Sign in

Steve Percival

@stevepercival.bsky.social
210 followers 216 following 17 posts

Life-long birder | Ecologist | Photographer | Researcher | Wildlife Conservationist NE England based ornithologist and ecological consultant with @EcologyConsulting

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Steve Percival
Damian Money @damianmoney.bsky.social · 11h
Barnacle Geese passing Redcar this morning @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social
0264
Reposted by Steve Percival
Steve Duffield @wiwildlife.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Oh you beauty! Another day tour and another cracking American wader. This time a very smart juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper at LA2, West Gerinish, South Uist. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides #RareBirdAlert
1691
Reposted by Steve Percival
Manhattan Bird Alert @birdcpk.bsky.social · 7h
Two young American Barn Owl siblings enjoying a pleasant night on Manhattan's Upper West Side. 🦉 🧡 🦉
212114
Reposted by Steve Percival
Bruce Taylor @barrabirder.bsky.social · 4h
Barnacle Geese heading south past Barra today driven on by a strong tailwind. The same conditions also produced a small arrival of Icelandic Redwings around the island. Hopefully more birds will surface tomorrow when the wind drops. #BirdingScotland
21237
Reposted by Steve Percival
Dave Borthwick @borthwickdave.bsky.social · 2h
wide skies full of the chatter of svalbard barnacle geese, newly in & finding memory by grazing - the yin/yang of them jangly & easily spooked (a sudden roe deer caused ripples of alarmcall) - sun's full liquid light pouring & showers rolling in, soaked & drying & soaked all afternoon
0244
Reposted by Steve Percival
Damian Money @damianmoney.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Ringing details for this Black-headed Gull at Redcar on Sunday @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social
0255
Reposted by Steve Percival
BirdLife Europe & Central Asia @birdlifeeurope.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
WE WON. Lead in gunshot will finally be banned across the EU! Just now, the European Parliament approved in plenary the Commission's proposal to restrict lead in gunshot. This decision ends years of debate on one of Europe's most persistent forms of lead pollution.
1379112
Reposted by Steve Percival
Bruce Taylor @barrabirder.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
It's always pleasing to get a fast response when reporting a ringed bird, so big thanks to Olivier Gilg for getting straight back to me about yesterdays Sanderling on Barra. Turns out it was ringed as a juvenile in a brood of 2 in NE Greenland on 28th July this year. #birdingscotland
3583
Reposted by Steve Percival
Damian Money @damianmoney.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This 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
1648
Steve Percival @stevepercival.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
First pinkfeet of the autumn heading south over Old Cassop this evening- noisy skein of 77 @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
010
Reposted by Steve Percival
Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Important study shows that Snipe is the only breeding wader species not to be declining in numbers in southern Iceland. wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i... #ornithology Photo @tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social
0196
Reposted by Steve Percival
Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Quite emotional to report that we've just found our amazing survivor Marsh Tit, still here in his ancient woodland kingdom. He's now 11 yrs 4 months old, survived the 2026 heatwaves/drought and smelt the wildfires of nearby Holme Fen. I ringed him in my 30s and I'm now in my 50s.
1041694
Reposted by Steve Percival
Kane Brides 🦆 @kanebrides.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
New paper out! 🦆Using almost 50 years of data, we show that production of young and adult female survival are key drivers of Wigeon population change in NW Europe. A great international collaboration bringing together multiple long-term datasets from across the flyway! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
0366
Reposted by Steve Percival
Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Kākāpō numbers pass 300 for the first time in 75 years. New Zealand’s flightless, nocturnal parrot now totals 325 birds, after a record 90 chicks fledged this season, built on the Department of Conservation’s recovery programme, which started with just 51 birds in 1995. DOC buff.ly/7YIOBd9
doc.govt.nz
Kākāpō population reaches new milestone
The official population of the critically endangered kākāpō has reached a recovery-era high of 325 birds.
9696244
Reposted by Steve Percival
Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I'm writing WaderTales blog #160 about a fantastic global Whimbrel study. Lots of info re migration, subspecies, threats, conservation etc to cram into 1500 words. Reckon WaderTales must be up to 250,000 words by now! Catalogue: wadertales.wordpress.com/about/ #ornithology
0268
Reposted by Steve Percival
Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Looks like it has finally happened, British breeding #CaspianGull! #takingovertheworld #gulls #ukbirding
Screenshot of a many forwarded whatsapp announcement
28826
Reposted by Steve Percival
Rob Thomas @robthomasbirds.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Really happy to see this paper out in the wild, after 27 wonderful years of sitting on a Portuguese cliff with a lot of lovely people, waiting for storm petrels to materialise out of the darkness. #seabirds
34914
Reposted by Steve Percival
Paul Bowerman @severnsidebirds.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I photographed this Curlew at New Passage this afternoon & have since searched on line but gave up as too many projects. Does anyone out there have info that might help? Left Tibia Blue ring, Left Tarsus Orange ring over White ring. Right Tibia Black ring over Yellow ring, Right Tarsus Metal ring.
1174
Reposted by Steve Percival
Bruce Taylor @barrabirder.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Big thanks to Ulf Berthelsen for amazing news about the ringed Little Tern I saw on Barra last week. Turns out it was ringed on 30th March 2025 4635km south of the Isle of Barra at La Langue de Barbarie National Park, SENEGAL! #birdingscotland
41156
Reposted by Steve Percival
Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
New in #BirdStudy Upper Teesdale has 1764 Curlew pairs fledging 1 chick/pair. High and stable Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata numbers on low-intensity farmland and moorland managed for Red Grouse Lagopus scotica recreational shooting in northern England doi.org/10.1080/0006... #ornithology #waders
Eurasian Curlew by Andreas Trepte
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eurasian_Curlew.jpg
0358
Reposted by Steve Percival
Friends of the Earth @friends-earth.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Over half of our energy last year was generated right here in the UK – a success largely fuelled by renewables. That's not only great for the planet, but will help protect households from future energy price spikes and reduce bills. Here's to more British energy⚡ www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
dailymail.co.uk
Britain's electricity is its 'most British' in over 20 YEARS
Experts from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) have analysed the sources of energy to supply Britain's electricity last year.
2206
Reposted by Steve Percival
Steve Duffield @wiwildlife.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
68 rings this morning and would have had more apart from some folk flushed a large flock with lots of rings in it. The flock flew out to sea and just kept going in the direction of Iceland!
121
Reposted by Steve Percival
Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Found my first March tick today, nestled under my wedding ring! Presumably from a Red Deer heavy site near Stirling at the weekend 😫 #betickaware #climatechange bsky.app/profile/lyme...
A tick with its head burrowed into my finger next to my wedding ring. An itch under the ring alerted me to it
2138
Reposted by Steve Percival
Steve Duffield @wiwildlife.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
A bit breezy but managed to get some Barnie rings read today around Balranald, N Uist. D6 was ringed at Hofn, S. Iceland in 2023 whilst HN (white) was ringed as a juvenile at Breidamerkur, S. Iceland in 2019. He now has a yellow family with him. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebs
Barnacle Geese
1291
Reposted by Steve Percival
Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Following the recent disastrous news about Greenland Whitefront numbers, yesterday's count of 2,423 on Kintyre, including some decent age ratio counts (~12%), was encouraging. Such smart geese 👌 #goosing #birdingscotland
Adult (left) and 2cy Greenland White-fronted Geese Adult Greenland White-fronted Geese Greenland White-fronted Geese in flight Two adult Greenland White-fronted Geese, one showing a noticeable eyering, a not uncommon feature
1455
Reposted by Steve Percival
John Bowler @tireebirder.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Great conditions today for reading rings on the Tiree Barnacle Geese - 22 read amongst this flock of 1,200 birds at Traigh Bheagh, Balephetrish including birds from Iceland, Ireland and Islay #BirdingScotland @stevepercival.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
1291
Reposted by Steve Percival
William (Bill) Sutherland @billsutherland.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
This is such an excellent book full of great tips. Should be used widely.
14814
Reposted by Steve Percival
Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Great to see that the National Soil Map will finally be made open data! www.cranfield.ac.uk/press/news-2... This is a crucial dataset that was generated under public contract, but remained proprietary for far too long. I've called for its release since 2016! - www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-so...
78722
Reposted by Steve Percival
John Bowler @tireebirder.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Oystercatcher 2C back from Dawlish Warren, Devon today at Kirkapol, Tiree for the third spring running - in amongst hundreds of Oystercatchers now back to breed on the island #BirdingScotland
0282
Reposted by Steve Percival
Steve Duffield @wiwildlife.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
42 ringed Barnacle Geese found between Sollas and Berneray, N Uist today. T9 and 6D were both ringed as adults at Hofn, S. Iceland in 2023. No idea where 0DV is from! Bonus female Ring-necked Duck showing well in Carinish on the way home. #BirdingScotland #OuterHebridesBirding
1412
Reposted by Steve Percival
Greenpeace EU @greenpeace.eu · 02/02/2026
Amazing example of the lightning speed of improvement in renewable energy This wind farm in Ireland is getting an upgrade after 34 years *EACH ONE* of the new wind turbines will produce more electricity than *ALL* of the 21 old turbines combined
rte.ie
Last turbine on first commercial wind farm dismantled
The last wind turbine of what was Ireland's first commercial wind farm at Bellacorick in Co Mayo has been dismantled.
16826
Reposted by Steve Percival
Rupert Read @rupertread.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
🚨 BREAKING 🚨 The UK Govt has quietly published - without announcement - the Joint Intelligence Committee/DEFRA report it suppressed last October. They tried to sneak it out in the midst of crisis. Read and share: “Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse & National Security.” (link below)
35595381
Steve Percival @stevepercival.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
An early 40 pink-footed geese migrating north over Old Cassop, Durham, this morning @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
011
Reposted by Steve Percival
Kane Brides 🦆 @kanebrides.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
📉 Our new paper shows Bewick’s Swan numbers in NW/NE Europe have fallen to ~12,900 birds - a 56.7% decline since 1995, with further losses predicted by 2026 unless survival or breeding success improves. Flyway-wide conservation is urgent. 🦢 Download paper > tidsskrift.dk/Wildfowl/art... #Ornithology
A flock of Bewick's Swans by Ben Cherry/WWT
16840
Reposted by Steve Percival
Jen Gill @jengill.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Important paper detailing the huge ecological costs of planting non-native Lodgepole Pine in Iceland, and the urgent need to consider these costs in plantation planning
053
Reposted by Steve Percival
Phoebe Owen @phoebeowen.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
A great opportunity for anyone in a marine or conservation MSc! Work with some wonderful birds, (and wonderful folks) I got to call colleagues this year 🐧 (The project timeline would fit wonderfully with a taught MSc) @exetermarine.bsky.social @exetergses.bsky.social @cornwall.exeter.ac.uk
075
Reposted by Steve Percival
German Ornithological Society @dornitholges.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Now online in Journal of #Ornithology Behavioural responses of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) to different human disturbances link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Behavioural responses of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) to different human disturbances - Journal of Ornithology
Human disturbances can have large impacts on wildlife and their behaviour. The extent of the effects of different kind of disturbances during different seasons is, however, less well known. Here, we a...
053
Steve Percival @stevepercival.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Pink-footed Geese on the move over Old Cassop, Durham, again today. Three skeins totalling 220 heading SE in an hour. @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
160
Reposted by Steve Percival
Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
A flood of 44,110 Woodpigeons past #salopobs this morning was a new site and county record, and almost overwhelming at times. 5 Egyptian Geese high east were a bit of a surprise #vismig #ukbirding
A section of a large flock of migrant Woodpigeons 5 Egyptian Geese coming in high from the westMore high-flying migrant WoodpigeonsMy clicker counter, still hot from counting 44,110 Woodpigeons, 290 Fieldfares and 620 Starlings
1522
Reposted by Steve Percival
Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Longevity record! Last night, @washwader.bsky.social recaught this Black-tailed Godwit, first caught and ringed 29 years ago. The metal ring was wearing thin (and was replaced) but the bird is still going strong. Blog about longevity of waders: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/w... #ornithology
011722
Reposted by Steve Percival
Helsinki Birder @helsinkibirder.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
I think bluesky needs a #BirdID feed. So I built one. To start it off, and topical to the #irishrarebirds feed, a blog post on Tundra and Taiga Bean Goose identification. helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com/2021/04/finn...
helhathnobirdies.blogspot.com
Finnish Focus On...Taiga And Tundra Bean Geese
Have been meaning to write a post on Tundra and Taiga Bean Goose identification for a while now. Wildfowl are my guilty pleasure. I've alway...
03910
Reposted by Steve Percival
Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Why track waders? This blog has two aims – to share important scientific and conservation stories revealed through shorebird tracking work and to encourage scientists to make their data available via the Global Wader platform. wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m... #ornithology Whimbrel tracks 👇
03516
Reposted by Steve Percival
Kane Brides 🦆 @kanebrides.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
We're now starting to get reports of dead Whooper Swans with rings. If you find a dead bird & feel comfortable doing so - check for rings using the below @btobirds.bsky.social advice 👇🏻 Collecting information on ringed birds helps better understand the impact on different age groups.
Ring on a dead Whooper Swan. Photo by David Tough Ring on a dead Whooper Swan. Photo by David Tough Advice from BTO on checking a dead bird for rings
34337
Reposted by Steve Percival
Alick Simmons @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Here’s the on from @oceancare.bsky.social: www.oceancare.org/en/stories_a...
oceancare.org
Faroe Islands: Whales suffer enormously – OceanCare
Welfare assessment published in leading scientific journal confirms imposibility for Faroe Islands pilot whale hunts to be carried out humanely.
125
Steve Percival @stevepercival.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Red-breasted Goose at RSPB Loch Gruinart this morning brightening up a dull damp day
080
Steve Percival @stevepercival.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Cackling Goose at Nerabus, Islay this afternoon. Very dark brown and nice little gular stripe fits tavernii?
2402
Reposted by Steve Percival
Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
With HPAI bird flu resurging in UK and Western Europe, here's the link to the 2 recent special issues of #BirdStudy on avian influenza: 20 papers on impacts, mitigation, patterns and control. Part 1/2: #ornithology #seabirds #raptors #birdflu
12820
Steve Percival @stevepercival.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
The parvipes type Lesser Canada Goose was at Ballinaby, Islay this morning showing well in the wind and rain
060
Reposted by Steve Percival
Dave Borthwick @borthwickdave.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
out to greet the newly returned barnacle geese, present in number (1 leucistic member) - right to the horizon, wavering in heathaze, line upon line of geese (mostly pink footed)
0202
Reposted by Steve Percival
martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Front cover of the European Butterfly Red List, showing Polyommatus humedasae. The report can be downloaded at https://www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?name=red-list-butterflies-2025
3178112