The 2026 SMP Newsletter is here! Read it (and sign up to receive future editions) here: www.bto.org/our-work/sci... to find out about the SMP's 40th anniversary, latest developments, the science of seabird poo, and more! #birds #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Them: "Go outside in Nature, it is great for relieving stress" Me, who is stressed because when working in Nature (reserves) I'm seeing the rubbish everywhere, dogs off lead scaring wildlife, dog poo, cats hunting lizards, areas set on fire, ponds destroyed by constant dog activity..: "Ok, thanks"

Edgbaston res The pair of LRPs are still here amazingly. And by the looks of things valiantly trying to do something. Here's one of the pair today, sat on a scrape Problem is, it's tremendously accessible. Dogs, people, not to mention other predators. Real shame #ukbirding @ecorecord.bsky.social

2/Over the last 20 years Black-headed Gull has declined by almost half, Common Gull numbers fell by 26%, Lesser Black-backed Gull by 47% and Great Black-backed Gull by 66%! However, Herring Gull remained largely stable, but there were some regional differences with the species declining in Scotland.

1/ The latest Winter Gull Survey revealed that over the two decades since the last count, the total number of gulls wintering in the UK has decreased from 3.9 million to just under 2.5 million! 📉 #Ornithology #Seabirds 📖 Read the report www.bto.org/WinGSReport#Ornithology#Seabirds

Today is the May WeBS Priority Core Count! What have you seen on your WeBS site today? #ornithology #birdingUK

The Friends of Hill Hook Local Nature Reserve are now on BlueSky! We are a community group who manage a small local nature reserve in Sutton Coldfield (W. Mids). Follow us to find out about the reserve’s wildlife, events & volunteer opportunities. @bosfonline.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social

My first Sedge Warbler of the year singing at Babbs Mill Lake LNR this am. Also Cettis and Reed Warbler @solihullcouncil.bsky.social @mercianbirding.bsky.social

It’s scandalous that dogs are allowed off-lead indiscriminately in what is a National Nature Reserve. Unfortunately most local residents think it’s just another ‘park’.

Disappointing news from Sutton Park 💔 Stonechat pairs dropped from 6 to just 1 in 5 years largely due to increased dog disturbance. These birds nest on the ground & are easily disturbed. 🐾 Please keep dogs on leads 🚶 Stick to paths Small actions = big impact for wildlife😞

2/ As always, this year’s Waterbirds in the UK report would not have been possible without the dedication from our volunteers, contributing to these trends to give us a better understanding on how our waterbirds are faring. Thank you! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

1/ The latest 2024/25 Waterbirds in the UK report has just been published and can be viewed online www.bto.org/wituk 🎉 Physical copies will be reaching your doorsteps very soon! 🗞️ To view the updated numbers and trends, visit www.bto.org/webs-reporting #Ornithology #CitSci

Ring necked duck at Chasewater this afternoon

1/ The 2025 BBS Report is out now! It was a record year for volunteers taking part, with 2,800+ visiting 4,058 survey squares across the UK, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. A huge thank you to our volunteers! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology

Drake Mandarin on Blackroot Pool, Sutton Park. Also 4 Sand Martin and a Swallow over. All firsts for the year for me! :) @ecorecord.bsky.social

It's good to see wildlife organisations taking the harm caused by dogs seriously. It's much easier to ignore, particularly given the often psychotic response of entitled dog owners

Following the results from our Feb recording challenge, 28 Birds Later, we thought we'd share some of our favourite photos from this year. Thanks again to everyone who took part! 🦆 BlueSky only allows 4 photos per post — for more of our favourites, visit our Insta @ecorecording or FB @ecorecord

Why it’s good to have a messy garden… #wildlifegardening @joelashton.bsky.social

This Sunday, 22nd, is the February WeBS Core Count! Let's get out and count our wetland birds! 🌊 #Ornithology #UKbirding @rspbscience.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social

A few more from my Winter Farmland Bird Survey this morning, the Slavonian Grebes were just outside the transect routes but a welcome addition @bbs-birds.bsky.social

We are proud to announce that our wonderful partners @bosfonline.bsky.social will be at the very heart of the Brum Biosphere mechanism. We warmly invite you watch their celebration of 20 years of voluntary action to inspire your community 😎 m.youtube.com/watch?v=ENaU...

A MASSIVE heads up to everyone that is proud of Brum and the West Midlands! Our social historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE is starting a new podcast to create a living record of our time through conversations with grassroots campaigners & changemakers! ourlives-ourstories.kit.com/launch

1 Black Redstart back patrolling the rooftops in Streethay this am. A silver lining to the sound of singing skylarks above the adjacent construction site :( @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

7 RL Partridge at Hillwood Common Road this am @ecorecord.bsky.social

Great to see a few Brambling amongst the Chaffinches at Sutton Park today. I’m still yet to connect with the Firecrest though, despite best efforts! @ecorecord.bsky.social

Taking part in #BigGardenBirdwatch today or over the weekend? Head over to our dedicated BGBW feed for all the birdy chat, sightings and joy! PS Yes, of course we want to see your tea-and-biscuit set-ups ☕🍪👇 bsky.app/profile/did:...

(1/) Corn Bunting, with its song that sounds to some like a set of keys being jangled, declined by 83% across the UK between 1967 and 2023. However, in more recent years, this species has increased, especially in certain areas. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

We hope everyone taking part in the ISC this weekend is ‘swanning about’ successfully! For more information on the Census and how to enter your data, please visit: www.bto.org/gsmp-isc #IWC60 #Ornithology

@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Whitemoor Haye: 1 Stonechat, 2 RC Pochard, 23 Egyptian Goose, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 GW Egret

The International Swan Census takes place this weekend, 17-18 January. If you record any Bewick's or Whooper Swans in BirdTrack, we would greatly appreciate if you could add details on the number of adults and juveniles, habitat and location pinpoint #ukbirding Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman / BTO

@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Whitemoor Haye: 5 Grey Partridge, 3 Bullfinch, 19 Egyptian Goose, 1 GW Egret, 2 RC Pochard

RSPB to bid for Hayle Estuary sites. https://cbwps.org.uk/rspb-to-bid-for-hayle-estuary-sites/

An early start and long shift to clear, set up and monitor feeding stations @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social was rewarded with some quality birding: Jack Snipe 90+ Stock Dove Peregrine 3 Stonechat 14 Crossbill SW ➡️ Uffmoor Wood 10+ Lesser Redpoll Now 45+ Yellowhammer! 12+ Reed Bunting

Fantastic to see that Yellowhammer numbers have now reached 30 at @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social 😍 A little sample of them were captured in this photo. Don’t you just love Nature Friendly Farming on Brum’s urban fringe! 😎 @worcswt.bsky.social @bbcwildlifetrust.bsky.social @bosfonline.bsky.social

A little bit of bird photography at Hill Hook LNR this lunchtime. Pond was mostly frozen so relatively few waterbirds (no diving ducks), but as well as Robin & Long-tailed Tit, a flock of Siskin was active high in the Alders. @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @jamiehicken.bsky.social

New Year's resolution Thinking of giving something back to birds in 2026? A wide range of BTO surveys needs volunteers, writes Chris Harbard, and there's something suitable for every birder, whatever your level of experience:

Wishing all our counters, Local Organisers, volunteers and supporters a very happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you for all your hard work and support this year and we are looking forward to seeing what WeBS counts show in 2026! 🎄

6 Yellowhammer near Comberford around 2pm today. At least 4 RL Partridge, 1 GW Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese. Didn’t connect with the Cattle Egret unfortunately @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Woodpigeon is a familiar species to most of us. Not everyone knows that thousands of Woodpigeons migrate south each year over the UK during late October and November. This is especially noticeable in southern England. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

WeBS data has been used to produce the latest population estimates of waterbirds in Great Britain, showing an estimated 20 Mallard for every Gadwall present in winter. #Ornithology #UKBirding

Can we give a big welcome to Abi Mullin, our new Nature Engagement Officer, who’ll be helping more people get involved in their local green spaces in Nechells, Bordesley and Highgate and Balsall Heath, #Birmingham If you would like to get in touch with Abi, you can reach her at [email protected]

Today is the December WeBS Priority Core Count! Keep a look out for out winter visitors! 👀 @_BTO @RSPBScience @JNCC_UK

At least 16 Ravens circling over Doe Bank Park and adj. fields this am @ecorecord.bsky.social

Pink Footed Goose at Hill Hook LNR earlier today @ecorecord.bsky.social Found by @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

Stubbers Green this am: 2 Common Gull 2 GBB Gull 7 LBB Gull 4 Herring Gull 129 BH Gull 2 Pochard 5 Teal 79 Lapwing 28 Tufted 17 Moorhen @ecorecord.bsky.social

Pink-footed Goose this morning on the Mill Pool at Hill Hook NR was a probably a site first (certainly a first for me); also added to house list. Also 2 Cormorant, 2 Shoveler (m+f) & an impressive 115 BHG; 2 Little Egret + 3 Cormorant present yesterday @ecorecord.bsky.social @ruthnewby.bsky.social

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

Next spring, we’re launching our Birds in Greenspaces project, which focuses on counting birds in publicly accessible spaces. It’s open to everyone and we’d love you to be involved. 😀

31 species around Hill Hook NR this morning - in addition to the below WeBS count I also had Skylark, Nuthatch, Siskin, Grey Wagtail, Redpoll and Raven @ecorecord.bsky.social @ruthnewby.bsky.social