Kate Fox

Incredible ringing recovery this AM by Stour Ringing Group of a Kestrel caught near Arne which was carrying a Dutch ring and a sat-tag. Well done for getting the data so quickly. Amazing movement for a bird that typically isn’t considered to move large distances. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Incredible news! In 2022 The first chick to fledge for 180 years in the South of England was female ‘5H1’.
Last year she raised 3 of her own chicks near Rutland including 8R3, which our team ringed. 8R3 was just seen in the Gambia by Fansu Bojang. Great to see 3rd generation Ospreys now thriving!

Fab morning @careyssecretgarden.bsky.social Migration Festival Part Two

Had a chance to learn more about bird ringing with @harbourbirds.bsky.social & hear from Chris Packham & Megan McGubbin about bird slaughter in Malta & Cyprus & recent work against North Dorset Hunt

www.operationdeadair.org

Eider Volunteer. Are you good at spotting Eiders in bracken? Help us map nests and dazzle adults. This role will also involve seabird ringing.

The position runs from 28th Apr - 22nd Jun (dates flexible). Deadline: 3rd Mar 2026, for full details contact calfbirdwarden@mwt.im

Eider 📸Kate Fox

3/4

Fancy experiencing life on a remote island bird observatory? We're looking for spring/summer volunteers (see following thread)! 1/4

*Appointment of these voluntary positions is conditional upon the outcome of a tender that has not yet been awarded (as of 30/01/26).

Shag and birding 📸s: Kate Fox

Even though more common now I still get excited seeing Med Gulls, so was buzzing when we just stumbled across a flock of c330 in a random field SE of Dorchester (along A352)!

#UKbirding #DorsetBirds
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @edjbetteridge.bsky.social

📢 DEADLINE APPROACHING...

...for the 2026 BOU Summer Placement Scheme

Financially supporting undergraduate students to carry out summer #ornithology research placements 🪶

Application deadline: 30 January 2026

Guidelines & application form: bou.org.uk/funding/s...

Readjusting to civilisation after saying farewell to @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social last week! A brilliant season with a lovely team, learning so many skills and making great memories 🐦💚🛠️

Now onto the next adventure, back to my Dorset roots!

Last weekend we closed down the observatory and said goodbye to the Calf for the winter. It's been a great season - thanks to all who have helped to make this year a success!

📸 @birdingfox.bsky.social

@manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

23rd October Unlike yesterday, there were no great expectations for today's birding prospects in a 40mph northwesterly and the day's list struggled to ge...

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/23rd-october.html

It’s always exciting getting a first for the Calf in the moth trap… but even more special when they are as stunning as this OLEANDER HAWKMOTH! 🤩

@calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A great bird boat around Poole Harbour yesterday morning with @harbourbirds.bsky.social, highlighted with great views of WT Eagle, 7 Curlew Sand (12 species of wader), Honey Buzzard, Bearded Tit, 62 Spoonbills, Kingfisher etc with great views of more WT Eagles over Carey today #ukbirding

A young COMMON ROSEFINCH ringed at the Observatory today!

A nice addition to the arrival of migrants, with a notable increase in Robins and Swallow passage, a family of 4 Pink-Footed Geese, 13 Golden Plover and 13 Redshank also.

www.trektellen.org/count/view/2...

📸 Matt Livsey

#ukbirding

Pied Flycatcher

Second autumn vagrant in a week: RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER above Gibdale this morning, the first August record and 1st since 2020!

Also a more showy Pied Flycatcher present (pictured) for a handy comparison.

📸 Matthew Livsey

#ukbirding

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

A young Barred Warbler in the hand

Birders check yer bramble bushes… immature BARRED WARBLER ringed at the Observatory this morning!

Autumn migration is well underway with birds continuing to trickle through the Calf, and this beauty was an exciting addition to the net round.

📸 @birdingfox.bsky.social

#ukbirding

Highlight of the morning, a bird I’ve always wanted to see up close. What a chonker! 🤩

With autumn migration picking up, hopefully a sign of more good things to come 🤞

@birdguides.bsky.social

🗺️🐦 Our Wheatears are on the move!

One of this year’s Wheatear chicks colour-ringed on the Calf was seen at the Lower Otter Restoration Project in Budleigh Salterton, Devon!

One of over 100 pulli we ringed this year, with over 30 nests monitored.

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
#ukbirding

Sign ups for Guillemates 2025/ 2026, for mentors and mentees. Deadline 19th September. Any q's email Jacqui - ecr@seabirdgroup.org.uk.

Early career researcher who'd love a mentor? Or mid-career (onwards) looking to give back AS a mentor?

Sign up below for the new round of Guillemates 🥰🐧
Mentees👉 forms.gle/cdktNREkhUDb...
Mentors👉 forms.gle/uwA9X9giUPnA...

Such a great learning (or supporting!) opportunity 👩‍👩‍👦‍👦
Pls share! #seabirds

3/3 The majority of chicks were colour ringed, allowing them to be identified in the field. We also had success catching adults in the breeding colonies, so we’re excited to see where they spend their winters.

Keep an eye out for the Calf Class of 2025!

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
#seabirds

The Bird Team ringing Herring Gull chicks at Cow Harbour

The Wardens ringing gull chicks

A Warden ringing Great Black-backed Gull chicks

2/ Herring Gulls did well with 277 chicks ringed (2x the highest total from the last 3 years and highest since 2019). LBB Gulls did poorly, with only 3 chicks ringed and stronghold colonies devoid of chicks. GBB Gull chick numbers were on par with the last 5/6 years, with 39 ringed.

#seabirds

A volunteer being trained in taking measurements on a Shag

The Calf Team counting seabirds from the boat

Shag ringing training on the coastal slopes of the Calf

A gull nest among wildflowers

🐣 With the breeding season coming to an end, let’s look back at how our seabird colonies have done this year!

The Bird Team have been busy counting nests, monitoring productivity and ringing chicks and adults to help us understand how they’re doing. 1/

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
#seabirds

Coming to the end of my first week working in Dorset. Not a bad start with over 350 birds ringed including 71 Groppers! And last night got lucky with great flight views of the Purple Heron! #ukbirding
@birdingfox.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

At the end of July our next free Young Birders event for 13-18s is an exciting Raptor and Osprey Watch with bird book giveaway 🦅
Find out more and sign up below ⬇️
www.birdsofpooleharbourbookings.co.uk/young-birders
📸Osprey CJ7 by Mark Wright

🌌 Always special seeing Storm Petrels up close ✨

A session at @calfofmanbirdobs.bsky.social on Wednesday night under a bright moon produced 7 new birds plus a retrap from last year.

One bird had some funky leucism on its foot, giving the Manxie look a go!

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social

Breeding plumage Laughing Gull viewed from underneath

Breeding Plumage Laughing Gull

Ed and Eleanor watching the Laughing Gull flying over the sea

LAUGHING GULL found by @edjbetteridge.bsky.social this afternoon!

Smart summer-plumage adult, very vocal circling with other gulls for 15mins before heading towards the Isle of Man.

@manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social
@britishbirds.bsky.social
@rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

4/4 After the females have left the nest, we return to check if they were successful. If so, we can estimate the number of chicks from the fragments of hatched shells around left the nest 🐣 This feeds into the @btobirds.bsky.social Nest Record Scheme, informing about Eider productivity!

3/4 Once their chicks hatch, they walk them down to the sea and work their way round to the north of the island. There they wait for the tide to be just right so that they can paddle their family across the Sound to the Isle of Man to raise them!

2/4 Catching the females informs us about our breeding population and their habits. One female retrapped this year was ringed on the Calf in 2009, a new Calf longevity record!

We also find some females consistently nesting earlier or later, and many returning to the same areas year on year

🦆 Eider Update! 🐣

The Bird Team have been busy over the past 2 months monitoring our breeding Eiders. They’ve been mapping nests, recording clutch size and catching the females as part of a long-term project.

So far this season they’ve found 76 nests, predominantly in bracken and heather… 1/4

🦆🔭 Join our Team!

We’re looking for a passionate ringer & birder to join our friendly team as Assistant Bird Warden! The role will involve monitoring autumn migration through daily census and bird ringing.

To find out more 👇
www.mwt.im/jobs/calf-ma...

🗓️ Applications close Friday 18th July