First @btobirds.bsky.social WiBS on my local transect in the Surrey Hills. Beautiful morning, lots of birds including Crossbill, Bullfinch, Firecrest, Siskin, Treecreeper & Marsh Tit. #surreybirds

I'm lucky to have had a pair of Firecrests in my Surrey garden this year, possibly even breeding. But this little beauty flew into a window & was stunned for about 10 minutes, before thankfully flying off to its mate (singing in background). What a stunner! #firecrest #gardenbirds #surreybirds #bgbw

Two foxes were hunted by the Warwickshire Hunt on Thursday at Burton Dassett Read more here www.facebook.com/WestMidsHunt...

Definitely an increasingly common bird in the Newlands Corner area of Surrey. Saw 2 flying Ravens then this one perched close to St Martha’s Church this morning. 10s of House Martins darting about above it. Lovely to see. #surreybirds #surreyhills #ravens

There. Is. No. Such. Thing. Cattle ranching is among the most destructive of all the world's industries. "Regenerative" cattle ranching is simply greenwash.

“They’re perfectly capable of breeding & recolonising their former range, over a relatively short space of time, IF, and only IF, their survival isn’t curtailed by grouse moor gamekeepers shooting, trapping and poisoning them, pulling off their heads and legs, or stamping on their eggs and chicks.”

It is so so SO refreshing to hear a UK farmer say simply we need to eat less meat. This whole interview with Guy Watson-Singh is excellent. I also completely agree we need to spend more on food and much much less on rent. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

We’re proud to stand with @animalaid.org.uk‬ in calling for an end to greyhound racing. From cradle to grave, greyhounds suffer unimaginable cruelty for the sake of entertainment. Show your support and sign the petition today https://leagueacs.co.uk/6b3EG #EndGreyhoundRacing

Did you know #badgers LOVE water? One of our cubs decided to cool off in the pool. The message from our cubs is Stay Cool! 😎 Please ensure wildlife has constant access to water in hot weather #waterforwildlife @badgertrust.bsky.social @badgerlandcouk.bsky.social @kentwildlife.bsky.social

West Surrey Badger Group is ALWAYS looking for new members (membership only £10!) and/or volunteers for a range of vital activities protecting, rescuing and rehabiliting badgers in the area. Please get in contact via their website: www.wsbg.co.uk The badgers thank you! 🦡 @badgertrust.bsky.social

Let me find the world’s tiniest violin… Time to end this elite Victorian indulgence and chart a more vibrant, nature-rich future for Britain’s uplands

PLEASE add your voice objecting to this terrible planning application in Surrey Hills AONB. Home to many Red & Amber listed breeding birds, dormice, badgers, bats. It's ancient woodland too! @chrisgpackham.bsky.social An unsustainable development of 32 "Eco-cabins" that will ruin a wildlife haven.

PLEASE add your voice objecting to this terrible planning application in Surrey Hills AONB. Home to many Red & Amber listed breeding birds, dormice, badgers, bats. It's ancient woodland too! @chrisgpackham.bsky.social An unsustainable development of 32 "Eco-cabins" that will ruin a wildlife haven.

Not sure what this young bird is. Thought possibly Bullfinch but not quite right. Any help appreciated.

If you shop at the Co-op supermarket and believe it to be an ethical retailer, have another think. They are still refusing to stop selling "Frankenchickens" despite their members overwhelmingly voting to do so, 2 years ago! Have a watch ...

Genuinely upset to hear this. Lucky enough to be at the Royal Festival Hall performance of Smile in 2004 which was absolutely off the scale, one of the most outstanding live concerts I've ever seen (and I was at Live Aid!). RIP Brian Wilson. #brianwilson

If you care about animals and the environment, please don't be a hypocrite #govegan. And sign this petition! Thank you.

Late @btobirds.bsky.social BBS completed this morning at Albury Downs. Another bumper crop of birds - all heard & seen by me as well as Merlin! Who on Earth would want to ruin this wonderful habitat? #surreybirds

"Natural England has failed to safeguard badgers & is perpetuating a Badger Blame Game. For too long, successive governments have used badgers as scapegoats, ignoring the fact that an overwhelming 94% of bTB transmission occurs from cattle to cattle." 😡 Write to your MP, urge them to end the cull!

Dear Women’s Weekly we have a cost of living crisis & shelters full of unwanted dogs that people can no longer after to keep & your advocating breeding puppies as nice little earner on the side. This is shameful

We’re putting MPs on notice. Voters are watching—and demanding better. Accountability starts now. Visit our website for more info: www.badgertrust.org.uk/space-for-ba...

Wet dog walk this morning, but came across a new family of noisy Treecreepers. Babies demanding food and one gets a tasty mouthful. Lovely to see! #surreybirds #treecreepers #springwatch

Not often I see a Peregrine Falcon on my evening dog walk but just had one zooming about just above Guildford Golf clubhouse. Likely to be one of the Woking Peregrine adults hunting as it's only a short flight from there. Exciting anyway! #peregrines #surreybirds #wokingperegrines

I believe this is White Helleborine, seen today on Guildford Golf Course in quite a vulnerable position (could easily be mown or trampled). I've emailed Surrey WT but any advice welcome @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social Thank you.

Looking for an ID of this plant that is invading my flower beds. Absolute bugger to remove - long tuber root. Has never had flowers on it. Any ideas @wildflowerhour.bsky.social ? Thank you.

Early BBS at Albury Downs (Surrey) gave me my first #cuckoo of the year. Also LOTS of Firecrests, Blackcap & Garden Warblers. Beautiful morning for it! @bbs-birds.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #surreybirds #surreyhills

😱😡 this morning to see a couple with their toddler & dog attempting to set this off in the middle of chalk grassland below Newlands Corner. They'd disturbed nesting Skylarks from the ground of this protected, nationally important habitat. 🤬 (@surreycc.gov.uk #surreybirds @visitsurrey.bsky.social)

Bumble Bee in the garden with singing Firecrest in the background (and my daughter offering me a cuppa 😍). Happy days ☀️ 🌺 🐝!

Oh no 🥺. Possible knock-on effect of bird flu in seabird populations is affecting Peregrines. Interesting, if worrying, article.

linktr.ee/friends_earth It takes less than a minute to add your name demanding a plan ...

Still good numbers of #hawfinches (50+) in Merrow Downs' woods - in a different area of Silver Birch towards 3rd green of Guildford Golf club. At least 5 singing Firecrests, Green Woodpecker & the white rump of a Bullfinch. Plus an unexpected encounter with a very sweet Dutch lady poet! #surreywalks

Scorched earth, charred gorse and dead trees: some of the impacts of recent moorland burning (‘swaling’) on Dartmoor. This is on Spitchwick Commons near Poundsgate. It’s legal but ecologically crackers: the gorse is a nursery for trees that eventually shade out the scrub, but now the trees are dead.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... I'm not crying, you're crying 🥹. What a good boy 🐾 🐻.

First patch Chiffchaff heard today - a week early (has been 13th March for the last few years), more Hawfinches and at least 3 Firecrests (a pair and a single male). Still got one in my garden too! Long may this gorgeous weather continue 😎💚🪶. #surreybirds #hawfinches #signsofspring

Spent 5 hours in the garden today & was accompanied by a singing Firecrest for most of it. Such a treat. Goldcrest too. Plenty of Hawfinches and a Treecreeper on my morning dog walk. #surreybirds #surreyhills #surreylife

Repost & like, if you stand with President Zelensky!

Today I've had the best views & seen the highest numbers (70-100?) of #hawfinches since 2017/18 influx. They were EVERYWHERE, just stood beneath them listening to their gentle "tick" calls. They are stonking birds to see. Also saw a Firecrest, multiple Bullfinches & a Raven flew over. #surreyhills

First singing Firecrest of the year, two Bullfinches in plain sight and more happy customers from @rspbguildford.bsky.social (& friends), finding them a large flock of #hawfinches in the ancient Yews of Merrow Downs' woods. A splendid start to the week. #surreybirds #surreyhills

Why have @brighton-hove.gov.uk gone on a spree of felling hundreds of trees in multiple parks across the city? This is supposedly being done to prevent spread of ash dieback, but this goes directly against Forestry Commission advice:

Good encounters with 20+ #hawfinches seen this morning in an area of Merrow Downs' woods: TQ0376849488. Not far from Yew Project boardwalk. V vocal flock, flitting in & out of a large oak tree. Took @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social Merlin app over 3.5 minutes to identify them though (I was testing it)!

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall @hughfw.bsky.social takes on Nandos "Nandos make claims on their website that they're an environmentally responsible ethical brand" "They're buying huge amount of chicken from farms on the River Wye that are destroying life on the river"

Hawfinch numbers are growing in & around Newlands Corner (Surrey Hills) - at least 40 (50?) in a highly mobile flock around the Yew Tree boardwalk again (follow signs down from main car park). Open area opposite is where I've consistently seen them, in tops of Yews, Oaks & Silver Birch. #hawfinches

Hawfinches again today, but in a slightly different location here TQ 04128 49987 in Wild Wood near Newlands Corner (Surrey Hills AONB). A small flock of 4-5 in a dense Yew patch. A beautiful, sunny day and some warmth in the sun! Lovely. #surreybirds #hawfinches #surreyhills

I've had a dilemma - a rat has recently been visiting my bird feeders. I haven't minded too much & certainly didn't want to do anything nasty to it. We have foxes in our garden so I thought I'd let nature takes its course. Well, 2 Crows are now feeding on its carcass on the lawn! Circle of life. 😬🌍🐀

Just completed my @rspb.bsky.social #birdgardenbirdwatch and it was just dire! Weather is terrible & my usual flock of ever-present tits was almost entirely absent. But, I did get a Song Thrush 👏 and the Goldfinches are continuing to enjoy the uncut lavender. Ho hum 😐.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUg5... Nice start to the day. Just watched this with my muesli.

At least 6 Hawfinches seen & heard in Merrow Downs’ woods this morning. Not far from the Yew Tree boardwalk. Yay! #hawfinches #surreybirds

🚨 BREAKING: GAIE RECALLED TO PRISON FOR CHRISTMAS Gaie Delap, a 77 year old retired teacher, has been arrested and taken to a prison in Bristol after being told her wrists were too small for an electronic tag.

It is with enormous sadness that I have resigned from my role as president of the RSPCA . I would like to register my respect and admiration for all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty . Thank you . www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...