House Martins appear to have returned today, with three over High Green @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

"Almost every feather sample tested from five common species of UK garden birds contained either permethrin, imidacloprid or fipronil – all insecticides that are banned for agricultural use but still common in pet tick and flea treatments."

YWT Potteric Carr for grandad’s birthday walk. Great day for warblers it seemed with Garden, Reed, Sedge and Cetti’s all singing. Always good to hear the Bittern booming too.

Plus a Holly Blue on the garden, not seen one in ages here. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Wharncliffe Heath today - 4 Redstart, 8 Tree Pipit, 8 Fieldfare, 3 Mistle Thrush, 4 Swallow. Plenty of Mipit, Skylark and Linnet about. @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

When excavating a nest cavity, Willow Tits share the work, taking it in shifts. These two birds are particularly inseparable - one will often sit on top of the nest or at the entrance whilst the other is inside digging. It’s wonderful to watch.

Song Thrush singing in the late evening. Fantastic.

Excited to share our new paper in @britishbirds.bsky.social! We present the first confirmed evidence of farmland ground-nesting bird nests on a solar park in the UK. We also conducted focal watches to understand how Corn Buntings were using Westmill Solar Park during the breeding season. 1/4

Caught the resident Tawny Owl on thermal this evening. @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

Wharncliffe Heath slowly coming alive with spring migrants. Lots of Willow Warbler and Skylark about, Wheatear, Stonechat and a Ring Ouzel (heard). Green Woodpecker yaffling again.

A 1200+ year climate record is at risk. Do you know know anyone in Japan who could help? See below.

Wicked day at Spurn. Black Swan dropped into the scrape behind the discovery centre and a lone drake Garganey on Kilnsea Wetlands. Plenty about. YL Gull over and Whimbrel on the mudflats.

To reduce disease, we all need to make some urgent but simple changes to how we feed our garden birds. See our website for the latest guidance: brnw.ch/21x1t4w

Completely unexpected LEO in woodland not too far from home. What an amazing creature.

Wharncliffe Heath today featuring Yellowhammer, Swallow, Wheatear, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, and Skylark.

Still struggling with an ID on this Shrike species I saw at Pachyammos, Paphos. Had none of the dark/black markings of a Woodchat Shrike. Potential hybrid? @birdingcyprus.bsky.social @birdsaroundcy.bsky.social

Excellent trip to Cyprus with so much wildlife to take in. Finished the trip off with sightings of Squacco Heron, more Woodchat Shrike, a 2cy Lesser Kestrel and one Hyla savignyi tree frog.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Mandria Beach, Paphos.

After 3 days of birding in Cyprus, we are up to 90 species. Highlights include European Roller, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Crake, Desert Finch, Woodchat Shrike, and a huge variety of Wheatear and Warbler sp.

Fantastic first day birding in Cyprus. European Roller just outside of Paphos. An absolute beauty of a bird.

Ring Ouzel heard flying over High Green, likely towards Pennines.

022 delivering a huge bass to CJ7 on first arriving at the nest this morning! @careyssecretgarden.bsky.social

Excellent work being done in some of my local woods. Can’t wait to see how the area recovers and thrives.

Siskin still visiting the garden. Haven’t hung around quite this long in past years.

A glorious spring day. The garden Goldfinches were looking extra clean and tidy in the sun.

First Sheffield Peregrines blog for 2026 sheffieldperegrines.wordpress.com/2026/03/18/e...

Interesting, especially given the concern many of us have about the impact of Parakeets on UK ecosystems.

Local wander around Hesley Wood taking in some of today’s sunshine. A Raven being mobbed by Crows overhead was the highlight.

Great advice available to support these amazing species. Hoping my two Swift bricks attract some interest this year!

Bonus Caspian Gull spot driving to work this morning. Single juv mingling with the Common Gulls on Hoyland football pitches. Then on the way home a mini Starling murmuration at RSPB Old Moor!

A truly fabulous reference guide for any birder or naturalist in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. It provides a long-term overview of the state and changing nature of bird life across the city.

Greno Wood walk with the little one (can be quiet for birding at this time of year) produced two pairs of Crossbill. Not seen them at this site before. @wildsheffield.bsky.social @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

No UK eBird records of Rough-legged Buzzard from 2026 yet (below); this species will likely be rarer nationally than Black-winged Kite in future. Both very visible signs of climate (and land-use) driven range shifts #UKBirding #Ornithology

Quick drive up the M1 to Calder Wetlands this morning. Black-necked Grebe, two pairs of Goldeneye (displaying), and Cetti’s Warbler the highlights.

Siberian Chiffchaff still present in reeds outside Kelham Island Museum @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

Great day out in the Lower Derwent Valley at North Duffield Carr. Scores of Curlew, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, and Lapwing. c70 White-fronts seen from Geoff Smith hide. c100 Whooper Swan on farmer’s field behind car park. Ruff and Redshank nr. Derwent Bridge plus an Otter heading downstream.

Wombwell Ings and Broomhill Flash today: 4 Russian White-fronts, c100 Lapwing, 4 Goldeneye, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, c10 pairs of Pochard. No sign of Slav Grebe.

Little Owl and Tawny Owl heard this evening (High Green/Westwood) @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

RSPB Old Moor today: Bittern, multiple Cetti’s (heard), Water Rail, 28 Russian White-fronted Geese (flyover heading ENE), Goldeneye and Oystercatcher. Finally able to see the ever-elusive Bittern after years and years of hoping!

Male Siskin on the feeder this morning. Flock of 4 in total (High Green) @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

And finally, I get to spot the local Tawny male I’ve been hearing! Perched on top of the tree next door. Just beautiful to hear and see.

Dunlin needed some good news - @rspbscience.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/... Red-listed in UK: wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/u... Rapid decline in Iceland: wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i... Really bad in the Baltic: wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/06/20/d... #ornithology

'The New Birds of the Sheffield Area' Indoor Meeting: Weds 11th Feb 7.15pm Join us to celebrate the launch of our fabulous new 440 page book detailing all 300 species ever sighted in our area. Editors Richard & David will talk us through the project. Copies for sale + complimentary fizz!

Poor photo. Shag still present at Worsbrough Reservoir.

Great to see Redpoll on the feeders this morning. 1m and 1f. @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

The North Cave Wetlands Starlings going into roost through the thermal @northcavewet.bsky.social

Willow Tit nr. Ingbirchworth Dyke. First I’ve seen in South Yorkshire. Also 2 Stock Dove and 4 Skylark nr. campsite.

1 Lesser White-fronted Goose in with Greylag flock at Ingbirchworth reservoir @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

BREAKING: A Gamekeeper has pleaded guilty in England’s first-ever Hen Harrier persecution case. Covert video and audio gathered lawfully by the RSPB Investigations team has helped expose the deliberate targeting of a Hen Harrier, leading to a landmark guilty plea: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... 👈

iPort Gravel Pits for @btobirds.bsky.social International Swan Census. No Whoopers/Bewicks as expected but plenty of other species around. c60 Linnet flock was great to see, along with tonnes of Redwing. 4 Cetti’s Warbler heard in reeds at various spots around site.