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Jamie Hicken

@jamiehicken.bsky.social
116 followers 163 following 56 posts

WeBS Organiser for West Midlands

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Reposted by Jamie Hicken
Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The results are in 🦋📢 A huge thank you to the 101,565 of you who took part in this year's #BigButterflyCount! While many widespread butterfly species had a good summer, drought and record heat could impact next year’s populations. Read the full results 👉 buff.ly/V75ZHi7
A Peacock butterfly feeding on buddleia. Text overlay reads 'The results are in' with Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count logo in the bottom right. Image by Gundula Vogal
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Andy Scollick @andyscollick.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A glimmer of hope that #Iceland will choose to end this cruelty? 🙏
theguardian.com
Iceland to submit bill that could ban whaling in its waters
The country is one of just three that still permits commercial whaling, while its government has faced mounting pressure to ban the practice
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Phil Andrews @pmandrews1973.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The updated results from Saturday's West Midlands All-Day Birdwatch plus a list of the 135 species recorded across the 18 participating sites (equal to Autumn 2026's total) together with a breakdown of Blithfield's record breaking score. #WestMidsAllDayer @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
2 Spotted Flycatchers Sandwell Valley this am. Also Whinchat, 2 Tree Pipit, 5 Skylark @ecorecord.bsky.social My stint for the #westmidlandsalldayer
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
One of 3 Spotted Flycatchers at Chasewater this am.
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Friends of Hill Hook Local Nature Reserve @hillhookfriends.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Join us for to find out about the different species of bats that make their homes at Hill Hook, and see some of many types of moths that they feed on there! We will be using bat-detectors to find and identify bats around the reserve. @bbcwildlifetrust.bsky.social @bosfonline.bsky.social
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar on a self planted Great Willowherb in my garden. I’m no moth expert and I know it’s common, but I’m chuffed! :) #teammoth
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Blithfield Tad Bay this PM: 2 Knot, 1 Ruff, 4 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 4 GW Egret, 2 YL Gull
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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Volunteers are at the heart of BTO. 🐦 We couldn't achieve what we do for birds, science & people without you. Thank you! Here's a snapshot of what some of our survey volunteers have achieved 🙌 From Regional Reps to BTO Youth, there's a variety of volunteer roles at BTO➡️ www.bto.org/volunteer
An infographic showing volunteer statistics. The title reads: Thank you to BTO Volunteers. White cut out images of birds feature on a green background. A Swallow raises its wings near the wording 100k users on BirdTrack. Below, a Starling perches near the words 2,500+ signed up to the Birds in Greenspaces survey. At the bottom of the image a Stonechat perches on top of a gorse bush next to the wording 2,800+ volunteers achieved the greatest number of sites ever monitored for the 2025 Breeding Bird Survey. Above, the head of a Curlew appears on the left of the image alongside the wording 3,435 sites covered for the latest Wetland Bird Survey report. Above this a Chaffinch flies with wings outstretched by the wording 10.9+ million submissions to date to Garden BirdWatch.
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West Midlands Butterfly and Moth Society @westmbms-99.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
/2 The only site for the Small Blue in the Black Country under threat. Conservationists are alarmed by proposals to build 500 houses on the former Rattlechain Tip site in Tiverdale, Oldbury. More details here: facebook.com/share/p/18UK9S…
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Lukas Large @lukaslarge.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The scale of bad behaviour by dog owners is insane. Only around 5% actually treat nature with respect: "Most (always: 85%; always or occasionally: 95%) dogs were walked off the lead even when signs were present requesting that dogs were kept on a lead." link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Unleashed: walking dogs off the lead greatly increases habitat disturbance in UK lowland heathlands - Urban Ecosystems
Human population growth is associated with increased disturbance to wildlife. This effect is particularly acute in urban and periurban areas, where the area of effective disturbance extends beyond tha...
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UK Seabird Monitoring Programme @smp-seabirds.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The 2026 SMP Newsletter is here! Read it (and sign up to receive future editions) here: www.bto.org/our-work/sci... to find out about the SMP's 40th anniversary, latest developments, the science of seabird poo, and more! #birds #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
Image of the 2026 SMP Newsletter front cover
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Neil @uk-wildlife.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Them: "Go outside in Nature, it is great for relieving stress" Me, who is stressed because when working in Nature (reserves) I'm seeing the rubbish everywhere, dogs off lead scaring wildlife, dog poo, cats hunting lizards, areas set on fire, ponds destroyed by constant dog activity..: "Ok, thanks"
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Rob Hemming @robhemming25.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Edgbaston res The pair of LRPs are still here amazingly. And by the looks of things valiantly trying to do something. Here's one of the pair today, sat on a scrape Problem is, it's tremendously accessible. Dogs, people, not to mention other predators. Real shame #ukbirding @ecorecord.bsky.social
Little-ringed plover at Edgbaston reservoir, Birmingham
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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
2/Over the last 20 years Black-headed Gull has declined by almost half, Common Gull numbers fell by 26%, Lesser Black-backed Gull by 47% and Great Black-backed Gull by 66%! However, Herring Gull remained largely stable, but there were some regional differences with the species declining in Scotland.
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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
1/ The latest Winter Gull Survey revealed that over the two decades since the last count, the total number of gulls wintering in the UK has decreased from 3.9 million to just under 2.5 million! 📉 #Ornithology #Seabirds 📖 Read the report www.bto.org/WinGSReport
A greyscale image features a Common Gull flying with its wings outstretched which fill the screen. Wording alongside reads: 1.4 Million Gulls Vanished.
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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Today is the May WeBS Priority Core Count! What have you seen on your WeBS site today? #ornithology #birdingUK
A picture of an adult Great-Crested Grebe, swimming on calm water is accompanied by the heading 'May WeBS Core Count Today!'. At the bottom is the WeBS logo and the web address 'www.bto.org/webs'.
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Friends of Hill Hook Local Nature Reserve @hillhookfriends.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
The Friends of Hill Hook Local Nature Reserve are now on BlueSky! We are a community group who manage a small local nature reserve in Sutton Coldfield (W. Mids). Follow us to find out about the reserve’s wildlife, events & volunteer opportunities. @bosfonline.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
Some of the wildlife making its home at at Hill Hook: a family of Canada Geese (photo R. Newby)A Song Thrush singing in the woodland area of the reserve (Photo R. Newby)The reserve is home to many wild flowers: this is Cow Parley which is currently flowering by the mill pond (Photo R. Newby)The reserve is also home to many species of Dragonfly and Damselfly. This is a female Blue-tailed Damselfly.
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
My first Sedge Warbler of the year singing at Babbs Mill Lake LNR this am. Also Cettis and Reed Warbler @solihullcouncil.bsky.social @mercianbirding.bsky.social
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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
It’s scandalous that dogs are allowed off-lead indiscriminately in what is a National Nature Reserve. Unfortunately most local residents think it’s just another ‘park’.
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West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Disappointing news from Sutton Park 💔 Stonechat pairs dropped from 6 to just 1 in 5 years largely due to increased dog disturbance. These birds nest on the ground & are easily disturbed. 🐾 Please keep dogs on leads 🚶 Stick to paths Small actions = big impact for wildlife😞
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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
2/ As always, this year’s Waterbirds in the UK report would not have been possible without the dedication from our volunteers, contributing to these trends to give us a better understanding on how our waterbirds are faring. Thank you! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
1/ The latest 2024/25 Waterbirds in the UK report has just been published and can be viewed online www.bto.org/wituk 🎉 Physical copies will be reaching your doorsteps very soon! 🗞️ To view the updated numbers and trends, visit www.bto.org/webs-reporting #Ornithology #CitSci
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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Ring necked duck at Chasewater this afternoon
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Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) @bbs-birds.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
1/ The 2025 BBS Report is out now! It was a record year for volunteers taking part, with 2,800+ visiting 4,058 survey squares across the UK, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. A huge thank you to our volunteers! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
A Mistle Thrush on the ground shows its brown back, greyish nape and crown and spotted breast and belly. To the left, white wording on a blue background reads: Out now! The latest population trends for breeding birds in the UK. The BBS logo featuring a Goldfinch is top right of the image.
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Drake Mandarin on Blackroot Pool, Sutton Park. Also 4 Sand Martin and a Swallow over. All firsts for the year for me! :) @ecorecord.bsky.social
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Lukas Large @lukaslarge.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
It's good to see wildlife organisations taking the harm caused by dogs seriously. It's much easier to ignore, particularly given the often psychotic response of entitled dog owners
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EcoRecord @ecorecord.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Following the results from our Feb recording challenge, 28 Birds Later, we thought we'd share some of our favourite photos from this year. Thanks again to everyone who took part! 🦆 BlueSky only allows 4 photos per post — for more of our favourites, visit our Insta @ecorecording or FB @ecorecord
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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Why it’s good to have a messy garden… #wildlifegardening @joelashton.bsky.social
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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
This Sunday, 22nd, is the February WeBS Core Count! Let's get out and count our wetland birds! 🌊 #Ornithology #UKbirding @rspbscience.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social
An adult Greylag Goose stands on a wall while waves crash around it. The headline says 'February WeBS Core Count' and below says 'The Priority Core Count date is 22nd February. At the bottom of the image is the WeBS logo and the web address 'www.bto.org/webs'.
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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
A few more from my Winter Farmland Bird Survey this morning, the Slavonian Grebes were just outside the transect routes but a welcome addition @bbs-birds.bsky.social
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Chris Millward @chris4patches.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
We are proud to announce that our wonderful partners @bosfonline.bsky.social will be at the very heart of the Brum Biosphere mechanism. We warmly invite you watch their celebration of 20 years of voluntary action to inspire your community 😎 m.youtube.com/watch?v=ENaU...
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Chris Millward @chris4patches.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
A MASSIVE heads up to everyone that is proud of Brum and the West Midlands! Our social historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE is starting a new podcast to create a living record of our time through conversations with grassroots campaigners & changemakers! ourlives-ourstories.kit.com/launch
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
1 Black Redstart back patrolling the rooftops in Streethay this am. A silver lining to the sound of singing skylarks above the adjacent construction site :( @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
7 RL Partridge at Hillwood Common Road this am @ecorecord.bsky.social
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Great to see a few Brambling amongst the Chaffinches at Sutton Park today. I’m still yet to connect with the Firecrest though, despite best efforts! @ecorecord.bsky.social
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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Taking part in #BigGardenBirdwatch today or over the weekend? Head over to our dedicated BGBW feed for all the birdy chat, sightings and joy! PS Yes, of course we want to see your tea-and-biscuit set-ups ☕🍪👇 bsky.app/profile/did:...
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Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) @bbs-birds.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
(1/) Corn Bunting, with its song that sounds to some like a set of keys being jangled, declined by 83% across the UK between 1967 and 2023. However, in more recent years, this species has increased, especially in certain areas. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social
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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
We hope everyone taking part in the ISC this weekend is ‘swanning about’ successfully! For more information on the Census and how to enter your data, please visit: www.bto.org/gsmp-isc #IWC60 #Ornithology
Image of 3 Whooper Swans flying with the text 'International Swan Census is this weekend', '17th/18th January 2026'. Photo credit Sarah Kelman/BTO.
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Whitemoor Haye: 1 Stonechat, 2 RC Pochard, 23 Egyptian Goose, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 GW Egret
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BirdTrack @birdtrack.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
The International Swan Census takes place this weekend, 17-18 January. If you record any Bewick's or Whooper Swans in BirdTrack, we would greatly appreciate if you could add details on the number of adults and juveniles, habitat and location pinpoint #ukbirding Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman / BTO
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Whitemoor Haye: 5 Grey Partridge, 3 Bullfinch, 19 Egyptian Goose, 1 GW Egret, 2 RC Pochard
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Cornwall Birds (CBWPS) @cbwps.org.uk · 14/01/2026
RSPB to bid for Hayle Estuary sites. cbwps.org.uk/rspb-to-bid-for-hayle-…
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Chris Millward @chris4patches.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
An early start and long shift to clear, set up and monitor feeding stations @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social was rewarded with some quality birding: Jack Snipe 90+ Stock Dove Peregrine 3 Stonechat 14 Crossbill SW ➡️ Uffmoor Wood 10+ Lesser Redpoll Now 45+ Yellowhammer! 12+ Reed Bunting
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Chris Millward @chris4patches.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Fantastic to see that Yellowhammer numbers have now reached 30 at @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social 😍 A little sample of them were captured in this photo. Don’t you just love Nature Friendly Farming on Brum’s urban fringe! 😎 @worcswt.bsky.social @bbcwildlifetrust.bsky.social @bosfonline.bsky.social
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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
A little bit of bird photography at Hill Hook LNR this lunchtime. Pond was mostly frozen so relatively few waterbirds (no diving ducks), but as well as Robin & Long-tailed Tit, a flock of Siskin was active high in the Alders. @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @jamiehicken.bsky.social
Long-tailed Tit in Alder (cropped)Robin Male Siskin feeding on Alder seeds (cropped photo)
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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
New Year's resolution Thinking of giving something back to birds in 2026? A wide range of BTO surveys needs volunteers, writes Chris Harbard, and there's something suitable for every birder, whatever your level of experience:
bit.ly
Chris Harbard: New Year's resolution
Thinking of giving something back to birds in 2026? A wide range of BTO surveys needs volunteers – from urban greenspaces to winter swan counts – and there's something suitable for every birder, whatever your level of experience.
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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) @webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Wishing all our counters, Local Organisers, volunteers and supporters a very happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you for all your hard work and support this year and we are looking forward to seeing what WeBS counts show in 2026! 🎄
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Jamie Hicken @jamiehicken.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
6 Yellowhammer near Comberford around 2pm today. At least 4 RL Partridge, 1 GW Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese. Didn’t connect with the Cattle Egret unfortunately @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
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