BTO Scotland
@btoscotland.bsky.social
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is the UK's leading bird research organisation. Follow us to discover project updates and bird news from across Scotland. https://www.bto.org/about-bto/national-offices/bto-scotland
Reposted by BTO Scotland
The International Swan Census (ISC) is taking place on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026 (WeBS January Core Count weekend), counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans. Follow these simple steps to get involved 👇
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social
#UKBirding #Ornithology
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social
#UKBirding #Ornithology
November 18, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The International Swan Census (ISC) is taking place on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026 (WeBS January Core Count weekend), counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans. Follow these simple steps to get involved 👇
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social
#UKBirding #Ornithology
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social
#UKBirding #Ornithology
And here's a bird we all hope to get a good look at this winter- the wonderful Waxwing.
Waxwings at Rubislaw Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen. Great to see them back!
#birds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #naturephotography #ukbirding #ornithology #birdphotography #birding
#birds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #naturephotography #ukbirding #ornithology #birdphotography #birding
November 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
And here's a bird we all hope to get a good look at this winter- the wonderful Waxwing.
Reposted by BTO Scotland
This week, we are sharing the most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024. They are all common and familiar species! Find out more about taking part in the survey here: www.bto.org/get-involved... @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
November 13, 2025 at 7:14 AM
This week, we are sharing the most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024. They are all common and familiar species! Find out more about taking part in the survey here: www.bto.org/get-involved... @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
Winter can be the best time to get a proper look at this small but ferocious falcon. Keep an eye out for them raising hell amongst waders at the coast or even flocks of small birds on farmland. Lovely photo @jamesellison1955.bsky.social
Bedraggled Merlin at Skateraw today, significant passage of Little Gulls past Torness (thanks to JH) @birdinglothian.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Winter can be the best time to get a proper look at this small but ferocious falcon. Keep an eye out for them raising hell amongst waders at the coast or even flocks of small birds on farmland. Lovely photo @jamesellison1955.bsky.social
Reposted by BTO Scotland
Did you know that the two Light-bellied Brent Goose populations – from Canada and Svalbard – largely winter on Strangford Lough and Lindisfarne respectively, while the birds wintering elsewhere in Britain come from the Russian Dark-bellied population?
📷 Philip Croft / BTO
📷 Philip Croft / BTO
November 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Did you know that the two Light-bellied Brent Goose populations – from Canada and Svalbard – largely winter on Strangford Lough and Lindisfarne respectively, while the birds wintering elsewhere in Britain come from the Russian Dark-bellied population?
📷 Philip Croft / BTO
📷 Philip Croft / BTO
There's much more to ringing than just longevity records but they're always amazing when they come along. A 29 year old Black-tailed Godwit! We wonder how much mileage it has clocked up in that time?
Longevity record!
Last night, @washwader.bsky.social recaught this Black-tailed Godwit, first caught and ringed 29 years ago.
The metal ring was wearing thin (and was replaced) but the bird is still going strong.
Blog about longevity of waders:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/w...
#ornithology
Last night, @washwader.bsky.social recaught this Black-tailed Godwit, first caught and ringed 29 years ago.
The metal ring was wearing thin (and was replaced) but the bird is still going strong.
Blog about longevity of waders:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/w...
#ornithology
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
There's much more to ringing than just longevity records but they're always amazing when they come along. A 29 year old Black-tailed Godwit! We wonder how much mileage it has clocked up in that time?
This is incredible!!! www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight
Before the Spanish study, some scientists had been sceptical about the mammals attacking migratory birds
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
This is incredible!!! www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
🚨Hot off the press!🚨A very interesting thread here, and follow the link to the summary of the report. Top work from @ukrbbp.bsky.social
The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]
November 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
🚨Hot off the press!🚨A very interesting thread here, and follow the link to the summary of the report. Top work from @ukrbbp.bsky.social
This is a wonderful record to break and it's all down to our many volunteers out there helping to gather incredibly valuable data- thanks to everyone that has helped!
2025 has been a record year for BBS coverage! 4,054 visits to BBS squares have been made this year. This beats the 2018 record of 4,048. Thanks so much to all of the BBS volunteers across the UK who have contributed to this! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 3:34 PM
This is a wonderful record to break and it's all down to our many volunteers out there helping to gather incredibly valuable data- thanks to everyone that has helped!
If any of our followers are in Northern Ireland this conference is well worth joining! Booking is open until Sunday and there are still some spaces available.
🪶 Join us for a day of bird talks, birdwatching, and socialising at the BTO NI Birdwatchers' Conference!
📍 1st Nov 2025 | Oxford Island, Co. Armagh
🎁 Enter the raffle for a chance to win a Sea Safari Trip among other exciting prizes!
Book your ticket 👇
bit.ly/BTOConferenceNI25
#ornithology
📍 1st Nov 2025 | Oxford Island, Co. Armagh
🎁 Enter the raffle for a chance to win a Sea Safari Trip among other exciting prizes!
Book your ticket 👇
bit.ly/BTOConferenceNI25
#ornithology
October 21, 2025 at 9:02 AM
If any of our followers are in Northern Ireland this conference is well worth joining! Booking is open until Sunday and there are still some spaces available.
Island birding is all about context- often birds that are common on the mainland are extremely rare on the islands. Top find here on Tiree!
One of two Blue Tits near Heylipol Church, Tiree today - completing the set of the four common tit species this autumn on the island (for the first time ever!)
@patchbirding.bsky.social
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Island birding is all about context- often birds that are common on the mainland are extremely rare on the islands. Top find here on Tiree!
We were just talking about these owls and their amazing international movements last night! Thanks to @rspbscotland.bsky.social members group in Edinburgh for hosting us!
We'll be interested to see how many Short-eared Owls cross the North Sea and spend the winter in Britain. 🦉 Read about BTO’s research tracking Short-eared Owls here ➡️ bit.ly/TrackingSEO #Ornithology #RaptorResearch
📷 Short-eared Owl by Liz Cutting/BTO
📷 Short-eared Owl by Liz Cutting/BTO
October 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM
We were just talking about these owls and their amazing international movements last night! Thanks to @rspbscotland.bsky.social members group in Edinburgh for hosting us!
Some of our volunteers will be along to help lead this event - it should be great fun! It's all part of a much bigger event you can find out more about at this link: wildgoosefestival.scot
October 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Some of our volunteers will be along to help lead this event - it should be great fun! It's all part of a much bigger event you can find out more about at this link: wildgoosefestival.scot
Reposted by BTO Scotland
(1/) Two species that feature in the Woodland Wild Bird Indicators are Long-tailed Tit and Bullfinch. Whereas Long-tailed Tit has increased by 91% across the UK since 1970, Bullfinch has declined by 53% during the same time period. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
(1/) Two species that feature in the Woodland Wild Bird Indicators are Long-tailed Tit and Bullfinch. Whereas Long-tailed Tit has increased by 91% across the UK since 1970, Bullfinch has declined by 53% during the same time period. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social
A bird watching a birdwatcher. A very cool photo here from St Kilda!
This makes you wonder how many times we actually miss Short-eared Owls on the scree slope on Conachair. There were two tucked away in there today.
@hebridesbirds.bsky.social
@hebridesbirds.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 10:53 AM
A bird watching a birdwatcher. A very cool photo here from St Kilda!
Reposted by BTO Scotland
1/ New study! #Seabirds are among the most threatened groups of birds globally, and a new study looked at how emerging technologies can be optimally harnessed in seabird monitoring. ➡️ www.bto.org/new-tech-seabird-monitoring #Ornithology
September 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
1/ New study! #Seabirds are among the most threatened groups of birds globally, and a new study looked at how emerging technologies can be optimally harnessed in seabird monitoring. ➡️ www.bto.org/new-tech-seabird-monitoring #Ornithology
Reposted by BTO Scotland
1.The Wild Bird Indicators are out! Each year these are published using @bbs-birds.bsky.social , @webs-gsmp.bsky.social & @smp-seabirds.bsky.social data & are one of the main metrics against which our UK Biodiversity targets are measured
👉 www.gov.uk/government/s...
👉 www.gov.uk/government/s...
September 24, 2025 at 9:05 AM
1.The Wild Bird Indicators are out! Each year these are published using @bbs-birds.bsky.social , @webs-gsmp.bsky.social & @smp-seabirds.bsky.social data & are one of the main metrics against which our UK Biodiversity targets are measured
👉 www.gov.uk/government/s...
👉 www.gov.uk/government/s...
Tired of Ravens, tired of life. This is WONDERFUL!!!! Dial those speakers up to 11..... 🔊
A raven turned up on our #LochArkaig ospreycam today, and had a lot to say for itself!
🔊 Sound up for some lovely kronking.🐦⬛
#raven
🔊 Sound up for some lovely kronking.🐦⬛
#raven
September 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Tired of Ravens, tired of life. This is WONDERFUL!!!! Dial those speakers up to 11..... 🔊
Reposted by BTO Scotland
As the autumn wader passage builds, now is the perfect time to brush up on your ID skills! Try out this video by our expert team looking at Wood and Green Sandpipers. ➡️ bit.ly/WGSandpipers
See all our Bird ID Videos here ➡️ http://www.bto.org/a...
See all our Bird ID Videos here ➡️ http://www.bto.org/a...
September 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
As the autumn wader passage builds, now is the perfect time to brush up on your ID skills! Try out this video by our expert team looking at Wood and Green Sandpipers. ➡️ bit.ly/WGSandpipers
See all our Bird ID Videos here ➡️ http://www.bto.org/a...
See all our Bird ID Videos here ➡️ http://www.bto.org/a...
Yesterday's name-that-feather was from a Sparrowhawk. Well done to those that got it right! The feather was lying amongst a massive pile of Woodpigeon feathers, presumably lost in a battle which clearly went the Sparrowhawk's way in the end. Photo: Tom Streeter/ BTO
August 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Yesterday's name-that-feather was from a Sparrowhawk. Well done to those that got it right! The feather was lying amongst a massive pile of Woodpigeon feathers, presumably lost in a battle which clearly went the Sparrowhawk's way in the end. Photo: Tom Streeter/ BTO
Feather quiz!!! Whose is this then? Found in a garden amongst a pile of another birds' feathers. Answer tomorrow!
August 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Feather quiz!!! Whose is this then? Found in a garden amongst a pile of another birds' feathers. Answer tomorrow!
This is a superb opportunity! More info below 👇
Apply to join BTO's Youth Advisory Panel👉 bit.ly/_YAPVolunteer
If you're aged 16-24, passionate about nature and people’s engagement in the natural world, then this is your chance to have a positive impact.
📆 Applications close on Sunday 7 September. We look forward to hearing from everyone!
If you're aged 16-24, passionate about nature and people’s engagement in the natural world, then this is your chance to have a positive impact.
📆 Applications close on Sunday 7 September. We look forward to hearing from everyone!
August 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM
This is a superb opportunity! More info below 👇
Reposted by BTO Scotland
The second half of August will see the peak period for autumn migration of Tree Pipit. Usually detected when calling in flight, they can occur across a range of habitats on migration #ukbirding
August 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The second half of August will see the peak period for autumn migration of Tree Pipit. Usually detected when calling in flight, they can occur across a range of habitats on migration #ukbirding
Reposted by BTO Scotland
Last chance to apply for our Research Ecologist roles in Bioacoustics and Climate Change. For all jobs and to apply visit www.bto.org/jobs #Ornithology #bioacoustics
August 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Last chance to apply for our Research Ecologist roles in Bioacoustics and Climate Change. For all jobs and to apply visit www.bto.org/jobs #Ornithology #bioacoustics
We're getting another e-newsletter together that should be getting sent out in the next week or so. You'll get all sorts of updates from the BTO in sunny Scotland, plus details of training events this autumn. If you don't already subscribe you can sign up here: www.bto.org/about/where/...
BTO Scotland e-newsletter | BTO
www.bto.org
August 5, 2025 at 10:22 AM
We're getting another e-newsletter together that should be getting sent out in the next week or so. You'll get all sorts of updates from the BTO in sunny Scotland, plus details of training events this autumn. If you don't already subscribe you can sign up here: www.bto.org/about/where/...