Luke Phillips
Nature stuff!! Mainly birds, bird ringing and moths but probably other stuff as well. Based in west Dorset.
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsThere are few Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa 花脸鸭 Huāliǎn yā) wintering at the Yellow River estuary in Shandong Province. Photo by "菜小hua". #birds #china #yellowriver
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsBREAKING: A Gamekeeper has pleaded guilty in England’s first-ever Hen Harrier persecution case. Covert video and audio gathered lawfully by the RSPB Investigations team has helped expose the deliberate targeting of a Hen Harrier, leading to a landmark guilty plea: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... 👈
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsTears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously! 4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsWell today is a HUGE DAY for swifts in Scotland. I’ve travelled with my swift brick to witness Scottish Parliament in action & to thank @markruskell in person for his leadership. This evening swift bricks will be put to a vote. Will they pass into law? Watch this space!!
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsBird 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
- Reposted by Luke Phillips2025 has been confirmed as the third warmest year on record, following 2024 and 2023, in a series stretching back to 1850. Data from the Met Office, @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social and @ncas-uk.bsky.social shows 2025 was 1.41 °C above the average for 1850-1900. Read more 👉 bit.ly/3NkfQH9
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsCountry diary 1926: Hunting the tide wrack for ringed birds
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsSiskins! 2024 was an ‘influx year’ & bird ringers caught & ringed 63,815 across the UK! This was the highest number ever recorded. 😮 Among birds caught in the UK were Siskins previously ringed as far away as Russia & the Czech Republic. 📖 www.bto.org/ringing-... 📷 Siskin by Graham Catley / BTO
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsHear from Dr Ellie Leech, Head of our Ringing & Nest Recording Team, as she talks about positive breeding success for 14 species, and the value of data gathered by BTO bird ringers. #Ornithology
- If there was ever a map to demonstrate how important the UK is for wintering wildfowl, this is it!
- An amazing set of maps….We’ve received the migration data for a ringed db Brent Goose ‘SY’ seen at Baiter during Christmas, plus its movements around the harbour since its arrival in early November….migration route is 4800km! 📸 Simon Johnson @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsIt's telling, isn't it, that Protection Officers are still required for Hen Harriers in northern England. Good opportunity here for some important raptor conservation fieldwork. Closing date for applications: 30 Jan 2026. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/07/j...
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- Tried my luck at various goose friendly fields around Bridport today in the hope of something other than the 13 Canada Goose that I saw... nothing ventured, nothing gained! 4 juv Mute Swan were a local bird though.
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsWe're hiring! Seasonal Research Assistant and Senior Research Assistant positions for 2026 🪶 Deadline: 11th Jan 26 Apply here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsAbsolutely shocking. We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases. We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.
- It's great when farmers do something for birds and then it works! Saw at least 12 Woodcock tonight and mostly in a stubble field which was left specifically for birds. Probably my favourite bird and a privilege to see up close. All ringed and released under @btobirds.bsky.social license.
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsA win for Swifts! Thanks to your support, Scotland might become the first UK country to require Swift nesting bricks in all new buildings. Today MSPs voted to include this in the Natural Environment Bill – now we must make sure it stays in the Bill through the final stage.
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsGood news! Earlier this year I shared reports that the land around the Cerne Abbas Giant was up for sale I’m delighted that, after lots of conversations, the land has now been bought by the National Trust (who already own the Giant): www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... bsky.app/profile/guys...
- Yikes - the land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant is up for sale! Lot 1 is top-quality chalk downland bursting with wildflowers & butterflies - orchids, skippers… going for £950k. It absolutely needs to be preserved. Hope the NT or similar can buy wdcdn.co/media/pdf/0f... wdcdn.co/media/pdf/0f...
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsAre you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one? RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu... #ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
- Huge thanks to Ian and the other ringers involved with colour ringing Cirl Buntings! So much to learn and please keep an eye out. Details on how to report here - cr-birding.org/node/7187
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsPine Bunting seen briefly with mobile Yellowhammer flock at St Aldhelm's Head Quarry at 1030hrs & not relocated as of 1250hrs. Ltd parking available in Renscombe car park, otherwise park in Worth Mattravers village car park and walk down, staying out of private fields @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsFor months, ministers have been pushing a false choice between nature and growth. Now, new research shows just how out of touch they are. With data from More In Common, it's time to set the record straight. 👇
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsWorrying 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
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsLast night, Peers voted against Swift bricks: rejecting a simple, proven way to help one of our fastest declining birds recover. ❌ We share @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social's disappointment & frustration. The vote came late, but with government refusing to back it, its fate was already sealed.
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsOur colour ringing season at Lytchett Bay is off to a great start with 5 Water Pipit & 5 Rock Pipit marked (under license) already. Please look out for yellow (Water) and white (Rock) marked birds and report all sightings 🙏 #Dorsetbirds
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- Thrilled to have the first Cirl Bunting colour ringed on Portland as part of a Dorset wide project to understand more about the species spread across the county. Please keep a look out and report any sightings. And huge thanks to all the ringers involved 💚. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsWe'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Heathland Birds Survey! 🙌 All remaining survey returns are urgently required, before 30th November, to inform future conservation action. If you need any help submitting your records please email heathlandbirds@bto.org. Thank you!
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- A quiet morning for ringing on the farm (nr Bridport) with grounded migrants starting to dwindle as the autumn goes on. But a few Goldcrest always brighten up a morning though. All 5 grammes of them!
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsAnnouncing an exciting new event 🤩 🌿 Be the Future of Nature’s Recovery in Dorset & Beyond 📍 Bournemouth Uni 🗓️ Sat 22 Nov 1–6pm A free @btobirds.bsky.social x @bournemouthuni.bsky.social conference with Megan McCubbin, Paul Morton, Katiana Saleiko & more! 🙌🏻 More info👉🏻 www.bto.org/our-work/eve...
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- Had to get out ringing this morning to celebrate #WorldMigratoryBirdDay. However, it turned out to be one of the quietest mornings for a while. Chiffchaff numbers dropped off but did ring the first Redpoll of the autumn. Made up for the lack of numbers.
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsWell, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today. Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
- Back #birdringing on the farm this morning and Chiffchaff still on the move in numbers. All were birds hatched this year and this bird showed a nice clear moult limit in the greater coverts. Inner greener ones are adult and paler outer ones juv feathers. Ringed under licence @btobirds.bsky.social
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- This should be a good morning! Bird ringing, bird migration, hot drinks and a chance to see some amazing work being done by farmers in Dorset - fb.me/e/3AEE8B5qq
- Quick hour up on Allington Hill, Bridport this morning for a bit of vismig. Woodlark was a goody and a Golden Plover took 2nd place. Also 221 Meadow Pipit, 44 Linnet, 35 Chaffinch, 22 Goldfinch, 12 Pied Wag, 14 Swallow, 15 H Martin, 9 Siskin, 2 Bullfinch and a Grt Spot Woodpecker high over S.
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsHardly any Hen Harrier nesting attempts on English grouse moors for second year running. Hardly any surprise why. #RaptorPersecution #WildlifeCrime #Ornithology raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/02/h...
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- It's been a great autumn for Chiffchaff! Last few days has seen a shift towards slightly larger & more greyish birds, likely from NE Europe but this gorgeous Siberian Chiffchaff popped up this morning nr Bridport. Ringed under BTO License @btobirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsA Poole Harbour record smashed today with 93 Spoonbill, plus 1 at Swineham logged, breaking the previous record of 85. Poole Harbour seems to the most important staging site in the country, with the peak not expected until later in Oct. Some stay but most move off into Southern Europe, even Senegal!
- Calmer weather has meant more ringing on a local farm this week. Plenty of migrants about, mostly Blackcap and Chiffchaff but also starting to see more crests and some new Robins showing up. Feeling very autumnal now! All ringed under @btobirds.bsky.social licence.
- Reposted by Luke PhillipsMet with Agriculture Minister @jimfairlielogie this morning to discuss the management scheme for sea eagles. We need a proper evidence base on their diet rather than scare stories of ‘horse eating eagles’ @skyeandfrisa 🦅🐴 news.stv.tv/highlands-is...
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- Reposted by Luke PhillipsSadly we have to report that today a Goshawk came calling to the live Hobby nest. Nature is incredible & hard at times. Goshawks are also amazing. We've learned loads about the lives of these heathland Hobbies & thanks for your support Read on: drsg.co.uk/f/a-goshawk-... @forestryengland.bsky.social
