Saxicolaobs

Are there mycologists or publishers out there who need a Mycological illustration artist?

This is the only place I’d even ask this question. 😁

Putting it out in the world that I’d love to take on a detailed project & illustrate a fungi book!

Willing to build a portfolio if this is a possibility ⬇️

Whooper Swan sick with bird flu in a field, photograph by Kane Brides

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

A close, detailed portrait of a Swift’s face. Its dark eyes and sleek feathers fill the frame, showing a rare close-up this special and vulnerable bird.

Last night, Peers voted against Swift bricks: rejecting a simple, proven way to help one of our fastest declining birds recover. ❌

We share @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social's disappointment & frustration.

The vote came late, but with government refusing to back it, its fate was already sealed.

Our colour ringing season at Lytchett Bay is off to a great start with 5 Water Pipit & 5 Rock Pipit marked (under license) already. Please look out for yellow (Water) and white (Rock) marked birds and report all sightings 🙏 #Dorsetbirds

Brilliant piece debunking the nonsense claim in the Daily Telegraph. But it’s dangerous nonsense, polarising attitudes & whipping up prejudice.

The DTelegraph is such a shit newspaper. Oh, and the photo? Staged - captive eagle, already-dead lamb.

Lost wallet - if any birding friends hear of a wallet being found at St Margaret's Bay/Pines Garden/South Forereland (Kent) yesterday, it's mine! Last used at the beach cafe. Cards stopped but don't want the hassle of getting a replacement driving licence, etc.

A Dartford Warbler perches on top of a gorse bush. Wording above reads: Heathland Birds Survey. Submit your data. The BTO logo is top right of the image.

We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Heathland Birds Survey! 🙌

All remaining survey returns are urgently required, before 30th November, to inform future conservation action. If you need any help submitting your records please email heathlandbirds@bto.org. Thank you!

This is the 5th year that I’ve witnessed the return of winter finch & bunting flocks to @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social - it gets more and more exciting!

Nature Friendly Farming on this urban fringe has served thousands and thousands of birds in that time!

Time to roll it out around Brum! 🚜

Amazing views at Whitemoor Haye. I was watching a bat flying around then suddenly the Merlin appeared, grabbed the bat but then let it gobafter a few seconds. The bat flew off ok. Superb. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of our oldest and well-loved member, Eric Samuel Clare, or Sam as he was known to some of you. He passed away peacefully at his Alrewas home in the early hours of Monday 13th October.

Examples of some recent papers from graduate students in my group - a full list of recent papers and preprints can be found here (https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=pTdxVdIAAAAJ) and profile of the group here: https://egioxford.web.ox.ac.uk/members

The annual Wytham Field Team Photo!

Celebrating a successful field season with great food & good company - May 2025

Front view of the Life & Mind Building, which opened in Oct 2025: The new home of Biology at Oxford

Interested in a PhD in ornithology? Funding available for projects at the interface of ecology, behaviour & evolution from Oct '26 working on long-term population studies of tits at Wytham, based in @biology.ox.ac.uk in the new Life & Mind Building in Oxford
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Government U-turns on support for bird-friendly swift bricks in new homes Housing minister Steve Reed refuses to back mandating measure, despite giving support while in environment job

Exasperated. Gutted. Furious. Terrified. Sometimes swear words are the only ones that fit.
Our delightful government - who we put our trust in - is u-turning on THE easiest Nature action *ever*.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Today's column is about the government's huge, unprecedented assault on nature ... and about the eerie, astonishing silence of the big nature groups. The RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts have 7.5m members between them. A vast force, completely unmobilised. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Record-breaking morning on Cannock Chase!
➡️ 208 Redpoll ringed yesterday
➡️ 258 total including our test hour the previous day.
Unbelievable numbers for the season, a real Redpoll influx! 🔴 #BirdRinging #Migration #Redpoll

Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.

Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology

Good bit of scrub and viewpoint near Heath & Reach #Bedsbirds
9 Redwing,6 Bullfinch and 12 Crossbill ->South.
Highlight though was flock over 200+ Redpoll out of roost in Birches. Never seen a flock this size! In flight the whirling of wings was louder than there calls! #UKBirding

Back #birdringing on the farm this morning and Chiffchaff still on the move in numbers. All were birds hatched this year and this bird showed a nice clear moult limit in the greater coverts. Inner greener ones are adult and paler outer ones juv feathers.
Ringed under licence @btobirds.bsky.social

Our next event is a Fungus Walk with @lukaslarge.bsky.social on Friday 17th October at 10.30. Meet in the car park. Free but booking essential via www.wegottickets.com/highburyparkfriendsbirmingham

🍄🍄‍🟫🍄🍄‍🟫🍄🍄‍🟫🍄

There is a bird walk on Saturday 25th October from 9.30 to 11. No need to book - just turn up in the car park.

Autumn Events 2025 HIGHBURY PARK Friends Fungus Walk Friday 17 October 10.30am with Lukas Large Curator of Natural History Birmingham Museums Service Limited places - free but booking essential www.wegottickets.com/highburyparkfriends

Another fungus walk coming up. This time in Highbury park Birmingham wegottickets.com/highburypark...

Nice to be back out on the #localpatch this pm after 3 days stuck indoors painting. All change bird wise - last few Common Terns gone, along with the steady passage of hirundines from K'bury South. Green Sand replaces the lingering Common Sand.
K'bury Range - 60+ Mipit, 70+ Linnet new #warksbirding

Stonechats are on the move! 🚶‍♂️🐦 This time of year they wander far from breeding grounds and might pop up anywhere. Keep an eye out for a black leg ring with white engraving, you might spot one of ours! 👀 #Birds #Stonechat #Wildlife

Livestock farmers face feed shortages after a dry summer. Arable farmers in England cutting margins and wildflower strips for schemes - don’t let them go to waste! 👉 Offer cuttings as forage & support your neighbours🌷🐄

#naturefriendlyfarming #NFFNEngland

Viking ED Pro 80mm, Velbon tripod head and Manfrotto tripod

Will be @ @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social for Migfest this weekend and would like to giveaway my old scope and tripod. If there's any young birders looking for a used but well loved scope that's seen plenty of rare birds please either point them in my direction or come find me over the weekend! #ukbirding

I warmly invite you to join me on Friday 19th September 2025 for my walking workshop, “Life with Nature”

Together we will explore how our region and its people can thrive by bringing nature into our daily lives and boardrooms

Register here:
wmlifesciencesweek.co.uk/event/life-w...
#LSW25

We need your help again.

Coul Links is an extraordinary coastal dune habitat, home to rare and remarkable wildlife.

But it is now threatened for a second time by plans for an 18-hole golf course that would cause irreparable damage.

Your voice could help save it. 👇

Keep your eyes peeled for our colour ringed Stonechat in the midlands, we ringed a further 8 yesterday on Bredon Hill @OverburyEnt @No1FarmerJake. Each ring is black with 2 white letters #worcsbirds #birdringing

August is very much the start of autumn for many migratory birds - read the latest BTO Migration Blog for news & tips for what to look out for in the next couple of weeks!

Don't forget to add your own sightings to @birdtrack.bsky.social & contribute to #CitizenScience!

#Ornithology #Birding

Kingfisher and calendar.

If you haven’t already done so, please submit your 2025 BBS and WBBS data to us by the end of this weekend. The deadline to submit your data is 31 August, which is this Sunday! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology #CitizenScience

A group of young people are looking into the distance, with countryside around them. Wording alongside reads: BTO Youth. Join Our Youth Advisory Panel! Scan the QR code to find out more and apply. A QR code sits to the right of the wording.

Apply to join BTO's Youth Advisory Panel👉 bit.ly/_YAPVolunteer

If you're aged 16-24, passionate about nature and people’s engagement in the natural world, then this is your chance to have a positive impact.

📆 Applications close on Sunday 7 September. We look forward to hearing from everyone!