Jo Cawtheray (MSc)

Lincs birds today - first Sand Martin of the year reported? #lincsbirding @dlangstonbirder.bsky.social

The image features an illustration of an unfolded map showing greenspaces and birds. Above this wording reads: Add your local greenspace to the Birds in Greenspaces Map.

1/ We need you to make sure your local Greenspace is included on our map ready for the Birds in Greenspaces survey! ➡️ app.bto.org/birds-in...

You can use the map to search for mapped greenspaces near you, suggest new sites and changes to existing ones if there's something we've missed!

It's such a tough choice! Vote for your favourite icon for our Birds in Greenspaces app. Cast your vote here ➡️ bit.ly/VoteBiGsIcon

Image of an Arctic Skua with wording at the bottom that reads: New Study. Global population status of the migratory Holarctic species Arctic Skua. www.bto.org/Arctic-Skua-Populations. BTO logo top right.

1/ Arctic Skuas are on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. But new BTO-led research reveals just how much we don’t know about their numbers globally. Discover more. ⬇️ #Ornithology #Seabirds

📖 www.bto.org/Arctic-Skua-...

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

The Lincs New Year’s Day Bird race draft results are now in! An amazing 146 species where seen in Lincs on 1st Jan this year. What a fantastic achievement, thank you to all the observers out there! www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/images/... #lincsbirding

Lots of birds about in Lincs today, what have you seen? #lincsbirding

It's December and time for your next Winter Bird Survey visit! Here are some thoughts from James Heywood, @bbs-birds.bsky.social and WINBS Organiser, after his second visit.

Discover more ➡️ www.bto.org/winbs
Survey guidance ➡️ www.bto.org/get-involved...

Thank you to all our WINBS surveyors!

Grey Heron and trend graph.

(1/) As well as being monitored by the Heronries Census since 1928, there is also a BBS trend for Grey Heron! It declined across the UK by 13% between 1995 and 2023. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology #CitizenScience

Common Tern and trend graph.

(1/) This week, it's a throwback to the summer months with Common Tern! This elegant species declined by 4% between 1995 and 2023. The 10 year trend for this species shows a 20% decline across the UK. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology #CitizenScience

Longevity record!
Last night, @washwader.bsky.social recaught this Black-tailed Godwit, first caught and ringed 29 years ago.
The metal ring was wearing thin (and was replaced) but the bird is still going strong.
Blog about longevity of waders:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/w...
#ornithology

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 list of the most numerous species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024.

The BBS Team is currently busy verifying 2025 data. For the next couple of weeks, we are going to share some species info from 2024. This week, we share the 10 most numerous species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

The cover of the November 2025 issue of British Birds, with a Little Ringed Plover sheltering its chicks

The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]

Graph and image showing the best year of BBS coverage across the UK yet.

2025 has been a record year for BBS coverage! 4,054 visits to BBS squares have been made this year. This beats the 2018 record of 4,048. Thanks so much to all of the BBS volunteers across the UK who have contributed to this! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

There is still time to sign up to take part in the Winter Bird Survey on a Breeding Bird Survey square near you! There are squares available across the UK. Find out more about the survey and sign up here: bto.org/winbs @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding #Ornithology #CitizenScience

The most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024, plus images of a Wren and a Woodpigeon.

(1/) The BBBS Team at HQ, and BBS/ WBBS Regional Organisers are currently busy verifying data from the 2025 survey seasons. Here is a list of the 10 most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK during 2024. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

This week's BTO Migration blog explores a recent arrival of drift migrants on the east coast, a record breaking influx of Glossy Ibis and what we might expect in the second half of September #ukbirding

www.bto.org/our-work/new...

Glossy Ibis by Philip Croft

If you take part in the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey on your BBS square, or you are just interested in butterflies in general, why not book to come along to the FREE UKBMS 50th Anniversary Conference in Nottingham on Saturday 11 October? Find out more, including how to book your place below!

Your Sunday morning bird news: Little Stint at Covenham Reservoir. Curlew Sandpiper at Anderby Creek. Grey Phalarope flew past Wolla Bank and Anderby Creek. Frampton Saltmarsh: 7 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat. #lincsbirding

If you would like to make additional visits to your Breeding Bird Survey square this winter, you can as part of the Winter Bird Survey! There are also other opportunities to take part in the survey if you are not already allocated a BBS square. Sign up here: www.bto.org/winbs #Ornithology

🦢The International Swan Census involves counters to carry out a one-off count on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026.

This involves counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans, as well as recording age assessments and habitat.

Visit the vacant site map⬇️
app.bto.org/gsmp/public/...

#Ornithology

Last week saw an excellent arrival of juvenile Little Stints, with the BirdTrack reporting rate reaching 3% across Britain and Ireland as a whole. Records were most frequent on the east coast of England - in Lincolnshire it appeared on 22% of complete lists! #ukbirding

Not long to go to submit your @bbs-birds.bsky.social data! Thanks to all the brilliant volunteer surveyors!

Bit of footage of the Black-winged Pratincole yesterday. #lincsbirding #birds

A brilliant find & superb footage Wayne.

In 2024 LBC organised a breeding Curlew survey on airfields in the west of Lincs. The report has just been published. 29 pairs found and two pairs with 6 young. Up to 10% of the lowland English population.
lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/images/re…

The face of a Barn Owl peeks around the brick wall of a barn as it perches on the building window ledge.

New record for the oldest Barn Owl in Britain and Ireland! 😮 At 18 years old the female was ringed in 2007 in Nottinghamshire when she was a chick before being recorded again in Lincolnshire this year! Read the full story ➡️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/a... #Ornithology #BirdRinging 🪶

A singing Dunnock.

There are now three weeks to go to submit your 2025 BBS and WBBS data! You can do so online or by submitting the data to us on paper forms, scanned by email or posted to us. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology #CitizenScience

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