social, catching up with the already present Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint and Black Tern, plus good views of small and large fish eaters #UKBirding

An unexpected but very pleasant detour on route to work today to see this elegant Lesser Yellowlegs at Isleham Washes. Unfortunately it was flushed by a Sparrowhawk and flew off NE. Hopefully it will come back #UKBirding

Birding meets style with our seabird-inspired designs — shearwaters shearing, petrels gliding. T-shirts or hoodies, these pieces have you covered for every seawatching adventure. Explore at aluladesigns.co.uk and take flight.