From a Surrey oil well to the supreme court: how an activist changed UK climate law Sarah Finch’s fight against drilling led to a landmark ruling on fossil fuel emissions – and a leading environmental prize

A great read by my colleague @damiengayle.bsky.social showing the noble power of activism! www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It's World Curlew Day.
Time to remember extinct curlew species:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/l...
Time to try to make a difference for Eurasian Curlew in the UK:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/06/12/m...
Time to buy a wonderful book:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/04/29/c...
#birds

Stunning pic!
Black-tailed Godwits pairs don't winter together - they're often in different countries.
Somehow, the male and female manage to synchronise their return to their breeding site.
If one bird is late 'divorce' can occur.
More here:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/b...
#ornithology

"He's Very Unwell" - Marsh Family parody of Chuck Berry's "Never Can Tell" from Pulp Fiction YouTube video by Marsh Family

Here's a throwback to an iconic #PulpFiction track by #ChuckBerry with some half-arsed Sunday night twisting, 7 some parody reflections (to the tune of "You Never Can Tell") on the Christian White House stories last week - #Hegseth as #SamuelLJackson and the #TrumpChrist image:
youtu.be/K2WWjjVlr7M

David Attenborough takes on PHEASANTS!

“Native to Asia, but now released into our countryside on an industrial scale, over 30 million every year… eating vast numbers of insects, reptiles and amphibians every day.”

Time for the Government to regulate this out-of-control industry

#SecretGarden

Great pics of a Black-tailed Godwit flock on Lewis.
Colour-ring sightings of birds pausing migration in Scotland are really valuable.
Blog about birds that stop in Scotland:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/w...
#BirdingScotland
Sightings to @jengill.bsky.social please.

Oh I love this one...🙂
July 3 2023 - we saw a fresh juvenile limosa at Titchwell ~ Ouse Washes bird, white flag #12.
April 16 2026 - there he is, on the Ouse Washes, now a smart adult ♂️, flag readable!
So cool to see him again.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
#norfolkbirding

Exciting #PhD project opportunity with @domcram.bsky.social mapping the architecture of meerkat burrows and it's consequences. Join us at UEA @ueaceec.bsky.social deadline for applying 30th April. #socialbehaviour #fieldwork #mammals

Few people were talking about Curlew on this day ten years ago, when Mary Colwell set off on a 500-mile walk to chart the decline of this iconic species.
She wrote 'Curlew Moon':
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/04/29/c...
And set up @curlewaction.bsky.social charity
A Curlew hero!
#ornithology

A long read, but really worth it for the deep analysis (on several levels)

If you can go - do it! Bardsey is a fab place to visit.

With World Curlew Day fast approaching (21 April), here's a reminder of a recent blog about Slender-billed Curlew (and Pacific Golden Plover):
wadertales.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/s...
There are 14 other curlew blogs in the #WaderTales catalogue:
wadertales.wordpress.com/about/
#ornithology

Over-the-counter pet flea treatments could be banned under new UK rules Exclusive: ministers consider restricting pesticide-based treatments, which can get into waterways and harm wildlife

“One monthly flea treatment for a large dog contains enough imidacloprid to kill 25 million bees” - & whenever a treated dog has a dip it pollutes the river

So it’s great news for nature that the Govt is planning to ban over-the-counter flea treatments:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

📢 APPLY NOW

For BOU Member Conference Attendance Grants

Funding member attendance at any #ornithology conference

Low-carbon travel encouraged

⏰ Deadline: 29 May 2026 🪶

bou.org.uk/funding/m...

More Snipe news!
Very few Icelandic Snipe winter in England (wadertales.wordpress.com/2016/09/20/s...)
This tagged bird left Cornwall at 7pm on 13th April and arrived in Iceland 16 hours later.
Info from @tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social & @joseaalves.bsky.social
#ornithology

Join our BTO HQ in Thetford, Norfolk as a permanent Maintenance Technician. Apply at britishtrustforornithology.postingpanda.uk/job/856300

Deadline for applications: Sunday 19 April.

With wader flocks on the move, do you ask yourself questions like:
"How does an individual bird decide which flock to join?"
Insights from tracking Curlew:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/08/25/t...
#ornithology

Beibu Gulf, south China, is an important wintering area for spoon-billed sandpipers. With dead shells topping mudflats and fishermen mentioning high mortality of cultured shellfish, it did not look good. At Fangchenggang we observed far fewer great & red knots than in previous 2 years.

Waiting for the wind – spring flocks of Black-tailed Godwit in Scotland When a flock of Black-tailed Godwit turns up on a Scottish island or lochside, in April or May, it’s probably a sign that the birds have aborted the Atlantic crossing to Iceland. On 24 Februa…

4 Black-tailed Godwits in fine summer plumage at Tayport this a.m.
This is the time of year when flocks get 'stuck' in Scotland, in northerly winds. More here:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/w...
(article modified from Scottish Birds)
Please check for colour-rings 🙏
📷 @tireebirder.bsky.social

🔈 BOU COUNCIL NOMINATIONS

We are seeking nominations for 5 positions on Council, for appointment at the 2027 AGM

A great opportunity to be involved with the governance of the BOU

Nomination deadline: 15 June 2026

bou.org.uk/about-the...

#ornithology 🪶

GB hectad distribution map for Argiope bruennichi from the new SRS Atlas

GB hectad distribution map for Erigone welchi from the new SRS Atlas

Our new Atlas of UK spider, harvestmen and pseudoscorpion records is now online at britishspiders.org.uk/atlas. It gives access to 1.6 million records and is constantly updated with data submitted and verified via irecord.org.uk/enter-srs-records.

Photo of Waterston House and below is the text: "We're Hiring! / ASSISTANT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER / To apply by 10 May at 5pm and learn more about the position, visit the link in our bio!"

JOB OPPORTUNITY - Assistant Development Officer

We're seeking an ADO to lead on our bird camp youth initiative, our winter talks programme and support our Scotland-wide network of local branches and volunteers.

Details of the vacancy and how to apply can be found at goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP...

A group photo of 2025 award winners and staff as they smile at the camera, with the Society of Wildlife Artists Natural Eye exhibition artwork on the wall in the background.

Know an inspiring ornithologist or birder? 🐦 Nominate them for a BTO or Marsh Award via www.bto.org/medals-awards

Whether a local group, individual, young person or dedicated BTO volunteer, these awards celebrate the incredible contributions that have been made to #ornithology. 🪶

📷Anthony Sajdler

Black-tailed Godwits (that breed in Iceland) are on earlier schedules than Knot (which will fly further north, to Greenland and NE Canada).
More about wader migration:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/w...
#birds

Poster advertising the Arican Raptor Leadership Grant - African antionals applying for MSc or Hons courses at AP LEventis Ornithological Research Institute (Nigeria), Fitzpatric Institute of African Ornithology (UCT, South Africa) or Mohammed V University (Morocco) are invited to apply via https://raptorresearchfoundation.org

Are you a national of an African country? Looking to study birds of prey at one of three leading ornithological research university across the contient? This might be for you! raptorresearchfoundation.org/grants-award...

Waders | cr-birding note 1 : up to 2014, a total of 30 rings were delivered since 2014.

Hi Steve. Looks like it might be one from Finland (nice!). There is a report form here: www.cr-birding.org/node/3983

All change at Welney!
'Limosa' Black-tailed Godwits are paired up and breeding.
'Islandica' Black-tailed Godwits are preparing to return to Iceland.
More here:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/g... 🎂🔟
#ornithology
@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @lizziebruce.bsky.social @wwtworldwide.bsky.social

PAOC: Pan-African Onithological Congress PAOC16 will be held in the ancient city of Marrakech, whose famous medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is home to numerous religious and cultural sites, and sits in the Tensift River Valley in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

It’s official (get it in your diary!) 📅 🦅

The 16th Pan-African Ornithological Congress (PAOC16) will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, from 12 - 17 April 2027.

The website is being updated—check back for details on symposia and abstract calls soon: paoc.africa

#Ornithology #AfricanOrnithology

If we push the #AMOC ocean current to collapse, experts warn that the UK will become largely unfit for agriculture.

Just let that sink in.

This new data calls for a new plan. It's no good working to 'net zero by 2050' devised nearly 20 years ago, before policymakers even knew of this threat.

Snipe news!
1/4
Two Snipe tagged in Iceland by José Alves left Ireland at dusk on 5 April and reached Iceland 17 hours later. See map.
Averaging 80 and 87 km/h
@birdwatchireland.bsky.social
#ornithology