Great Reed Warbler caught & released in Sykes Field at 8am

BoC 📸 Harry Appleyard

A stop-the-car moment to photograph this greeting to Nigel Farage on his rather unspectacular visit to Shetland today.

Apologies to any frogs offended. 🐸

Electricity dashboard, showing 5.8% fossil fuels, 77% renewables, 16.9% other sources, 4.2% interconnectors

It's a bit gusty out there, but on the plus side, the UK is currently running on 77% renewable electricity right now. 🎉🎉💨💨
Yay nature!
(screenshot from grid.iamkate.com )

APRIL 11th: UK FIRST RECORDS: 🥇

SAVANNAH SPARROW
Passerculus sandwichensis

One spent six days on Portland Bill, Dorset from April 11th - 16th 1982.

It was processed and photographed on April 12th and identified as Ipswich Sparrow - P. s. princeps.

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding

How much would it cost to bring water into public ownership?

The government wants you to believe it's too expensive to do. But that's what happens when you swallow the water industry's 💩.

If you want parliament to debate water properly, sign this petition.
vist.ly/4xtt8

Woodcocks can no longer be shot in Poland. Evidence & pressure from ornithologists/NGOs resulted in full protection for Woodcocks and 4 other species.
Long overdue in Britain too, to conserve UK-breeding Woodcocks... and the migrants coming from/through Poland.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Decision relating to the #BritishList

Pied Crow Corvus albus has not been added to Category A or Category D

bou.org.uk/british-l...

The British List remains at 636 species

#ornithology

Wild Justice welcomes consultation on greater protection for Woodcock and other protected species - Wild Justice Conservation campaign group Wild Justice has welcomed news that the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will be […]

We would prefer no Woodcock are shot for so-called 'sport' - it's a red listed species! But we do welcome this long-awaited (4 yrs!) review as a first step & fully expect the shooting season to be shortened. We'll provide consultation guidance shortly.

wildjustice.org.uk/woodcock/wil...

Condenado un cazador a pagar más de 100.000 euros por haber abatido a una hembra de lince en Toledo | Hoy El hombre alegó que confundió al felino con un zorro

Man who shot an Iberian Lynx given a 100,800 Euro fine & banned from any hunting related activities for 3 years www.hoy.es/sociedad/con... To deter #wildlife crime you need a deterrent, something that we in Britain need to learn. @raptorpersuk.bsky.social @iand777.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social

Stronger protections to help protect threatened wild birds New proposals to restrict recreational shooting of threatened wild birds

Six of Britain’s wild bird species are set to be better protected under proposals set out by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments.

The new rules would restrict the shooting of Woodcock, Pintail, Goldeneye, Pochard and Snipe, and introduce a close season for Woodpigeon.

www.gov.uk/government/n...

We were crucified nearby… how often can you say that?

FUN in our garden today!

Aaaaaand there it is.

"Tens of thousands of acres!"

Which is... less than 1% of England.

For comparison: we currently use 2.3% of arable land to grow crops for bioenegy.

As we transition, this can be replaced by solar, which is wildly more efficient.

Meaning overall *less* land used for energy.

Amazing pulse of Siskins coming to feeders in Romsey (VC11). Over 600 ringed so far in last few weeks. Ringed birds coming from Highlands, Argyll & Bute, Aberdeenshire and Northumberland. #bto #ringing

Shoulder Stripe

257:18 to MV in Romsey (VC11). Commonest was Common Quaker 60. Best was Red Chestnut and Shoulder Stripe. #teammoth

I've published my book Britain's Dandelions, A Photographic Guide. It's currently available on Blurb blurb.co.uk/b/12805510-bri…
Next week I will be adding additional outlets. #Taraxacum #Botany #Dandelions #BritainsDandelions

Update: A month ago, a massive bloom of rimu berries fueled booming mating calls in NZ's Kākāpō sanctuaries (bsky.app/profile/heid...). Today, a baby boom: 240 eggs to date; 26 chicks hatched. Females rear chicks alone; each chick needs ~1 lb of berries/day gathered by climbing to the treetops.

73:13 to MV in Romsey (VC11) last night. Best was Carpatolechia decorella. NFY was Early Tooth-striped #teammoth

What a wonderful Tern so pleased I got to see the beauty

Our oldest Monks Wood Marsh Tit has survived his 11th winter, and is singing again on his territory, 40 m from where he was colour-ringed in 2015. He's been widowed again so is advertising for a new female. He's probably in the top 5 oldest Marsh Tits recorded in Britain. #ukbirding #ornithology

Acleris cristana to MV In Romsey (VC11). Photo stacked using Olympus TG-7 #teammoth

A Pine Beauty to MV in Romsey (VC11) last night

Eastbourne: Many thanks to Harvey for turning up this zinger of a Wheatear at Sovereign Harbour today. What a treat and my first EVER in February. Spring is offically here!

Recent research on the Phyllocnistis saligna complex in the Netherlands has shown that saligna is not present there!
Most mines are P.asiatica with P triandricola found in almond willow or rarely on purple willow.
We have both asiatica and triandricola in the UK. Barcoding is going on here.

Must be one the most overdue 1sts for the Isles of Scilly #UKBirding

An interesting discussion of Pacific Diver identification (in English):

marcduquet.com/wp-content/u...

#BirdingScotland

Beaver comeback accelerates with 100 releases scheduled for 2026 Natural History Museum highlights growing momentum behind Beaver restoration, with further releases expected under new government approach

Beaver comeback accelerates with 100 releases scheduled for 2026 www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/B...

Phyllocnistis triandricola Almond Willow Maze-miner

Just published... Phyllocnistis triandricola
(Almond Willow Maze-miner) New UK at Surlingham, Norfolk 14/08/2025 by Seb Buckton (Gen. Det. P. Hall, R. Voith) #teammoth #norfolkmoths norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?b...

Nice write up. Sorry to hear about Andrew Moon. First visited in 1970. Remember many good birds there, especially the summer plumage Grey Phalarope.

eBird Checklist - 2 Feb 2026 - Guéra, TD (12,176, 18,786) - 38 species Submitted by Pierre Defos du Rau.

So this is an exciting rediscovery
www.birdguides.com/news/rusty-b... and
ebird.org/checklist/S2...