Jamie Dunning
@j-dunning.net
I am an ornithologist, broadly interested in the social behaviour of birds.
📚 Research - https://www.j-dunning.net
📚 Research - https://www.j-dunning.net
This chiffchaff has been on Gratitude road since Christmas. Pale throat and breast, brownish above with yellow on the super-c, feels Scandi/Northern. Appreciate looks and light can be deceiving. #BristolBirding
January 10, 2026 at 2:03 PM
This chiffchaff has been on Gratitude road since Christmas. Pale throat and breast, brownish above with yellow on the super-c, feels Scandi/Northern. Appreciate looks and light can be deceiving. #BristolBirding
One for the #birdinggear sub-feed I think, but I like the Opticron Discovery for that sort of price.
January 6, 2026 at 2:21 PM
One for the #birdinggear sub-feed I think, but I like the Opticron Discovery for that sort of price.
Although the bird that’s been in that flock for a few weeks is a male. Or, is there more than one?
January 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Although the bird that’s been in that flock for a few weeks is a male. Or, is there more than one?
I've started 2026 with a great day's patch birding in excellent company. Russian white-fronts at dawn, an excellent wader roost, Pintail, Pendulines, a flyover GW Egret (not easy here) and 1,300 finches in a field of Chicory.
w/ @matthall95.bsky.social & @kidphotographer24.bsky.social
w/ @matthall95.bsky.social & @kidphotographer24.bsky.social
January 4, 2026 at 8:21 PM
I've started 2026 with a great day's patch birding in excellent company. Russian white-fronts at dawn, an excellent wader roost, Pintail, Pendulines, a flyover GW Egret (not easy here) and 1,300 finches in a field of Chicory.
w/ @matthall95.bsky.social & @kidphotographer24.bsky.social
w/ @matthall95.bsky.social & @kidphotographer24.bsky.social
Just less then two weeks left to comment on proposed new guidance on nesting birds and commercial ecological surveys.
birdsurveyguidelines.org/nesting-bird... 🪶
birdsurveyguidelines.org/nesting-bird... 🪶
Nesting bird guidance | Bird Survey Guidelines
birdsurveyguidelines.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Just less then two weeks left to comment on proposed new guidance on nesting birds and commercial ecological surveys.
birdsurveyguidelines.org/nesting-bird... 🪶
birdsurveyguidelines.org/nesting-bird... 🪶
Reposted by Jamie Dunning
Finding a confiding first-winter Twite on Reydon Marshes yesterday, just 2 km from home, was pleasing and at an area where large numbers used to winter in Suffolk - I have old video of a flock of over 80. Nowadays, birders twitch them in Suffolk... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
January 3, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Finding a confiding first-winter Twite on Reydon Marshes yesterday, just 2 km from home, was pleasing and at an area where large numbers used to winter in Suffolk - I have old video of a flock of over 80. Nowadays, birders twitch them in Suffolk... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
I use the skyfeed GUI now, that was the early and easy way of building a feed - It’s a few thousand words or RegEx. There are probably better ways now.
December 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I use the skyfeed GUI now, that was the early and easy way of building a feed - It’s a few thousand words or RegEx. There are probably better ways now.
Some small tweaks to the UK birding feed today, let me know how it can be improved.
December 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Some small tweaks to the UK birding feed today, let me know how it can be improved.
They have been in the woods at the services, but yesterday we caught a first year female in the willow copse.
December 30, 2025 at 7:06 AM
They have been in the woods at the services, but yesterday we caught a first year female in the willow copse.
Excellent winter birding at Aust this morning, mostly focussed on the 600+ linnet using the set-aside pasture (we managed to ring 30). Possibly two firecrest also wintering here.
Only eight greylag geese over in the cold NE.
Only eight greylag geese over in the cold NE.
December 29, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Excellent winter birding at Aust this morning, mostly focussed on the 600+ linnet using the set-aside pasture (we managed to ring 30). Possibly two firecrest also wintering here.
Only eight greylag geese over in the cold NE.
Only eight greylag geese over in the cold NE.
Well done James, and your grandad. Looking forward to hearing about it in the new year!
December 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Well done James, and your grandad. Looking forward to hearing about it in the new year!
I’ll amend the sky feed tomorrow, I agree it’s annoying and I appreciate the feedback.
December 29, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I’ll amend the sky feed tomorrow, I agree it’s annoying and I appreciate the feedback.
Yes, I’ll work this out for next year I think!
December 29, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Yes, I’ll work this out for next year I think!
It looks like KeepItWild are cited in both.
December 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
It looks like KeepItWild are cited in both.
There’s lots of interesting work happening, including yours. It’s a shame it all has to be read through the lens of a minority opinion!
December 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
There’s lots of interesting work happening, including yours. It’s a shame it all has to be read through the lens of a minority opinion!
I think BG have reported on a vocal minority. Frankly reintroduction is one option for NE, but it’s a not the goal and the debate is a distraction from on-going and unfinished work.
December 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I think BG have reported on a vocal minority. Frankly reintroduction is one option for NE, but it’s a not the goal and the debate is a distraction from on-going and unfinished work.
Yes, but we haven’t fully resolved the tree yet.
December 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Yes, but we haven’t fully resolved the tree yet.
There nothing factual in that BG click-bait and no planned release I am aware of.
December 27, 2025 at 12:58 PM
There nothing factual in that BG click-bait and no planned release I am aware of.
Reposted by Jamie Dunning
Corncrake centre-out mowing. First cut silage, probably the latest in the country. Saw a very late corncrake in the nettles before mowing started. Mowing is definitely the most stressful day in the year
October 12, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Corncrake centre-out mowing. First cut silage, probably the latest in the country. Saw a very late corncrake in the nettles before mowing started. Mowing is definitely the most stressful day in the year
Sure, so we have a whole tranche of genetic and habitat/climate suitability modeling happening right now.
English birds are more isolated and interesting than descriptive ssp. classification allowed them.
I just wish we could have done this when we wanted to, rather than as post mortem
English birds are more isolated and interesting than descriptive ssp. classification allowed them.
I just wish we could have done this when we wanted to, rather than as post mortem
December 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Sure, so we have a whole tranche of genetic and habitat/climate suitability modeling happening right now.
English birds are more isolated and interesting than descriptive ssp. classification allowed them.
I just wish we could have done this when we wanted to, rather than as post mortem
English birds are more isolated and interesting than descriptive ssp. classification allowed them.
I just wish we could have done this when we wanted to, rather than as post mortem
I also agree that climate change is a major driver of decline in England, but the rate of decline hasn’t been even between sites — We still don’t understand the precise mechanism.
December 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I also agree that climate change is a major driver of decline in England, but the rate of decline hasn’t been even between sites — We still don’t understand the precise mechanism.
There are no release plans I know of, but there are birds breeding in aviaries (and passionate rewilders!).
The phylogenetics is complex, and OCs birds are of unknown origin (bred in captivity since the 1960s). It’s a complex picture and the reintroduction question is sadly dominating.
The phylogenetics is complex, and OCs birds are of unknown origin (bred in captivity since the 1960s). It’s a complex picture and the reintroduction question is sadly dominating.
December 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
There are no release plans I know of, but there are birds breeding in aviaries (and passionate rewilders!).
The phylogenetics is complex, and OCs birds are of unknown origin (bred in captivity since the 1960s). It’s a complex picture and the reintroduction question is sadly dominating.
The phylogenetics is complex, and OCs birds are of unknown origin (bred in captivity since the 1960s). It’s a complex picture and the reintroduction question is sadly dominating.
Nothing published yet
December 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Nothing published yet
We haven’t published any of the genetics yet.
December 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We haven’t published any of the genetics yet.
There is no plan to release young, and the breeding stock are many (many) generations old.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
A new captive-breeding programme for Twite in England has produced its first young in captivity and could begin releasing birds into the wild in 2026, in a bid to halt the species' severe decline:
Twite conservation project aims for releases of captive-bred birds
A Twite captive-breeding project in Staffordshire has raised young birds in captivity and is evaluating potential release sites in England for 2026 to bolster the rapidly declining breeding population.
bit.ly
December 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
There is no plan to release young, and the breeding stock are many (many) generations old.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.