1/2 Thanks to all who visited their Heathland Birds Survey sites to record Woodlark, Dartford Warbler and Nightjar. An impressive 5,600 sites were allocated across the three species, providing us with a valuable update of their current breeding populations and distribution.

It's telling, isn't it, that Protection Officers are still required for Hen Harriers in northern England. Good opportunity here for some important raptor conservation fieldwork. Closing date for applications: 30 Jan 2026. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/07/j...

Also true for ringed/banded birds at least in the Northern Hemisphere. Happy birthday to birds!

Tried my luck at various goose friendly fields around Bridport today in the hope of something other than the 13 Canada Goose that I saw... nothing ventured, nothing gained! 4 juv Mute Swan were a local bird though.

The Nanjizal 2025 summary is now online. The year had the second highest annual ringing total since ringing started 30 years ago @kesteraw.bsky.social nanjizalbirds.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/2...

We're hiring! Seasonal Research Assistant and Senior Research Assistant positions for 2026 🪶 Deadline: 11th Jan 26 Apply here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...

Absolutely shocking. We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases. We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.

It's great when farmers do something for birds and then it works! Saw at least 12 Woodcock tonight and mostly in a stubble field which was left specifically for birds. Probably my favourite bird and a privilege to see up close. All ringed and released under @btobirds.bsky.social license.

A win for Swifts! Thanks to your support, Scotland might become the first UK country to require Swift nesting bricks in all new buildings. Today MSPs voted to include this in the Natural Environment Bill – now we must make sure it stays in the Bill through the final stage.

£54 million! 😮 That’s the estimated financial value of our incredible volunteers’ efforts in 2024. They contributed an estimated over 2.6 million hours to BTO work. 📝 A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers! #InternationalVolunteerDay 📷 Ben Igglesden / BTO

Good news! Earlier this year I shared reports that the land around the Cerne Abbas Giant was up for sale I’m delighted that, after lots of conversations, the land has now been bought by the National Trust (who already own the Giant): www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... bsky.app/profile/guys...

Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one? RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu... #ornithology #conservationscience 🌍

Huge thanks to Ian and the other ringers involved with colour ringing Cirl Buntings! So much to learn and please keep an eye out. Details on how to report here - cr-birding.org/node/7187

Pine Bunting seen briefly with mobile Yellowhammer flock at St Aldhelm's Head Quarry at 1030hrs & not relocated as of 1250hrs. Ltd parking available in Renscombe car park, otherwise park in Worth Mattravers village car park and walk down, staying out of private fields @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

For months, ministers have been pushing a false choice between nature and growth. Now, new research shows just how out of touch they are. With data from More In Common, it's time to set the record straight. 👇

I bought these old RSPB magazines for their CF Tunnicliffe cover pictures. They look so good together (with that delicious typeface!)

Worrying reports of bird flu (avian influenza) are coming in, including an outbreak in Whooper Swans in the Fens. Other waterbirds are also being affected, and cases are rising. 📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

Last night, Peers voted against Swift bricks: rejecting a simple, proven way to help one of our fastest declining birds recover. ❌ We share @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social's disappointment & frustration. The vote came late, but with government refusing to back it, its fate was already sealed.

This is VERY good news - the massive loophole that allows grouse moor owners & their gamekeepers to avoid sanction for killing birds of prey is about to be closed. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime Discussion at @revivecoalition.bsky.social conf this w/e raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/03/b...

Our November e-Bulletin should be arriving in Member's inboxes this evening. Lots to enjoy and discover. Nature's Recovery, news of 3 firsts for Dorset and more. Not a member yet? Join here dorsetbirds.co.uk/membership/ Tx @joestockwell.bsky.social for the pic

Our colour ringing season at Lytchett Bay is off to a great start with 5 Water Pipit & 5 Rock Pipit marked (under license) already. Please look out for yellow (Water) and white (Rock) marked birds and report all sightings 🙏 #Dorsetbirds

Yesterday we trapped a Norwegian ringed Goldfinch, which was originally ringed on 6th August this year at Jomfruland Fuglestajion by a young girl, pictured with the bird. The map shows Fair Isle in blue & Jomfruland in red, a movement of over 600km! 📸 Alex Penn & Ola Nordsteien

Brilliant piece debunking the nonsense claim in the Daily Telegraph. But it’s dangerous nonsense, polarising attitudes & whipping up prejudice. The DTelegraph is such a shit newspaper. Oh, and the photo? Staged - captive eagle, already-dead lamb.

Take Swifts. Their numbers have plummeted by 68% in just 28 years. We're proud to stand with @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social in calling for Swift bricks. Nesting spaces built into new homes would give these remarkable birds a future. Amendment 245: simple fix, huge impact. Surely a no-brainer?

Good news on Dorset Cirl Buntings continues to arrive. Early data from the breeding season confirms they are continuing to re-establish a population in the county. Please submit any outstanding records now. 🙏 In winter our focus switches to feeding flocks - please send us all sightings. 🙏

Thrilled to have the first Cirl Bunting colour ringed on Portland as part of a Dorset wide project to understand more about the species spread across the county. Please keep a look out and report any sightings. And huge thanks to all the ringers involved 💚. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Heathland Birds Survey! 🙌 All remaining survey returns are urgently required, before 30th November, to inform future conservation action. If you need any help submitting your records please email [email protected]. Thank you!

Exasperated. Gutted. Furious. Terrified. Sometimes swear words are the only ones that fit. Our delightful government - who we put our trust in - is u-turning on THE easiest Nature action *ever*. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A quiet morning for ringing on the farm (nr Bridport) with grounded migrants starting to dwindle as the autumn goes on. But a few Goldcrest always brighten up a morning though. All 5 grammes of them!

Baikal Teal at Abbotsbury Swannery this afternoon with 500+ Teal. Flock very mobile. Swannery open 10am tomorrow. No entry before 10am. Doubtfully viewable from rights of way other than grounds. There is no right of way SE of tank traps on beach. If you walk beyond fence there everything will flush!

Announcing an exciting new event 🤩 🌿 Be the Future of Nature’s Recovery in Dorset & Beyond 📍 Bournemouth Uni 🗓️ Sat 22 Nov 1–6pm A free @btobirds.bsky.social x @bournemouthuni.bsky.social conference with Megan McCubbin, Paul Morton, Katiana Saleiko & more! 🙌🏻 More info👉🏻 www.bto.org/our-work/eve...

Confused by gulls? 🤔 Join our online Gull ID training sessions in November ➡️ www.bto.org/training Our two-part, online Gull ID course run by our expert team helps you build knowledge and confidence to make gull ID easier! #UKBirding #Ornithology

A week on from #StormAmy 🌬️ data from our tagged Whooper Swans show both storm assistance & storm displacement. Some birds made rapid migrations, others battled the elements – some out at sea for 55 hrs! As North Atlantic storms grow more frequent, understanding their impact is vital. 🦢 #Ornithology

Had to get out ringing this morning to celebrate #WorldMigratoryBirdDay. However, it turned out to be one of the quietest mornings for a while. Chiffchaff numbers dropped off but did ring the first Redpoll of the autumn. Made up for the lack of numbers.

Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today. Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology

Back #birdringing on the farm this morning and Chiffchaff still on the move in numbers. All were birds hatched this year and this bird showed a nice clear moult limit in the greater coverts. Inner greener ones are adult and paler outer ones juv feathers. Ringed under licence @btobirds.bsky.social

...also on the ringing front: we've received notification of a fantastic recovery of a Firecrest ringed here last October that was controlled a few days ago by a ringer in the Czech Republic - the first movement of a UK-ringed Firecrest to the Czech Republic or indeed to anywhere in central Europe

This should be a good morning! Bird ringing, bird migration, hot drinks and a chance to see some amazing work being done by farmers in Dorset - fb.me/e/3AEE8B5qq

Quick hour up on Allington Hill, Bridport this morning for a bit of vismig. Woodlark was a goody and a Golden Plover took 2nd place. Also 221 Meadow Pipit, 44 Linnet, 35 Chaffinch, 22 Goldfinch, 12 Pied Wag, 14 Swallow, 15 H Martin, 9 Siskin, 2 Bullfinch and a Grt Spot Woodpecker high over S.

Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to our fundraiser. Recent greatest hits from samples sent in by ringers and birders for ID include an Atlas Flycatcher in Spain, and a Ménétries's Warbler in Poland! www.justgiving.com/fundraising/...

Hardly any Hen Harrier nesting attempts on English grouse moors for second year running. Hardly any surprise why. #RaptorPersecution #WildlifeCrime #Ornithology raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/02/h...

Project Officer - Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms - RSPB - environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/107624-... #entomology #ScottishBirding

It's been a great autumn for Chiffchaff! Last few days has seen a shift towards slightly larger & more greyish birds, likely from NE Europe but this gorgeous Siberian Chiffchaff popped up this morning nr Bridport. Ringed under BTO License @btobirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A Poole Harbour record smashed today with 93 Spoonbill, plus 1 at Swineham logged, breaking the previous record of 85. Poole Harbour seems to the most important staging site in the country, with the peak not expected until later in Oct. Some stay but most move off into Southern Europe, even Senegal!

Calmer weather has meant more ringing on a local farm this week. Plenty of migrants about, mostly Blackcap and Chiffchaff but also starting to see more crests and some new Robins showing up. Feeling very autumnal now! All ringed under @btobirds.bsky.social licence.

Met with Agriculture Minister @jimfairlielogie this morning to discuss the management scheme for sea eagles. We need a proper evidence base on their diet rather than scare stories of ‘horse eating eagles’ @skyeandfrisa 🦅🐴 news.stv.tv/highlands-is...

GOOD NEWS: the peat burning ban is being extended in the English uplands. 👏 Peatlands lock up carbon, protect water & support rare wildlife. We hope today's announcement signals a move to end this damaging practice for good, and thank our supporters for helping make it happen.

We need your help again. Coul Links is an extraordinary coastal dune habitat, home to rare and remarkable wildlife. But it is now threatened for a second time by plans for an 18-hole golf course that would cause irreparable damage. Your voice could help save it. 👇

📢Help save Coul Links! Once again, this beautiful place is threatened by plans for a golf course which would do irreparable damage to rare habitats and wildlife. 🌱🦆🐦🦋🪰 Join us in sending a message to Scottish Ministers to stand up for nature. Add your voice: action.rspb.org.uk/page/166270/...