Simon Ginnaw
banner
simonginnaw.bsky.social
Simon Ginnaw
@simonginnaw.bsky.social
Elmley NNR Warden & Lead Nature Guide. Wildlife Tour Leader and lifelong birder.
The Maidstone RSPB Local Group are hosting this fantastic speaker this evening. Should be a great evening #kentbirding #kentnature #wildlifephotography #wildlife #photography #whatsoninkent #maidstone
November 20, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
A video is now available of the lecture I gave last week to the Linnean Society & British Ornithologists' Club in London, on woodland birds, Marsh Tits & Willow Tits (~45 mins): www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7HF... #ornithology #ukbirding @ukceh.bsky.social
A Quietening of the Woods | The Decline of Woodland Birds
YouTube video by Linnean Society
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
This might also explain the slow and steady decline of common insects. I am sure they cannot avoid these pesticides either and low levels could disrupt behaviour or reduce survival rates www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘I was contaminated’: study reveals how hard it is to avoid pesticide exposure
Silicone wristbands worn by volunteers in the Netherlands captured 173 substances in one week
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Grab yourself a cup of tea, and sit back and enjoy this week's BTO Migration Blog.

And then head out and let us know what you spot over the weekend!

www.bto.org/our-work/new...

📷 Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman/BTO

#UKBirding #ornithology @birdtrack.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Are you a student studying ecology or conservation? Do you lecture ecology or conservation? I created this playlist for you and hope it is useful. youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Conservation concepts for undergraduates and postgraduates - YouTube
Key concepts underpinning undergraduate ecology and conservation courses
youtube.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Early this morning #Whimbrel POTSKAR landed in Guinea, W Africa, after flying 7000+km from St-Petersburg, Russia. It took POTSKAR 5.5 days of NON-STOP flight, varying altitude from 10s of meters over the Baltic and the Med, to >5km over land. #ornithology

www.globalflywaynetwork.org/tracks/speci...
August 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Please continue to 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
Report dead wild birds
How to report dead wild birds.
www.gov.uk
June 27, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Stay at Dungeness Bird Observatory! We have plenty of space in our dormitory accommodation this June, which can be an exciting month, with plenty of things to admire!

Email on dungenessobs@vfast.co.uk to book. Price is £20 per night but is reduced to £15 for DBO Friends.
June 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
For my 100th Conservation Concept video I returned to Cley, and reflect on my history, my philosophy and how I wish to make a difference. Thanks to all for all the support. Am delighted by the interest.
youtube.com/watch?v=KtWp...
100 Videos Later: What Nature Has Taught Me About Ecology and Conservation
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
youtube.com
May 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
An interesting spring at Elmley with it being so dry this year. Reels drying very quickly, but the floods are holding up well for the Avocets, Common Terns and gulls. The winners so far this spring appear to be Yellow Wagtail, Skylark, Corn Buntings, Pochard, Gadwall, and the herons.
May 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Yesterday's news that a @washwader.bsky.social Oystercatcher had broken the @btobirds.bsky.social longevity record for a wader (now 43 years from ringing to latest capture) begs the question:
"How long do other waders live for?"
Answers here:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/w...
#ornithology
April 25, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Since about a week GPS-tagged #Spoonbills and Black-tailed #Godwits of @globalflyway.bsky.social started making their way from Iberia back to The Netherlands. Get in on the action and follow birds in near real-time through the much improved www.globalflywaynetwork.org page. 👀 #ornithology
March 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Still amazes me that this 11g Marsh Tit in my study is 10 years old, but when I was studying small rodents (Wood Mice, Bank Voles, Field Voles) that were more than double the size/mass, their maximum lifespan was ~2 years max.
Why do small birds live so much longer than small mammals? Or vice versa?
March 11, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Starting to hear reports of Avian Influenza hitting Whooper Swans. Please report all sightings of dead birds for possible testing. In 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 & 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 contact DefraGovUK, in N Ireland Daera & in Republic of Ireland Dept of agriculture. Please also report to @birdtrack.bsky.social for monitoring
February 18, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Supplementary feeding is a threat to UK Hawfinch populations #Ornithology #UKBirding
February 13, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
We're recruiting for a Little Tern Head Warden

📍 Kilnsea, East Yorkshire
🗓 1st May - 31st August 2025
💷 National Living Wage
🛌 Cheap accommodation
📅 Apply by: 24th Feb 2025

Read on for more info: https://buff.ly/3DYHLHT
February 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Pet owners accidentally poisoning garden birds.
Our latest research finds pet flea treatments (fipronil and imidacloprid) in 100% of blue tit and great tit nests, with nestling mortality higher in the more contaminated nest. @SongBirdSBS @SussexUni @CannelleTassin
January 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
The KOS is running a survey in 2025 to assess the status of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Kent. Andre Farrar describes the details on the KOS website. kentos.org.uk/index.php/527-…#kentbirdingng
January 24, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
🐝 UK insect researchers, we need your input 🦋

The RES is gathering insights on your experiences with #InsectEthics applications. Whether you engage in the process or not, your feedback matters!

🗓️ Deadline: 1 April 2025 🔽

royensoc.co.uk/news/res-wel...

#Entomology #ResearchSurvey
RES Great Welfare Survey 2025 - Royal Entomological Society
Insect Research Practices and Ethics in the UK Share Your Experience on Ethics Applications Are you a researcher working with insects? We need your insights! The Royal Entomological Society is conduct...
royensoc.co.uk
January 24, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
Even as the weather stayed cold and grey, there were still a few good birds to be found in Kent. Two Tundra Bean Geese on Sheppey from 21 January were the best of the bunch. For the full highlights see the KOS website. www.kentos.org.uk/index.php/si.... #kentbirding
January 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
January 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The Bearded Reedlings have been stars at Elmley this week, feeding within 4 metres of visiting birders. The Shorties are now up to 25 individuals, and 3 Hen Harriers continue to roam the reserve, surprising the lucky few or rewarding those who are willing to wait #kentbirding
January 12, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Reposted by Simon Ginnaw
🚨7 DAYS TO APPLY🚨
Do you love birds, conservation, and the outdoors? 🐦🌿
Be our Seasonal Assistant Warden at Spurn!

📍 Kilnsea, East Yorks
🗓 1st April - 15th Nov 2025
💷 £19,500-£23,809.50 (pro-rata)
📅 Apply by: 19th Jan 2025

Details: https://buff.ly/4gjCclB
WE'RE RECRUITING AN ASSISTANT WARDEN
Join Our Team as a Seasonal Assistant Warden!
buff.ly
January 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM