Low-Carbon Birding

4 Yellow-browed Warblers around Low Newton this morning, 2 at the Tin Church and 2 at Newton Pool. The birds at the Tin Church were both trapped and colour ringed as part of the UK YBW CR project. Still a few Bramblings and thrushes around this morning too.

#NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

Whinchat, Walton Downs, Surrey 5 October 2025

Epsom/Walton Downs, Surrey: still 24 Stonechats present with accompanying Whinchat #UKBirding #LowCarbonBirding

Hundreds of Pink-footed Geese in the stubble fields between High Newton and Low Newton recently. Some lovely views from the roadside.

#NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

The 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were still at Newton Pool this afternoon. Interesting to see the differences in size and plumage, one bird is smaller and paler (presumably female ?), the other is noticeably larger and warmer toned.

#NEbirding #Lowcarbonbirding

A headshot of a Woodpigeon on a blue background with wording that reads: Birds in Greenspaces Newsletter. September 2025. Sign up for updates about this new project.

Calling all nature enthusiasts! 🐦 Sign up to our newsletter for #Birds in Greenspaces, our exciting new project that launches next Spring and focuses on publicly accessible greenspaces! 😀

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates and resources ➡️ www.bto.org/get-involved... #Ornithology

Thank you @ntbirdclub.bsky.social for your kind invitation to talk about climate change and birdwatching. It was a pleasure to meet members of the club with different views on how to address the climate crisis who were keen to engage in thoughtful, considerate conversation.
#lowcarbonbirding

Dear #Birdwatchers, whether you are coming to the @globalbirdfair.bsky.social or not, please take part in our survey on #birdwatching and #bird #conservation.
The survey takes 20-30 minutes & is fully anonymous. It also offers interesting opportunities for self-reflection.
@yolobirder.bsky.social

We're interested in opinions regarding #avian conservation, regardless of your #birdwatching skills.
@themarshtit.bsky.social @davgar51.bsky.social @jobirding.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social @nenbc.bsky.social @cumbriabirdclub.bsky.social

#lowcarbonbirding

#lowcarbonbirding

Birdfair: a reputational risk By JAVIER CALETRIO Mark Avery (Birdwatch, September 2024) argues that, with its overwhelming emphasis on ‘carbon guzzling trips abroad’, Birdfair looks more like a trade fair than a birding festiva…

#Birdfair #GlobalBirdfair

Key conservation / research orgs present in 2019 but absent in 2025

National Trust
WWT
BTO

RSPB has a stand for international branch (RSPB International) but not for the organisation as a whole.

Also absent: British Birds

lowcarbonbirding.net/2025/02/05/b...

Birdfair: a reputational risk By JAVIER CALETRIO Mark Avery (Birdwatch, September 2024) argues that, with its overwhelming emphasis on ‘carbon guzzling trips abroad’, Birdfair looks more like a trade fair than a birding festiva…

#Birdfair 2025 - a smaller event with greater emphasis on high-carbon holidays

Number of stands | 2018: 396 | 2025: 298

Stands for tourism for every stand for conservation orgs + orni/birding societies

2018: 3 to 1

2025: 4 to 1

#globalbirdfair

lowcarbonbirding.net/2025/02/05/b...

Birdfair: a reputational risk By JAVIER CALETRIO Mark Avery (Birdwatch, September 2024) argues that, with its overwhelming emphasis on ‘carbon guzzling trips abroad’, Birdfair looks more like a trade fair than a birding festiva…

Birdfair - a reputational risk

#climatechange #globalbirdfair #birdfair #lowcarbonbirding

lowcarbonbirding.net/2025/02/05/b...

Part of the causeway between North and South Scrapes at Titchfield Haven, and water in South Scrape. The purpose of the photo was to capture some of the Mediterranean Gulls on the scrapes - a noticeable arrive of post breeding birds. They have pale grey wings, white primaries and white underparts. Black hood and red bill. The causeway has short vegetation which the birds are stood on and longer vegetation behind them

Good to meet @anthrobirder.bsky.social and show him the delights of Titchfield Haven in June! Noticeable arrival of Mediterranean Gulls, Spoonbill, multiple Marsh Harriers including a juv 😄, Avocets with chicks, Kittiwake etc. #LowCarbonBirding #PWC2025

@ukwildlifepodcast.bsky.social @casualbirderpod.bsky.social @mattspracklen.bsky.social @fishtwitcher.bsky.social @blorengeviews.bsky.social

Birdfair: a reputational risk By JAVIER CALETRIO Mark Avery (Birdwatch, September 2024) argues that, with its overwhelming emphasis on ‘carbon guzzling trips abroad’, Birdfair looks more like a trade fair than a birding festiva…

Birdfair: a reputational risk
#globalbirdfair
lowcarbonbirding.net/2025/02/05/b...

Seen a Sanderling recently?
Some of the birds in the UK in May will have left Namibia, flown north along the Atlantic cost and crossed the Sahara.
Long way still to go to get to Greenland!
More here:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2019/10/04/t...
Research: @jeroen-reneerkens.bsky.social
#UKbirding

Great Reed Warbler in a rare silent moment

Back to Ouse Fen, this time by 🚲 to see the Great Reed Warbler. Failed to see the Red-footed Falcons but the Hobbies stole the show with a peak count of 66, by far the most I've ever seen. Great to watch, feeding on small flies #UKBirding ##LowCarbonBirding

I‘m part of that 10%, probably like most people on this platform.

Important to keep that in mind!

Bicycle with angled & looped handlebars facing towards an airfield on the opposite side of the road. There is a clipboard resting on the handlebars with a sheet for the BTO's Breeding Bird Survey . It is sunny with some cloud. The bicycle has a light and bottle attached with a strap. Next time there will be more experimenting to secure the even clipboard better!

Narrow alleyway with a wooden fence on one side and dense vegetation on the other side. It is barely wide enough for 2 people

Bicycle in a village centre with lots of racks. It has a sturdy duo stand to keep it upright. The clipboard is secured in a Bakkie pannier that has a dry sack attached behind it, ready for shopping or other errands. The rack has green straps for securing items and a second Bakkie pannier with a grey rucksack. Other bicycles are also parked.

Early morning @bbs-birds.bsky.social in Stubbington - mostly Robins and Starlings, + Skylarks at Daedalus, Blackcap & Nuthatch near village centre! Handlebars made a perfect clipboard rest 😆 (& time for food shop afterwards) #LowCarbonBirding 🚲

As promised, a shorter video with 3 pointers to making your birding more valuable for the monitoring of rare breeding birds. #birds #ornithology #UKbirding

Had a ride up to Woolston Eyes today where at least 18 Black-necked Grebes showed well on No4 Bed. Also managed to add Hobby, Whimbrel & Wood Sandpiper to the bike year list #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Turnstones are on the move, as birds wintering in UK and Ireland hop to Iceland before flying to Greenland and Canada.
UK Numbers have been declining, as you can read here:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/w...
#ornithology

Strava map of a 42km ride out from Oxford and back

Distant shot of a Temminck’s Stint on the edge of a muddy pool

Recaptured my cycling-birding mojo for the first time in ages with a nice spin out to see Thomas Miller’s @tmbirding.bsky.social nice Temminck’s Stint at Northern Cross Valley Way. Bird was invisible for first hour before appearing at some distance out on the gravel pit. #UKBirding

68 sp around Seaton Point with misses Inc Magpie, Tree Sparrow, Willow Warbler, Blue and Great Tits etc.
Best were Whimbrel 3, Fieldfare, Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Manx, 4 Grey Partridge, Wheatear, Grey Plover etc #Lowcarbonbirding #UKBirding #Northumberland.

Grey couldn't in the morning

Reedbed and lake + forested ridge behind

Small road between meadows, lake and forest behind blue sky above

Forest tree at lake shore

Yesterday was The birding day, with some rain in the morning we endet up with a sunny afternoon and a total of #115 species at #localpatch + surroundings afternoon a total of 91km by bike. Missed some very common species, but ended up with 4 singing scops owls. #lowcarbonbirding

Epsom and Walton Downs, Surrey: at least 4 Red Kite, 2 displaying Red-legged Partridge, 1 sitting Lapwing, 2 Swift, 1 Wheatear plus a big push from the wildflowers with many species blooming for the first time this year. Butterfly numbers depressed #LowCarbonBirding

Ringed Plovers nesting in the UK already have chicks but passage birds, heading for Greenland and beyond, don't visit until May.
Here's a summary of which #shorebirds migrate where and when:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/w...
#UKbirding

A 30 mile circuit today around Delamere Forest & Abbott's Moss. No sign of yesterday's Wood Warbler but Pied Flycatcher & Redstart were good additions to the #BirdingByBike yearlist (even though they didn't show for long) Now up to 141 for the year. #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding