1/ Forget tales of escapees from the film set of The African Queen. Ignore rumours of Jimi Hendrix’s supposed liberation of a pair on Carnaby Street. Newly declassified documents from the Ministry Of Defence reveal how Ring-necked Parakeets colonised the UK through Operation Norwegian Blue! 😮 🪶

We have a new survey starting tomorrow! Why not give it a bash and record what's around your local green space?

We've just had one of the geolocators we deployed on a Common Guillemot last summer returned by a local volunteer after the bird died in a seabird wreck this winter. We're so grateful to everyone who report rings and loggers on dead birds. 1/3

Great opportunity to join BTO as Director of Country Operations! Apply online ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs 📝 £68,199 📆 Full time, Permanent. 📍 Stirling, Scotland, but we would consider BTO Cymru or Northern Ireland offices for the right candidate. 🖥️ Hybrid. Closing date: Tuesday 14 April. #Ornithology

(1/) The 2026 BBS season begins in a week’s time! In celebration of this, we are very pleased to share our new BBS videos. They are designed to tell people more about the survey, and how to take part in it: youtu.be/vBt-KH_TwqU @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

Can you help?

BTO and SOC descending on Dundee for the Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference this weekend like:

New BTO Youth event! Want to learn about phone #photography? Book a FREE space on our upcoming wildlife walk hosted by Youth Rep Katie ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/eve... 📆 Saturday 28 March, 10.30am to 12pm. 📝 Open to those aged 18-25.

1/ Five leading charities forge partnership for bird conservation for the Bird Atlas 2027–31! 🐦 But what is the Bird Atlas? ⬇️🧵 #Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social

If you're in or around Dumfries and Galloway next week we'll be speaking to the SOC Dumfries branch on Wednesday evening and then at the Stewartry branch on Thursday. We'll be talking migration and tracking of some amazing birds!

Today and tomorrow we're joining the Scotland's Nature Student Conference @scotnsconf.bsky.social at Stirling University @stir.ac.uk. It's a great chance to meet students from across Scotland and chat with them about BTO's work and opportunities to get involved. #SNSC2026

1/ To celebrate Seachdain na Gàidhlig / World Gaelic Week we’ll be sharing some interesting bits and pieces connecting birds with the Gaelic language. 🐦 Airson Seachdain na Gàidhlig am-bliadhna bidh sinn a’ roinn cuid de rudan inntinneach mu eòin agus a’ chàna. Discover more ⬇️🧵

It's always nice at this time of year to get the email from the @birdtrack.bsky.social team with a summary of your BirdTrack records for the previous year. It's a nice little motivator. Feel free to share yours below! #BirdingScotland

🚨 SOC/BTO Scottish Bird Camp 2026 is GO! Colonsay here we come....Head over to the SOC website to find out more: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

1/ Arctic Skuas are on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. But new BTO-led research reveals just how much we don’t know about their numbers globally. Discover more. ⬇️ #Ornithology #Seabirds 📖 www.bto.org/Arctic-Skua-...

🦉🏕️ We'll launch the details and application for Scottish Bird Camp in the first week of February- keep your eyes peeled here or on the @scottishbirding.bsky.social pages! #BTOYouth #BirdingScotland

This is a fantastic offer of support for young birders to attend the Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference! Thanks to SOC Highland for their generosity.

A very enjoyable @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count at Dunnet Bay this morning with my first Glaucous Gulls of the year - plus a smart Water Pipit was a great bonus! #CaithnessBirds

We still have key vacant sites available in Shetland for the International Swan Census (ISC) this weekend (17th-18th January 2026).🦢 To request a site, please visit: app.bto.org/gsmp/public/... @scottishbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

🚨UPDATE re. our training events 🚨- due to an admin error the two uplands days had a fee associated with them, despite the event info saying they were free. They are free, and the booking fee has been removed. Apologies for the confusion! 🤦https://www.bto.org/about/where/scotland/events-training

If you fancy joining us to find out more about helping with the Breeding Bird Survey @bbs-birds.bsky.social then come along to any of these events. More details in the link: www.bto.org/about/where/... #BirdingScotland

Still some vacant sites in Scotland! If you can help with the International Swan Census on 17th-18th January please click on the link below to find a vacant site near you. #BirdingScotland

On Monday 12th January members of the BTO Scotland team will be out on the road delivering talks to local @scottishbirding.bsky.social branches. Paul and David will be in Glasgow and Steve will be in the Borders. More info here: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/local-... www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/local-...

Can you help us with this important survey in Scotland in 2026? We've been delighted to maintain coverage of over 600 squares each spring since 2019. They are all over Scotland and there will be a vacant square near you. Have a look and find out more. Thanks!!!

Waking up this morning and facing our post-holidays inbox: (Happy New Year to all our followers!)

Wishing all our members and supporters a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2026! We'll be back on here in early January. Until then enjoy the break and we hope you can make some time to get out and enjoy some winter birding!

Here's a fantastic opportunity from SOC. Have a look at the link for more details!

1/ The Scottish Bird indicators are out now! These data – a lot from @bbs-birds.bsky.social from 1994-2024, show how birds in Scotland are faring in different habitats. Woodland birds are doing comparatively well, whereas upland birds are in decline. www.nature.scot/doc/official...

1/ Brilliant to see @bbs-birds.bsky.social survey data from dedicated volunteers in Scotland being used in The Scottish Terrestrial Breeding Bird Indicator published today! ➡️ www.nature.scot/doc/official... #Ornithology #BirdingScotland 🌍 🧪

Thanks to Garden BirdWatchers we know that historically, Redwings are most likely to be reported in gardens during December. These winter migrants visit the UK to escape the colder conditions further north and feast on the remaining autumn berries. Report your garden sightings at www.bto.org/gbw 🪶

Nice video of Nightjar here from back in the summer (turn the audio 🔊up too). Thanks to everyone who took part in the Heathland Birds Survey.

There is still time to sign up to take part in the Winter Bird Survey on a BBS square near you. More information here: bto.org/winbs

Many of you are familiar with using GPS tags to track birds' movements. A recent study on Black Guillemots added a new element into learning more about these wonderful birds' behaviour and foraging habits- depth recorders. 1/2

An excellent thread explaining about how your data helps BTO and partners have a positive impact for the UK's birds!

We would really welcome volunteers helping out with this important survey this winter. Can you help? It's all part of a much bigger international survey, so taking part really has an impact. #BirdingScotland

🚨Bookings for the 2026 Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference are now live! 🚨 Head over to the SOC's website to get yourself booked on. It's a great programme of events- see you there! For more info. and to book your place go here: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/... #BirdingScotland

This #ExploreYourArchive Week we’re delving into our BTO collections, starting with lantern slides belonging to pioneer wildlife photographer Oliver G. Pike (1877-1963). #EYAConservation #WildlifePhotography 🪶

Hats off to the SOC @scottishbirding.bsky.social for a superb Annual Conference. Great speakers and nice to see so many folk out. We loved our walk at @rspbscotland.bsky.social Barons Haugh reserve. Green Sandpiper were the highlight of the 49 species we saw! #BirdingScotland

We're looking forward to catching up with loads of you at the @scottishbirding.bsky.social annual conference in Glasgow this weekend. Come and find us and say hello! #BirdingScotland

The International Swan Census (ISC) is taking place on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026 (WeBS January Core Count weekend), counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans. Follow these simple steps to get involved 👇 @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social #UKBirding #Ornithology

And here's a bird we all hope to get a good look at this winter- the wonderful Waxwing.

This week, we are sharing the most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024. They are all common and familiar species! Find out more about taking part in the survey here: www.bto.org/get-involved... @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology

Winter can be the best time to get a proper look at this small but ferocious falcon. Keep an eye out for them raising hell amongst waders at the coast or even flocks of small birds on farmland. Lovely photo @jamesellison1955.bsky.social

Did you know that the two Light-bellied Brent Goose populations – from Canada and Svalbard – largely winter on Strangford Lough and Lindisfarne respectively, while the birds wintering elsewhere in Britain come from the Russian Dark-bellied population? 📷 Philip Croft / BTO

There's much more to ringing than just longevity records but they're always amazing when they come along. A 29 year old Black-tailed Godwit! We wonder how much mileage it has clocked up in that time?

🚨Hot off the press!🚨A very interesting thread here, and follow the link to the summary of the report. Top work from @ukrbbp.bsky.social

This is a wonderful record to break and it's all down to our many volunteers out there helping to gather incredibly valuable data- thanks to everyone that has helped!

If any of our followers are in Northern Ireland this conference is well worth joining! Booking is open until Sunday and there are still some spaces available.

Island birding is all about context- often birds that are common on the mainland are extremely rare on the islands. Top find here on Tiree!

We were just talking about these owls and their amazing international movements last night! Thanks to @rspbscotland.bsky.social members group in Edinburgh for hosting us!