Steve Blain
@steveblain.bsky.social
Birder, Bedfordshire, nocmig, vismig, digiscoper. Views my own. #BedsBirding
Reposted by Steve Blain
Sunday book review: The Birds of Bedfordshire by Tony Ploszajski
Review: markavery.info/2025/11/09/s...
Publisher: Beds Nat Hist Soc
'Excellent'
The last Northants avifauna is 130 years out of date...
#bedfordshire #birds @wildlifebcn.org #Sandy #TheLodge @rspb.bsky.social @steveblain.bsky.social
Review: markavery.info/2025/11/09/s...
Publisher: Beds Nat Hist Soc
'Excellent'
The last Northants avifauna is 130 years out of date...
#bedfordshire #birds @wildlifebcn.org #Sandy #TheLodge @rspb.bsky.social @steveblain.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Sunday book review: The Birds of Bedfordshire by Tony Ploszajski
Review: markavery.info/2025/11/09/s...
Publisher: Beds Nat Hist Soc
'Excellent'
The last Northants avifauna is 130 years out of date...
#bedfordshire #birds @wildlifebcn.org #Sandy #TheLodge @rspb.bsky.social @steveblain.bsky.social
Review: markavery.info/2025/11/09/s...
Publisher: Beds Nat Hist Soc
'Excellent'
The last Northants avifauna is 130 years out of date...
#bedfordshire #birds @wildlifebcn.org #Sandy #TheLodge @rspb.bsky.social @steveblain.bsky.social
Lesser Scaup finally falls. Bedfordshire’s first today at Broom GP. Nice to have another Beds first on the local patch. Well done Matt Burgess for the find on his @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count. #BedsBirding
November 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Lesser Scaup finally falls. Bedfordshire’s first today at Broom GP. Nice to have another Beds first on the local patch. Well done Matt Burgess for the find on his @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count. #BedsBirding
Reposted by Steve Blain
Nearly half of the United Kingdom’s most commercially valuable fish populations are either overexploited, critically low or both, according to a new report warning that the government continues to set catch limits above scientific advice.
UK fish stocks in trouble as catch limits exceed scientific advice: Report
Nearly half of the United Kingdom’s most commercially valuable fish populations are either overexploited, critically low or both, according to a new report warning that the government continues to…
news.mongabay.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Nearly half of the United Kingdom’s most commercially valuable fish populations are either overexploited, critically low or both, according to a new report warning that the government continues to set catch limits above scientific advice.
A day in north Norfolk yesterday with Matt Burgess and @agrimsey.bsky.social . And what a day! We started at South Wootton for the Lesser Yellowlegs in its bizarre location on the edge of a new housing estate.
October 16, 2025 at 11:49 AM
A day in north Norfolk yesterday with Matt Burgess and @agrimsey.bsky.social . And what a day! We started at South Wootton for the Lesser Yellowlegs in its bizarre location on the edge of a new housing estate.
This gave me a shock last night at Broom GP. Superficially an Azorean Gull (hate the name Azores Gull!). However despite the hooded appearance, dark blue-grey mantle, stocky appearance, and mucky bill it didn’t quite stand up to scrutiny.
October 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This gave me a shock last night at Broom GP. Superficially an Azorean Gull (hate the name Azores Gull!). However despite the hooded appearance, dark blue-grey mantle, stocky appearance, and mucky bill it didn’t quite stand up to scrutiny.
Reposted by Steve Blain
St Agnes today - pale / albino / leucistic Rock Pipit on Periglis and and a cracking Wheatear on Wingletang
September 27, 2025 at 10:43 PM
St Agnes today - pale / albino / leucistic Rock Pipit on Periglis and and a cracking Wheatear on Wingletang
The first Redwings of the autumn dashed west over the Pinnacle this morning. Just five but it’s a start. Looking forward to more. #vismig #BedsBirding
September 24, 2025 at 7:53 AM
The first Redwings of the autumn dashed west over the Pinnacle this morning. Just five but it’s a start. Looking forward to more. #vismig #BedsBirding
I think a lot of birders need to read this!
I wrote this short note on birding with hearing aids and thought I’d post the link here in case of interest/relevance to some birders out there
#birding #birdingScotland #birdingUK
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/09/01/b...
#birding #birdingScotland #birdingUK
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/09/01/b...
Birding with Hearing Aids
A startling proportion of the UK population suffers from hearing loss, with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) indicating that one in five adults are deaf, have hearing loss or suffer…
chatterstanes.wordpress.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:23 AM
I think a lot of birders need to read this!
Reposted by Steve Blain
Do you do moth trapping in the UK? We'd love your help! 💡
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image.
Send us top-down photos of multiple moths on egg trays to support this work.
More info & form: forms.gle/e3HzBPEd7RVV...
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image.
Send us top-down photos of multiple moths on egg trays to support this work.
More info & form: forms.gle/e3HzBPEd7RVV...
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
August 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Do you do moth trapping in the UK? We'd love your help! 💡
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image.
Send us top-down photos of multiple moths on egg trays to support this work.
More info & form: forms.gle/e3HzBPEd7RVV...
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image.
Send us top-down photos of multiple moths on egg trays to support this work.
More info & form: forms.gle/e3HzBPEd7RVV...
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
You can’t beat a Dotterel. It’s even better when there are four of ‘em. Today at Nanjizal #CornwallBirding
August 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
You can’t beat a Dotterel. It’s even better when there are four of ‘em. Today at Nanjizal #CornwallBirding
@astrokev.bsky.social Hi Kevin, would you mind following me so I can PM you about a photo I believe you took a few years ago of a melanistic Montagu’s Harrier near Broom in Bedfordshire? Many thanks, Steve
April 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
@astrokev.bsky.social Hi Kevin, would you mind following me so I can PM you about a photo I believe you took a few years ago of a melanistic Montagu’s Harrier near Broom in Bedfordshire? Many thanks, Steve
Reposted by Steve Blain
How many people contribute records to county and local bird reports in Wales?
How much data do those county recorders manage and through which channels?
How wide is the coverage? More detail in Alt Text.
Number-wrangling while I'm writing the @birdsinwales.bsky.social 2024 report.
#BirdingWales
How much data do those county recorders manage and through which channels?
How wide is the coverage? More detail in Alt Text.
Number-wrangling while I'm writing the @birdsinwales.bsky.social 2024 report.
#BirdingWales
April 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
How many people contribute records to county and local bird reports in Wales?
How much data do those county recorders manage and through which channels?
How wide is the coverage? More detail in Alt Text.
Number-wrangling while I'm writing the @birdsinwales.bsky.social 2024 report.
#BirdingWales
How much data do those county recorders manage and through which channels?
How wide is the coverage? More detail in Alt Text.
Number-wrangling while I'm writing the @birdsinwales.bsky.social 2024 report.
#BirdingWales
Have done a couple of Woodlark surveys in the last couple of days in Bedfordshire. No Woodlarks or Dartfords but habitats have been decent and the weather lovely. Bumped in to a few Woodcocks including four this morning at the Lodge. @btobirds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
March 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Have done a couple of Woodlark surveys in the last couple of days in Bedfordshire. No Woodlarks or Dartfords but habitats have been decent and the weather lovely. Bumped in to a few Woodcocks including four this morning at the Lodge. @btobirds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
Pleased to find a pair of vocal Marsh Tits in my local woods this morning. #BedsBirding
March 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Pleased to find a pair of vocal Marsh Tits in my local woods this morning. #BedsBirding
Reposted by Steve Blain
"Interesting" Magpie at Perranuthnoe on Monday. Picture courtesy of @paganbirder.bsky.social
February 19, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"Interesting" Magpie at Perranuthnoe on Monday. Picture courtesy of @paganbirder.bsky.social
Reposted by Steve Blain
Ooof this might be one of the most terrifying things I've ever read. The damage from climate change is already in effect and not even the pristine Amazon is escaping it. The fact that we are still talking about it as a future problem is wildly misguided.
In the most untouched, pristine parts of the Amazon, birds are dying. Scientists may finally know why: Populations have been falling for decades, even in tracts of forest undamaged by humans. Experts have spent two decades trying to understand what is going on Something was happening to t...
In the most untouched, pristine parts of the Amazon, birds are dying. Scientists may finally know why
In the most untouched, pristine parts of the Amazon, birds are dying. Scientists may finally know why: Populations have been falling for decades, even in tracts of forest undamaged by humans. Experts have spent two decades trying to understand what is going on Something was happening to t...
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Ooof this might be one of the most terrifying things I've ever read. The damage from climate change is already in effect and not even the pristine Amazon is escaping it. The fact that we are still talking about it as a future problem is wildly misguided.
A short visit to GLE this afternoon, with 36 Pochards, the long-staying Goldeneye and around 100 Greenfinches roosting in a roadside bramble. Then 11 Woodcocks heading in to the arable at dusk nearby #BedsBirding #ukbirdinf
January 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
A short visit to GLE this afternoon, with 36 Pochards, the long-staying Goldeneye and around 100 Greenfinches roosting in a roadside bramble. Then 11 Woodcocks heading in to the arable at dusk nearby #BedsBirding #ukbirdinf
A quick visit to Blunham Lake this lunchtime. Quite a few duck present but the most interesting bird was this third-winter Caspian Gull. This bird first turned up in the Ivel Valley last winter and looked a bit odd and hybridy. However it looks better the older it gets. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
January 2, 2025 at 7:29 PM
A quick visit to Blunham Lake this lunchtime. Quite a few duck present but the most interesting bird was this third-winter Caspian Gull. This bird first turned up in the Ivel Valley last winter and looked a bit odd and hybridy. However it looks better the older it gets. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
A local review of 2024 (this may be long!): I managed 168 according to BirdTrack the same as 2023. I also tried to achieve 100 species a month in Beds in 2024 and I did it! My best month was April with 116 species, down from 128 in 2023, and my lowest was 101 species in December, up from 92 in 2023.
January 1, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A local review of 2024 (this may be long!): I managed 168 according to BirdTrack the same as 2023. I also tried to achieve 100 species a month in Beds in 2024 and I did it! My best month was April with 116 species, down from 128 in 2023, and my lowest was 101 species in December, up from 92 in 2023.
A damp and dreary start to 2025 brightened by two gaudy Hawfinches at Warden Warren this afternoon. Few other species to speak of, the best probably a (Lesser) Redpoll and some Siskins. No sign of any Woodcock in their usual spots via the thermal #BedsBirding #ukbirding
January 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A damp and dreary start to 2025 brightened by two gaudy Hawfinches at Warden Warren this afternoon. Few other species to speak of, the best probably a (Lesser) Redpoll and some Siskins. No sign of any Woodcock in their usual spots via the thermal #BedsBirding #ukbirding
A very ordinary last visit to Derek Whites Eggs pit for the year this evening. Hoping for a roosting Bittern.
None of those but did see a delightful drake Pintail, among the few ducks on the water. About 800 Starlings roosted in the reeds whcih was nice against the pink sky #BedsBirding #ukbirding
None of those but did see a delightful drake Pintail, among the few ducks on the water. About 800 Starlings roosted in the reeds whcih was nice against the pink sky #BedsBirding #ukbirding
December 31, 2024 at 5:18 PM
A very ordinary last visit to Derek Whites Eggs pit for the year this evening. Hoping for a roosting Bittern.
None of those but did see a delightful drake Pintail, among the few ducks on the water. About 800 Starlings roosted in the reeds whcih was nice against the pink sky #BedsBirding #ukbirding
None of those but did see a delightful drake Pintail, among the few ducks on the water. About 800 Starlings roosted in the reeds whcih was nice against the pink sky #BedsBirding #ukbirding
An afternoon visit to Stewartby lake for the gull roost today. Eight species of gull was a great return with a first-winter Med the highlight. Also 3 Caspian’s (1w,2w,3w), 4 Yellow-legs, 2 GBB’s, 400 Herring, 120 LBB’s and a few thousand each of Bh and Common Gull. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
December 30, 2024 at 8:02 PM
An afternoon visit to Stewartby lake for the gull roost today. Eight species of gull was a great return with a first-winter Med the highlight. Also 3 Caspian’s (1w,2w,3w), 4 Yellow-legs, 2 GBB’s, 400 Herring, 120 LBB’s and a few thousand each of Bh and Common Gull. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
Warden Warren this afternoon for a quick walk round. Four Hawfinches are a regular fixture currently and fairly reliable mid-afternoon in their canopy retreat. Also a thermaled Woodcock hiding under its laylandii shelter. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
View my #BirdTrack list: app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...
View my #BirdTrack list: app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...
December 29, 2024 at 5:26 PM
Warden Warren this afternoon for a quick walk round. Four Hawfinches are a regular fixture currently and fairly reliable mid-afternoon in their canopy retreat. Also a thermaled Woodcock hiding under its laylandii shelter. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
View my #BirdTrack list: app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...
View my #BirdTrack list: app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...
An early morning jaunt to Meadow Lane today. Bloomin’ good too! 4 Bearded Tits, Drake Pintail, Jack Snipe, Great White Egret, Redshank, Water Rail, and 72 Shovelers. 15 Chiffchaffs was also a very good count locally. And best of all made 101 for the month in Beds. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
December 29, 2024 at 12:19 PM
An early morning jaunt to Meadow Lane today. Bloomin’ good too! 4 Bearded Tits, Drake Pintail, Jack Snipe, Great White Egret, Redshank, Water Rail, and 72 Shovelers. 15 Chiffchaffs was also a very good count locally. And best of all made 101 for the month in Beds. #BedsBirding #ukbirding
A family walk round Woburn Park today. Pretty quiet due to the misty conditions.
A single Goosander was on the pool in front of the Abbey but no Mandarins today. Star bird was a single Hawfinch which I found calling from the top of a tree in the grounds of the Abbey. PIX! #ukbirding #BedsBirding
A single Goosander was on the pool in front of the Abbey but no Mandarins today. Star bird was a single Hawfinch which I found calling from the top of a tree in the grounds of the Abbey. PIX! #ukbirding #BedsBirding
December 28, 2024 at 7:30 PM
A family walk round Woburn Park today. Pretty quiet due to the misty conditions.
A single Goosander was on the pool in front of the Abbey but no Mandarins today. Star bird was a single Hawfinch which I found calling from the top of a tree in the grounds of the Abbey. PIX! #ukbirding #BedsBirding
A single Goosander was on the pool in front of the Abbey but no Mandarins today. Star bird was a single Hawfinch which I found calling from the top of a tree in the grounds of the Abbey. PIX! #ukbirding #BedsBirding