A visit to Roundhay Park this afternoon, for a swan reported to be carrying a barbed lure on one leg. Our volunteer rescuer was able to quickly secure the swan, and carefully remove the fishing tackle before the bird was returned without lasting injury back to the water.

As the breeding season begins, a reminder to think carefully before reporting rare breeding species on social media. They are vulnerable to disturbance & persecution. if in doubt, keep it quiet & contact local/county recorders. yorkbirding.org.uk/reporting-ra...

Retired gamekeeper David Campbell guilty of murdering ex-colleague Brian Low, with whom he worked on the Edradynate Estate. This estate was one of the worst for raptor persecution. Lots to say about this one... glad they finally got him ⚖️ #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/25/s...

‘The New Birds of the Sheffield Area:’ pre-orders have been handed over to Royal Mail today and are on their way to buyers Not purchased yet? Order your copy at sbsg.org £32 + postage for non-members £25 + postage for members (Membership is £15 individuals/£17 Households)

Norwegian Black-headed Gull J90Y is still wintering at Redcar Tarn, Keighley. #GullOfTheDay #GullsOfKeighley #J90Y #Chroicocephalus #ridibundus

⚠️ We've had reports of seabirds washing up. Please report ALL species of dead birds ⬇️ 📍 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/... 📍 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/... 📍 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv... #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

I just signed a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social petition: Help Stop the Criminal Killing of Birds of Prey. Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/he...

Three legal reforms to stop the criminal killing of birds of prey - new petition to UK Minister from @friendsofthedales.bsky.social Details & link to petition in blog 🔽 #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/19/t...

Philip Saunders, huntsman for the Pipewell Beagles, admitted breaking Section 1 of the Hunting Act after encouraging hounds to kill a hare. He was sentenced to £5000 in fines and costs.

Updated data for colour ringed Black-headed Gull "V60V" #ukbirding @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @linacreblogger.bsky.social @nuttytussock.bsky.social

No card details. No commitment. Just 30 days of better birding with BirdGuides — completely free. Join today: https://bit.ly/47aveMy #birdguides #freetrial #birdwatching #birdwatch #birds

Seven vultures have been found dead in Bulgaria in an illegal-poisoning incident, dealing a serious blow to efforts to restore populations in the Balkans:

A head gamekeeper has been convicted for attempting to kill a Hen Harrier, marking a rare legal success in tackling wildlife crime:

Roundhay Park in Leeds today. Lots of twitchers photographing the young Iceland Gull but many will have failed to notice Black-headed Gull 236J who frequents St Petersburg, Russia 🇷🇺 Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) doesn’t actually breed in Iceland 🇮🇸 but originates from Greenland 🇬🇱 or Canada 🇨🇦

My first Great (White) Egret at Rufford Abbey #Nottinghamshire this morning

It’s time to talk nest boxes and our Nesting Neighbours scheme! 🐦 🪶 By watching breeding birds in your garden you can contribute to BTO Science by submitting these records ➡️ www.bto.org/nestingneigh...

Seven vultures have been found dead in Bulgaria in an illegal-poisoning incident, dealing a serious blow to efforts to restore populations in the Balkans:

Incredible news! In 2022 The first chick to fledge for 180 years in the South of England was female ‘5H1’. Last year she raised 3 of her own chicks near Rutland including 8R3, which our team ringed. 8R3 was just seen in the Gambia by Fansu Bojang. Great to see 3rd generation Ospreys now thriving!

Mediterranean Gull 2H79 was leading the line at Southend-on-Sea Seafront yesterday. I ringed it there in February 2023 and it’s been seen regularly since, always within 2 km to the east, south or west. #EssexBirding #BirdRinging

Very pleased with the views of this 1st winter Iceland Gull at Roundhay Park, Leeds today

Make it make sense. Sign the petition to end the Guga hunt: protectthewild.org.uk/gannet-petit...

General Licence restriction imposed in relation to shooting of Golden Eagle 'Merrick'. Raeshaw Estate claims this is "wholly unjustified" & says it will appeal the decision. Statement from estate & commentary from me 🔽 #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/11/r...

A call to Askern Lake in recent days, for a swan reported to be carrying fishing tackle. The bird was quite distressed, but our rescuers were able to quickly capture the bird and safely remove the hook caught in the end of her beak.

Hand-catching at the Serpentine today resulted in 17 birds ringed under licence, including the first Grey Heron in the 10 winters of @bh-wlbirding.bsky.social’s Royal Parks waterbird project! #birdringing

Great report of a Tufted Duck from @theroyalparks.bsky.social. This little duck, ringed at #Serpentine #Hydepark in Dec 2023 made it all the way to the Rusian arctic circle, ca 2000km NE of Moscow. This shows just how far ducks wintering in London can migrate. #Londonbirds #birdringing #duck #BTO

Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to the shooting of Golden Eagle Merrick. Statement from NatureScot & commentary from me ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/10/t...

Shot Buzzard found nr Wigginton, York. Currently in the expert care of @jeanwildlife.bsky.social North Yorkshire living up to its reputation as the worst county in England for illegal raptor persecution. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/08/s...

Moorland Association (grouse moor owners' lobby group in England) lodges appeal against recent High Court decision to refuse judicial review of Defra's peatland burning regulations ⚖️🔥 Looks like someone's got grouse moors & money to burn! Legal summary 🔽 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/08/m...

The usual gull entry for #SuperSeabirdSunday. Yesterday the Iceland Gull at Roundhay Park showed like a champ! Stunning views both on the deck and in the air. @steelyseabirder.bsky.social @unsociable-lapwing.bsky.social #Seabirds #GullsoftheWP #GullsoftheWorld #YorkshireBirding #Wildlife 🪶

Bonapartes, Mediterranean, and black headed gull off Tolcarne Beach Penzance today. @cbwps.org.uk

Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group in desperate attempt to divert attention away from conviction of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall. raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/07/y...

Photo of the Week 📷 Bonaparte's Gull by Adrian Langdon and Little Gull by Mark James #CornwallBirds #BirdsInCornwall #CBWPS #Bird #Birds #Birdwatching #ConnectWithNature #Nature #Wildlife #WildlifeMatters #WildIsles #BritishWildlife #WildCornwall #ILoveCornwall #Cornwall #Kernow

‘The New Birds of the Sheffield Area’ The proof copy back from the printers, before it went to the bookbinders 😍 sbsg.org gomerprinting.co.uk

⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza. ⬇️ 📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/... 📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/... 📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv... #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

🚨 Want to work with Little Terns? We’re recruiting a Head Little Tern Warden and 2 Assistants to protect the Beacon Ponds colony at Spurn. 👉 spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news

Wholly Boley has joined the recent victims of British horse racing. They broke their neck at Carlisle on the 3rd of February 💔 #YouBetTheyDie 🏇

'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!

Happy #WorldWetlandsDay! These amazing habitats provide so many benefits, from natural flood management to improving water quality and biodiversity, to helping in the fight against climate change. Find out more about them in this film highlighting our monitoring work: youtu.be/LcUWBbMh6Q4?...

We’re delighted to share the successful rehabilitation of this youngster! Treated for a wing fracture, the bone has now fully healed with full function restored. After several weeks in our care, the bird was released back to his rightful place in the wild earlier today.

Great free birding walk for young people aged 16-25 ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/eve... #YorkshireBirding

✨ Vote for your favourite bird image! ✨ We need you to pick our new Birds in Greenspaces icon for our brand-new mobile phone app! Vote here ➡️ bit.ly/VoteBiGsIcon Will it be the Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Green Woodpecker or Chaffinch? 🤔 Voting closes on 15 February.

Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier that gamekeeper Racster Dingwall chose not to shoot (to avoid unwanted attention), found poisoned 3 months later nr another Yorkshire grouse moor. The bird that almost got away. New extended RSPB covert footage ⬇️ #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/30/s...

2 spots just opened up for this Sunday's walk at Bradford Dale www.derbyshirebirdtours.com/service-page...

Some commentary on the conviction and sentencing of gamekeeper Racster Dingwall (conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park) ⚖️ New blog ⬇️⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #SeriousCrime 🌍🪶 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/30/s...

The RSPB has reported that seven satellite-tagged Hen Harriers are suspected or confirmed to have been illegally killed in England during 2025, all on or close to land managed for grouse shooting:

Update on the Beacon Ponds Little Tern appeal The GoFundMe appeal has now closed. We launched it to cover a specific funding gap for the 2026 breeding season, and thanks to the incredible generosity of so many people, that gap has now been filled.

Trial due to start today for gamekeeper Racster Dingwall, accused of conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. NB: Comments turned off as legal proceedings are live ⚖️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/28/t...

A late evening call to help this chap, found stranded at the roadside after a poor landing decision. Thankfully, the young swan was uninjured, and was able to be released at nearby Pugneys Country Park.

Aquaculture is often claimed to be a solution to overfishing, but it’s fuelling this global crisis. To farm carnivorous species like salmon, even more wild fish must be caught to make feed for farmed fish. Find out more and test your own fish knowledge in our quiz ➡️ https://bit.ly/3LNI5gS

This chap recently needed our assistance after straying into the territory of another pair of swans, who made him very unwelcome. The swan was moved to a safe area (pictured) by the caller, until we arrived a short time afterwards to collect him. He continues to recover well here in our care.