Many thanks to the 20 sites who participated in yesterday's #westmidsalldayer - 4 sites managed to break the 100 mark with Blithfield narrowly pipping Belvide to the post. I'll pull together a list of all the species seen across the sites (usually c140 species). Well done all 👏

If you are a WeBS counter and would like to take part in ISC at your WeBS site during your WeBS Core Count, email [email protected]. You can then take part without creating a GSMP account. Photo: Sarah Kelman/BTO @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social #UKBirding

🦢The International Swan Census involves counters to carry out a one-off count on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026. This involves counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans, as well as recording age assessments and habitat. Visit the vacant site map⬇️ app.bto.org/gsmp/public/... #Ornithology

Next up for #WeBSSpeciesSpotlight ...🥁 Teal The Teal is our smallest duck, with WeBS results showing peak numbers between October and February ❄️ Keep an eye out, as we have just seen our first Autumn arrival at the @btobirds.bsky.social reserve in Norfolk today! #ornithology

Great Egret still present on Forge Mill Lake this am. 3 Tufted Duck broods, 2 Gadwall broods @ecorecord.bsky.social

Drake Garganey still present on FML this am. Also 1 Common Sand + Kingfisher

Barnacle Goose at Wyndley Pool, Sutton Park this am. Also good views of Kingfishers.

First time birding in Yorkshire! Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper all lined up within 10 mins of arriving @rspbblacktoftsands.bsky.social

🌟Tern up the good news! We visited @SthStaffsWater Blithfield today to check on our Common Terns after early concerns about low adult numbers & we’re delighted to report a tern-around💚 ✅ Active nests spotted 🐣 Chicks already hatching Natures bouncing back🤩

4 Common Sandpipers at Forge Mill Lake this am @ecorecord.bsky.social

Saw this ringed Lesser Black-Backed Gull at Stubbers Green on Monday. Ringed as a chick in Worcester in 2023, next reported in A Coruña, Spain on April 24th this year, and now living the dream in Walsall this summer! @ecorecord.bsky.social

This Sunday is the last Priority Core Count date of the 2024/25 WeBS year! 🎉 Please ensure that you input your data for the whole year ASAP, so that our Local Organisers can carry out the annual job of data validation! 💻 @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social

Red Kite and 5 LRPs at Whitemoor Haye this afternoon. Lots of ground works being done on the field opp. Roadside pit, with the sound of singing Skylarks directly above them! :( @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

We are looking for a @WeBS_UK counter for Edgbaston Reservoir - an accessible site close to the centre of Birmingham. If you think you can help please contact me via DM or via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at bit.ly/4de8cHb #WeBSSiteInsight #YourWeBSJourney

“Nature holds the answers to so many of today’s problems.” 🌿💚 - @chris4patches.bsky.social Check out Chris Millward's new piece for the West Midlands news - he connects the dots between Brum’s 600+ green spaces, our mental health, and the city’s future. A powerful read!

Pair of Med Gulls and 4 LRPs at Marsh Lane NR yesterday

This week is national Volunteers’ Week! So we’ll be taking the opportunity all week to celebrate and thank our amazing volunteers who fuel WeBS and GSMP and make the work that we do possible. #volunteersweek

Some more positive news from the #WITUK report 🎉📈 To see trends of non-breeding waterbirds in the UK, go to page 11 of the report linked below, or go to WeBS Report Online and search for individual species 🦆 @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

The latest Waterbirds in the UK report (using data from WeBS & GSMP) shows positive news for Pink-footed Geese! 🎉📈 Read more on page 26: 🔗www.bto.org/webs-annual-report💻 @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social #ornithology #CitSci

Great White Egrets are one of our success stories of recent years, with their rapid expansion throughout the UK. 🎉📈 Go to page 29 of the Waterbirds in the UK report to find out more ⬇️ #Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

Some of the (at least) 88 Ringed Plover at Blithfield Tad Bay this evening @ 7pm. Also 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 10 Dunlin, 8 Sanderling, 1 GW Egret, 1 YL Gull. In Blithe Bay, 2 Curlew at 8pm.

The latest @webs-gsmp.bsky.social report is out now! Take a look at how waterbirds are faring in this thread ⬇️ or visit our website: www.bto.org/webs-annual-report 🌍 🌐

Cuckoo seen and heard this evening at Marsh Lane NR, before being mobbed by BH Gulls. Never seen so many Greylag goslings!

If you're near Birmingham, you can also join #BTOYouth at RSPB Sandwell Valley for Big Bird Race! This event is on Saturday 24 May, 10am-2pm, and is open to all ages and birding abilities. Sign up ➡️ www.bto.org/community/ev... #Team4Nature @ramandeep-nij.bsky.social @chris4patches.bsky.social

Free beginner birdwatching event at @rspb.bsky.social Sandwell Valley on Sat 24 May, 10am–2pm Join @btoengland.bsky.social youth rep Ramandeep, @chris4patches.bsky.social Team4Nature for a fun, welcoming day of birding for all ages & experience levels. Info & booking: www.bto.org/community/ev...

It's not long until BTO's Big Bird Race, starting on Saturday 24 May! Bring your friends and family together for an enjoyable day, with prizes for the winners. Sign up ➡️ bit.ly/_BigBirdRace

The @bbs-birds.bsky.social 2024 report is out now and shows a worrying 71% decline for Cuckoo across England since 1994. Read the full report online now ➡️ www.bto.org/bbs-results #ConservationScience🌍

Heartwarming news from the Midlands! 🦅Against all odds, 4 precious Peregrine Falcon chicks were colour-ringed at a site where they face constant threats. Seeing them healthy and thriving fills us with hope and joy! 🌟💚 #wildlifeconservation #PeregrineFalcons #naturewins

Are you a birder in Birmingham? We are looking for a counter for the Cannon Hill Park Lakes - an accessible site with birds suitable for beginner birders. If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at bit.ly/4de8cHb #WeBSSiteInsight #YourWeBSJourney

Stonechats, Firecrests and Spotted Flys galore near Salcombe and Overbecks, south Devon this week. Female + Immature male Eider in the Estuary, as well as a lone male Barwit in breeding plumage. #devonbirds @btoengland.bsky.social

7 cygnets freshly emerged at Hill Hook NR on the Mill Pool this morning @ecorecord.bsky.social 🎵Complicating, circulating New life, new life Operating, generating New life, new life🎵

Whitemoor Haye this evening. 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Dunlin, 1 Blackwit, 2 LRP, 1 Redshank, 2 YHammer, 8 Oystercatcher. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Minor patch news. A Cetti’s Warbler has returned to Great Barr Hall Lakes. Hadn’t been heard for about 3 months after being present all year last year. @ecorecord.bsky.social

First of this years duckling seen today on my local patch. A surprise visitor was also seen, a lone shoveler in the distance @webs-gsmp.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

Calling all nature lovers in cities, towns and villages! 🐦🦆 Have you signed up to our Birds in Greenspaces pilot survey yet? ➡️ bit.ly/birds-greensp... #UKBirding #Birds

Do you have any birding equipment that is in need of a new home? Donate it to BTO and we'll help to redistribute it to a young person, school or university across the UK. ➡️ www.bto.org.uk/equip... #BirdingGear The Equipment Donation Scheme is kindly supported by @opticron.bsky.social

1 of 3 Yellow Wagtails near Barr Beacon today. 5 Yellowhammers and 4 Lapwings in surrounding farmland too. @ecorecord.bsky.social

1 Dunlin, 7 LRP, 2 Yellow Wagtail, and at least 1 White Wagtail at Blithfield causeway this evening. 2 GW Egrets and a possible adult YL Gull in Tad Bay though could have been LBBG x Herring hybrid. Was distant! @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

2 Whooper Swans still at Whitemoor Haye this PM

Sutton Park Longmoor Valley and Pool area this am. Pair of Little Grebe, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, pair of Mute Swan, 6 Reed Bunting, 8 Meadow Pipit, 3 Kestrel, 6 Linnet, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps and 34 ChiffChaffs @ecorecord.bsky.social

Definitely one of my favourite birds! :D Amazing just watching and listening to them! #stopandstare

Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Rook, ChiffChaff, Greenfinch and Chaffinch all present at Barr Beacon today. No Yellowhammer yet this year. 🤞@ecorecord.bsky.social

Booked my place on the course to refresh myself on birdsongs and calls, there are still places available for anyone wishing to refresh their skills too.

Today is the March WeBS Core Count! So let's get out and count our waterbirds! 🦆 @rspbscience.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

1 in 6 species are now at risk of extinction in the UK We must use the #PlanningBill to turn the tide of decline We need bold leadership, collaboration & smart planning for a future where nature, climate, people & economy thrive together Take action today > action.rspb.org.uk/page/159517/...

Killing gulls is not the answer. You may have seen calls for gulls in urban areas to be killed. There's a better way forward to tackle some of the challenges and secure the future for seabirds. We've shared what we think: community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/sc... Image: Grahame Madge (rspb-images.com)

A Common Gull at Doe Bank Park this am. Seen fairly regular over the last few weeks. Likes to settle on the goalposts with the BH Gulls early morning, before the football starts. A conservative count of 17 Skylarks in the surrounding farmland too was great to see. @ecorecord.bsky.social

31 species at Queslett Nature Reserve this morning, including a male Bullfinch and both Green and GS Woodpeckers present. Decent numbers of Greenfinch around the whole Great Barr area lately @ecorecord.bsky.social