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.
Here are my ropy photos of the small 'white cheeked' goose found by Dave Dack at Hauxley today. I find it a bit puzzling. It was small - about White-front size, although clearly a bit fatter and possibly a bit longer-boded. It was obviously short-necked #NEbirding #UKrarebirds 🧵
February 10, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Here are my ropy photos of the small 'white cheeked' goose found by Dave Dack at Hauxley today. I find it a bit puzzling. It was small - about White-front size, although clearly a bit fatter and possibly a bit longer-boded. It was obviously short-necked #NEbirding #UKrarebirds 🧵
I was late for a meeting with @bou.org.uk colleagues this afternoon, but they were kind enough to accept my excuse of being delayed by a roadside Otter! This was hunting crabs below Warkworth weir, Northumberland today #UKmammals #UKwildlife
February 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I was late for a meeting with @bou.org.uk colleagues this afternoon, but they were kind enough to accept my excuse of being delayed by a roadside Otter! This was hunting crabs below Warkworth weir, Northumberland today #UKmammals #UKwildlife
I missed a turning in the south of Northumberland this morning and had to drive the long way around… as a result, found a pair of Red Kites seeing an intruder off from their territory. A really thrilling encounter #NEbirding
February 8, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I missed a turning in the south of Northumberland this morning and had to drive the long way around… as a result, found a pair of Red Kites seeing an intruder off from their territory. A really thrilling encounter #NEbirding
After failing to find any Bean Geese around Whittle Dene this morning, delighted to catch up with two Tundra Beans on patch at Boulmer before dusk #NEbirding
February 8, 2026 at 6:07 PM
After failing to find any Bean Geese around Whittle Dene this morning, delighted to catch up with two Tundra Beans on patch at Boulmer before dusk #NEbirding
Absolutely gobsmacked. One of the most amazing birding sights I’ve seen in Northumberland - here’s some of the 30 Cranes (up to 38 were reported by others) that spent the afternoon in a field next to the A1 just north of Alnwick. #NEbirding #UKbirding #birds
February 7, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Absolutely gobsmacked. One of the most amazing birding sights I’ve seen in Northumberland - here’s some of the 30 Cranes (up to 38 were reported by others) that spent the afternoon in a field next to the A1 just north of Alnwick. #NEbirding #UKbirding #birds
Reposted by Mark Eaton
We're hiring Field Ornithologists and Surveyors! Apply now ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs
📝 Full and part time opportunities.
📆 Closing date: Tuesday 17 February.
#Ornithology
📝 Full and part time opportunities.
📆 Closing date: Tuesday 17 February.
#Ornithology
February 7, 2026 at 8:00 AM
We're hiring Field Ornithologists and Surveyors! Apply now ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs
📝 Full and part time opportunities.
📆 Closing date: Tuesday 17 February.
#Ornithology
📝 Full and part time opportunities.
📆 Closing date: Tuesday 17 February.
#Ornithology
Still loads of Kittiwakes along the beach at Seaton Point today (& 1 Little Gull). Also a Puffin fishing offshore, and a Woodcock flushed from the beach #NEbirding
February 6, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Still loads of Kittiwakes along the beach at Seaton Point today (& 1 Little Gull). Also a Puffin fishing offshore, and a Woodcock flushed from the beach #NEbirding
The very last of the 39 Snipe pushed off the at Buston by the rising spring tide… this one really didn’t want to go! #NEbirding #WaderWednesday
February 4, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The very last of the 39 Snipe pushed off the at Buston by the rising spring tide… this one really didn’t want to go! #NEbirding #WaderWednesday
Short-eared Owl, probably keeping an eye out for that eagle, at Buston today #NEbirding
February 4, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Short-eared Owl, probably keeping an eye out for that eagle, at Buston today #NEbirding
More Little Gulls skipping over the waves - this adult was one of three just south of Alnmouth today #NEbirding
February 4, 2026 at 7:59 PM
More Little Gulls skipping over the waves - this adult was one of three just south of Alnmouth today #NEbirding
Some very flighty pipits at Buston Links Marsh this afternoon - including definitely one, probably two and possibly four Water Pipits. At one point seven birds were in flight, but likely to have included Rock Pipits pushed off the saltmarsh by a very high tide #NEbirding
February 4, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Some very flighty pipits at Buston Links Marsh this afternoon - including definitely one, probably two and possibly four Water Pipits. At one point seven birds were in flight, but likely to have included Rock Pipits pushed off the saltmarsh by a very high tide #NEbirding
Incredibly murky today, one of those days when the gloom never lifted. But a couple of Little Gulls dancing over the waves at East Chevington were a ray of light #NEbirding
February 3, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Incredibly murky today, one of those days when the gloom never lifted. But a couple of Little Gulls dancing over the waves at East Chevington were a ray of light #NEbirding
So it may have looked a bit like a huge fluffed-up chicken in foul (fowl?) weather conditions at East Chevington this morning, but this unringed, untagged young White-tailed Eagle was absolute delight #UKbirding #NEbirding
February 3, 2026 at 4:32 PM
So it may have looked a bit like a huge fluffed-up chicken in foul (fowl?) weather conditions at East Chevington this morning, but this unringed, untagged young White-tailed Eagle was absolute delight #UKbirding #NEbirding
Second great gig of the weekend - Midlake in Sunderland. If you don’t know them, listen to ’Roscoe’ on the streaming service of your choice and then come back and thank me 😉.
February 1, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Second great gig of the weekend - Midlake in Sunderland. If you don’t know them, listen to ’Roscoe’ on the streaming service of your choice and then come back and thank me 😉.
A magical evening… front row at the sold out Glasshouse for the Unthanks celebrating 20 years with a hometown gig. Musical perfection.
January 30, 2026 at 10:02 PM
A magical evening… front row at the sold out Glasshouse for the Unthanks celebrating 20 years with a hometown gig. Musical perfection.
Reposted by Mark Eaton
BLOG: Ian Woodward, senior research ecologist at @btobirds.bsky.social, describes how combining data from the RBBP and the BTO’s Heronries Census has improved our knowledge on the UK’s Little Egret population, as in new @britishbirds.bsky.social paper #birds #ornithology rbbp.org.uk/2026/01/30/l...
Little Egret Population Estimates
Producing population estimates for Little Egret
A paper in the January 2026 issue of British Birds has described a new approach to estimating the breeding population of Little Egrets in the UK, ...
rbbp.org.uk
January 30, 2026 at 4:27 PM
BLOG: Ian Woodward, senior research ecologist at @btobirds.bsky.social, describes how combining data from the RBBP and the BTO’s Heronries Census has improved our knowledge on the UK’s Little Egret population, as in new @britishbirds.bsky.social paper #birds #ornithology rbbp.org.uk/2026/01/30/l...
Always a pleasure when the @birdsinwales.bsky.social Welsh Bird Report arrives at RBBP Towers. I doubt there’s another report packed with this much info in the UK. Well done, as always, to @penrhynbirder.bsky.social and team for a fantastic job.
January 30, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Always a pleasure when the @birdsinwales.bsky.social Welsh Bird Report arrives at RBBP Towers. I doubt there’s another report packed with this much info in the UK. Well done, as always, to @penrhynbirder.bsky.social and team for a fantastic job.
One of three first-winter Little Gulls at Seaton Point at dusk #NEbirding #birds
January 28, 2026 at 10:40 PM
One of three first-winter Little Gulls at Seaton Point at dusk #NEbirding #birds
I rarely see more than one or two Kittiwakes when birding in the winter, so 70+ feeding close inshore at Seaton Point today was a surprise, a consequence of the recent big seas #NEbirding #birds
January 28, 2026 at 10:21 PM
I rarely see more than one or two Kittiwakes when birding in the winter, so 70+ feeding close inshore at Seaton Point today was a surprise, a consequence of the recent big seas #NEbirding #birds
The recent rough seas have been hard on its occupants - there was a big dump of wrack, sea coal and lots of dead marine life at Buston today ☹️. 1000’s of crabs, plus dogfish, lobsters, Curled Octopus and a Cushion Star (a new one for me).
January 26, 2026 at 6:42 PM
The recent rough seas have been hard on its occupants - there was a big dump of wrack, sea coal and lots of dead marine life at Buston today ☹️. 1000’s of crabs, plus dogfish, lobsters, Curled Octopus and a Cushion Star (a new one for me).
Reposted by Mark Eaton
I'm in need of a new bridge camera. Don't suppose anyone has Canon SX70 tucked away in the cupboard they no longer use and looking to sell? Good working order. Thanks
#birdinggear
#birdinggear
January 18, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I'm in need of a new bridge camera. Don't suppose anyone has Canon SX70 tucked away in the cupboard they no longer use and looking to sell? Good working order. Thanks
#birdinggear
#birdinggear
Reposted by Mark Eaton
A female Downy Woodpecker showcasing couture fashion by wearing a snowflake, a one-of-a-kind piece.
January 21, 2026 at 12:10 AM
A female Downy Woodpecker showcasing couture fashion by wearing a snowflake, a one-of-a-kind piece.
A surprise today - a Slow-worm curled on the path on Greensheen Hill, Northumberland. Torpid, and missing its tail (old injury) but, to my surprise, alive! After googling “Slow-worm hibernation habitat” I found it a sheltered new home for the winter 🤞 #UKwildlife #reptiles
January 20, 2026 at 6:59 PM
A surprise today - a Slow-worm curled on the path on Greensheen Hill, Northumberland. Torpid, and missing its tail (old injury) but, to my surprise, alive! After googling “Slow-worm hibernation habitat” I found it a sheltered new home for the winter 🤞 #UKwildlife #reptiles
From a drive-by ducking earlier - I had to go through Powburn this afternoon, so stopped at Hedgeley for about two minutes to admire the drake Ring-necked Duck #NEbirding #birds
January 20, 2026 at 6:22 PM
From a drive-by ducking earlier - I had to go through Powburn this afternoon, so stopped at Hedgeley for about two minutes to admire the drake Ring-necked Duck #NEbirding #birds
The murk cleared just enough for an afternoon @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count at East Chevington. Eerily still and quiet, with very few ducks… only the occasional call from courting Goldeneyes, and splashes of a fishing Otter
January 19, 2026 at 9:36 PM
The murk cleared just enough for an afternoon @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count at East Chevington. Eerily still and quiet, with very few ducks… only the occasional call from courting Goldeneyes, and splashes of a fishing Otter