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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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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Feb 14

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP) are now on Bluesky! 🦢 We'll be sharing our latest research findings, how to get involved & vacant survey sites.

We’d love to know what you’ve seen on your surveys too, so tag us in your posts. 🦆 #Ornithology #UKBirding

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 6d

📢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 [email protected] and we can set this up for you! 🌊

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Reposted by Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 7d

More spaces added for this FREE walk this weekend for young bird and nature enthusiasts with BTO Youth and @essexbirdnews.bsky.social! Sign up ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/eve... #EssexBirding @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

BTO England @btoengland.bsky.social · 21d

Join BTO Youth and @essexbirdnews.bsky.social for a Wetland Bird Survey walk on 4 October. ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/eve...

The event is FREE and open to young people between the ages of 12 and 25. #EssexBirding @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

A Black-tailed Godwit wades in shallow water. Wording reads: WeBS & Waders Walk. Two Tree Island Essex. Saturday 4th October. 10:00 - 14:00. Open to 12-25 year olds. Free entry. www.bto.org/youth-events

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Reposted by Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)

BTO East Glamorgan @eastglambto.bsky.social · 8d

Calling on all East Glamorgan birders. Nothing in your diary this Saturday night? Fancy crossing the border into Gwent for this event?

This @gos-birds.bsky.social talk is about our local BTO / @webs-gsmp.bsky.social / @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social Green Sandpiper project and its amazing findings.

Gwent Ornithological Society @gos-birds.bsky.social · 9d

A reminder that we will be holding an indoor meeting this coming Saturday. All are welcome. #gwentbirding #birdingwales

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 9d

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

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 13d

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 [email protected]

#WeBSSiteInsight #YourWeBSJourney

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Reposted by Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)

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

7/ The Wintering Waterbird Indicator is composed of trends since 1975/76 in wintering populations of 46 waterbirds. The UK indicator is 92% higher than in 1975/76 but the trajectory is a strong increase until the early 2000s, after which the indicator has declined at a shallower rate.

A Bewick's Swan on water. Wording to the left reads: Winter Waterbird Indicator. A graph below shows the UK Wintering Waterbirds Indicator with lines depicting subgroup, all, waders and wildfowl populations.

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

7/ The wintering waterbird indicator has been updated with the latest trends from WeBS and GSMP. Thanks to all of our amazing volunteers who make this possible!

📖Read more here: www.gov.uk/government/s...

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

2/ The wintering waterbird indicator for the UK is currently 92% higher than in 1975/76, but the trajectory is a strong increase until the early 2000s, after which the indicator has declined at a shallower rate.

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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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Reposted by Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)

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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Reposted by Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)

BTO England @btoengland.bsky.social · 21d

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 22d

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.

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 28d

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

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Sep 8

Brilliant to hear!

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Sep 8

Beautiful! 😍

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Sep 8

Some great birds there, thank you! 📝

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Sep 8

Looks like you were blessed with lovely weather for this month's WeBS count!

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Sep 8

A great count, thank you!

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Sep 7

Today is the September WeBS Core Count and the first of our winter counts! Let's see what we find on our WeBS sites!

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · Sep 5

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!

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