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btoshropshire.bsky.social
BTO Shropshire
@btoshropshire.bsky.social
73 followers 78 following 83 posts
Regional account for the British Trust for Ornithology in Shropshire.

If you'd like to help with surveys or to find out more about BTO's work in Shropshire please send a direct message or contact [email protected]

Follow the #Shropshirebirds feed!
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btoshropshire.bsky.social
BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · Oct 22
We're here as volunteers to support the work of
@btobirds.bsky.social in #Shropshire. See our profile for contact info.

Our updated header pic shows what may be the largest Lesser Black-backed Gull roost in the country, at #Ellesmere. So impressive, people stop their cars to enjoy the spectacle!
The Mere at Ellesmere, showing a large water body (a mere is a lake formed by the melting of glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age) with mature trees lining the far bank. Hundreds of gulls are on the water or flying above, forming a visually striking scene. Totals when the image was taken (21 October 2025) were around 900 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, around 15 Herring Gulls, 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, and an amazing 9,380 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A close-up of the gull roost, showing lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and one, much smaller, Black-headed Gull in the foreground.
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
btobirds.bsky.social
Want a FREE resource pack with an ID guide to 30 species you’re likely to see in your local greenspace? 🐦🌳 Sign up to our Birds in #Greenspaces newsletter to receive one! ➡️ www.bto.org/greenspaces #Ornithology 🪶

Illustrations by @willrose.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
birdtrack.bsky.social
Latest BirdTrack data show Woodcock arriving en masse over the the last fortnight. Sadly, Woodcock are prone to colliding with buildings while they migrate. If you find a dead Woodcock in these circumstances, please add the record to BirdTrack or email details to [email protected]

#ukbirding
November 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
rspbscience.bsky.social
Sadly, we have seen a big increase in avian flu cases in the UK - particularly in waterfowl

Whilst the risk to the public remains assessed as very low, Government advice is not to touch any visibly sick or dead birds, and to keep pets away

Read on for ways to help:

📷Ben Andrew
A Whooper Swan looks back over its folded wings at the camera.
November 19, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
btobirds.bsky.social
Hear from our Director of Science James Pearce-Higgins in this article from @theguardian.com looking at pesticide bans and bird population recovery ➡️ www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A male blackbird, with black plumage and orange bill with mud on, stands on grassy ground.
November 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
penrhynbirder.bsky.social
Wild victims of bird flu increase - will it be the worst winter yet in Europe? @btobirds.bsky.social reminds birders we can play a role in monitoring #HPAI

Plus the week's #NorthWales sightings in @northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes. 📷 Tony Pope. #BirdingWales

www.birdnotes.wales/blog/wild-vi...
Wild victims of bird flu on the rise
As ‘flockdown’ rules require keepers of birds to introduce strict biosecurity measures in Wales, increased deaths of wild birds have raised fears that it could be the worst winter yet for bird...
www.birdnotes.wales
November 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
rdpphoto.bsky.social
Sometimes you accidentally get something special! 😄
4 species in one frame, as Crowded House once sang. #birds #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #photography #birdphotography
Nuthatch, Robin, Blue Tit & Marsh Tit taking bird seed from a fallen tree trunk
November 16, 2025 at 2:44 PM
btoshropshire.bsky.social
Fascinating ABA podcast this week, reviewing the life of Roxie Laybourne, an amazing female scientist who “may be the most influential ornithologist you've never heard of”.
#Ornithology
aba.org American Birding Association @aba.org · 14d
New episode of the American Birding Podcast!

Smithsonian researcher Roxie Laybourne may be the most influential ornithologist you’ve never heard of. Her incredible life is documented by journalist Chris Sweeney in his new book.

Listen here: www.aba.org/09-46-the-fe...
09-46: The Feather Detective with Chris Sweeney - American Birding Association
www.aba.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
btoshropshire.bsky.social
Massed Woodpigeon migration continues. It's worth finding time for a VisMig "big sit", if only for half an hour, to count the thousands flying over.

The @birdtrack.bsky.social app makes it easy to update your count as you go, and your data add to our knowledge 🙂
saloplarus.bsky.social Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 17d
A few glances outside #salopobs whilst getting ready for school and work confirmed today was another big pigeon day. I counted 5,400 heading SW in some massive flocks 0740-0750, but then we had to go 😟 What could have been... #vismig #ukbirding
Part of a mega flock of migrating Woodpigeons taken on my phone from the back door
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
btoshropshire.bsky.social
So good to see Shropshire's Gull Guru taking on both a new site and one that he first watched as a child.

We sometimes overlook the connections to our sites that make WeBS such a rewarding survey to contribute to. There are several vacant sites in Shropshire, please DM if you're interested 🙂
saloplarus.bsky.social Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 17d
I've taken on a couple of new WeBS @webs-gsmp.bsky.social sites this autumn, one hasn't been counted in my lifetime and the other was my childhood patch. Both had Great Egrets this weekend, unthinkable back in their/my day! #shropshirebirding @btobirds.bsky.social
Golden leaves reflecting on Pitchford Pool Oss Mere between the reeds Great Egret and Grey Heron in waterside trees Red-ringed Great Egret in a tree. AJH, ringed in the nest at RSPB Ham Wall in May 2024
November 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
westmidlandsrg.bsky.social
Another fascinating find! A Reed Bunting we ringed on 24/09/25 at @SoultonHall Shropshire, was re-caught just 28 days later, 47 km away at Wolverhampton Race Course! 🌍
Without bird ringing, we’d never uncover these amazing movements through the country. #BirdRinging
November 10, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
pilning.bsky.social
Venus Pool WeBS early morning 660 Canadas, Canlag, 21 Greylag, 12 Egyptian, 61 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 15 Wigeon (influx), 3 GWE, L Egret, 2 W Rail, 210 Lapwing, 5 Snipe. 2 L Grebe & GCG on CF. Influx of 22 Corn Bunting with 4 Y'hammer, 35 Linnet, 35 Greenfinch, 15 Reed B, 2 Chiffs. #shropshirebirding 🪶
Male Wigeon Venus Pool with chestnut head and yellowy stripe down crown. This one has more green in face than normal and has been about a while. A flock of 13 seemed new in Corn Bunting in hedge by arable at VP. 4 of the Corn Buntings in flight
November 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
saloplarus.bsky.social
A flood of 44,110 Woodpigeons past #salopobs this morning was a new site and county record, and almost overwhelming at times. 5 Egyptian Geese high east were a bit of a surprise #vismig #ukbirding
A section of a large flock of migrant Woodpigeons 5 Egyptian Geese coming in high from the west More high-flying migrant Woodpigeons My clicker counter, still hot from counting 44,110 Woodpigeons, 290 Fieldfares and 620 Starlings
November 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
webs-gsmp.bsky.social
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
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
btobirds.bsky.social
Autumn migration is coming to a close, so here's our final weekly Migration Blog for now. As always let us know what you spot when you're out and about, and don't forget to log your records on @birdtrack.bsky.social.

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

#UKbirding

📷 Iceland Gull, by Scott Mayson / BTO
Sub-adult Iceland Gull on a beach, by Scott Mayson / BTO.
November 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
webs-gsmp.bsky.social
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
btoshropshire.bsky.social
Did you know that Tom McKinney’s morning programme on BBC Radio 3 starts with a short dawn chorus piece just after the 6:30 news? Tom is a birder!

Love the feature, @tommckinney.bsky.social, birdsong and classical music are a great start to the day!

Too early? ⬇️

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/sched...
BBC Sounds - Radio 3 - Schedules
View the daily broadcast schedule for Radio 3. Find out what's on now and what's up next, or see schedules up to 7 days ahead.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
btoshropshire.bsky.social
We've had two separate reports of sick Mute Swans in North Shropshire today, and referred both callers to Defra.

Please be vigilant, and report any sightings of sick birds to Defra (link in thread) and also log them in BirdTrack. #ShropshireBirds
btobirds.bsky.social BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 21d
Worrying reports of bird flu (avian influenza) are coming in, including an outbreak in Whooper Swans in the Fens. Other waterbirds are also being affected, and cases are rising.

📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides

#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland
Whooper Swan sick with bird flu in a field, photograph by Kane Brides
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
bbs-birds.bsky.social
The BBS Team is currently busy verifying 2025 data. For the next couple of weeks, we are going to share some species info from 2024. This week, we share the 10 most numerous species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social
A list of the most numerous species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024.
November 6, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
kanebrides.bsky.social
A pretty depressing day counting sick & dead Whooper Swans. Avian influenza is within the population. Please report all dead birds for possible collection & testing. In 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 & 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 this is Defra
gov.uk/guidance/repor…
Reporting to @birdtrack.bsky.social also helps with monitoring.
November 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM
btoshropshire.bsky.social
2025 has been a good year for our BBS coverage, but we can do better! 51 BBS and 7 Wetland BBS squares were surveyed, or 88% of our allocation, by 49 volunteers. A huge thank you to all of them.

There's always room for more! ➡️ www.bto.org/get-involved...
#ShropshireBirds @bbs-birds.bsky.social
An infographic for the distance walked by volunteers for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) in Shropshire (190.2km) and the Wetland BBS (62.0km).
November 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
bbs-birds.bsky.social
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
Graph and image showing the best year of BBS coverage across the UK yet.
October 31, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
birdtrack.bsky.social
In this week's Migration Blog we look at Little Auks, await the arrival of Woodcock and ask if this could be a Waxwing winter #ukbirding

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

Photo: Woodcock by Liz Cutting / BTO
October 31, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
bto-gbw.bsky.social
🐦 With their red faces and tinkling calls, Goldfinches bring a splash of colour to our gardens. Once scarce, they’re now seen in around 60% of Garden BirdWatch gardens. Their increase is likely linked to changes in supplementary feeding as well other ecological factors.

#Birds #UKBirding
October 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by BTO Shropshire
birdtrack.bsky.social
The latest BTO Migration Blog looks at the cryptic Jack Snipe as it arrives in Britain for the winter, as well as more arrivals of winter thrushes, Yellow-browed Warblers and the latest rare vagrants #ukbirding

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

Photo credit: Jack Snipe by Allan Drewitt / BTO
October 27, 2025 at 1:12 PM