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btobirds.bsky.social
BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
@btobirds.bsky.social
11K followers 400 following 970 posts
BTO is the UK's leading Registered Charity working with volunteers to improve our knowledge of birds through monitoring and research. www.bto.org
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btobirds.bsky.social
Looks like we’re not the only ones that think #DefyingGravity is cool with #Wicked For Good hitting cinemas!🧙✨ While Elphaba uses a broomstick, #Birds have impressive physical attributes, such as streamlined bodies & lightweight skeletons, so they can take to the sky. ➡️ www.bto.org/learn/ab...
A Rough-legged Buzzard in flight with wings outstretched. Wording reads: Talk about defying gravity. An image credit in the bottom right of the corner reads: Rough-legged Buzzard by Chris Knights / BTO.
November 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
webs-gsmp.bsky.social
1/ This weekend marks the final IGC count of the season, focusing on Greylag Goose counts, and Pink-footed Geese, at their roosts. Thank you to all of our #GSMP_UK volunteers and hope you enjoy your counts this weekend!

@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

#UKBirding
Picture of a Greylag Goose flying, with the words 'Icelandic-breeding Goose Census this weekend' on top and the date '22nd/23rd November' on the right hand side of the image. Photo credit: BTO/John Harding. For more information, visit www.bto.org/gsmp.
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
Could Waxwings be on their way to the UK? Find out in this article from @stephenmossauthor.bsky.social in @theguardian.com ➡️ www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
A Waxwing perches on a tree branch with bright red berries on, the bird has one of these berries in its beak. Image credit by Chris Knights / BTO.
November 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
willrose.bsky.social
Very happy to be part of this project coming in 2026!🦅
btobirds.bsky.social BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 1d
Want a FREE resource pack with an ID guide to 30 species you’re likely to see in your local greenspace? 🐦🌳 Sign up to our Birds in #Greenspaces newsletter to receive one! ➡️ www.bto.org/greenspaces #Ornithology 🪶

Illustrations by @willrose.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
Want a FREE resource pack with an ID guide to 30 species you’re likely to see in your local greenspace? 🐦🌳 Sign up to our Birds in #Greenspaces newsletter to receive one! ➡️ www.bto.org/greenspaces #Ornithology 🪶

Illustrations by @willrose.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
Are the BTO Cuckoos still moving across Africa? Yes they are! ⬇️🌍

Cleeve has headed further south, leaving Cameroon and flying into the Republic of the Congo. He moved around 500 miles over five days! #Ornithology
Two headshot images of Cuckoos Cleeve and Frederic feature in a circular frame in the centre of the image. Underneath is their name and the words, tagged: Norfolk. Above in large writing are the words Cuckoo update. In the background is a half transparent map of the world showing BTO tagged Cuckoos locations in Africa.
November 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
bbs-birds.bsky.social
(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
Common Tern and trend graph.
November 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
btoengland.bsky.social
Don't miss author James Parry's talk about Emma Turner at Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes.

📅 Thu 20 Nov, 1-3pm. Book a space ➡️ www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2025-...

From 10am to 12pm our BTO Archivist can show you original material from the Emma Turner archive too. #NorfolkBirding
James Parry - The life of bird photographer Emma Turner | Norfolk Wildlife Trust
Join Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the British Trust for Ornithology for a talk by James Parry, co-author with Jeremy Greenwood of the book Emma Turner - A life looking at birds.
www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
smp-seabirds.bsky.social
The Arctic Skua, one of two Skua species covered by the SMP.
Look out for the adult's prominent 'pointed tail spike' and their variable colour gradations, caused by mixed breeding pairs of pale and dark morph individuals! #seabirds #birds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
Graphic displays an amalgamated image of three Arctic Skuas by Alex Penn/BTO. On the left is a pale morph individual, in the centre a juvenile, and a dark morph individual on the right. In the top right hand corner is the SMP logo. The caption reads: 'The Arctic Skua, one of two Skua species covered by the SMP. Look out for the adult's prominent 'pointed tail spike' and their variable colour gradations, caused by mixed breeding pairs of pale and dark morph individuals! #seabirds #birds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social'
November 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
webs-gsmp.bsky.social
The International Swan Census (ISC) is taking place on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026 (WeBS January Core Count weekend), counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans. Follow these simple steps to get involved 👇

@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

#UKBirding #Ornithology
November 18, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
penrhynbirder.bsky.social
Wild victims of bird flu increase - will it be the worst winter yet in Europe? @btobirds.bsky.social reminds birders we can play a role in monitoring #HPAI

Plus the week's #NorthWales sightings in @northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes. 📷 Tony Pope. #BirdingWales

www.birdnotes.wales/blog/wild-vi...
Wild victims of bird flu on the rise
As ‘flockdown’ rules require keepers of birds to introduce strict biosecurity measures in Wales, increased deaths of wild birds have raised fears that it could be the worst winter yet for bird...
www.birdnotes.wales
November 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
Hear from our Director of Science James Pearce-Higgins in this article from @theguardian.com looking at pesticide bans and bird population recovery ➡️ www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A male blackbird, with black plumage and orange bill with mud on, stands on grassy ground.
November 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
lesserspotnet.bsky.social
This is a brilliant initiative. Woodpecker Network is working with BTO to develop a passive acoustic monitoring module for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Trials have proved successful in reliably detecting their drums and calls, revealing many new locations.
btobirds.bsky.social BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 5d
Birdsong is not only beautiful, it’s also full of information. This is where Acoustic Monitoring comes in. Will you support the development of this new and important work? Find out more and donate today ➡️ www.bto.org/acoustic... #bioacoustics #ornithology
A cut out image of a Curlew on a green background alongside the wording: Discover the power of Acoustic monitoring.
November 17, 2025 at 10:18 AM
btobirds.bsky.social
Birdsong is not only beautiful, it’s also full of information. This is where Acoustic Monitoring comes in. Will you support the development of this new and important work? Find out more and donate today ➡️ www.bto.org/acoustic... #bioacoustics #ornithology
A cut out image of a Curlew on a green background alongside the wording: Discover the power of Acoustic monitoring.
November 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
bbs-birds.bsky.social
This week, we are sharing the most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024. They are all common and familiar species! Find out more about taking part in the survey here: www.bto.org/get-involved... @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
Most widespread species for BBS in 2024.
November 13, 2025 at 7:14 AM
btobirds.bsky.social
Give the gift of nature this Christmas! 🎄🐦 With a BTO gift membership, your loved one can discover the curiosities of birds and their world with a full year of BTO membership, plus a book and a BTO beanie. 😀 Order today ➡️ www.bto.org/GiftMembership
Cut out images of BTO News magazine, Collins BTO Guide to British Birds book, a BTO 2026 Calendar and a BTO beanie hat layered together over a teal coloured background. Wording to the left reads: Give the gift of nature this Christmas with a BTO Gift Membership. Special Offer. Free BTO Calendar!
November 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
durham.ac.uk
New research from our Biosciences Department and @btobirds.bsky.social shows that hotter European summers are reducing migratory birds’ ability to fuel up for their long journeys.

Read more: durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
#DUresearch
Hotter European summers put migratory birds at risk - Durham University
durham.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
bbs-birds.bsky.social
(1/) What’s that coming bobbing along?! It’s a Common Sandpiper! This species, which does now winter in the UK in small numbers, declined by 21% across the UK between 1995 and 2023. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology #CitizenScience
Common Sandpiper and trend graph.
November 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
btobirds.bsky.social
How are hotter☀️ European summers affecting migratory birds?
Research by BTO & @Durham.ac.uk suggests that many birds are struggling to adapt to the effects of climate change.

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

#ornithology #climatechange

📷 Swallow by Edmund Fellowes / BTO
Photo of a Swallow perched on a branch, in bright sunlight
November 11, 2025 at 12:24 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
Did you know that the two Light-bellied Brent Goose populations – from Canada and Svalbard – largely winter on Strangford Lough and Lindisfarne respectively, while the birds wintering elsewhere in Britain come from the Russian Dark-bellied population?

📷 Philip Croft / BTO
A Brent Goose on saltmarsh with its head raised, while the head of another goose appears in the picture on the right hand side foraging.
November 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
If you're out doing your @webs-gsmp.bsky.social counts this weekend, remember to record & report any dead or sick birds you find (info in the link). Bird flu cases are rising.

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

📷 Dead Whooper Swan, by Kane Brides

#UKbirding
Dead Whooper Swan on the bank of a watercourse. Photo by Kane Brides.
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
birdguides.bsky.social
A recent outbreak of bird flu in Britain is causing concern among scientists:
Whooper Swans hit hard as bird-flu outbreak worsens
The number of sick, dying or dead birds being reported has been increasing in recent weeks, according to the British Trust for Ornithology, with Whooper Swans particularly affected.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
Autumn migration is coming to a close, so here's our final weekly Migration Blog for now. As always let us know what you spot when you're out and about, and don't forget to log your records on @birdtrack.bsky.social.

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

#UKbirding

📷 Iceland Gull, by Scott Mayson / BTO
Sub-adult Iceland Gull on a beach, by Scott Mayson / BTO.
November 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
btobirds.bsky.social
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
Whooper Swan sick with bird flu in a field, photograph by Kane Brides
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by BTO | British Trust for Ornithology
britishecologicalsociety.org
Time to rethink nature conservation?

Ecologists call for an ecosystem approach to halt UK wildlife decline and protect the vital services nature provides us in our new report with @nationaltrust.org.uk 

@pettorelli.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 9:26 AM