Thomas

juvenile Shag off New Passage this morning.

juvenile Shag

A juvenile Shag & Fulmar were nice finds by @thomasweston.bsky.social at Severn Beach. Hopefully the first of some decent seabirds over the next few days (Sabine's Gull & Wilson's Petrel have already been seen in the Bristol channel in the last 2 days). The Shag showed nicely off New Passage later.

Juvenile Shag upriver past Severn Beach 1018 now by Shaft rocks. @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @martynhayes.bsky.social @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Shag off Severn Beach drifting upriver @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @bristolbirding.bsky.social @martynhayes.bsky.social

Fulmar currently floating up to the new Severn Bridge before preforming short flights to avoid going under. Tide still rising so presume the bird will spend the remaining hour and a half here. @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @martynhayes.bsky.social @severnsidebirds.bsky.social

Fulmar Severn Beach 0903 @bristolbirding.bsky.social @severnsidebirds.bsky.social

5 Garganey (pic pf all), 3 Spoonbill, 2 Great egrets, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Cranes and more from the Zeiss this afternoon at Slimbridge WWT. @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social @wwtworldwide.bsky.social #Glosbirds

Some of the great species currently on show at Slimbridge WWT recently. The Wood sand on the Tack Piece, 1/2 Spoonbill on the Rushy, the Tundra Bean Goose (first I've seen since Iceland 2023, with previous at Slimbridge one winter long ago), and the Blackwit flock with a fresh Juv. #Glosbirds

Slimbridge WWT south lake highlights from yesterday: Showy Garganey, 1/2 Spot Red, and a colour ringed Herring Gull from one of the local urban areas. Tundra Bean, large Godwit flocks, 1st juv Ruff of autumn and 6 Pochards. @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social #Glosbirds

Crossbills on the move again on the South Coast. Keep an eye out @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social for more! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Lesser white fronted goose of dubious origin at Poole Park today! @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

One of the largest Toads I think I've ever seen was a highlight of my @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys last night on a quiet bog in Dorset. The surveys were made less quiet by the 18 Nightjar territories recorded in what seemed another super active evening on the heath! Amazing.

##30DaysWild Day 14. Look how much they've grown! The greylag goslings are about 4 weeks old now and they've quadrupled in size. Good to attentive parents successfully raising them #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

To find a Heathland Bird Survey area near you visit the map on our website: www.bto.org/get-involved...

Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far!

Dorset birders in the Wareham area, if you have a spare 45mins from 21:15 - 22:00 and would like to help the @btobirds.bsky.social record Nightjars as part of the Heathland Bird Survey, then this is the survey for you! Any help is much appreciated. In 10 nights of surveys I had 120 recorded!

That's very cool! I think there must have been some coastal movements with flocks looking for food. Amazing that Portland didn't have any reported!

29 Crossbill migrating along the Dorset Coast around Lulworth Cove today in three flocks. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Cattle, pigs, horses, a combination of all three in areas and in few areas sheep. UK trends can be found on the BTO and RSPB website but increasing nationally

But fundamentally it's getting the right mix in the area, protecting it so it can remain an amazing Heathland but also connecting it too. The once Great Heath is now just photos and literature, a lot of these areas are quite isolated so connecting the environments together is much needed

It's not all just Heather, or gorse, or acid grassland, a mix of species are necessary and grazing is fundamental too. Some areas have active removal of invasive pines and shrubs, deer control is widespread and active management is totally necessary in a lot of these areas or a gorse forest grows!

Sites are managed by a range of landowners with advice by natural England or other charities such as RSPB. A lot of gorse at different ages is great, cutting back and burning areas is good. Scrapes for amphibians and reptiles, plus Woodlark too. Creating a mosaic of habitat with the Heathlands...

Hide and Sika with this one today on the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys. This young one was very cosy and snug in his grassy bed, allowing a quick pick before I retraced my steps and left him to it.

One of many Dartford Warbler juveniles exploring their Heathland habitats the past week. It's great to confirm breeding on my @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Surveys with many more yet to emerge from their nests just yet! Look at those cute faces. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Actually 9 goslings... the ringed pair still have 3! @thomasweston.bsky.social

An evening overload of cute... greylags making their way up the Villa Road 🩵✨️ #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

Poole harbour

Swanage

What a view I had this morning whilst undertaking the @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Survey. Not sure how many kilometres I walked today but target species noted, great views all round, lovely weather, butterflies out all over the place, some breeding seabirds, and a cake stop too. #Fieldwork

Amazing!!!

They are all doing soo well! Seems a very successful season across the whole area. Thank you for all the redithtings and counts, I'm compiling them and will send them to you soon.

Correction on the nervous pair previously posted... ring numbers U257 and U272. Out on the lagoon today 🩵 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

U257 and U242 and three goslings. Very wary so had to be quick with the numbers... I think they're correct! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social

Thanks Nicki for all the resightings and goslings counts. Amazing that they are doing so well across the whole of Dorset this year!! I will have to come over and have a look.