Richard K Broughton
@richardkbroughton.bsky.social
Research Ecologist working on birds, mammals, forests, farms, hedgerows, woodland natural colonisation. Marsh Tit, Willow Tit & Wood Warbler research. Editor-in-Chief of the journal Bird Study: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/tbis20
Views are mine.
Views are mine.
Ah. This is the 4th I've seen since wednesday. Not sure i can report via normal channels (confidentiality issues on the land), but can send you an email?
November 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Ah. This is the 4th I've seen since wednesday. Not sure i can report via normal channels (confidentiality issues on the land), but can send you an email?
#OpenAccess in #BirdStudy
Herring Gulls really don't like people staring at them (antipredator response).
The eyes have it: the response of European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus to human eye-gaze doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
Herring Gulls really don't like people staring at them (antipredator response).
The eyes have it: the response of European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus to human eye-gaze doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
November 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
#OpenAccess in #BirdStudy
Herring Gulls really don't like people staring at them (antipredator response).
The eyes have it: the response of European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus to human eye-gaze doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
Herring Gulls really don't like people staring at them (antipredator response).
The eyes have it: the response of European Herring Gulls Larus argentatus to human eye-gaze doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
We hear a lot about deer in woodlands, but here in the treeless Fens I'm widely seeing about 30+ deer per square km. Mostly Roe deer, but lots of Chinese Water Deer, some Muntjac and rarely a Fallow. That's far more Roe than i ever see in woodland or more woody regions.
November 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
We hear a lot about deer in woodlands, but here in the treeless Fens I'm widely seeing about 30+ deer per square km. Mostly Roe deer, but lots of Chinese Water Deer, some Muntjac and rarely a Fallow. That's far more Roe than i ever see in woodland or more woody regions.
#OpenAccess in #BirdStudy
Low juv survival in Twites may drive decline in one English remnant breeding population, but wider decline more likely driven by factors affecting all age groups.
Age-specific survival in an English Twite Linaria flavirostris population doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
Low juv survival in Twites may drive decline in one English remnant breeding population, but wider decline more likely driven by factors affecting all age groups.
Age-specific survival in an English Twite Linaria flavirostris population doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
November 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
#OpenAccess in #BirdStudy
Low juv survival in Twites may drive decline in one English remnant breeding population, but wider decline more likely driven by factors affecting all age groups.
Age-specific survival in an English Twite Linaria flavirostris population doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
Low juv survival in Twites may drive decline in one English remnant breeding population, but wider decline more likely driven by factors affecting all age groups.
Age-specific survival in an English Twite Linaria flavirostris population doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
#BirdStudy
Switch to autumn crop-sowing and ban on lead angling weights probably influencing big increase in British Mute Swans since 1970s.
The relationship between Mute Swan Cygnus olor population trends in Great Britain and environmental change: doi.org/10.1080/0006... #ornithology
Switch to autumn crop-sowing and ban on lead angling weights probably influencing big increase in British Mute Swans since 1970s.
The relationship between Mute Swan Cygnus olor population trends in Great Britain and environmental change: doi.org/10.1080/0006... #ornithology
November 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
#BirdStudy
Switch to autumn crop-sowing and ban on lead angling weights probably influencing big increase in British Mute Swans since 1970s.
The relationship between Mute Swan Cygnus olor population trends in Great Britain and environmental change: doi.org/10.1080/0006... #ornithology
Switch to autumn crop-sowing and ban on lead angling weights probably influencing big increase in British Mute Swans since 1970s.
The relationship between Mute Swan Cygnus olor population trends in Great Britain and environmental change: doi.org/10.1080/0006... #ornithology
And an incongruous crab on ditchside dredgings near Welney. can anyone name the species? Presumbly it's wandered/carried in from a tidal river?
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
And an incongruous crab on ditchside dredgings near Welney. can anyone name the species? Presumbly it's wandered/carried in from a tidal river?
Fenland bird surveys in a nutshell: wind, flat fields to the horizon, big skies, and trumpeting Whooper Swans. Sound up for wind & trumpets. #ukbirding
November 5, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Fenland bird surveys in a nutshell: wind, flat fields to the horizon, big skies, and trumpeting Whooper Swans. Sound up for wind & trumpets. #ukbirding
Gull-human interactions in an urban population of Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
More nuisance events with humans as breeding season progresses, but human provisioning is negatively associated with nuisance events:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #ornithology
More nuisance events with humans as breeding season progresses, but human provisioning is negatively associated with nuisance events:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #ornithology
November 4, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Gull-human interactions in an urban population of Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
More nuisance events with humans as breeding season progresses, but human provisioning is negatively associated with nuisance events:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #ornithology
More nuisance events with humans as breeding season progresses, but human provisioning is negatively associated with nuisance events:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #ornithology
If you see this, quote with a vampire that is not Dracula.
"Greetings, from Johannesburg!"
"Greetings, from Johannesburg!"
October 31, 2025 at 6:56 PM
If you see this, quote with a vampire that is not Dracula.
"Greetings, from Johannesburg!"
"Greetings, from Johannesburg!"
Interesting(!) that these captive-bred ducks for sale in East Yorkshire seem to be unringed in very many cases. Baikal, Blue-winged, Green-winged Teals, plus Garganeys. Dread to think how many end up in the wild and in local bird reports... #ukbirding
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Interesting(!) that these captive-bred ducks for sale in East Yorkshire seem to be unringed in very many cases. Baikal, Blue-winged, Green-winged Teals, plus Garganeys. Dread to think how many end up in the wild and in local bird reports... #ukbirding
New in #BirdStudy
Density-dependence of White Storks in N Spain, but landfill closure could limit population growth.
Long-term demographic dynamics of a White Stork population in northern Iberia reveal density-dependent effects
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1... #ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social
Density-dependence of White Storks in N Spain, but landfill closure could limit population growth.
Long-term demographic dynamics of a White Stork population in northern Iberia reveal density-dependent effects
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1... #ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 3:25 PM
New in #BirdStudy
Density-dependence of White Storks in N Spain, but landfill closure could limit population growth.
Long-term demographic dynamics of a White Stork population in northern Iberia reveal density-dependent effects
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1... #ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social
Density-dependence of White Storks in N Spain, but landfill closure could limit population growth.
Long-term demographic dynamics of a White Stork population in northern Iberia reveal density-dependent effects
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1... #ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social
Almost a third of UK Hawfinches used artificial birdfood when available, with implications for disease transmission.
Investigating supplementary food use of UK Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes populations using DNA metabarcoding doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#BirdStudy #ornithology
Investigating supplementary food use of UK Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes populations using DNA metabarcoding doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#BirdStudy #ornithology
October 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Almost a third of UK Hawfinches used artificial birdfood when available, with implications for disease transmission.
Investigating supplementary food use of UK Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes populations using DNA metabarcoding doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#BirdStudy #ornithology
Investigating supplementary food use of UK Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes populations using DNA metabarcoding doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#BirdStudy #ornithology
A pleasure to give a talk on Marsh Tits, Willow Tits & woodland birds to the @linneansociety.bsky.social & @britornitholclub.bsky.social in the fabulous surroundings of Burlington House, under the gaze of Linnaeus, Darwin & Wallace. Great audience Q & A. #ornithology
October 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
A pleasure to give a talk on Marsh Tits, Willow Tits & woodland birds to the @linneansociety.bsky.social & @britornitholclub.bsky.social in the fabulous surroundings of Burlington House, under the gaze of Linnaeus, Darwin & Wallace. Great audience Q & A. #ornithology
Creating woodland through natural processes: Current understanding and knowledge gaps in Great Britain
Great to contribute to this #OpenAccess paper published in Ecological Solutions & Evidence: doi.org/10.1002/2688... #rewilding #forests #trees #nature @ukceh.bsky.social
Great to contribute to this #OpenAccess paper published in Ecological Solutions & Evidence: doi.org/10.1002/2688... #rewilding #forests #trees #nature @ukceh.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Creating woodland through natural processes: Current understanding and knowledge gaps in Great Britain
Great to contribute to this #OpenAccess paper published in Ecological Solutions & Evidence: doi.org/10.1002/2688... #rewilding #forests #trees #nature @ukceh.bsky.social
Great to contribute to this #OpenAccess paper published in Ecological Solutions & Evidence: doi.org/10.1002/2688... #rewilding #forests #trees #nature @ukceh.bsky.social
Maybe the last white butterfly I'll see this year. A Large White, I think. It's come the past 2 lunchtimes to nectar on late-flowering rosemary in the garden.
October 21, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Maybe the last white butterfly I'll see this year. A Large White, I think. It's come the past 2 lunchtimes to nectar on late-flowering rosemary in the garden.
End of 24th yr of intensive Marsh Tit monitoring at Monks Wood. Similar juv recruitment to recent years (<30), half the number when project started. Some deaths of long-lived adults (5-7 yrs old), but our oldest bird survives (10.5 yrs). Crossbills, Siskins, Redpolls, Skylarks overhead. #ornithology
October 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
End of 24th yr of intensive Marsh Tit monitoring at Monks Wood. Similar juv recruitment to recent years (<30), half the number when project started. Some deaths of long-lived adults (5-7 yrs old), but our oldest bird survives (10.5 yrs). Crossbills, Siskins, Redpolls, Skylarks overhead. #ornithology
New in #BirdStudy
Which future for the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Sardinia? An analysis of the future scenario of developing wind farms
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology #renewables
Which future for the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Sardinia? An analysis of the future scenario of developing wind farms
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology #renewables
October 19, 2025 at 2:29 PM
New in #BirdStudy
Which future for the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Sardinia? An analysis of the future scenario of developing wind farms
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology #renewables
Which future for the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Sardinia? An analysis of the future scenario of developing wind farms
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology #renewables
New in #BirdStudy
Loyal as a Robin: low frequency of extra-pair paternity in a European Robin Erithacus rubecula population in the natural forest of Białowieża National Park (Poland)
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
Loyal as a Robin: low frequency of extra-pair paternity in a European Robin Erithacus rubecula population in the natural forest of Białowieża National Park (Poland)
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
October 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
New in #BirdStudy
Loyal as a Robin: low frequency of extra-pair paternity in a European Robin Erithacus rubecula population in the natural forest of Białowieża National Park (Poland)
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
Loyal as a Robin: low frequency of extra-pair paternity in a European Robin Erithacus rubecula population in the natural forest of Białowieża National Park (Poland)
doi.org/10.1080/0006...
#ornithology
The biggest (by DBH) and oldest standing tree in Monks Wood. A veteran oak, seemingly a former pollard that used to be on edge of the wood, now surrounded by expanded woodland. Must measure the girth one day, must be 3-4 m.
October 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The biggest (by DBH) and oldest standing tree in Monks Wood. A veteran oak, seemingly a former pollard that used to be on edge of the wood, now surrounded by expanded woodland. Must measure the girth one day, must be 3-4 m.
The Wild Service trees (Sorbus torminalis) are in their spectacular autumn colours at Monks Wood. One of my favourite trees, and a speciality of the wood.
October 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The Wild Service trees (Sorbus torminalis) are in their spectacular autumn colours at Monks Wood. One of my favourite trees, and a speciality of the wood.
Very nice @birdguides.bsky.social review of my Poyser monograph on The Marsh Tit & the Willow Tit
www.birdguides.com/reviews/book... #ukbirding
www.birdguides.com/reviews/book... #ukbirding
October 16, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Very nice @birdguides.bsky.social review of my Poyser monograph on The Marsh Tit & the Willow Tit
www.birdguides.com/reviews/book... #ukbirding
www.birdguides.com/reviews/book... #ukbirding
Autumnal Monks Wood, and my first Fieldfares of the year, a flock of about 40 silently migrating over. The wood was jumping with Redwings, Song Thrushes, Robins and Goldcrests, most seemingly migrants, as they weren't there last week.
October 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Autumnal Monks Wood, and my first Fieldfares of the year, a flock of about 40 silently migrating over. The wood was jumping with Redwings, Song Thrushes, Robins and Goldcrests, most seemingly migrants, as they weren't there last week.
Just watched a Jay cache this acorn in a small cavity in a Field Maple, like a giant Marsh Tit.
October 6, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Just watched a Jay cache this acorn in a small cavity in a Field Maple, like a giant Marsh Tit.
Several more today, very variable In colour!
October 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Several more today, very variable In colour!