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Matt Livesey

@mlivesey.bsky.social
536 followers 226 following 145 posts

Conservationist; wildlife photographer and countryside-lover. Photographs represented by RSPB Images. Cambridgeshire. www.mattliveseyphotography.com Views my own.

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Reposted by Matt Livesey
RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
New job alert 🪶🧪 We are hiring a Conservation Scientist to work on links between hydrological restoration and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker conservation Deadline: 7/10/26 Apply here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car... #SpeciesRecoveryProgramme @naturalengland.bsky.social 📷Ben Andrew
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker perched by its nest hole
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Sam Viles @samviles.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
But it would be noticed if all of a sudden those birds ‘disappeared'. The current 2/3 wanderers are also 2026 juveniles. The species that does appear to have been 'guerrilla released' in the South-West is Black-crowned Night Heron …
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I have to say at Febrigg I have always found the cattle get a bit too close for comfort and follow people around. Have heard some scary stories from others as well where they’ve been surrounded by them www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Felbrigg Hall remains closed after man's death involving cattle
Police say a man, understood to have been seriously injured by cattle, died at the scene.
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RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Good news: #NaturalEngland have offered RSPB funding through the #SpeciesRecovery Programme Working in partnership, this funding will allow the RSPB to take action for 25 threatened species in England - from Turtle Dove & House Martin to Lesser Spotted Woodpecker & Shrill Carder Bee #wildagain
Caption: One of the 25 threatened species set to benefit from this new funding  - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 

Alt text: Small woodpecker with a red crown and black-and-white wings clinging to a pale tree trunk, against a soft green forest background.

Credit:  RSPB / Ben Andrew Caption: One of the 25 threatened species set to benefit from this new funding - Turtle Dove   

Alt text: A small dove with mottled chestnut and black wings, a black and white neck pattern and an orange eye, against an out-of-focus green background.

Credit: RSPB / Ben Andrew One of the 25 threatened species set to benefit from this new funding - House Martin 

Alt text: Four House Martin clustered on muddy ground, showing glossy blue-black heads and wings and bright white bellies, with a soft beige foreground and greenish background.

Credit:  RSPB / Ben Andrew
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Pleased to say that all 5 young successfully fledged from the nest through late afternoon and early evening today. And all wearing legs rings having been rung by approved BTO ringers @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
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Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust @sbbtrust.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
The Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust (SBBT) challenges the conclusions of a recent review by Ingate calling for radical new strategies in managing the British Swallowtail (Papilio machaon britannicus). www.sbbt.org.uk/latest-news/...
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
So far so good - chicks hatched a week ago and so far all five still being fed @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
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Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Nest protection an emergency room conservation intervention that is unlikely to be scalable to reverse declines, but may prevent local extinction and thus warranted. Ultimately we need to stop giving generalists like Great-spotted Woodpeckers a leg up by feeding them #Ornithology
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Wild Horizons @wildhorizons.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The last Willow Tit nest of the season now fledged, successfully protected from Great Spotted Woodpecker predation. No GSW predation in protected nests this year, in stark contrast to 100% predation rate by GSW in unprotected nests. Very promising results.
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
I've spent quite a few evenings at one of Hertfordshire's most infamous birding attractions this spring and summer - Ashwell dungheaps. Watching and photographing Yellow Wagtails from the car with nothing but the wind and birdsong is the perfect soundtrack to end the day with #hertsbirds
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Spotted Flycatchers confirmed as nesting on our driveway in Weston Colville. 1 egg laid as of yesterday morning with birds around again today - will monitor for @btobirds.bsky.social Nest Record Scheme @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
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Wild Horizons @wildhorizons.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
The last few days in the nest are a dangerous time for Willow Tit nestlings, their constant loud begging calls giving away their location. On this occasion they attracted the attention of a Tawny Owl, which tried its luck as one of the nestlings was calling from the entrance. This was a close call!
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Pair of Spotted Flycatcher around Weston Colville for at least the 5th year in a row. Slightly further from my house this year, so can't watch them through the window like last year! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
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Rufus D @rufusdawson.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Deep within a Gloucestershire valley is a hidden world. The wider countryside is covered by mixed-age beech woodland in a complex mosaic of forest, commons and farmland. But in this quiet corner, a strikingly different blend of habitats can be found - and with it a mix of unusual species. (1/10)
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Nick Acheson @themarshtit.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Great good sense - and careful diplomacy - from @tonyjuniper.bsky.social on R4 Today just now: the evidence is that white storks were simply never a breeding bird in the UK, so they’re not a conservation priority.
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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Natural England has revealed that it does not believe White Storks to be native to Britain – and it views releases of the species as not a conservation priority:
bit.ly
White Storks 'not native' and releases 'not a priority', says Natural England
The government's nature agency said growing interest in rewilding projects involving storks had raised
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
UK Great Spotted Woodpeckers & Blue Tits destroy half of all Willow Tit nests, far higher than elsewhere, far higher losses than other tits. UK has among highest GSW & Blue Tit abundance in the World, as we've created a paradise of endless free food, safe nestboxes, and few nest predators (martens).
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Natural England’s view on White Stork releases, and whether there is sufficient evidence of whether they are native or not 👇🏻 naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2026/05/08/w...
naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
White stork, black stork and other vagrant bird species
By Jeremy Sabel and Matt Heydon Natural England’s Species Recovery & Reintroductions Team Projects involving the release of white stork Ciconia ciconia capture the public imagination. If fairy tales a...
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
One to watch. One theory I have heard as to why the species is declining in parts of its range is warming winters. Not something that Knepp can manage @chrisvanswaay.eurosky.social www.birdguides.com/news/black-v...
birdguides.com
Black-veined White set for return to Britain at Knepp
A landmark reintroduction project at Knepp Estate in Sussex is aiming to restore Black-veined White to Britain for the first time in more than 100 years.
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Species go up and down annually, but a two-thirds (66%) decline of a resident bird in a single year is sign of accelerating terminal decline - that's not a slump that the single-brooded, low-density, low dispersal Willow Tit is going to bounce back from. Bad years get worse, better years are rare.
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Wild Horizons @wildhorizons.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Blue Tits are a problem for Willow Tits, often taking over WT nest cavities by aggressive eviction. With 6 WT eggs inside, these BTs spent an entire day removing nesting material! The second day was full on warfare, ending in successful WTs. Now a full clutch of 8 eggs safely under incubation. Phew!
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Nice news from Kent, but coppicing trends & deer don't seem to explain Nightingale declines nationally. Coppicing hasn't been common for almost a century, and they're disappearing from sites where habitat unchanged or improved (Paxton,Bradfield), esp north & west. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Sounds of hope in Kent as more nightingales join dawn chorus
Elusive nightingale ‘doing well’ at Northward Hill, Kent, but experts cite concerns around loss of habitat
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Very telling from the birdfood industry. Despite new RSPB/BTO advice on birdfeeding based on a solid scientific review, and RSPB taking a ££ hit themselves, EVERY major birdfood company is attacking/rejecting the guidance, claiming to know better, putting their incomes over conservation. Shameful.
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Highlight of last night's first moth trap of the year was this pristine Chocolate-tip. The first I've ever had to the garden here in South Cambs. Also Brindled Beauty x 2, Streamer, Common Quaker, Nut Tree Tussock and Early Grey.
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Ben Secker @bensecker.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Some ominous footage gathered a few days ago from one of the Willow Tit nests we are monitoring. GSW are the most common predator of WT nests in Britain, and having increased by ~400% since the late 60s, it's not a threat that's going away. Let's hope this one has amnesia... #UKBirding #Yikes
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Still think the birdfood industry is about 'conservation', rather than endless commercial growth in pursuit of £££? See how their industry leader reacted. The science is well known, but heaven forbid there'll be a threat to his industry's profits (and sod the wildlife): www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
This new advice will sound familiar to older folk, as strong rule until 1990s was to only feed birds in winter. That changed when birdfood industry started wagging the dog, seeking huge commercial growth. Now we've got mass disease & waste. And not one species of conservation concern has benefited.
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Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Good to see some more movement on garden bird feeding but ultimately we need a rethink, not just because of disease but because making common birds commoner can make rare ones rarer #Ornithology #UKBirding www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Feeding birds in our gardens is a joy – but it may be harming weaker species | Alexander C Lees
By boosting dominant species such as great tits, human-provided food can make life harder for many woodland birds, says conservationist Alexander C Lees
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Elements of this debate also apply to Britain, where there is also no evidence at all that European Bison were ever present.
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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
What better way is there to spend the Easter 🐣 🐣🐣 weekend than birdwatching, and hopefully finding and recording rare breeding birds to help their conservation? There’s lots to look for in April, so here’s some ideas from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Nice meander down Devil's Dyke this morning. Spring was definitely in the air with Brimstone, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small White and Peacock all on the wing. Lots of Bee flies and some impressive Pasqueflower displays (although snall-scale compared to the 1000s dowm the road at Therfield)
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Hard to not escape the fact that if things carry on the way they are, we will have a similar article written about Willow tit and Britain in the not too distant future...
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Well done @wildlifebcn.org. At some point something is going to have to give with dog disturbance at nature reserves, although it is a wider societal issue (which I say as a dog owner)
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Amphibian and Reptile Conservation @arc-trust.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
We’ve published our response to the "Lost Frogs report". Read our statement here: www.arc-trust.org/lost-frogs-report…
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
BTO Ringing Report also shows historic lows for Willow Tits & Wood Warblers. 2024 saw just 132 Willow Tits and 109 Wood Warblers ringed in UK, lowest for ~65 years since introduction of mist-nets. Not a single Willow Tit chick ringed since 2022. Number of Marsh Tits ringed also declining.
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
A stroll round a beautiful, but brutally cold Wicken Fen this morning
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Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
There is no unambiguous evidence supporting native UK Holocene status for these species involved in this "reintroduction".
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
A stroll around Wimpole to check if any of the resident Greylags had attracted any White-fronts or Bean geese. Sadly not, with only some of the flock present, but did have a Hawfinch in the woodland shelter belts @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
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Jamie Dunning @j-dunning.net · 26/12/2025
There is no plan to release young, and the breeding stock are many (many) generations old. There is research investment into the genetics of the remaining English birds, and the reason that they declined in some places and held on longer in others, any talk about reintroduction is overzealous.
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
Cause of Twite decline still unknown, and recent genetic testing of captive breeding populations concluding they are not genetically suitable for release...
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Matt Livesey @mlivesey.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
Hundreds-strong mixed finch flock building up around this plot of winter bird food just outside Westom Colville. Several Brambling present from a quick scan @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
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British Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker paper now live in the latest British Birds journal. Read more:
britishbirds.co.uk
Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Having declined massively in numbers and range in Britain over the last few decades, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor is a priority...
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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
⚠️ The UK’s smallest and rarest woodpecker, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a shy and elusive bird. It’s rapidly becoming one of our scarcest breeding birds, with substantial declines since the 1980s. 🧵⬇️ #bioacoustics #ornithology
A cut out image of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on a tree features on a green background. Wording alongside reads: New insights unlocked with acoustic monitoring. Image credit bottom right reads: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ©MikeLane45 from Getty Images, via Canva.com.
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Peter Stronach @macstronach.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Extraordinary record of Willow Tit from Moray!! - 250km-ish from nearest breeders or 550km from Scandinavia! @richardkbroughton.bsky.social birdsinmorayandnairn.org/bird-recordi...
birdsinmorayandnairn.org
Recent records — Birds in Moray and Nairn
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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at its nest in New Forest, photo by Steve LaycockSix Lesser Spot young in a Quantocks nest, photo Gus Robin
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
A great thread dismantling the latest 'conservation populism' to be floated in Britain. With funding available for species recovery, this is business for some. We'll see more of this pitching for commercial projects that scientists & species experts think is useless. #ornithology #ukbirding
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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Operation Turtle Dove has issued an official statement expressing their disapproval over the captive breeding and releasing of European Turtle Dove in the UK:
bit.ly
Operation Turtle Dove issues statement over captive releases
Operation Turtle Dove has issued an official statement over the captive breeding and releasing of European Turtle Dove in the UK. The statement confirms that the partnership does not currently support captive releases and cites habitat creation and restoration as the most important conservation measure at present.
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Bernoid @bernoid.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Autumn is coming #FungiFriends #illustration #mushroomart
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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
1 Pleased to be presenting the latest results gathered by Woodpecker-Network volunteers on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and what we can do to conserve them better #BOUatEOU www.woodpecker-netwo...
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Gary Brannan @garybrannan.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Anyone got a video of a hare having the shit scared out of it by a curlew — ah, don’t worry, got one anyway!
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