'Otters' in ink by Jackie Morris, artist, author and illustrator who lives and works in a small cottage by the sea in Wales #WomensArt

Across the Irish countryside, hedgerows are constantly being annihilated. So often, these are the last wildlife refuges in a landscape denuded of habitat. Just where is nature supposed to go?

Give this amazing guy a boost to do more for streets kids & urban wildlife in Nairobi: vote at vote.eaya.africa (wildlife conservation award) #birds #kenya

The public could not be clearer: 76 per cent of people want stronger hunting laws and an end to so-called ‘trail’ hunting. Sign the open letter to Keir Starmer asking him to tell government to launch the consultation without further delay. https://leagueacs.co.uk/Q432l

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...

The RSPB is looking for surveyors to census the UK’s largest Storm Petrel colony on Mousa, Shetland. We need 2-4 volunteers who are comfortable working and camping in a remote location with limited facilities, to help complete playback surveys during mid-July 2026. 🪺🏝️🏕️

Where are the trees? We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.

I went digging on my phone for one of my favourite eagle clips.. She's eating a roe deer head😋 I hope to get a carcass soon to do it all again. #goldeneagles

Hooray! It's that time of year again and back on Toad Patrol! Sound up for annoyed, squeaky males! Joined by lots of palmate newts and a handful of smooth newts 💚 Quantock Hills, #Somerset #nature #wildlife

Lawkes I do love @environment.theguardian.com Country Diary… here’s another from @calmandfearless.bsky.social, politely shouting at badgers. ‘Below me, about 20 feet away, what seem to be two large carpet bags are going at it.’ Just brilliant.

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...

How to become a Toad Patroller 🐸 www.froglife.org/what-we-do/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...

We assisted Cornwall Wildlife Trust with Cornwall’s first licensed wild beaver release yesterday! Four pairs have been released after three years of planning and consultation. The beavers will help to restore waterways, improve biodiversity, and increase climate resilience. [1/3]

MORE commentary on the sentencing of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall ⚖️ Pertinent points made by the Northern England Raptor Forum (NERF), representing raptor fieldworkers. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/10/m...

I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.

🥇🥇🥇

In a crowded field, spraying forever chemicals linked to cancer, liver, kidney & thyroid disorders directly on to food crops has to be one of humanity's worst thought out moves ever.

Golden Eagle found shot in the Scottish Borders - Police Scotland appeals for information. 'Hamlet' is the sixth victim of eagle persecution in south Scotland in recent years. Details in blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/09/g...

Excellent series of blogs by @raptorpersuk.bsky.social on a case that illustrates the near-impossibility of obtaining a successful prosecution for killing a 'protected' Hen Harrier. Utterly bizarre comments from the judge and a pitifully inadequate sentence but (1/2)

Is it possible to be beyond anger, and disgust? What comes after these? More anger, more disgust - at the people who thought about killing her, and the people who then did. Poor beautiful Ataksak.

Our latest newsletter below - with booking link to our March talk with #DrRuthTingay talking #RaptorPersecution 🦅 Ruth campaigns against the illegal killing of #birdsofprey through #RaptorPersecutionUK & is also a co-director of @wildjustice.bsky.social with #ChrisPackham mailchi.mp/8b380fcce4e8...

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...

BREAKING: Head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall pleads guilty to conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier at York Magistrates Court this morning.

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...

Statement from North Yorkshire Police on conviction of gamekeeper Racster Dingwall (conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park) ⚖️⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/29/s...

Gamekeeper pleads guilty in England's first ever Hen Harrier persecution case (RSPB press release). #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #SeriousCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/29/g...

BREAKING NEWS....Gamekeeper Racster Dingwall pleads guilty to conspiracy to kill a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park ⚖️ New blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/29/g...

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...

Good news! High Court throws out Moorland Association's legal challenge against new burning regulations in England ⚖️🌍 New blog ⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/28/h...

‘Star. Sister. Bird. Blossom. All the same interchangeable stuff.’ The most beautiful, moving piece of writing, & a tribute to loss from dear @amyjanebeer.bsky.social

Fascinating day at High Court in London listening to Moorland Assoc’s permission hearing for JR against new burning regs. Highlight was judge’s comment about their argument: “It just seems to lose all sense of reality”. Judgement tomorrow at 10am on whether they can proceed to substantive hearing.

Seven sacks of dead Pheasants dumped by side of road in S Lanarkshire. Dodgy ethics aside, no need to worry about the mandatory biosecurity measures that everyone, including gamebird shoot managers, are supposed to comply with, eh? #AvianFlu New blog ⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/26/s...

Our latest paper on Golden Eagle research in Scotland, using DNA from moulted feathers to assess apparent survival in territorial adults. As ever, data collection from Scottish Raptor Study Group @scottishraptorsg.bsky.social was vital. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #RaptorResearch

New paper links Salmonellosis disease dynamics to avian irruptions mediated by transmission at bird feeders - with subsequent spillover to humans causing severe illness and death 🪶🌎 #ornithology #UKBirding www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... #BirdFeeding #Rethink @mwtingley.bsky.social

Highly organised hare hunting with Basset hounds going on around my cottage. Dialled 999 & all details taken but no Police response. Lots of cars coming & going as they coordinate the movement of the dogs with the 2 huntsman following on foot. Scary. @markavery.bsky.social @ruthtingay.bsky.social

New data indicate that Finland's Great Grey Owl population has risen modestly in recent years, suggesting that this enigmatic species may be adapting to changing environmental conditions:

One of my favourite winter rituals, travelling to #WickenFen, meeting friends & heading out onto the reserve at dusk in search of Hen Harriers. An important antidote for someone who spends so much time writing about dead ones. Xmas thermals also got field tested on a 6-layer evening.

Excellent work by Border Force & colleagues on Operation Thunder 2025 - who knew spider-trafficking was becoming a big thing? www.gov.uk/government/n...

Operation Lakeshot - a new working group between police & animal welfare charities to address the increasing problem of teenagers targeting waterfowl (& other species) with powerful catapults, driven by social media. Good work. www.league.org.uk/news-and-res...

Challenging for those who still deny any link 😠

Nature is essential to national security. New government assessment recognises the very real risks of ecological collapse. www.gov.uk/government/p...

First light on the Wensum

Long-crested Eagle are commonly found in wooded savannas and forest edges. They feeds small mammals, birds, and reptiles hunting from a perch. Nyarutarama Lake, #Rwanda @BirdsofRwanda #eagles #birds #birdphotography #BirdsofPrey #biodiversity #conservationphotography #birdlovers markscheflen.com

A peregrine on the Wills tower dropped two snipe axillary coverts while we were having a coffee at Bristol Museum this morning.

This is a fascinating bit of research diving into why some octopuses have larger brains than others. #science #intelligence #evolution It was great talking to @michael.muthukrishna.com, @pkatz.bsky.social and Robin Dunbar about this for @newscientist.com 🧪 🦑 🧠 www.newscientist.com/article/2512...

Could you be our new Conservation Outcomes Manager? 🌳💚 🌰 👇 Check out the link in the comments for details of the role. #TeamTrees #JobOpportunity

Recommended read: our 2025 Autumn Report is out! As part of our tradition and commitment, we’ve compiled a comprehensive overview of the season’s highlights and phenological peculiarities — complemented by many beautiful photos of both birds and people! 👉 batumiraptorcount.org/autumn-report-2025

🚨 PhD offer (please share) Fascinated by bird migration and movement ecology? 🦜🌍 Join us at @vogelwarte.bsky.social to study annual cycle energetics with multi-sensor loggers in multiple species Deadline: 20 Feb 2026 Starting: June 2026 Supervision: Martins Briedis & me Info: tinyurl.com/2dbv9nzh

We're hiring! Could you become our new Wales Officer, lead our Priority Plants Project & support #BSBICountyRecorders across Wales? Apply here: bsbi.org/about/people... Deadline: 23 February Interested but not for you? Please help us spread the word!