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wheatearbill63.bsky.social
@wheatearbill63.bsky.social
72 followers 160 following 72 posts
Barnsley based birder. BTO surveyor. Retired now but still interested in many different things!
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Reposted
wadertales.bsky.social
Greenshanks will soon be returning to Scottish breeding sites.
Unlike their cousins that breed in eastern Russia, they won't have flown far.
Research by Highland Ringing Group, supported with £ from @scottishbirding.bsky.social.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/m...
#BirdingScotland
February 11, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Reposted
raptorpersuk.bsky.social
Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to the shooting of Golden Eagle Merrick.

Statement from NatureScot & commentary from me ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/10/t...
Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to shooting of Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’
NatureScot has today announced a three-year General Licence restriction on Raeshaw Estate (and on neighbouring Watherston Wood, which is understood to be under separate management to Raeshaw), in r…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:05 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
NERF commentary is absolutely spot on. Sadly, there’s no sign of the current loopholes being closed any time soon.
February 10, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Reposted
chrisgpackham.bsky.social
Sunlight really is the greatest disinfectant.
February 9, 2026 at 8:50 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Hear hear
municipaldreams.bsky.social Municipal Dreams @municipaldreams.bsky.social · 5d
I don't do party politics on here and you can have your own opinion of Starmer - good or bad - but what is undeniably the case is that Westminster journalists became massively invested in a hyped-up narrative of their own devising and debased political commentary in so doing.
February 9, 2026 at 6:59 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Extremely disappointing is a masterly understatement (I hope).
Probe after golden eagle found in Borders with shotgun injuries
Four-year-old Hamlet was discovered injured by a gamekeeper on an estate in Stanhope, near Tweedsmuir.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Reposted
debalmer.bsky.social
Just a reminder to report all dead birds - to Defra in England, Wales and Scotland for possible testing. Also add the record to BirdTrack if you can for monitoring purposes
#ukbirding
btobirds.bsky.social BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 8d
⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza. ⬇️

📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/...
📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/...
📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv...

#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland
Image of a deceased Puffin lying on the ground. White wording on an orange background reads: Please report sightings of dead birds.
February 9, 2026 at 7:05 AM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Let’s hope this gets speedily chucked out!
February 8, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Reposted
wadertales.bsky.social
Dunlin needed some good news - @rspbscience.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Red-listed in UK:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/u...
Rapid decline in Iceland:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Really bad in the Baltic:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/06/20/d...
#ornithology
Pennines delight as drone survey offers hope for one of UK’s rarest birds
Conservationists find dunlin chicks thriving in boggy habitat created in collaboration with landowners
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Reposted
timsbirding.bsky.social
Pulled up to scan a goose flock at North Duffield, could hear WFronts as I was setting up the scope, only to realise whole flock was WFronts, at least 307 with some out of view, also 2 Barnacle Geese, best viewed from along path to Garganey Hide @birdguides.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Reposted
birdguides.bsky.social
Great Bustard nests have been discovered at Cranborne Chase for the first time, providing further evidence of the species' gradual recovery and expansion in southern England:
Great Bustard extends breeding range into Cranborne Chase
Great Bustard nests have been confirmed from Cranborne Chase for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the long-running reintroduction project in southern England and highlighting the species' slow but steady recovery in Wiltshire.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 12:46 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
A fantastic sight if you’re lucky enough to live by the coast.
smp-seabirds.bsky.social UK Seabird Monitoring Programme @smp-seabirds.bsky.social · 11d
Manx Shearwaters winter in the South Atlantic Ocean, predominantly off Brazil and Argentina. These birds begin returning to oceans surrounding the UK by late February, so start keeping an eye out for them 'shearing' over the sea! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
Graphic displays an image of a Manx Shearwater in flight by Liz Cutting/BTO next to a map showing a hypothetical migration route from their UK breeding grounds to their wintering grounds off the coast of South America. Caption reads: 'Manx Shearwaters winter in the South Atlantic Ocean, predominantly off Brazil and Argentina. These birds begin returning to oceans surrounding the UK by late February, so start keeping an eye out for them 'shearing' over the sea! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social'
February 3, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Reposted
birdtrack.bsky.social
You can also report dead birds for possible testing for avian influenza:

📌In England, Wales & Scotland: gov.uk/guidance/rep...

📌In Northern Ireland: daera-ni.gov.uk/services/dae...

📌In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report
February 3, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Reposted
birdtrack.bsky.social
We are receiving increased reports of dead auks, including Puffins, particularly in North East Scotland. It's quick and easy to report any dead or sick birds you find through the 'Deceased bird' function on the home page of the BirdTrack app

Photo: Puffin by Richard Selman / BTO

#ukbirding
February 3, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Reposted
birdguides.bsky.social
The plans to release White Storks in East London have been rubber-stamped by the local council, with the birds set to arrive later this year:
London council approves White Stork reintroduction plans
Following the decision to approve the rewilding scheme, Barking and Dagenham Council deputy leader Saima Ashraf said the arrival of the birds in the borough would be a
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Reposted
birdguides.bsky.social
A 'mega-roost' of Stock Doves has been recorded in western France – a figure that is believed to be a national record for an autumn or winter roost of this species:
Stock Dove 'mega-roost' sets French record
An autumn roost of almost 3,000 Stock Doves at Marais de la Vacherie nature reserve in western France may represent the largest such congregation ever recorded in the country.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 7:16 AM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Wombwell Ings this afternoon. Damp & chilly but 25 species including an hour of birding. Highlights 1 Shelduck, lots of Wigeon, Stonechat, & Yellowhammer #yorkshirebirding @s-yorksbirding.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 4:31 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Broomhill Flash 1.30-2pm
Female Goldeneye, 7m,4f Pochard, 1m,4f Goosander, plenty of Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted & Teal #yorkshirebirding @s-yorksbirding.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 4:27 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Thrybergh Country Park this morning. 36 species including 2 pairs of Goldeneye #yorkshirebirding @s-yorksbirding.bsky.social @donnybirding.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 4:19 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Just had my 2025 Garden BirdWatch report from @bto-gbw.bsky.social
29 bird species, 2 mammals, 1 amphibians, 17 insect species recorded last year, the 4th year I’ve been doing it in South Yorkshire
#yorkshirebirding
bto-gbw.bsky.social BTO Garden BirdWatch @bto-gbw.bsky.social · 22d
Did you know that by submitting your garden wildlife sightings regularly to BTO Garden BirdWatch, you are directly contributing towards research which looks into the year-round importance of gardens for wildlife. 🪶

Discover more at www.bto.org/get-involved...

📷Philip Croft / BTO
A Robin perches on a leafless twig with its bill wide open as it sings. Its red breast and brown upperparts are clearly visible.
January 30, 2026 at 12:52 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Great news
rspbscotland.bsky.social RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 16d
What a win for nature!

Scotland is the first UK country to have Swift bricks in law – a lifeline for this threatened bird. And, for the first time ever, the Scottish Government must set legally binding nature recovery targets.

Thanks for helping make history with a strong Natural Environment Bill.
January 29, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Reposted
btobirds.bsky.social
1/ Spotted Flycatchers are in trouble, declining by 92% in the UK between 1967 and 2020. New work led by @cateden91.bsky.social & involving BTO has revealed the importance of rivers for the survival of this Red-listed migratory species. ⬇️ #Ornithology

📖 www.bto.org/Spotted-Flyc...
A Spotted Flycatcher perches on a piece of wood. White writing over the green background reads: Rivers vital for Spotted Flycatchers according to new research. Image credit bottom left reads: Spotted Flycatcher by Edmund Fellowes/BTO.
January 29, 2026 at 8:42 AM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Well done @rspbinvestigations.bsky.social
rspb.bsky.social RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 16d
BREAKING: A Gamekeeper has pleaded guilty in England’s first-ever Hen Harrier persecution case.

Covert video and audio gathered lawfully by the RSPB Investigations team has helped expose the deliberate targeting of a Hen Harrier, leading to a landmark guilty plea:

www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... 👈
January 29, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Reposted
raptorpersuk.bsky.social
Gamekeeper pleads guilty in England's first ever Hen Harrier persecution case (RSPB press release).

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #SeriousCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/29/g...
Gamekeeper pleads guilty in England’s first ever Hen Harrier persecution case (RSPB press release)
Press release from RSPB (29 January 2026) GAMEKEEPER PLEADS GUILTY IN ENGLAND’S FIRST EVER HEN HARRIER PERSECUTION CASE On 29 January at York Magistrates Court Racster Dingwall – a head gamek…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
January 29, 2026 at 3:44 PM
wheatearbill63.bsky.social
Winter bird survey today at Scisset/Clayton West. 25 species recorded including flocks of 6 Greenfinch & 12 Lesser Redpoll, unusual for this location #yorkshirebirding @btobirds.bsky.social @bbs-birds.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 7:25 PM