BTO Cymru
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btocymru.bsky.social
BTO Cymru
@btocymru.bsky.social
The British Trust from Ornithology (BTO) is the UK's leading bird research organisation. BTO Cymru seeks to give a Welsh voice and perspective on the important issues for birds in Wales. www.bto.org/about-bto/national-offices/bto-cymru-english
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Are you a raptor enthusiast? Discover more about birds of prey in Wales at our Raptor Convention in January. Book a space ➡️ www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026

Hear more about our Cudyll Cymru survey, hear from expert guest speakers and meet other nature enthusiasts over lunch. #BirdingWales
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Grab a cuppa and read our Seabird Poo comic! ➡️ http://www.bto.org/S... ☕📖

Discover how seabird scientists collected bird poo and analysed its DNA contents to determine the types of prey consumed by Shags and Kittiwakes! 😮 #Ornithology

✏️ Illustrations by Anna Dupont-Crabtree
December 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Not long until our next FREE BTO Youth Girls Go Birding walk at Bute Park, Cardiff on Saturday 10 January! Book a space here: www.bto.org/our-work/eve...
January 5, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Are you a raptor enthusiast? Discover more about birds of prey in Wales at our Raptor Convention in January. Book a space ➡️ www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026

Hear more about our Cudyll Cymru survey, hear from expert guest speakers and meet other nature enthusiasts over lunch. #BirdingWales
December 18, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Ydych chi'n hoff o adar ysglyfaethus? Darganfyddwch fwy amdanynt yn ein Confensiwn Adar Ysglyfaethus ym mis Ionawr. Archebwch le➡️ www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026

Clywch fwy am ein harolwg Cudyll Cymru, yn ogystal â siaradwyr gwadd arbenigol, a threuliwch amser efo naturiaethwyr eraill dros ginio.
December 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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1/ Of the 11 tagged Cuckoos that left the UK in summer, we have continued to receive regular updates from nine. ⬇️ 🪶

The furthest east of our birds are Joe & Sayaan in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our most southerly Cuckoo is Norman in Angola. Furthest north we find Jim & Ashok, both in Gabon.
December 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Join us for our next BTO Youth Girls Go Birding walk at Bute Park, Cardiff on Saturday 10 January! Book a space at www.bto.org/our-work/eve...
December 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
We would like to thank our wonderful Cudyll Cymru volunteers for their contributions in our first season. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🎄

📷 Kestrel by Liz Cutting / BTO
December 16, 2025 at 10:27 AM
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Exciting news! @btocymru.bsky.social is hosting its first Welsh Raptor Convention. Book a spot ➡️ www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026 🦅

Find out results from our Welsh raptor survey Cudyll Cymru, listen to expert guest speakers, join our feather ID workshop and enjoy lunch! #BirdingWales
December 12, 2025 at 5:36 PM
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The chatty song of Redwings where you don't expect it. Also in @northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes: sightings in #NorthWales, @btocymru.bsky.social's first Welsh Raptor Convention and reaction to Welsh Government rejection of Swift Brick proposal.

📷 Tony Pope

www.birdnotes.wales/blog/chatty-...
Chatty thrushes are sound of the north
Finding a calm and dry weather window to make the December visit to my BTO Winter Bird Survey above Conwy has been a challenge, but it was wonderful to hear the chatty, bubbling subsong of Redwings...
www.birdnotes.wales
December 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Join us for our Welsh Raptor Convention on 31 January at @aberuni.bsky.social. Book here ➡️ www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026

Discover results from Cudyll Cymru & hear from guest speakers Eagle Reintroduction Wales, National Wildlife Crime Unit, Keith Offord & @wildlifekate.bsky.social. #BirdingWales
December 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer ein Confensiwn Adar Ysglyfaethus cyntaf yng Nghymru ar 31 Ionawr yn @aberuni.bsky.social Archebwch yma ➡️ www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026
December 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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A Purple Sandpiper at Cemlyn, ringed in Sweden but almost certainly bred in Svalbard. The 2024 ringing report from @btobirds.bsky.social, containing more fascinating info, features in BirdNotes alongside recent sightings, incl. potentially Wales' first Bufflehead

www.birdnotes.wales/blog/tiny-ri...
Tiny rings that reveal birds’ lives
A colour-ringed Purple Sandpiper at Cemlyn on Sunday is the same one seen in the Anglesey bay last winter, having been ringed in June 2024 at Nidingens bird observatory, an island off southwest...
www.birdnotes.wales
December 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
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With one Welsh record in each of the last three centuries, I wasn't expecting to need space for a Eurasian Scops Owl in a second successive @birdsinwales.bsky.social Welsh Bird Report (subject to acceptance, of course)

Three of the last four British records have been found in Nov/Dec #BirdingWales
How extraordinary it was to see a Eurasian Scops Owl tonight, locally here in Gower, and in December of all months! A fabulous little bird that was hunting in a suburban park. #GowerBirds #ScopsOwl @gowerbirds.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
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Join us for the Welsh Raptor Convention in January! Find out more and book a space at www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026
December 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Exciting news! We’re hosting our very first Welsh Raptor Convention to celebrate the first season of Cudyll Cymru. Book a spot ➡️ www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026

Find out results from the survey, listen to expert guest speakers, join our feather ID workshop and enjoy lunch! #BirdingWales
December 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Newyddion cyffrous! Rydym am gynnal ein Confensiwn Adar Ysglyfaethus Cymru gyntaf erioed i ddathlu tymor cyntaf Cudyll Cymru. Archebwch le ar www.bto.org/RaptorConvention2026

Darganfyddwch ganlyniadau’r arolwg, gwrandewch ar siaradwyr arbenigol, ymunwch â’n gweithdy adnabod plu a mwynhewch y cinio!
December 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Are you surveying Raven as part of Cudyll Cymru? The Raven is an early breeder, with lots of the action kicking off in January! Look out for those spectacular synchronised flight dances in skies near you soon and get recording! #BirdingWales Raven by Philip Croft/BTO
December 1, 2025 at 4:15 PM
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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
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HUGE diolch to ALL who supported and attended Conference. An inspiring, informative & wonderful day. See you next year!

Diolch i BAWB am gefnogi a mynychu. Diwrnod ysbrydoledig, addysgiadol a bendigedig. Tan flwyddyn nesaf!

@iolowilliams.bsky.social
@btocymru.bsky.social
@rspbcymru.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
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This was a lovely surprise and honour, to receive the 2025 Marsh Award for Ornithology from the British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social, at this evening’s opening of the Society of Wildlife Artists’ annual exhibition.
The Marsh Award for Ornithology goes to Dr. Rob Thomas! @robthomasbirds.bsky.social has made a huge contribution to ornithology through academic research, teaching & mentorship that’s inspired generations of students. He’s also published a monograph on the Storm-petrels. @marshawards.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Heather's contribution to ornithology and BTO surveys has been incredible across Wales! Thank you Heather! A well-deserved recipient of the Jubilee Medal. 🏅
The winner of the Jubilee Medal is Heather Coats! Heather’s support to BTO has been outstanding, including her surveying for @bbs-birds.bsky.social (she’s one of four people in Wales to have surveyed a square every year) & her dedication to bird ringing led her to co-found the Gower Ringing Group.
October 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Congratulations to Julian @penrhynbirder.bsky.social on being awarded the Dilys Breese Medal for his contribution to ornithology and sharing BTO's work across Wales!
Our Dilys Breese Medal winner is Julian Hughes @penrhynbirder.bsky.social! Julian is editor of the Welsh Bird Report, Co-editor of The Birds of Wales and a dedicated birder. Taking part in many BTO surveys he uses his writing skills to regularly share BTO work, including in his BirdNotes column. 📝
October 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Our online ‘Welsh Waders for Beginners’ course is now less than a week away! Book your place today on our website here: www.bto.org/our-work/eve...
October 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Mae ein cwrs ar-lein ‘Adar Rhydio Cymru i Ddechreuwyr’ bellach llai na wythnos i ffwrdd! Cofrestrwch heddiw ar ein gwefan yma: www.bto.org/our-work/eve...
October 1, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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The Winter Bird Survey has started! Huge thanks to all volunteer surveyors. You can find out more about the survey here: www.bto.org/get-involved...
Before the rain arrived, first visit to my two @btobirds.bsky.social Winter Bird Survey squares above Conwy, which I otherwise rarely visit outside the breeding season.

Quite a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps still around, Robin winter territories galore, and several Choughs foraging on the mountain.
September 29, 2025 at 8:33 AM