Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)
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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)
@webs-gsmp.bsky.social
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The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP) are volunteer-based UK monitoring schemes for non-breeding waterbirds. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/wetland-bird-survey
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webs-gsmp.bsky.social
1/ This weekend marks the final IGC count of the season, focusing on Greylag Goose counts, and Pink-footed Geese, at their roosts. Thank you to all of our #GSMP_UK volunteers and hope you enjoy your counts this weekend!

@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

#UKBirding
Picture of a Greylag Goose flying, with the words 'Icelandic-breeding Goose Census this weekend' on top and the date '22nd/23rd November' on the right hand side of the image. Photo credit: BTO/John Harding. For more information, visit www.bto.org/gsmp.
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
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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
November 18, 2025 at 10:27 AM
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Today is the November WeBS Core Count! Remember to look out for any sick or dying birds and report these in the Core Count form and to DEFRA for possible testing. in England, Wales & Scotland, contact @DefraGovUK , in Northern Ireland contact @daera_ni
& in ROI @agriculture_ie
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
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Ahead of the Core Count weekend, don't forget to record any dead birds you see on your WeBS Count on the data entry form in WeBS Online, as well as reporting to Defra for possible collection
WeBS Online data entry form with option for recording dead or sick birds
November 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM
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The latest edition of Waterbirdnews should be arriving on your doormats this week. 🗞️

💻Or read it online here: bto.org/our-work/sci...

As always, thank you to all of our WeBS and GSMP counters for your amazing contributions.

#Ornithology #UKBirding
October 22, 2025 at 9:21 AM
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We have developed an optional pinpointing feature where you can mark on a map any flocks that you see, as well as flightlines they use and vantage points.📍

You will find this at the bottom of your data entry form in GSMP Online.
October 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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This weekend marks the first Icelandic-breeding Goose Census (IGC) of the 2025/26 season, where #GSMP_UK counters count Pink-footed Geese and Icelandic Greylag Geese at their roosts.
💻Find out more: www.bto.org/gsmp
#Ornithology
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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The Icelandic/Greenlandic population of Pink-footed Geese arrive in the UK during Autumn/Winter. A substantial population increase over the last 40 years makes skeins of migrating Pink-footed Geese a common sight. 📈

#Ornithology

@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social
An image of a Pink-Footed Goose with labels describing its physical features (Pink feet and legs, pink bill with a black tip and base, brown/grey plumage). Photo credit: Tom Cadwallender (BTO). Text on the left of the image reads: Status: common. Weight: 2.8kg. Eggs: 4-5. Habitats: Marine and intertidal, farmland, wetland, grassland. The bottom left reads: www.bto.org/gsmp. The bottom right reads: www.bto.org/birdfacts.
October 14, 2025 at 9:45 AM
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Today is the October WeBS Priority Core Count day! Time to get out and count our birds!
Four adult Mute Swans are flying across a grey sky. Above is the heading 'October WeBS Core Count TODAY!' and below is the WeBS logo and the web address 'www.bto.org/webs'.
October 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
webs-gsmp.bsky.social
This weekend is the October Core Count! Did you know that with WeBS beginning as the National Wildlife Counts, we are continuing a tradition of counting that began in 1947! Learn more about our history here▶️https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/wetland-bird-survey/about/history-webs
A male Pochard is floating on still water, facing forward. Above is the heading 'October WeBS Core Count Sunday 12th' and below is the WeBS logo and the web address 'www.bto.org/webs'.
October 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
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📢We are looking for new WeBS counters in Derbyshire!📢

View which vacant sectors need counters at bto.org/webs-vacant-sites or if you know of a local wetland that isn't mapped, get in touch with the Local Organisers at derbyshire.webs@gmail.com and we can set this up for you! 🌊
Within the tile is an image of a Mallard in water with it's bottom in the air. There is the heading 'WeBS Counters Needed in Derbyshire!' and below this, 'Join the Wetland Bird Survey if you enjoy birdwatching and want to help monitor our vital wetland habitats. - Choose a vacant site near you or... - set up a brand new site! - Contribute to an ongoing national conservation project. - Beginners and seasoned birders welcome! - September to March is the core winter period for recording wetland birds! Get in touch with the Local Organisers at derbyshire.webs@gmail.com'. Below this is the WeBS logo and 'Can you help count waterbirds here? Join WeBS!'.
October 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
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Wigeon is up next for #WeBSSpeciesSpotlight 🎉

In autumn, Britain & Ireland receive vast numbers of Wigeon from the breeding grounds located further north. This wintering population has increased significantly since 1983/84, with WeBS revealing a few locations holding over 30,000 birds in winter. 🍂❄️
Picture of Wigeon with a male and female up front and annotated with their physical features. Male Wigeon annotated with chestnut head and neck, grey body and pink breast and white body. Female is annotated with mottled brown plumage, dark speculum patch of iridescent green or dark feathers bordered by white, and a white body. Both male and female are annotated with round head and small blue/grey bill with black tip. The top of this graphic reads 'WeBS Species Spotlight'. On the left side, it reads: 'Wigeon (Mareca Penelope). Status: Common. Weight: 748.5g. Eggs: 8-9. Habitats: Marine and intertidal, Wetland Grassland. The bottom reads 'www.bto.org/webs' and 'www.bto.org/birdfacts'. Photo credit: Philip Croft/BTO
September 29, 2025 at 9:29 AM
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We are looking for a temp. volunteer to cover this site, for the core period of September to March incl. This could be the perfect way to get involved in WeBS! If you are interested, contact the Local Organisers at derbyshire.webs@gmail.com

#WeBSSiteInsight #YourWeBSJourney
Underneath the headline 'Cromford Canal - Whatstandwell to Ambergate’ is an image of a Moorhen floating on the water’s surface, with a map of the site boundary and location within the UK. The WeBS logo is beneath with the text ‘Can you help count waterbirds here? Join WeBS!’
September 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM
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6/📈12 species of wildfowl have shown strong increases, including British/Irish Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Gadwall, Whooper Swan, Little Grebe, Svalbard Light-bellied Brent and Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

📷Brent Goose by Paul Hillion/BTO
Picture of a dark-bellied Brent Goose. Photo by Paul Hillion/BTO.
September 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
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5/ 📉Among the wildfowl, Bewick’s Swan, European White-fronted Goose, Scaup and Pochard have declined markedly, by more than 60% since 1975/76.

📷Bewick’s Swan by John Harding/BTO
Photo of a Bewick's swan on water. Photo by John Harding/BTO.
September 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
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4/ Among waders, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit numbers have increased the most, with many other species, including Curlew and Oystercatcher, increasing and then decreasing like the indicator trend.

📷Avocet by Amy Lewis/BTO
Photo of an Avocet. Photo by Amy Lewis/BTO.
September 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
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3/ The trends for two subgroups, waders and wildfowl, both follow this pattern, with the recent decline thought to be partly due to many arctic breeding birds choosing to winter north and east of the UK as winters become milder.
September 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
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1/ The Wintering Waterbird Indicator, published in the Wild Bird Indicators publication today by Defra, is based on the trends of wintering populations of 46 waterbird species or races since 1975/76.

📖: www.gov.uk/government/s...

#Ornithology #UKBirding
September 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
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Today is #PloverAppreciationDay! The UK holds host to six plover species, the commonest of which is the Ringed Plover, though its cryptic colours mean that it can be hard to spot!

You can learn more about each species on the BTO Bird Facts page ➡️ bto.org/birdfacts
Under the title 'Plover Appreciation Day!' are pictures of the six UK plover species along with their latin names - Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Dotterel, Ringed Plover and Lapwing. Underneath is a fact and the web addresses www.bto.org.webs and www.bto.org/birdfacts.
September 16, 2025 at 8:35 AM
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Are you a birder in Northern Ireland who can count this small pond in County Tyrone, which hasn’t been counted since 1992? If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at
app.bto.org/websonline/s...

#WeBSSiteInsight #YourWeBSJourney

@bto-ni.bsky.social
Underneath the headline 'WeBS Site Insight: Augher Lough, County Tyrone’ is an image of a Great Crested Grebe swimming in a pool, with a map of the site boundary and location within the UK. The WeBS logo is beneath with the text ‘ Join WeBS - Can you help count waterbirds here?’
September 10, 2025 at 8:06 AM
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Today is the September WeBS Core Count and the first of our winter counts! Let's see what we find on our WeBS sites!
Image of a Smew swimming on the water's surface with the headline 'September WeBS Core Count TODAY!'. At the bottom is the WeBS logo and the web address www.bto.org/webs
September 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM
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This Sunday is the first count of the core winter counting period of WeBS, which runs from Sept to March (inclusive). It's an exciting part of the year, with migrants arriving to overwinter in our relatively mild climate. So you never know what could turn up on your WeBS site!
A female and male Wigeon are swimming on the water's surface. Included are the headlines 'September WeBS Core Count. Sunday 7th' and below is the WeBS logo and web address www.bto.org/webs
September 5, 2025 at 11:30 AM
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If you are a WeBS counter and would like to take part in ISC at your WeBS site during your WeBS Core Count, email gsmp@bto.org. You can then take part without creating a GSMP account.

Photo: Sarah Kelman/BTO

@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

#UKBirding
September 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
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🦢The International Swan Census involves counters to carry out a one-off count on the weekend of 17th-18th January 2026.

This involves counting Whooper and Bewick’s Swans, as well as recording age assessments and habitat.

Visit the vacant site map⬇️
app.bto.org/gsmp/public/...

#Ornithology
September 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
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Are you a beginner birder in mid-Wales who can count the birds at this small pond, which hasn’t been counted since 1993? If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at
app.bto.org/websonline/s...

@btocymru.bsky.social
Underneath the headline 'WeBS Site Insight: Penybont Pool, Radnorshire’ is an image of a Coot swimming in a pool, with a map of the site boundary and location within the UK. The WeBS logo is beneath with the text ‘ Join WeBS - Can you help count waterbirds here?’
August 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM