Reposted by Andy CloseRSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 13hAre you passionate about conservation and currently enrolled in a UK-based MSc or PhD programme? If so, we’d love to hear from you! You can have browse through our research opportunities for 2027 here: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu... 0256
Reposted by Andy CloseCalum Scott @aberladybirder.bsky.social · 11hCompleted my Yank passerine hat-trick on Barra today (REV & Swainson’s Thrush the other 2), this Blackpoll Warbler not only a Scottish tick, but a Barra & find as well! Hopefully not too long a wait for my 4th American passerine! #Barrabirders #Barraboys #BirdingScotland 51013
Reposted by Andy CloseBruce Taylor @barrabirder.bsky.social · 15hBlackpoll Warbler at Glen today, a good find by Calum Scott and only the second record for Barra, a day short of a year since the first record. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK 21025
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 19hMay the birding God’s be forever in our favour 🙏🏻😬 #UKBirding 160
Reposted by Andy CloseOriole Birding @oriolebirding.bsky.social · 14/10/2026A blog post about the discovery of a Eurasian Scops Owl on our recent trip to Orkney is now on the website here 👇🏻 www.oriolebirding.com/birding-diar... #UKBirding 1192
Reposted by Andy ClosePortland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 15/10/2026www.portlandbirdobs.com/2026/10/14th-october.htmlportlandbirdobs.com14th OctoberPlenty of movement afoot today although the majority of it concerned overhead passage and grounded arrivals were decidedly fewer than might ... 0264
Reposted by Andy Closemarkwright12002.bsky.social @markwright12002.bsky.social · 14/10/2026White-tailed Eagle and Otters Isle of Mull, Scotland 0325
Reposted by Andy CloseNeil @uk-wildlife.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Back in 2022 I tried to see every species of Dragon and Damselfly in the UK. And I filmed as I went, which you can now watch as a 2hr documentary here: youtu.be/mPtxZId1YSUyoutu.beDragonfly Tour - full nature documentaryYouTube video by Pond Lab 0278
Reposted by Andy CloseRichard D. Gregory @richgreg3.bsky.social · 13/10/2026‘Shocking and sobering’: UK bird populations fall to lowest level on record Nearly 1/2 of species are in decline, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit, conservation bodies say @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social ⬇️⬇️🐦 www.theguardian.com/environment/...theguardian.com‘Shocking and sobering’: UK bird populations fall to lowest level on recordNearly half of species are in decline, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit, conservation bodies say 13266151
Reposted by Andy CloseBreeding Bird Surveys (BBS) @bbs-birds.bsky.social · 14/10/2026(1/) For the next few weeks, we will be sharing stories from some of our intrepid Upland Rovers volunteers. Simon Cunningham shares his experiences of surveying three squares on Jura in the Inner Hebrides: www.bto.org/get-involved... @btobirds.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social #Ornithology 12510
Reposted by Andy CloseDarren Archer @dunnock67.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Ok if you haven’t got this duo then you may be interested in Princeton’s 70% off sale 024
Reposted by Andy CloseBritish Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 13/10/2026More than half of the world’s migratory bird species are declining, according to the first comprehensive global assessment of their status, threats and conservation needs. Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti... 📸David Tipling 🔑Subscriber Content 0136
Reposted by Andy CloseRSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Today’s update of the official Wild Bird Populations Indicator for the UK and England depressingly reveals continued declines across habitats, both in the short and long term Read on for more www.gov.uk/government/s... 14224
Reposted by Andy CloseIan Andrews @ijandrews.bsky.social · 13/10/202613 Oct. Fair Isle day 8. Another breezy day with few new arrivals. A day for photographing birds and the sea. 1241
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Nutcracker sightings from Netherlands these last days. Surely there must be an arrival soon. 😬🙏🏻 4133
Reposted by Andy CloseBirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Blackbirds have been recorded catching live fish to feed their young, with observations from across Europe suggesting the behaviour may be more widespread than previously recognised: f.mtr.coolBlackbirds recorded catching fish to feed their youngUnusual behaviour documented in several European countries suggests Common Blackbirds can exploit fish as an alternative food source when terrestrial prey is scarce. 2244
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 13/10/2026My first proper patch workout on Sunday since returning from Fair Isle. Whitburn Steel- Golden Plover 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 8, Grey Plover 2, Dunlin 18, Oystercatcher 1, Redshank 6, Ringed Plover 2, Pied Wagtail 7, Reed Bunting 1, Meadow Pipit 4 & Grey Heron 1. #NEBirding #UKBirding 0120
Reposted by Andy CloseBrian Stretch @brianstretch.bsky.social · 11/10/2026The first-winter female Snow Bunting was still favouring the summit of North Hill #MalvernHills this morning. Also an adult male Wheatear on North Hill, Brambling over Worcestershire Beacon and a few Redwings, Redpolls & Siskins through Happy Valley. #WorcsBirds 1391
Reposted by Andy CloseAndrew Harrop @ahjharrop.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Two tricky taxa from recent days in south Mainland. Stonechats should be resolvable, but Redpolls are an order of magnitude more complex. Simple summary: rutlandbutterflies.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/r... This one is a migrant ‘Mealy’ in old money. #BirdingScotland 3121
Reposted by Andy Closecraigcthomas1.bsky.social @craigcthomas1.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Finally, finally remembered to go birding with my eyes open and found something decent - ironically, not definitively knowing quite what! Stubbornly silent Bonelli's Warbler @flamboroughbird.bsky.social before it relocated to Old Fall. 11024
Reposted by Andy CloseHelsinki Birder @helsinkibirder.bsky.social · 10/10/2026Nuthatch. asiatica ssp. Sat down on the couch after dinner. "One last look at the feeder...JESUS!! 😱😍😍 There's been a huge influx of both ssp of Nuthatch this year & I was hoping for one in the garden. Result! Sp. 151 for the garden list. 😎 #birds #birding #birdwatching #finland #birdsseenin2026 5806
Reposted by Andy CloseAlan Curry @yellowbrow.bsky.social · 09/10/2026A few more of the epic Unst Pallas’s Gropper after the sun had slid behind the clouds. #UKbirding #Unst 1502
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Patch workout- visit to Frenchman’s Bay, Marsden, for the Shorelark’s. Delightful wee birds. #NEBirding #UKBirding 0270
Reposted by Andy CloseBirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 09/10/2026A Scottish Wildcat conservation project has reached the milestone of 50 releases into the Highlands, with the programme also recording breeding in the wild for a third consecutive year: f.mtr.coolSaving Wildcats celebrates 50 releases into Scottish HighlandsConservation project reaches milestone as released females continue to produce kittens in the wild. 04110
Reposted by Andy CloseBrendan Doe @laziobirder.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Some decent birding so far on Fair Isle. Finally got some pics of the Olive-backed Pipit keeping faithful to the Stoneybrek area @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social #UKbirding 1596
Reposted by Andy CloseNutcracker @nucifraga.bsky.social · 07/10/2026#BirdingGear request (first time I've used this tag!) - looking to get something to transfer photos direct from my camera ('micro' socket, I'm told) to my phone ('lightning' socket). Anyone know where I can get this? Would prefer to avoid that ghastly company named after a South American river... 142
Reposted by Andy CloseMarcM381 @aquilabirding2.bsky.social · 08/10/2026SCOPS OWL ‼️ Deerness, Orkney in the small woodland nth of the Aikerskaill Rd junction. 📷 photo by Oriole Birding. 1919
Reposted by Andy CloseDawn Balmer @debalmer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Looking for surveyors (one per region) for the Yorkshire Dales and the Fens. And, after the advert going live, now require cover for South Suffolk/North Essex. 032
Reposted by Andy CloseBritish Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Huge numbers of raptors funnel along Georgia’s Black Sea coast at Batumi. Over 1 million birds of prey can pass through in a season, making Batumi a spectacular focus for migration research and conservation. Read the latest news: britishbirds.co.uk/news/batumi-... 📸David Tipling 0166
Reposted by Andy CloseGraham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Icelandic Golden Plovers are on the way! Many waders link Iceland and Ireland: wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/f... Some Golden Plovers from Iceland will make it as far as France and Portugal. @birdwatchireland.bsky.social Map from @tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social 2305
Reposted by Andy CloseDoug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Documents obtained by Freedom of Information requests show that parts of the 'simplification drive' have ended up closely reflecting the demands of fertiliser & chemical companies to roll back environmental & health safeguards Insects in EU have declined 75% in 3 decades www.ft.com/content/3c86...ft.comChemical groups succeed in watering down EU pesticide rulesEuropean Commission and leading MEPs side with industry demands for laxer standards 11147108
Reposted by Andy CloseDungeness Bird Observatory @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Over 5000 Chaffinches in off so far today in wet conditions with lesser numbers of other common migrants arriving too. Counts to follow later. #kentbirding 1486
Reposted by Andy CloseProf. Eliot Jacobson @climatecasino.net · 06/10/2026Breaking News! Code UFB!!! For the first time in recorded history, the Niño 3.4 sea-surface temperature (SST) is above 30.0°C, reaching a preliminary SST of 30.06°C on October 5th. The Niño 3.4 SST anomaly is now 3.41°C above the 1991-2020 baseline. Everything is not fine. 53845495
Reposted by Andy CloseBirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Finland has recorded an exceptional influx of Yellow-browed Warblers this autumn: f.mtr.coolRecord numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers in FinlandSome 190 Yellow-browed Warblers had been recorded in Finland by early September, following an unprecedented August influx. 0193
Reposted by Andy CloseDamian Money @damianmoney.bsky.social · 05/10/2026This Ringed Plover at Redcar yesterday was ringed 25/08/26 at Kviljosanden, Norway, 611km away @teesbirds.bsky.social @waderquest.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social 2668
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 05/10/2026That’s it for Shetland and Fair Isle 2026. Timed beautifully with a switch in weather. Great birds, fantastic place and above all fabulous people. @kevinshetland.bsky.social thanks for everything, mate. Good numbers of passage migrants and impressive migration of Pink-footed Geese. #UKBirding 1150
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 04/10/20261. Fair Isle Day-6: my last morning on the Isle and having to leave early due to poor forecast. Newly arrived Olive-backed Pipit and Red-breasted Flycatcher highlights of a compressed mornings birding prior to flight to mainland. Brilliant few day birding. #UKBirding 190
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Fair Isle Day-5: a quiet day given birds had clearly moved on. Little Bunting remained at Shirva and Water Rail was newly arrived at Vailla’s Trees. A late Green Sandpiper at Meadow burn also a newly arrived Yellow-browed Warbler remained at Plantation. #UKBirding 050
Reposted by Andy CloseFair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026The September Ranger Blog is available to read now to catch up on what Carla has been up to lately over at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog....! 0114
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 01/10/20261. Fair Isle Day-3 and Day-4: day three was a write-off due to poor conditions. Began day-4 the day with a wee twitch to North Light for the Short-toed Lark. Didn’t see it. But we did manage to find Lanceolated Warbler in the compound. Scenes. 📷 @kevinshetland.bsky.social #UKBirding 2521
Reposted by Andy CloseMarcM381 @aquilabirding2.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Another EYEBROWED THRUSH the West Cliffs, Fair Isle. 📷 photos by Luke Marriner. 1344
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 29/09/20261. Fair Isle Day 2: completely lashed by the wind today. Flag cracking Southeasterly from dawn until dusk. Birds arrived throughout the day but birding conditions were difficult. This the star bird found by Alex Penn @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social Photograph courtesy of Steve Arlow #UKBirding 191
Andy Close @birds-and-me.bsky.social · 29/09/20261. Fair Isle Day 1: SSW and birding under clear skies. Birds were moving. We started the day with Common Rosefinch & Barred Warbler. By lunchtime a small increase in common migrants- Siskin, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Common Redstart and Black Redstart in the Raeva’s. #UKBirding #ScotlandBirding 1120
Reposted by Andy CloseBatumi Raptor Count @batumiraptorcount.org · 27/09/2026ONE. MILLION. RAPTORS. COUNTED!!!! A huge thank you to the 39(!) volunteers who have joined us this season so far. Photos: Mitra Daneshvar, Valentin Cordes, Elle Heiser, Thijmen Stolk, Bart Hoekstra, Olaf Gwiazdowski 0266