Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS)
The UK Breeding Bird Survey & Waterways Breeding Bird Survey; monitoring bird species with skilled volunteers. A @btobirds.bsky.social, @jncc.bsky.social and @rspb.bsky.social partnership. bto.org/our-science/project…
- 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 📖
- Manx Shearwaters winter in the South Atlantic Ocean, predominantly off Brazil and Argentina. These birds begin returning to oceans surrounding the UK by late February, so start keeping an eye out for them 'shearing' over the sea! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
- Today is #WorldWetlandsDay! Thank you to all of our WeBS volunteers, contributing to our knowledge on wetlands and the birds they comprise of, providing essential data for decision makers. 📷 Brent Goose by Philip Croft/BTO #Ornithology
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- Thank you again to everyone who carried out swan counts for the International Swan Census on 17th-18th January. Just a reminder to please enter your data. For more information: www.bto.org/gsmp-isc Find out how to report swan colour rings on www.ring.ac 📷Bridget Hiza/BTO
- We’re excited to announce that BTO Bird Camp NI applications are open! 🐦⬛🐞🦭🦇🦋🐝 This is a FREE opportunity for young birders to explore the natural world, develop field skills & meet like-minded people 📌 Magherafelt, Co. Derry/Londonderry 🗓️ 10-12 April Find out more & apply 👇 www.bto.org/birdcamps
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- Winter bird survey today at Scisset/Clayton West. 25 species recorded including flocks of 6 Greenfinch & 12 Lesser Redpoll, unusual for this location #yorkshirebirding @btobirds.bsky.social @bbs-birds.bsky.social
- The winter edition of the UKBMS eNewsletter is out now. Although we may not be seeing any butterflies this weekend, there's still lots to read about and get involved with. link.butterfly-conservation.org/m/1/71172733...
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- Our Wonderful Winter Bird Walk in Lough Head Park, Lisnaskea last Sunday was a huge success! 🐦 We learned the basics of bird ID in a friendly group. Lough Head Park was brimming with birds, and we were lucky to see 34 species of woodland and wetland birds including Snipe, Redpoll and Shoveler.
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- We're holding two bird camps in England this year! They will be in Lancashire, 1-3 May, and Dorset, 17-19 July. Apply now for a free space ➡️ www.bto.org/birdcamps
- Bird Camps are back! 🙌 Apply for a FREE place now ➡️ www.bto.org/birdcamps If you’re a nature lover aged 11-17 (12-16 in Scotland) join us and fellow nature enthusiasts for a weekend of birding, exploring and nature-based activities. 🐦🦋 @scottishbirding.bsky.social
- 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-...
- Bird Camps are back! 🙌 Apply for a FREE place now ➡️ www.bto.org/birdcamps If you’re a nature lover aged 11-17 (12-16 in Scotland) join us and fellow nature enthusiasts for a weekend of birding, exploring and nature-based activities. 🐦🦋 @scottishbirding.bsky.social
- Corn Bunting’s status in Shropshire is “Uncommon resident (declining)”, with just 144 records submitted in 2023. Records of winter flocks or singing males during the breeding season are very helpful, please share by adding them to BirdTrack, eBird or iRecord. #ShropshireBirds
- (1/) Corn Bunting, with its song that sounds to some like a set of keys being jangled, declined by 83% across the UK between 1967 and 2023. However, in more recent years, this species has increased, especially in certain areas. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social
- East or west? Tracking work from 2017-2020 by BTO staff provided the first evidence of Scottish breeding Arctic Skuas wintering off South America! Other individuals wintered along the western and southern African coast. #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
- Are you a birder in Wales who can count these small ponds on Anglesey, which haven’t been counted since 2011? If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #WeBSSiteInsight #YourWeBSJourney
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- Went to do my January WINBS @bbs-birds.bsky.social visit today and this Killdeer was just outside my square (about 250m!). Still, hundreds of Rook and Stock Dove made up for it a bit. Rubbish record shots with both my scope and camera! @hosbirding.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #UKbirding
- Save the date! Join us on Sat 28th March 2026 for the UK Butterfly Recorders meeting. This free event is open to anyone intersted in butterfly monitoring. We'll present the 2025 UKBMS results, update on other monitoring schemes and talks about butterfly ecology.
- Did you know that by submitting your garden wildlife sightings regularly to BTO Garden BirdWatch, you are directly contributing towards research which looks into the year-round importance of gardens for wildlife. 🪶 Discover more at www.bto.org/get-involved... 📷Philip Croft / BTO
- 1/🧵 New BTO-led research sheds light on the number and range of Little Egrets with population estimates higher than previously thought – likely exceeding 2,000 pairs in the UK! 🙌 #Ornithology @britishbirds.bsky.social 📖 www.bto.org/little-egret...
- Did you know- the UK is located on the East Atlantic Flyway? Data from January WeBS counts/ Int. Waterbird Census gives insights into the total numbers and distribution of the populations using this flyway and the pressures they face along the route. Our counting counts! 🧮 #IWC60
- We had a great time chatting to students at the @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social Environmental & Conservation Careers Fair yesterday! 🐣 Sign up here to receive more info about upcoming opportunities for young people at BTO NI: forms.gle/zZ4XJ7Z3J7W8...
- ... & when spring arrives it is a good time to listen for really extravagant sounds of Great TIt. Check out some examples here: xeno-canto.org/set/4595 . Possibly associated with pairing/copulation? Take your recording kit outside and send us some more examples. Examples also exist for Coal Tit.
- (1/) The most recognisable song that Great Tit delivers is a simple, two note song that is sometimes remembered by the mnemonic or phrase: ‘Teacher, Teacher.’ It can now be heard across many parts of the UK. @btobirds.bsky.social JNCC RSPB Science #Ornithology
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- Thank you to everyone who carried out their International Swan Census counts this weekend, contributing to our knowledge of Whooper and Bewick's Swan populations and distribution. 🦢 Zero counts are equally as important, so please input data for all sites you surveyed. #Ornithology #UKBirding
- Did you carry out WeBS, and therefore take part in the IWC this weekend? If so, @wetlandsint.bsky.social would love to hear your story, learn all about your site and add you to the IWC Counter Postcards map - iwc.wetlands.org/postcards! Tell us all about your WeBS site here➡️ bit.ly/45hMTBO
- Imagine flying from the Antarctic to the UK and back every year for the best part of 30 years. With the longest migration of any Tern and a possible lifespan of over three decades, Arctic Terns can really cover some distance! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
- We hope everyone taking part in the ISC this weekend is ‘swanning about’ successfully! For more information on the Census and how to enter your data, please visit: www.bto.org/gsmp-isc #IWC60 #Ornithology
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- Did you know the famous Children of Lir Irish legend is about Whooper Swans? 🦢 🎧 Hear more in this radio interview with our colleagues at @birdwatchireland.bsky.social — highlighting the census happening this weekend across Ireland, Britain and the rest of Europe! 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
- One of our most brightly coloured garden visitors, the Bullfinch is a widespread species found across Britain and Ireland. They are largely associated with lowland wooded habitats, where they can be found in highest densities. 🪶 🌳
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- Our Head of Surveys @debalmer.bsky.social completed her third Winter Bird Survey visit to one of her squares in Thetford Forest. She has surveyed this square for @bbs-birds.bsky.social since 1994! An incredible effort! You can sign up for the Winter Bird Survey here ➡️ www.bto.org/winbs #UKBirding
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- Any volunteers in Norfolk who can survey this @bbs-birds.bsky.social square? #NorfolkBirding
- (1/) Now is a great time to think about signing up to survey a BBS square ready for when the survey season begins in April. Here is just one example of a vacant square that we are looking for a volunteer to survey! @btobirds.bsky.social JNCC RSPB Science #norfolkbirds
- Why do juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers lose their red cap? This was a question asked by Garden BirdWatcher Margaret recently. Read our thread ⬇️ 📷 Liz Cutting / BTO
- We still have key vacant sites available in Shetland for the International Swan Census (ISC) this weekend (17th-18th January 2026).🦢 To request a site, please visit: app.bto.org/gsmp/public/... @scottishbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
- We still have key vacant sites available in Orkney for the International Swan Census (ISC) this weekend (17th-18th January 2026).🦢 To request a site, please visit: app.bto.org/gsmp/public/... @stevedudley.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
- If you fancy joining us to find out more about helping with the Breeding Bird Survey @bbs-birds.bsky.social then come along to any of these events. More details in the link: www.bto.org/about/where/... #BirdingScotland
- 📉Bewick's Swan numbers in NW/NE Europe are declining. Would you like to help us continue to monitor Bewick's (and Whooper Swans) through participating in the International Swan Census this weekend? See more information: www.bto.org/gsmp-isc
- Not long left to get your ticket! Book now ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work... Join us at our 2026 Annual Conference in Northampton on Saturday 28 February for a full day of inspiring talks from expert speakers, plus plenty of opportunity to chat to fellow birders. 🐦 Booking closes Sunday 18 January!
