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Reposted by BTO Shropshire

West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 17h

✨Ever wondered what migration looks like at night? 🌌
We often sit under the stars with our @PulsarWild thermal camera, coffee in hand ☕, watching flocks glide silently overhead.
You hear one redwing, but in thermal, you see ten. Absolutely magical. 🐦‍⬛🫶

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 15h

Marc's fascinating and accessible feature is our favourite #SciComm feature of the year. So far!

BTO News is always a great read, with regular articles on science, practical fieldcraft and results of BTO research. Arguably worth the membership fee on its own!

Marc Gilles @marcgilles.bsky.social · 17h

Want to know everything about bird smell?
I wrote an "Ornithological masterclass" on Avian Olfaction for BTO News @btobirds.bsky.social #ornithology
Link to the article 👉 www.researchgate.net/publication/...

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 3d

Very nice! 🙂

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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 6d

Exciting news! We’re planning the upcoming Bird Atlas 2027-31, and have met with @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social and @birdsinwales.bsky.social to discuss how we can work together on what we hope will be the most productive Atlas yet. #Ornithology #UKBirding

A group photo of the BTO and BirdWatch Ireland team together on the top of a cliff with green vegetation in the foreground and blue sea in the background.

A group photo of the BTO and SOC team together sitting on a bench and standing in front of a wood timber building.

A group photo of the BTO and WOS team together standing in front of a building with a small tree behind them.

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BTO Cymru @btocymru.bsky.social · 7d

Our online ‘Welsh Waders for Beginners’ course is now less than a week away! Book your place today on our website here: www.bto.org/our-work/eve...

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 10d

Enjoyed a very quiet first visit to Haughmond Hill near Shrewsbury for the Winter Bird Survey, an addition to @bbs-birds.bsky.social for this winter. Just 24 species seen, but that does include a few Crossbills.

Some sites are still available, see www.bto.org/get-involved...

#ShropshireBirds

The view from Haughmond Hill across green fields with standard trees and hedgerows to Shropshire's famous Wrekin Hill.

The view from Haughmond Hill towards the Stretton Gap and the hogback hills of The Lawley and Caer Caradoc, under a blue sky with some white fair weather clouds. The foreground vegetation is fading from green to brown as autumn slowly takes hold of the trees and shrubs.

A map of the Shropshire region for BTO surveying. It looks unfamiliar because it is based on whole 10km squares rather than the precise geographical county outline. The orange areas contain currently available squares. For more info go to https://app.bto.org/bbs/public/request-square.jsp?s=WINBS

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 10d

We're here as volunteers to support the work of @btobirds.bsky.social and BTO members and supporters in #Shropshire. See our profile for contact info.

Our updated seasonal header pic is the view from Haughmond Hill towards the Stretton Gap, flanked by The Lawley/Caer Caradoc and the Long Mynd.

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 10d

Some of us think the excellent BTO News magazine is worth the membership fee on its own, but then there's early access to highly regarded online training, and your gateway to the wonderful world of field ornithology, from simple garden surveys to ones requiring higher skills. Come and grow with us!

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 11d

Feed your curiosity with a BTO membership! For just £3 a month, you'll have access to the latest news, research and resources, including exclusive content just for members, so you can learn more about #birds, their lives and their world. 🐦

Start your membership today ➡️ www.bto.org/support-...

A Little Owl looks in the direction of the camera. Wording alongside reads: Be curious, join today.

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West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 11d

📊 Bird ringing helps answer BIG questions:
✨ Where do our garden birds migrate?
✨ How long do they live?
✨ How can we protect them from habitat loss?
Every ring tells a story and every story guides conservation. 🌍💚

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BTO Garden BirdWatch @bto-gbw.bsky.social · 12d

📖 🐦The new Issue of Bird Table is out now!
Your subscription helps fund the science that guides garden bird conservation - while bringing you seasonal reviews🍂, wildlife tips & expert insight📈.

Learn more: bto.org/gardenbirds

Promotional image of the Bird Table Magazine. White text over yellow backgrounds says: "Discover the Science of Gardens. Join Today". There is an image of the current issue of Bird Table Magazine and an ID plate of Tits.

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BTO Garden BirdWatch @bto-gbw.bsky.social · 14d

Have you seen a brown-headed Blackbird? 🐦 Juvenile males moult head-last, so they look part-brown, part-black right now! In weeks they’ll be sleek all-black.

Record your weekly garden visitors with Garden BirdWatch & help monitor UK #birds:
www.bto.org/our-science/...

📸 E. Gilbert

Juvenile Blackbird perching on a wooden fence. The bird is moulting its plumage, which is evident by the contrast between the brown feathers in the head and the black feathers in the rest of the body.

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 15d

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

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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 15d

1/ The Wild Bird Indicators, using BTO data, have been updated today by Defra! ⬇️

Sadly, the ‘all bird species’ index, comprising the population trends of 130 species, has been in a slow continuous decline in the UK since the 1970s, down by 18% and by 4% in the last five years. 📉 #Ornithology

Image of two Turtle Doves perching on branches over water, one leans down to take a drink. Wording to the left reads: Wild Bird Indicators. For populations in the UK and England, 1970 to 2024. Out now!

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 16d

The "Birds of Shropshire by Habitat and Season" course group will be at #VenusPool next Sunday, 28th September, from 9.30am.

The reserve may be a bit busier than usual, please park neatly! 🙂

Further info about this course at: www.introbirdcourse.wordpress.com

#ShropshireBirding

Two Gadwall ducks dabbling in shallow water.

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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 16d

Calling all nature enthusiasts! 🐦 Sign up to our newsletter for #Birds in Greenspaces, our exciting new project that launches next Spring and focuses on publicly accessible greenspaces! 😀

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates and resources ➡️ www.bto.org/get-involved... #Ornithology

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 17d

Great images from John, which reinforce the old adage that if you have a medium sized wader you can’t identify, it’s probably a Ruff.

If there are two or more, of different sizes, that probability increases!

The sort of practical tip that you get on @btobirds.bsky.social online training courses 🙂

John Martin @pilning.bsky.social · 17d

Called in at VP on the way home from Catherton Common to see the two juvenile Ruffs. First of the year for the site, on size a male and female. Also 1w Ringed Plover, Common Sand etc in brief late afternoon visit. #Shropshirebirding

Juvenile Ruff at Venus Pool. Medium sized wader with neat scaly upperparts, rather plain below with some buff and a relatively short bill. This duller individual was much the larger of the two so a male

Juvenile Ruff at Venus Pool. Smaller individual happened also to be the brighter buff of the two. It's a female on size

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 18d

If you've been inspired by Tom Lowe's* posts about the huge Ellesmere gull roost, which has held seven species this weekend including Shropshire's third ever Sabine's Gull, here's a great opportunity to develop the necessary field skills.

* @saloplarus.bsky.social #ShropshireBirding

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 18d

Do you find recognising gulls tricky? 🤔 Join our expert team for our Gull ID training sessions in November ➡️ www.bto.org/training

Our two-part, online Gull ID course has been carefully crafted to build your knowledge and confidence and make gull ID easier! #Ornithology

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 19d

Work now starting on Monday 29 September.

BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 19d

We've been advised that the work will now start on Monday 29 September.

BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 19d

Essential conservation work will be carried out at #VenusPool on three consecutive days from 30 September to 1 October. This will inevitably cause disturbance, including in front of the hides.

Helpers welcome! Meet at 10 am with gardening gloves, loppers etc, appropriate clothing.
#ShropshireBirds

Three Dunlin feeding, one of the passage wader species likely to benefit from the conservation work at Venus Pool.

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 19d

Essential conservation work will be carried out at #VenusPool on three consecutive days from 30 September to 1 October. This will inevitably cause disturbance, including in front of the hides.

Helpers welcome! Meet at 10 am with gardening gloves, loppers etc, appropriate clothing.
#ShropshireBirds

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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 19d

It's Friday.

It's autumn.

It must be time for the latest installment of our BTO Migration Blog!

Find out what species to expect, and let us know if our predictions are up to scratch.

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

📷 Grey Phalarope by Neil Calbrade/BTO

@birdtrack.bsky.social

Grey Phalarope wading in water, by Neil Calbrade/BTO

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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 20d

Take a look at the programme for our 2026 Annual Conference in Northampton! ➡️ www.bto.org/BTOConfe...

From enigmatic Nightjars & disappearing Blackbirds to adventures with seabirds, the programme is packed with inspiring talks from BTO staff & special guests. 🐦 Book your place! #Ornithology

A dark pink speech bubble with the wording 'Yay!' is over an image of a Kittiwake with its bill wide open. White wording to the left on a green background reads: Our annual conference programme is here! Find out more >

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 20d

We have several vacant squares in Shropshire! BBS and WBBS are very rewarding surveys if you can identify by sight and sound the birds likely to be present in your chosen square.

For more information follow the link in the thread, or get in touch with the local team by email or DM 🙂

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) @bbs-birds.bsky.social · 20d

(1/) The BBBS Team at HQ, and BBS/ WBBS Regional Organisers are currently busy verifying data from the 2025 survey seasons. Here is a list of the 10 most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK during 2024. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

The most widespread species recorded on BBS squares across the UK in 2024, plus images of a Wren and a Woodpigeon.

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 21d

Another outstanding find by Salop's larus legend Tom Lowe! He is a great example of how to properly work a local patch. The more time you spend looking, the "luckier" you get 🙂

Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 21d

To the meres tonight hoping for storm-driven waifs, and hit the jackpot with a juv 💥SABINE'S💥 on The Mere, #Ellesmere 🤩 Just the 3rd modern #shropshirebirding record! It stayed to roost alongside an adult #CaspianGull, 10 YLGs & 5,400 LBBGs #happydays #loveautumn #ukbirding

Juvenile Sabine's Gull between two Black-heads

Juvenile Sabine's Gull in front of roosting Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Doesn't get much better than that!

All too brief wing stretch showing that distinctive tricolour Sabine's upperwing

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BTO Cymru @btocymru.bsky.social · 21d

Our first ever online ‘Welsh Waterbirds for Beginners’ course is now less than a week away! Book your place today on our website here: www.bto.org/our-work/eve...

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