Rebecca Cheape
@rebeccacheape97.bsky.social
MSc Applied Ecology | BSc Marine Science. Seabirds & Islands | BTO Bird Ringer 🦅🪶 | PADI Diver 🌊 | Ecology & Conservation 🌿🐝🌸
🏔 Scotland 🏴 https://substack.com/@rebeccacheape?r=1vvc5a&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
🏔 Scotland 🏴 https://substack.com/@rebeccacheape?r=1vvc5a&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
Pinned
Had an amazing time on Eilean Nan Ròn last week as part of the BTO Seabird Grant 🌊 It was a great learning experience. Many Storm Petrels were ringed, Gull chicks and some other nice species. I can’t wait for more Island ringing in future 😊@btobirds.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Hey seabird folks - have you ever thought "*ANOTHER* talk about ?!" So did we.
So we reviewed 3000 conference abstracts to see which species get the spotlight. Huge work from @ingridpollet.bsky.social with me and @seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
So we reviewed 3000 conference abstracts to see which species get the spotlight. Huge work from @ingridpollet.bsky.social with me and @seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 25, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Hey seabird folks - have you ever thought "*ANOTHER* talk about ?!" So did we.
So we reviewed 3000 conference abstracts to see which species get the spotlight. Huge work from @ingridpollet.bsky.social with me and @seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
So we reviewed 3000 conference abstracts to see which species get the spotlight. Huge work from @ingridpollet.bsky.social with me and @seabirdsentinel.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Very cool new #seabird paper showing no difference in breeding success between healthy and black-eyed gannets, but a worrying overall decline in productivity following the #avianflu outbreak. 🦠🐣
Read the paper here 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #seabirds #ornithology
Read the paper here 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #seabirds #ornithology
September 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Very cool new #seabird paper showing no difference in breeding success between healthy and black-eyed gannets, but a worrying overall decline in productivity following the #avianflu outbreak. 🦠🐣
Read the paper here 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #seabirds #ornithology
Read the paper here 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #seabirds #ornithology
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Still my favourite strand line discovery to date - a female Phronima sedentaria (‘monster in a barrel’) - Isles of Scilly, October 2023!
An amphipod crustacean, she parasitises salps, devouring them from the inside, forming a vessel to raise her young 👽
#MarineLife 🦑 #ukwildlife
An amphipod crustacean, she parasitises salps, devouring them from the inside, forming a vessel to raise her young 👽
#MarineLife 🦑 #ukwildlife
November 18, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Still my favourite strand line discovery to date - a female Phronima sedentaria (‘monster in a barrel’) - Isles of Scilly, October 2023!
An amphipod crustacean, she parasitises salps, devouring them from the inside, forming a vessel to raise her young 👽
#MarineLife 🦑 #ukwildlife
An amphipod crustacean, she parasitises salps, devouring them from the inside, forming a vessel to raise her young 👽
#MarineLife 🦑 #ukwildlife
Great to find flowering Water Lobelia in a Scottish West Coast loch. A very rare species to find let alone during its flowering period. A really nice species to find! 🌿
#bsbi #aquaticplants #botany
#bsbi #aquaticplants #botany
July 27, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Great to find flowering Water Lobelia in a Scottish West Coast loch. A very rare species to find let alone during its flowering period. A really nice species to find! 🌿
#bsbi #aquaticplants #botany
#bsbi #aquaticplants #botany
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree.
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
No More Beewashing! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees.
YouTube video by Dave Goulson
youtu.be
July 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree.
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Boat guide, Sophie, captured this fantastic moment on the Isle of May last week - a razorbill chick being fed a (rather large!) fish🐟
Right now is the best time to see seabird chicks, with razorbills, guillemots, gannets & more all feeding their young regularly🍽️
📷©️S Wilson
Right now is the best time to see seabird chicks, with razorbills, guillemots, gannets & more all feeding their young regularly🍽️
📷©️S Wilson
July 8, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Boat guide, Sophie, captured this fantastic moment on the Isle of May last week - a razorbill chick being fed a (rather large!) fish🐟
Right now is the best time to see seabird chicks, with razorbills, guillemots, gannets & more all feeding their young regularly🍽️
📷©️S Wilson
Right now is the best time to see seabird chicks, with razorbills, guillemots, gannets & more all feeding their young regularly🍽️
📷©️S Wilson
Had an amazing time on Eilean Nan Ròn last week as part of the BTO Seabird Grant 🌊 It was a great learning experience. Many Storm Petrels were ringed, Gull chicks and some other nice species. I can’t wait for more Island ringing in future 😊@btobirds.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social
July 9, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Had an amazing time on Eilean Nan Ròn last week as part of the BTO Seabird Grant 🌊 It was a great learning experience. Many Storm Petrels were ringed, Gull chicks and some other nice species. I can’t wait for more Island ringing in future 😊@btobirds.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
New #UKCEH dataset published on how breeding seabirds spend their time and energy. These data will help us to model the potential impacts of any changes in seabird behaviour in response to new offshore windfarms catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/documents/07...
June 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
New #UKCEH dataset published on how breeding seabirds spend their time and energy. These data will help us to model the potential impacts of any changes in seabird behaviour in response to new offshore windfarms catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/documents/07...
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
New study reveals albatrosses make distinct flight hops that are almost exclusively seen when following a vessel
It could help manage bycatch risk for 'hidden' fisheries 👇
bit.ly/3G86yuN
@mcem-oxford.bsky.social w/ @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social @marescience.bsky.social in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
It could help manage bycatch risk for 'hidden' fisheries 👇
bit.ly/3G86yuN
@mcem-oxford.bsky.social w/ @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social @marescience.bsky.social in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
Albatrosses make distinct flight hops when following fishing vessels
bit.ly
July 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
New study reveals albatrosses make distinct flight hops that are almost exclusively seen when following a vessel
It could help manage bycatch risk for 'hidden' fisheries 👇
bit.ly/3G86yuN
@mcem-oxford.bsky.social w/ @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social @marescience.bsky.social in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
It could help manage bycatch risk for 'hidden' fisheries 👇
bit.ly/3G86yuN
@mcem-oxford.bsky.social w/ @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social @marescience.bsky.social in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
🦆 Eider Update! 🐣
The Bird Team have been busy over the past 2 months monitoring our breeding Eiders. They’ve been mapping nests, recording clutch size and catching the females as part of a long-term project.
So far this season they’ve found 76 nests, predominantly in bracken and heather… 1/4
The Bird Team have been busy over the past 2 months monitoring our breeding Eiders. They’ve been mapping nests, recording clutch size and catching the females as part of a long-term project.
So far this season they’ve found 76 nests, predominantly in bracken and heather… 1/4
June 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
🦆 Eider Update! 🐣
The Bird Team have been busy over the past 2 months monitoring our breeding Eiders. They’ve been mapping nests, recording clutch size and catching the females as part of a long-term project.
So far this season they’ve found 76 nests, predominantly in bracken and heather… 1/4
The Bird Team have been busy over the past 2 months monitoring our breeding Eiders. They’ve been mapping nests, recording clutch size and catching the females as part of a long-term project.
So far this season they’ve found 76 nests, predominantly in bracken and heather… 1/4
Lovely to find lots of Transparent Burnet moths on cliff edges amongst Wild Thyme and other wildflowers in the Kintyre Peninsula whilst out doing fieldwork! ☺️ Such lovely moths!
June 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Lovely to find lots of Transparent Burnet moths on cliff edges amongst Wild Thyme and other wildflowers in the Kintyre Peninsula whilst out doing fieldwork! ☺️ Such lovely moths!
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Beach season open! 🐠💦 This is an encounter I had with a young cormorant last summer, I think I spent 3 days talking about it 😁. Impatient for what I will discover this year! I'll upload it all to minka-sdg.org
#cormorant #birds #nature #wildlife #beach #birdlovers #birding #seabirds #ocean #explore
#cormorant #birds #nature #wildlife #beach #birdlovers #birding #seabirds #ocean #explore
May 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Beach season open! 🐠💦 This is an encounter I had with a young cormorant last summer, I think I spent 3 days talking about it 😁. Impatient for what I will discover this year! I'll upload it all to minka-sdg.org
#cormorant #birds #nature #wildlife #beach #birdlovers #birding #seabirds #ocean #explore
#cormorant #birds #nature #wildlife #beach #birdlovers #birding #seabirds #ocean #explore
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Breeding Eiders are starting to pick up on the Calf of Man now with females starting to lay across the island. Slowly getting my eye in to this rather cryptic species #ukbirding
May 9, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Breeding Eiders are starting to pick up on the Calf of Man now with females starting to lay across the island. Slowly getting my eye in to this rather cryptic species #ukbirding
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Yesterday’s ‘star bird’ was this control Spotted Flycatcher, which had been ringed in Norway 🐦🇳🇴An amazing record!!
#ukbirding #ManxNature
#ukbirding #ManxNature
First Spotted Flycatcher of the year trapped on the Calf this morning had a Norwegian ring!! This is only the 2nd Norwegian Spot Fly to be recovered in the UK following one in 1992 on North Ron with only three UK ringed birds from North Ron/Isle of May being recovered in Norway!! #ukbirding
May 2, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Yesterday’s ‘star bird’ was this control Spotted Flycatcher, which had been ringed in Norway 🐦🇳🇴An amazing record!!
#ukbirding #ManxNature
#ukbirding #ManxNature
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Found my 5th pipefish today (#speciesaday no. 581 is Snake Pipefish). A quick blog celebrating these 5 species here... analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2025/04/pipe...
April 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Found my 5th pipefish today (#speciesaday no. 581 is Snake Pipefish). A quick blog celebrating these 5 species here... analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2025/04/pipe...
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
The Svalbard ringed Purple Sandpiper at Redcar yesterday, now in its 11th year. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social
March 17, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Svalbard ringed Purple Sandpiper at Redcar yesterday, now in its 11th year. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Now this is exciting.
Antonin and his team have just published a study showing that the number of migrating hoverflies through Czechia are positively correlated with the numbers of birds!
Suggests that the birds are using the flies as fuel on migration.
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10....
Antonin and his team have just published a study showing that the number of migrating hoverflies through Czechia are positively correlated with the numbers of birds!
Suggests that the birds are using the flies as fuel on migration.
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10....
March 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Now this is exciting.
Antonin and his team have just published a study showing that the number of migrating hoverflies through Czechia are positively correlated with the numbers of birds!
Suggests that the birds are using the flies as fuel on migration.
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10....
Antonin and his team have just published a study showing that the number of migrating hoverflies through Czechia are positively correlated with the numbers of birds!
Suggests that the birds are using the flies as fuel on migration.
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Interested in seal diet, population size and haul out behaviour in Ireland? Funded PhD position at University College Cork. www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacanc...
Application deadline 31st Jan.
Application deadline 31st Jan.
January 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Interested in seal diet, population size and haul out behaviour in Ireland? Funded PhD position at University College Cork. www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacanc...
Application deadline 31st Jan.
Application deadline 31st Jan.
Tysties aka The Black Guillemot in Oban, West Coast of Scotland ☺️ One of my favourite Seabirds. #Seabirdsunday #Blackguillemot
December 29, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Tysties aka The Black Guillemot in Oban, West Coast of Scotland ☺️ One of my favourite Seabirds. #Seabirdsunday #Blackguillemot
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Please report all sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza.
📌In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/rep...
📌In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/dae...
📌In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report #Ornithology #UKBirding
📌In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/rep...
📌In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/dae...
📌In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report #Ornithology #UKBirding
December 20, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Please report all sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza.
📌In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/rep...
📌In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/dae...
📌In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report #Ornithology #UKBirding
📌In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/rep...
📌In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/dae...
📌In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report #Ornithology #UKBirding
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
1/ Great news! 🎉BTO, JNCC and RSPB are making decades of Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data freely available for everyone in the conservation and research community. This includes over 7 million records! 📝 Find out more ⬇️ or read the paper➡️ bit.ly/_BBSData #Ornithology #UKBirding
December 17, 2024 at 10:15 AM
1/ Great news! 🎉BTO, JNCC and RSPB are making decades of Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data freely available for everyone in the conservation and research community. This includes over 7 million records! 📝 Find out more ⬇️ or read the paper➡️ bit.ly/_BBSData #Ornithology #UKBirding
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Delighted that my #PhD #research at University of Stirling @stir.ac.uk features in this uplifting @theguardian.com article! Wonderful recognition of 30+ years of restoration action for montane willows across Scotland, spotlighting Ben Lawers @n-t-s.bsky.social.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘It absolutely took off’: five UK biodiversity success stories
From new butterfly habitats in the Cotswolds to arctic willow planting in the Scottish Highlands, there are increasing numbers of places where humans are giving nature a helping hand to re-establish i...
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Delighted that my #PhD #research at University of Stirling @stir.ac.uk features in this uplifting @theguardian.com article! Wonderful recognition of 30+ years of restoration action for montane willows across Scotland, spotlighting Ben Lawers @n-t-s.bsky.social.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The fluffiest European Storm Petrel Chick being weighed a few months ago in September on Nolsoy, Faroe Islands. 😍
#Seabirdsunday #StormPetrel #Seabirds
#Seabirdsunday #StormPetrel #Seabirds
December 15, 2024 at 11:58 PM
The fluffiest European Storm Petrel Chick being weighed a few months ago in September on Nolsoy, Faroe Islands. 😍
#Seabirdsunday #StormPetrel #Seabirds
#Seabirdsunday #StormPetrel #Seabirds
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
Exit polls
With the recent news that redpolls are to be lumped into a single species, David Campbell reflects on these charming birds and the joy the rarer forms bring:
With the recent news that redpolls are to be lumped into a single species, David Campbell reflects on these charming birds and the joy the rarer forms bring:
David Campbell: exit polls
With the recent news that redpolls are to be lumped into a single species, David Campbell reflects on these charming birds and the joy the rarer forms bring.
bit.ly
December 15, 2024 at 12:51 PM
Exit polls
With the recent news that redpolls are to be lumped into a single species, David Campbell reflects on these charming birds and the joy the rarer forms bring:
With the recent news that redpolls are to be lumped into a single species, David Campbell reflects on these charming birds and the joy the rarer forms bring:
Reposted by Rebecca Cheape
NE Scotland is vitally important for Mountain Hares - it's why we chose it as our logo!
After a wild weekend, the weather looks quieter this week ahead - ideal for some surveying! Choose casual transects or dedicated square surveys:
mammal.org.uk/current-rese...
#mammals @btobirds.bsky.social
After a wild weekend, the weather looks quieter this week ahead - ideal for some surveying! Choose casual transects or dedicated square surveys:
mammal.org.uk/current-rese...
#mammals @btobirds.bsky.social
December 8, 2024 at 8:28 PM
NE Scotland is vitally important for Mountain Hares - it's why we chose it as our logo!
After a wild weekend, the weather looks quieter this week ahead - ideal for some surveying! Choose casual transects or dedicated square surveys:
mammal.org.uk/current-rese...
#mammals @btobirds.bsky.social
After a wild weekend, the weather looks quieter this week ahead - ideal for some surveying! Choose casual transects or dedicated square surveys:
mammal.org.uk/current-rese...
#mammals @btobirds.bsky.social