Mark Eaton
@markaeaton.bsky.social
Scientist, conservationist, naturalist, birder. Secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel & ornithologist for hire. Loves all of that plus dogs, music, leftwing politics, football, Northumberland, family. He/him.
No great rarities, but my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count at East Chevington was hooching with birds with much disturbance from Otters and Marsh Harriers. A Raven was a site first for me #NEbirding
November 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
No great rarities, but my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count at East Chevington was hooching with birds with much disturbance from Otters and Marsh Harriers. A Raven was a site first for me #NEbirding
Great entertainment from this Otter, one of two at East Chevington today. Pretty sure it was playing with the eel it had caught, releasing it and catching it again
November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Great entertainment from this Otter, one of two at East Chevington today. Pretty sure it was playing with the eel it had caught, releasing it and catching it again
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Raptor recovery… Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, White-tailed Eagle and Osprey have all increased substantially over recent decades. Ospreys have colonised new counties at the rate of one a year, including Co. Fermanagh in 2023, the first breeding on the island of Ireland in 200 yrs #ukbirding #ornithology
November 9, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Raptor recovery… Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, White-tailed Eagle and Osprey have all increased substantially over recent decades. Ospreys have colonised new counties at the rate of one a year, including Co. Fermanagh in 2023, the first breeding on the island of Ireland in 200 yrs #ukbirding #ornithology
The sound of a Dusky Warbler giving it large at Craster this morning #NEbirding
November 8, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The sound of a Dusky Warbler giving it large at Craster this morning #NEbirding
Two (!) Dusky Warblers at the south end of the Arnold Memorial reserve, Craster. Only one seen but the two birds heard calling at each other. Very pleasing self-found ✅ #NEbirding
November 8, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Two (!) Dusky Warblers at the south end of the Arnold Memorial reserve, Craster. Only one seen but the two birds heard calling at each other. Very pleasing self-found ✅ #NEbirding
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Some good news for Friday: the new RBBP report reveals that five species of large wading bird reached record totals in 2023, including Spoonbill. See the trend since 2010 below… even the bird itself looks shocked by the increase! Read more at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ukbirding #ornithology
November 7, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Some good news for Friday: the new RBBP report reveals that five species of large wading bird reached record totals in 2023, including Spoonbill. See the trend since 2010 below… even the bird itself looks shocked by the increase! Read more at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ukbirding #ornithology
4 dead and 3 sick Greylags at Branton Pits Northumberland today (reported). Worrying #NEBirding
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
📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides
#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
4 dead and 3 sick Greylags at Branton Pits Northumberland today (reported). Worrying #NEBirding
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Both the Red-spotted and White-spotted races of Bluethroat try to breed in the UK occasionally but breeding has only been confirmed on five occasions, in 1968, 85, 95, 2016 (Red-spotted) and 1996 (White-spotted). There were single possible breeding records of both in 2023 #ukbirding #ornithology
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Both the Red-spotted and White-spotted races of Bluethroat try to breed in the UK occasionally but breeding has only been confirmed on five occasions, in 1968, 85, 95, 2016 (Red-spotted) and 1996 (White-spotted). There were single possible breeding records of both in 2023 #ukbirding #ornithology
Rock royalty without even having to leave Alnwick this evening. Martin Barre - the sound of Jethro Tull - at the Playhouse
November 6, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Rock royalty without even having to leave Alnwick this evening. Martin Barre - the sound of Jethro Tull - at the Playhouse
Reposted by Mark Eaton
The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]
November 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Our report for 2023 is out now in @britishbirds.bsky.social. There's a summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... but if you prefer to watch rather than read then here's RBBP secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social with a few key points and some lovely photos! #ornithology #ukbirds youtu.be/arj1m7NfKmY
Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023
YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Our report for 2023 is out now in @britishbirds.bsky.social. There's a summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... but if you prefer to watch rather than read then here's RBBP secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social with a few key points and some lovely photos! #ornithology #ukbirds youtu.be/arj1m7NfKmY
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Hoopoes bred in Leicestershire & Rutland in 2023, the first confirmed breeding record in the UK since 1996. Here’s the family - parents and three offspring. Can you see them all? Read more about rare breeding birds in 2023 at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-...
📸 Carl Baggott
📸 Carl Baggott
November 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Hoopoes bred in Leicestershire & Rutland in 2023, the first confirmed breeding record in the UK since 1996. Here’s the family - parents and three offspring. Can you see them all? Read more about rare breeding birds in 2023 at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-...
📸 Carl Baggott
📸 Carl Baggott
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Another species returning to breed in 2023 was Temminck's Stint; a pair laid a clutch of four eggs in Highland, although the nest was later flooded out. This tiny wader bred regularly in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, but this was the first confirmed breeding since 1997 #ornithology #BirdingScotland
November 6, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Another species returning to breed in 2023 was Temminck's Stint; a pair laid a clutch of four eggs in Highland, although the nest was later flooded out. This tiny wader bred regularly in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, but this was the first confirmed breeding since 1997 #ornithology #BirdingScotland
Reposted by Mark Eaton
This month's fascinating talk is about Recording Rare Breeding Birds in the UK and Essex, by Mark Eaton from the RBBP. It's streaming live on YouTube from 8pm on Friday: youtube.com/live/VlTi7GS...
#essexbirding #RareBirdsUK @ukrbbp.bsky.social
#essexbirding #RareBirdsUK @ukrbbp.bsky.social
Recording Rare Breeding Birds in the UK and Essex
YouTube video by Essex Birdwatching Society
youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:15 PM
This month's fascinating talk is about Recording Rare Breeding Birds in the UK and Essex, by Mark Eaton from the RBBP. It's streaming live on YouTube from 8pm on Friday: youtube.com/live/VlTi7GS...
#essexbirding #RareBirdsUK @ukrbbp.bsky.social
#essexbirding #RareBirdsUK @ukrbbp.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Eaton
I asked a while back about people collecting (and now missing) physical tickets and it got us thinking
After a couple of months of work we made something amazing (props to tech wizard Andrew and our Merch Market team)
Totally free, yours to use from Friday
*sound up*
After a couple of months of work we made something amazing (props to tech wizard Andrew and our Merch Market team)
Totally free, yours to use from Friday
*sound up*
November 5, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I asked a while back about people collecting (and now missing) physical tickets and it got us thinking
After a couple of months of work we made something amazing (props to tech wizard Andrew and our Merch Market team)
Totally free, yours to use from Friday
*sound up*
After a couple of months of work we made something amazing (props to tech wizard Andrew and our Merch Market team)
Totally free, yours to use from Friday
*sound up*
Epic stuff from Japanese post-rock band Mono at the Cluny tonight
November 4, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Epic stuff from Japanese post-rock band Mono at the Cluny tonight
Some Belfast sightseeing this morning #VanMorrison
November 2, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Some Belfast sightseeing this morning #VanMorrison
Reposted by Mark Eaton
The eBird taxonomic reshuffle is still underway, but Lagopus has been processed, and Red Grouse is now a UK species-level endemic #UKBirding
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609783...
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609783...
November 2, 2025 at 6:43 AM
The eBird taxonomic reshuffle is still underway, but Lagopus has been processed, and Red Grouse is now a UK species-level endemic #UKBirding
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609783...
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609783...
A beautiful start at Oxford Island, Lough Neagh, for the @bto-ni.bsky.social birdwatchers’ conference
November 1, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A beautiful start at Oxford Island, Lough Neagh, for the @bto-ni.bsky.social birdwatchers’ conference
Looking forward to talking about the work of @ukrbbp.bsky.social at this tomorrow - should be a great conference
🪶 Join us for a day of bird talks, birdwatching, and socialising at the BTO NI Birdwatchers' Conference!
📍 1st Nov 2025 | Oxford Island, Co. Armagh
🎁 Enter the raffle for a chance to win a Sea Safari Trip among other exciting prizes!
Book your ticket 👇
bit.ly/BTOConferenceNI25
#ornithology
📍 1st Nov 2025 | Oxford Island, Co. Armagh
🎁 Enter the raffle for a chance to win a Sea Safari Trip among other exciting prizes!
Book your ticket 👇
bit.ly/BTOConferenceNI25
#ornithology
October 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Looking forward to talking about the work of @ukrbbp.bsky.social at this tomorrow - should be a great conference
Reposted by Mark Eaton
We are still interested in any found twite feathers for a study on the relationships and genetic diversity between the British groups - particularly now for birds of Scottish origin in the NE of England or, birds on the Avon.
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
October 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
We are still interested in any found twite feathers for a study on the relationships and genetic diversity between the British groups - particularly now for birds of Scottish origin in the NE of England or, birds on the Avon.
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
One man and his dog. Crosby, Merseyside
October 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
One man and his dog. Crosby, Merseyside
I am being followed around by rainbows at the moment. This one at Cullernose Point this morning was not as dramatic as others, but comes to you with added dogs
October 25, 2025 at 11:42 AM
I am being followed around by rainbows at the moment. This one at Cullernose Point this morning was not as dramatic as others, but comes to you with added dogs
Not as many birds as hoped for in brisk northerlies at Cullernose Point 10.00-11.30 - Great Northern Diver & 2 Long-tailed Ducks the best. The waves didn’t disappoint however #NEbirding
October 25, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Not as many birds as hoped for in brisk northerlies at Cullernose Point 10.00-11.30 - Great Northern Diver & 2 Long-tailed Ducks the best. The waves didn’t disappoint however #NEbirding