Matt Livesey
@mlivesey.bsky.social
Conservationist; wildlife photographer and countryside-lover. Photographs represented by RSPB Images. Cambridgeshire.
https://www.mattliveseyphotography.com/
Views my own.
https://www.mattliveseyphotography.com/
Views my own.
Pinned
Matt Livesey
@mlivesey.bsky.social
· Mar 26
How do we save Britain's most elusive bird?
It was great to help lead the first national workshop on Lesser spotted woodpecker last week, together with @lesserspotnet.bsky.social. The ultimate case of playing conservation on the "legendary" difficulty setting!
It was great to help lead the first national workshop on Lesser spotted woodpecker last week, together with @lesserspotnet.bsky.social. The ultimate case of playing conservation on the "legendary" difficulty setting!
Reposted by Matt Livesey
BTO Ringing Report also shows historic lows for Willow Tits & Wood Warblers. 2024 saw just 132 Willow Tits and 109 Wood Warblers ringed in UK, lowest for ~65 years since introduction of mist-nets. Not a single Willow Tit chick ringed since 2022. Number of Marsh Tits ringed also declining.
1/2 How old? 😮 Discover bird longevity records up to 2024 in our newly released BTO Ringing and Nest Recording Report! ⬇️ #Ornithology 🪶
📖 www.bto.org/ringing-...
📖 www.bto.org/ringing-...
January 4, 2026 at 6:25 PM
BTO Ringing Report also shows historic lows for Willow Tits & Wood Warblers. 2024 saw just 132 Willow Tits and 109 Wood Warblers ringed in UK, lowest for ~65 years since introduction of mist-nets. Not a single Willow Tit chick ringed since 2022. Number of Marsh Tits ringed also declining.
A stroll round a beautiful, but brutally cold Wicken Fen this morning
January 4, 2026 at 9:31 AM
A stroll round a beautiful, but brutally cold Wicken Fen this morning
Reposted by Matt Livesey
There is no unambiguous evidence supporting native UK Holocene status for these species involved in this "reintroduction".
January 3, 2026 at 4:05 PM
There is no unambiguous evidence supporting native UK Holocene status for these species involved in this "reintroduction".
A stroll around Wimpole to check if any of the resident Greylags had attracted any White-fronts or Bean geese. Sadly not, with only some of the flock present, but did have a Hawfinch in the woodland shelter belts @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
December 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A stroll around Wimpole to check if any of the resident Greylags had attracted any White-fronts or Bean geese. Sadly not, with only some of the flock present, but did have a Hawfinch in the woodland shelter belts @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Livesey
There is no plan to release young, and the breeding stock are many (many) generations old.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
A new captive-breeding programme for Twite in England has produced its first young in captivity and could begin releasing birds into the wild in 2026, in a bid to halt the species' severe decline:
Twite conservation project aims for releases of captive-bred birds
A Twite captive-breeding project in Staffordshire has raised young birds in captivity and is evaluating potential release sites in England for 2026 to bolster the rapidly declining breeding population.
bit.ly
December 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
There is no plan to release young, and the breeding stock are many (many) generations old.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
Cause of Twite decline still unknown, and recent genetic testing of captive breeding populations concluding they are not genetically suitable for release...
A new captive-breeding programme for Twite in England has produced its first young in captivity and could begin releasing birds into the wild in 2026, in a bid to halt the species' severe decline:
Twite conservation project aims for releases of captive-bred birds
A Twite captive-breeding project in Staffordshire has raised young birds in captivity and is evaluating potential release sites in England for 2026 to bolster the rapidly declining breeding population.
bit.ly
December 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Cause of Twite decline still unknown, and recent genetic testing of captive breeding populations concluding they are not genetically suitable for release...
Hundreds-strong mixed finch flock building up around this plot of winter bird food just outside Westom Colville. Several Brambling present from a quick scan @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
December 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Hundreds-strong mixed finch flock building up around this plot of winter bird food just outside Westom Colville. Several Brambling present from a quick scan @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Livesey
Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker paper now live in the latest British Birds journal.
Read more:
Read more:
Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Having declined massively in numbers and range in Britain over the last few decades, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor is a priority...
britishbirds.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker paper now live in the latest British Birds journal.
Read more:
Read more:
Reposted by Matt Livesey
⚠️ The UK’s smallest and rarest woodpecker, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a shy and elusive bird. It’s rapidly becoming one of our scarcest breeding birds, with substantial declines since the 1980s. 🧵⬇️ #bioacoustics #ornithology
December 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
⚠️ The UK’s smallest and rarest woodpecker, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a shy and elusive bird. It’s rapidly becoming one of our scarcest breeding birds, with substantial declines since the 1980s. 🧵⬇️ #bioacoustics #ornithology
Reposted by Matt Livesey
Extraordinary record of Willow Tit from Moray!! - 250km-ish from nearest breeders or 550km from Scandinavia! @richardkbroughton.bsky.social birdsinmorayandnairn.org/bird-recordi...
Recent records — Birds in Moray and Nairn
birdsinmorayandnairn.org
November 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Extraordinary record of Willow Tit from Moray!! - 250km-ish from nearest breeders or 550km from Scandinavia! @richardkbroughton.bsky.social birdsinmorayandnairn.org/bird-recordi...
Reposted by Matt Livesey
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
November 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
Reposted by Matt Livesey
A great thread dismantling the latest 'conservation populism' to be floated in Britain. With funding available for species recovery, this is business for some. We'll see more of this pitching for commercial projects that scientists & species experts think is useless. #ornithology #ukbirding
More ill thought out 'conservation' translocations 🌍
www.theguardian.com/environment/... - so much to unpack here #Ornithology #UKBirding 🧵
www.theguardian.com/environment/... - so much to unpack here #Ornithology #UKBirding 🧵
‘It proves this can be done’: Berlin the blueprint to bring goshawks to UK cities
Conservationist plans release of 15 each of the apex predators sourced as chicks into Chester and London
www.theguardian.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM
A great thread dismantling the latest 'conservation populism' to be floated in Britain. With funding available for species recovery, this is business for some. We'll see more of this pitching for commercial projects that scientists & species experts think is useless. #ornithology #ukbirding
Reposted by Matt Livesey
Operation Turtle Dove has issued an official statement expressing their disapproval over the captive breeding and releasing of European Turtle Dove in the UK:
Operation Turtle Dove issues statement over captive releases
Operation Turtle Dove has issued an official statement over the captive breeding and releasing of European Turtle Dove in the UK. The statement confirms that the partnership does not currently support captive releases and cites habitat creation and restoration as the most important conservation measure at present.
bit.ly
October 2, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Operation Turtle Dove has issued an official statement expressing their disapproval over the captive breeding and releasing of European Turtle Dove in the UK:
Reposted by Matt Livesey
September 3, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Reposted by Matt Livesey
1 Pleased to be presenting the latest results gathered by Woodpecker-Network volunteers on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and what we can do to conserve them better #BOUatEOU www.woodpecker-netwo...
August 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
1 Pleased to be presenting the latest results gathered by Woodpecker-Network volunteers on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and what we can do to conserve them better #BOUatEOU www.woodpecker-netwo...
Reposted by Matt Livesey
Anyone got a video of a hare having the shit scared out of it by a curlew — ah, don’t worry, got one anyway!
July 13, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Anyone got a video of a hare having the shit scared out of it by a curlew — ah, don’t worry, got one anyway!
Great work by @bramblebotanist.bsky.social as part of a project to begin unravelling the mystery of these enigmatic orchids in Britain
Ghost Orchids Epipogium aphyllum in SE France this week. An awesome experience seeking out these enigmatic spirits and finding them in such abundance, in beautiful sub-alpine woods #wildflowerhour
July 13, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Great work by @bramblebotanist.bsky.social as part of a project to begin unravelling the mystery of these enigmatic orchids in Britain
Reposted by Matt Livesey
No mention of the disease risks. Or the welfare concerns of releasing birds into places that don’t suit them. This is pretend conservation, dressed up as the real thing and given a free ride by a serious environmental journalist. Hugely damaging.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Conservationists race to rescue England’s turtle doves from extinction
Hundreds are being released across the country to reverse 98% decline in mating pairs since the 1970s
www.theguardian.com
June 29, 2025 at 5:49 AM
No mention of the disease risks. Or the welfare concerns of releasing birds into places that don’t suit them. This is pretend conservation, dressed up as the real thing and given a free ride by a serious environmental journalist. Hugely damaging.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Matt Livesey
Just recorded a Turtle Dove in a fenland bird survey, but no way of knowing if it’s a wild bird or one of these idiotic amateur releases. This really matters for conservation. Treating Turtle Doves like pheasants masks the decline. Maybe that’s the point...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Conservationists race to rescue England’s turtle doves from extinction
Hundreds are being released across the country to reverse 98% decline in mating pairs since the 1970s
www.theguardian.com
June 25, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Just recorded a Turtle Dove in a fenland bird survey, but no way of knowing if it’s a wild bird or one of these idiotic amateur releases. This really matters for conservation. Treating Turtle Doves like pheasants masks the decline. Maybe that’s the point...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Matt Livesey
2025 was a record breeding season for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests monitored by our volunteers. None failed & where we were able to check the nest contents the number of chicks fledged was the highest since we started the project in 2015. Full story www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/index.php/ne...
Woodpecker Network - Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers – the 2025 breeding season
A forum to encourage and facilitate the study of woodpeckers in Britain and Ireland
www.woodpecker-network.org.uk
June 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
2025 was a record breeding season for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests monitored by our volunteers. None failed & where we were able to check the nest contents the number of chicks fledged was the highest since we started the project in 2015. Full story www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/index.php/ne...
Releasing captive bred Turtle Doves is at this stage highly inappropriate, as risks jeopardising the efforts to save the wild population due to potential disease risks from captive populations of uknown origin, as well as altering their migratory behaviour. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Conservationists race to rescue England’s turtle doves from extinction
Hundreds are being released across the country to reverse 98% decline in mating pairs since the 1970s
www.theguardian.com
June 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Releasing captive bred Turtle Doves is at this stage highly inappropriate, as risks jeopardising the efforts to save the wild population due to potential disease risks from captive populations of uknown origin, as well as altering their migratory behaviour. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Matt Livesey
A great win, with national implications. At last, councils will have to take into account the cumulative effects of livestock factories on river catchments.
It's all about increments of excrement.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
It's all about increments of excrement.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Poultry megafarm in Shropshire halted over river pollution concerns
Planning permission quashed by high court after officials failed to consider impact of spreading manure on land
www.theguardian.com
June 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
A great win, with national implications. At last, councils will have to take into account the cumulative effects of livestock factories on river catchments.
It's all about increments of excrement.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
It's all about increments of excrement.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
June 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Matt Livesey
Fantastic news 19 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests found and being watched/monitored by our volunteers so far. Most have 4 chicks, well fed by the adults. Nests are so difficult to find & these are only a tiny proportion of the several thousand LSW pairs in Britain, but all very positive this year.
May 26, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Fantastic news 19 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests found and being watched/monitored by our volunteers so far. Most have 4 chicks, well fed by the adults. Nests are so difficult to find & these are only a tiny proportion of the several thousand LSW pairs in Britain, but all very positive this year.
Reposted by Matt Livesey
A fantastic 3 day birding in the south west looking for lesser spot nests happy to say I found nest number 17 this year!! A big thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social and gus robin who came to image the nest showing possibly 3/4 young birds fantastic work these people are doing for the species 👏
May 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A fantastic 3 day birding in the south west looking for lesser spot nests happy to say I found nest number 17 this year!! A big thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social and gus robin who came to image the nest showing possibly 3/4 young birds fantastic work these people are doing for the species 👏