Hard to imagine mainstream news trumpeting the killing of the biggest Red Deer of the year, or the heaviest Pink-footed Goose, largest Red Fox, or even the biggest Brown Trout. But championing the killing of marine wildlife for sport is just fine, totally normalised. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Willow Tree Fen this pm 15 Crane, 35 Marsh Harrier, 207 Whooper Swan, 38 Goosander, 10 L Egret, GW Egret, 8 G Heron the best Great to see my first European Eel tonight even if it was being wolfed down by a Heron @lincswildlife.bsky.social @lincsbirding.bsky.social @matthewfitzgerald.bsky.social

Latest Greenland White-fronted Goose population estimate: 13,303. Now 13,302 (that we know of). I dread every ringing recovery that lands in my inbox - another bird lost to illegal shooting in Iceland. We can’t afford to lose any more. 📸David Dinsley

The European Bewick's Swan population more than halved between 1995 and 2020, accordingly to a newly published paper:

📉 Our new paper shows Bewick’s Swan numbers in NW/NE Europe have fallen to ~12,900 birds - a 56.7% decline since 1995, with further losses predicted by 2026 unless survival or breeding success improves. Flyway-wide conservation is urgent. 🦢 Download paper > tidsskrift.dk/Wildfowl/art... #Ornithology

#NatureLoversOnFacebook Ladies and Gentlemen, we have another one. #birds Comment no 3

🎉The good news just keeps coming! Late last night, MSPs voted in favour of using the Natural Environment Bill to close an unintended loophole in legislation to licence grouse moor shooting. This is a major step forward in protecting Scotland’s wildlife. Full quote in image 👇 📷: Andy Hay

This is MSP John Mason. He supports the Guga hunt (bludgeoning of Gannet chicks for tradition) as long as the population is stable or increasing. Don't be like John.

Another Hen Harrier suspected illegally killed on a grouse moor, her satellite tag had been 'removed'. Details and commentary ⬇️⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/11/a...

At Avian Haven, most eagles admitted show some level of lead exposure linked to fragments from lead ammo. Sadly, Avian Haven recently lost a golden eagle to extreme lead levels, underscoring the ongoing risk. Officials in Maine are urging a shift to lead-free ammo. #eagleconservation #hunting

Derbyshire Constabulary appeals for information 3 months later. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/07/p...

"Tek your time over it, lad, we don't want to embarrass his lordship with a prosecution."

The world's oldest known bird has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for the 2025-26 breeding season:

Eyebrook Reservoir 07/12/25 Great to catch up with a pair of Smew on Sunday. Also managed to dig out 6 Greater Scaup among the hundreds of Tufted Ducks. Also, 40+ Golden Plover, 250+ Lapwing, Great Egret, 3 Little Egret & a Kestrel @lrosbirds.bsky.social

This is a fantastic site, and well worth supporting if you are able. As good as it is (& I’ve been watching it for c25 years) it has the potential to be even better with appropriate management. A great opportunity for nature recovery in this intensively farmed county #lincsbirding

Hi all, the next Leicester Peregrines watch will be on Tuesday 9th December weather permitting. Come and say hello to the group at the Leicester Cathedral gardens from 9.30am to 12.30 as usual @lrosbirds.bsky.social #ukbirding #peregrines #leicester

Scientists slam Canada-US proposal to lower trade protections for peregrine falcons #RaptorResearch news.mongabay.com/2025/11/scie...

“The highest levels were found in Irish breakfast cereal, followed by Belgian wholemeal bread, then German wholemeal bread, then French baguette. It was found across a huge range of products, from spaghetti, to cheese scones and ginger bread.” 🥖

Attempt to downlist conservation status of Peregrine Falcons to allow international trade is thwarted at CITES Conference. #CITESCoP20 Good news for Peregrines, but not sure why UK voted to support this proposal! #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/04/a...

Hen Harrier found poisoned on a grouse moor in North Yorkshire. Once again, details have only come to light through scrutiny of a spreadsheet - where's the publicity from the Police? This is supposed to be a national wildlife crime priority! #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/01/h...

Have had the ringing details on the Pied Flycatcher back from @btobirds.bsky.social. It was ringed as an adult female on 20th May 2024 at Afon Artro, Gwynedd, 155 km NNW of Glebelands Park. #gwentbirding #birdingWales

More detail on Natural England's decision to close its Hen Harrier Southern Reintroduction Project (& a discussion on how much public funding has been wasted on this pointless project). #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/02/m...

Goshawk dies from gunshot injuries in Aberdeenshire. Police Scotland appeals for information. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/01/g...

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to save one of the largest areas of grassland left in Lincolnshire. Can you help us purchase and protect Hawthorpe for nature before it is ploughed and lost forever? Find out more: lincstrust.org.uk/hawthorpe-appeal

A single camera-trap image captured in Nepal's has dramatically expanded the known western range of Asian Golden Cat by nearly 400 km:

Fears have been expressed for Lesser Kestrel populations in the Mediterranean after an intense heatwave killed the majority of chicks at an Italian colony:

The first specific, National Park-wide survey of peregrine falcons in 20 years has revealed a continuing downward trend in numbers. Read more here ➡️ https://bit.ly/44jcee0 📷 Fergus Gill

A major new feasibility study has concluded that European Wildcats could roam south-west England, more than a century after the species vanished from the region:

Even consummate migrants like Corncrakes can end up being ship-assisted, although presumably being adopted by a family and fed prawns is a rarer occurrence.... #UKBirding #Ornithology www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2563328...

Didactic video featuring two species which have declined catastrophically due to disease transfer at feeding stations. Birds infected with Trichomonas struggle to eat and will drop food items from their beaks, which are then eaten by healthy birds, hence RSPB no longer sells table feeders #UKBirding

We're now starting to get reports of dead Whooper Swans with rings. If you find a dead bird & feel comfortable doing so - check for rings using the below @btobirds.bsky.social advice 👇🏻 Collecting information on ringed birds helps better understand the impact on different age groups.

Arun Valley, West Sussex - 85 Species Highlights: WT Eagle (adult pair with kill), Peregrine 2, Hen Harrier 3 (1m, 2rt), Marsh Harrier 6, Firecrest, L Redpoll 40, Crossbill, Bullfinch 6, Goosander, Mandarin 2, Ruff 2, Dunlin, BT Godwit 106, GW Egret & Cattle Egret 50+ @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Hard agree. Incredible that you can routinely drive in winter from Grantham to Norwich now and not see a single flock. It is increasingly becoming a bird of reserves and not the wider countryside, even in winter #UKBirding

Didn't think I'd get one of these after not having any in the peak season, but very nice to get finally get a patch Common Scoter. Also, 2 Caspian Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-winter), Yellow-Legged Gull (1st-winter) 12 Mandarin, 12 Lapwing, a few Siskin and a Great White Egret @lrosbirds.bsky.social

This is disgusting in all regards. The crime, the time and the silence. As soon as these crimes have been committed and announcing info won’t risk an investigation, then this should be communicated nationally as fast as possible.

One of the nicest sights y'day was watching a local Barn Owls quartering meadows along the edge of the valley. This is a species that still seems to be struggling to return to numbers seen in previous years. One step forward, two steps back... @linnetincley.bsky.social #NorfolkBirding #cleybirds

A grim read - Lesser Kestrels at the 1000-pair colony in Matera, Italy suffering large losses (65%) as a result of climate-induced heatwaves. For every 10 chicks, the heat killed 7. Not sure how they will adapt to that… www.lifefalkon.eu/en/news/the-...

Worrying increase in bird flu in wild birds in Spain, Cranes in particular are affected. Spain has huge numbers of Cranes in winter, forming large concentrations. Already dead birds are being found. 🪶 @iancarter67.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social seo.org/actualizamos...

The recent sighting of a calf of the world's rarest cetacean – Vaquita – has provided a glimmer of hope for the Critically Endangered species:

A new study has warned that the decline of dozens of European waterbird and seabird species began long before modern monitoring began, meaning current conservation targets are likely set far too low:

Worcester Cathedral Peregrine Chicks Confirmed Poisoned Post-mortems reveal all three chicks from the cathedral's famous peregrine nest died after ingesting poison - though how it happened remains a mystery. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/W...

Real wildlife laws unlike feudal Britain

Worrying reports of bird flu (avian influenza) are coming in, including an outbreak in Whooper Swans in the Fens. Other waterbirds are also being affected, and cases are rising. 📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

We hear a lot about deer in woodlands, but here in the treeless Fens I'm widely seeing about 30+ deer per square km. Mostly Roe deer, but lots of Chinese Water Deer, some Muntjac and rarely a Fallow. That's far more Roe than i ever see in woodland or more woody regions.

Contamination by rodenticides is very broad & widespread. Passerines, invertebrates, many predator pathways. Most birds of prey are contaminated. The industry's own watchdog has called out the rampant illegal use, which is basically uncontrollable/unenforced: bpca.org.uk/news-and-blo...

Peregrines are now also common victims of secondary poisoning by rodenticides; they eat pigeons, doves and corvids which access poisoned bait stations which are ubiquitous in urban environments wildlifepoisoningresearchuk.wordpress.com/wp-content/u... #UKBirding #Ornithology

4 Northern Bald Ibis were killed with an air rifle in Extremadura in 2019. Covid caused issues with the police investigation, but they continues & last month the guilty party was sentenced, 1 year prison term, banned from hunting & fishing for 3 years & a 20,000Euro fine. @raptorpersuk.bsky.social

We have amazing minerals in Charnwood Forest! 🔷 Azurite 🟩 Malachite They both contain copper, but with vividly different colours! 📍 New Cliffe Hill Quarry 🏛 Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Going, going....