I've managed to find 3 lesser spots excavating 3 holes this spring. And I've found two other new holes nearby. Here's hoping the birds use one or two of these for nests. This male like the others has almost finished. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds The birds are now very quiet and elusive.
Posts by The Rare Breeding Birds Panel
At this time of year when I'm out birding I really try to make an effort to add breeding evidence to my records. It's really quick and easy in @birdtrack.bsky.social and adds value to my records, especially for @ukrbbp.bsky.social species. Added P for pair in suitable habitat.
#ornithology
OPERATION EASTER: 29 years of protecting the UK's rarest birds.
Press release from National Wildlife Crime Unit ⬇️
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/05/o...
What better way is there to spend the Easter 🐣 🐣🐣 weekend than birdwatching, and hopefully finding and recording rare breeding birds to help their conservation? There’s lots to look for in April, so here’s some ideas from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding
Chris Packham asks the questions about Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers & our own @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social and @mallalieum.bsky.social provide the answers & latest updates in this video from ecotalk at Bowyers Wood. Watch here www.ecotalk.co.uk/community-st...
The long Easter weekend - a perfect opportunity for recording rare breeding birds! There’s a blog with lots of tips on what to look for in April at rbbp.org.uk/2023/04/25/w...
What better way is there to spend the Easter 🐣 🐣🐣 weekend than birdwatching, and hopefully finding and recording rare breeding birds to help their conservation? There’s lots to look for in April, so here’s some ideas from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding
It’s also important to think carefully before sharing sightings of rare breeding birds in the spring & summer - could this lead to disturbance, or worse? Read the RBBP guidance here tinyurl.com/RBBPsound and if in doubt, don’t! [2/2] youtu.be/Q739XXYWgDo?...
It’s the time of year to be out finding, recording and enjoying rare breeding birds, but it’s vital to put their welfare first. Here’s some advice from @markaeaton.bsky.social, and there’s a blog here tinyurl.com/RBBPsafe [1/2] youtu.be/5xXc9Dl7vwk?...
Met office map showing the weather forecast for the UK for 14th March.
It’s looking fair for England and Wales tomorrow, although there might be showers to dodge in Scotland & N Ireland. Wherever you are, there will be rare breeding birds to be found, establishing territories and pairing up. Read our blog at rbbp.org.uk/2023/03/17/w... for some top tips #UKbirding
It’s also important to think carefully before sharing sightings of rare breeding birds in the spring & summer - could this lead to disturbance, or worse? Read the RBBP guidance here tinyurl.com/RBBPsound and if in doubt, don’t! [2/2] youtu.be/Q739XXYWgDo?...
It’s the time of year to be out finding, recording and enjoying rare breeding birds, but it’s vital to put their welfare first. Here’s some advice from @markaeaton.bsky.social, and there’s a blog here tinyurl.com/RBBPsafe [1/2] youtu.be/5xXc9Dl7vwk?...
Met office map showing the weather forecast for the UK for 14th March.
It’s looking fair for England and Wales tomorrow, although there might be showers to dodge in Scotland & N Ireland. Wherever you are, there will be rare breeding birds to be found, establishing territories and pairing up. Read our blog at rbbp.org.uk/2023/03/17/w... for some top tips #UKbirding
Recent efforts are finding LSW at previously undiscovered sites, with passive acoustic monitoring being a game-changer. Now is the best time to find this elusive species - get tips on how to find them, as well as a new guidance note on acoustic recording, at www.woodpecker-network.org.uk
A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in a Kentish wood
Workshop attendees enjoying the sight and sound of a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers
Attendees at the 2026 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker workshop
LSW habitat, Kent
The RBBP were delighted to be part of the fantastic workshop on Lesser Spotted Woodpecker monitoring & research, organised by @lesserspotnet.bsky.social in Kent at the weekend. There’s amazing progress being made by enthusiasts across England and Wales #ornithology #UKbirding
Success! Lesser spotted woodpeckers, a male and female pair. The morning after the lesser spotted woodpecker workshop. @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
What a weekend! It was a privilege for Kent to host 2026 @lesserspotnet.bsky.social workshop in the Blean! Interesting discussions had between different regions, good connections made, exciting things ahead. Some Lesser Spots didn’t go a miss either @kentishplover.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
Recent efforts are finding LSW at previously undiscovered sites, with passive acoustic monitoring being a game-changer. Now is the best time to find this elusive species - get tips on how to find them, as well as a new guidance note on acoustic recording, at www.woodpecker-network.org.uk
A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in a Kentish wood
Workshop attendees enjoying the sight and sound of a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers
Attendees at the 2026 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker workshop
LSW habitat, Kent
The RBBP were delighted to be part of the fantastic workshop on Lesser Spotted Woodpecker monitoring & research, organised by @lesserspotnet.bsky.social in Kent at the weekend. There’s amazing progress being made by enthusiasts across England and Wales #ornithology #UKbirding
March and April are the best time to look & listen for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers calling and drumming in wet, broadleaf woodland. Find out more about Woodpecker Network, listen to Ken Smith's zoom talk for Essex Birdwatching Society from January. ebws.org.uk/talks/jan26
BirdWatch Ireland CEO Andrew Kelly & BTO CEO Juliet Vickery are sitting at a table outside smiling as they get ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31.
RSPB Chief Executive Beccy Speight & BTO CEO Juliet Vickery are sitting together at a table in the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge holding pens ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31.
BTO CEO Juliet Vickery & Scottish Ornithologists Club President Ruth Briggs are sitting at a table smiling and holding pens ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31.
BTO CEO Juliet Vickery & Welsh Ornithological Society Chair Anne Brenchley are sitting at a table together looking down and holding pens as they get ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31. Wildlife and nature themed artwork hangs on the wall behind them.
1/ Five leading charities forge partnership for bird conservation for the Bird Atlas 2027–31! 🐦 But what is the Bird Atlas? ⬇️🧵 #Ornithology
@btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social
Another species that’s worth looking for establishing territories in the early spring is the Marsh Harrier. Learning their call might help as well - have a listen to this
youtu.be/d5wD5vivbfE?...
Early spring is by far the best time to record breeding Goshawks as they display over territories, particularly on calm and sunny days - here’s some encouragement from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ukbirding #ornithology
youtu.be/hVgl6jYOX6A?...
It’s nearly March, spring is springing, and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel has emerged from hibernation again to encourage you to get out recording rare breeding birds #UKbirding #ornithology
It looks like sunshine and showers for most of the UK this weekend, so why not get out looking for Woodlarks, Goshawks, Long-eared Owls, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and other early breeding species?
It’s nearly March, spring is springing, and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel has emerged from hibernation again to encourage you to get out recording rare breeding birds #UKbirding #ornithology
New blog from BTO Senior Research Ecologist Ian Woodward for @ukrbbp.bsky.social delves into a new method for estimating breeding populations of Little Egrets. It discovered they were higher than previously thought – likely exceeding 2,000 pairs in the UK! #Ornithology
📖
BLOG: Ian Woodward, senior research ecologist at @btobirds.bsky.social, describes how combining data from the RBBP and the BTO’s Heronries Census has improved our knowledge on the UK’s Little Egret population, as in new @britishbirds.bsky.social paper #birds #ornithology rbbp.org.uk/2026/01/30/l...
@jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @birdtrack.bsky.social
BLOG: Ian Woodward, senior research ecologist at @btobirds.bsky.social, describes how combining data from the RBBP and the BTO’s Heronries Census has improved our knowledge on the UK’s Little Egret population, as in new @britishbirds.bsky.social paper #birds #ornithology rbbp.org.uk/2026/01/30/l...