UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 06/08/2026That is a wrap today for the 2026 seabird breeding season research team after 3.5 months on the Isle of May. 515 people days from staff, collaborators and volunteers resulting in a wealth of data to process and analyse over the coming months.Huge thanks to all, you have been immense 0173 17
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Hope the trip goes well. Happy memories from the trip 16 years ago! 000 0
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 08/07/2026The westerly winds have been holding up the guillemots from fledging. But finally the conditions are right and the noise is deafening. The best seabird spectator sport? 1215 21
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 07/07/2026It has been a windy few days. Razorbills have been wind dancing in the updrafts almost at arms reach 0184 18
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Enjoy your lunch...a kittiwake coughed up it's breakfast today. Normally it would be composed of sandeel or rockling but half of this one was a near-intact squid. A very rare occurrence in kittiwake diet on the Isle of May 0122 12
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 18/06/2026So many layers to this evenings sunset on the Isle of May 0254 25
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 12/06/2026A brisk westerly means for tricky monitoring on the cliffs. But the Razorbills love the updrafts. Display? Or just because they can? 1464 46
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 11/06/2026From the extensive collection of awful photos: This colour ringed kittiwake was seen this afternoon in one of the Isle of May monitoring plots. Not a bird caught here but ringed last July on Puffin Island, Anglesey. Presumably not yet of breeding age and prospecting various colonies 0232 23
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Been dodging a few showers today. Looks like we have a pot of gold on one of our guillemot monitoring plots 2569 56
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 03/06/2026Dramatic skies over the Isle of May tonight 0120 12
Reposted by UKCEHseabirdsUK Seabird Monitoring Programme @smp-seabirds.bsky.social · 26/05/2026The SMP is lacking breeding success data. In 2025, colony count data were submitted for 861 sites, but breeding success data were submitted for just 133 sites. If you can monitor seabird breeding success, email us at smp@bto.org! #seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social 02420 24
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 24/05/2026Great to have all of the UKCEH seabird team out to the Isle of May last week to chat about projects, brain storm new ideas, and have a general catch-up to the backdrop of seabird chatter! #seabirds #fieldwork #ornithology 091 9
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 20/05/2026The squallor of a guillemot colony. After overnight rain some of the ledges are a quagmire. Got to admire their resilience to lie in this for hours at a time 0133 13
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Feeding time for these wee Shag chicks on the Isle of May today 🐣 #seabirds #superseabirdsunday #fieldwork #ornithology 0358 35
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Meet the Eiders. Many spots are used year on year by the Isle of May eiders for nesting. Two of our favourites are named Fern & Daffy, for obvious reasons 0150 15
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 14/05/2026A day of attempting to dodge showers and get some fieldwork done. Stunning skyscape at sunset though 0101 10
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 12/05/2026The first Isle of May eider ducklings are appearing. Female leading two off to the sea with an overly optimistic male in pursuit 0190 19
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 06/05/2026Spot the migrant Painted Lady nectaring on Sea Pink on a stunning Isle of May day 0265 26
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 05/05/2026A huge collaborative effort this week from the UKCEH team and NatureScot colleagues completing the biennial Puffin census on the Isle of May. 15 people, ~600 hours, ~1.5M steps, tens of thousands of burrows counted. Now we wait for the 2026 Puffin total 🐧 #seabirds #ornithology #fieldwork 2214 21
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 28/04/2026📸Josie Hewitt #IsleOfMay #Seabirds #Razorbill #Fieldwork #WildlifeMonitoring #Conservation #Scotland #Ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social @smp-seabirds.bsky.social 020 2
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 28/04/2026This marks the beginning of months of careful observation of our monitoring plots which the team will be checking multiple times every day. This is to ensure that lay dates, hatch and failure dates are recorded as accurately as possible. 142 4
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 28/04/2026First Razorbill egg of 2026 💚🥚 Yesterday we found the first Razorbill egg of the season on the Isle of May in one of our auk monitoring plots — an exciting sign that the breeding season is officially underway. 1296 29
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 23/04/2026A copy awaits my return from another Scottish island with another significant observatory 010 1
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 31/03/2026The Easter bunny has come early to the Isle of May, delivering us the first Shag eggs of 2026! 🥚🎉🥚 Here's to a bumper breeding season in 2026🤞🙏 #IsleOfMay #seabirds #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social 0293 29
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 27/03/2026More information on the Shag project can be found on the @ukceh.bsky.social website: www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/... It's a massive collaboration between organisations, ringers, sites and observers! @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social @smp-seabirds.bsky.social @steelyseabirder.bsky.social #ornithologyceh.ac.ukMapping winter distribution of seabirdsThe current project is looking to map the wintering distribution of European shags that breed on the east coast of Scotland and England by collating reports of colour-ringed birds over the winter mont... 0125 12
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Over 34,000 Shags colour ringed (inc >23,500 on Isle of May) in Scotland + Farne Islands since the 70s to understand their winter ecology, including the unusual locations during February's storms when many sadly died. Please send sightings to shags@ceh.ac.uk www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #seabirdsbbc.co.ukScottish shag makes unusual 319-mile trip to HullThe young seabird, ringed on the Isle of May in Scotland, was spotted at Victoria Dock in Hull. 1228 22
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 13/03/2026@ukceh.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social @smp-seabirds.bsky.social 010 1
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 13/03/2026Last but not least in our 2025 Isle of May breeding summary: Puffins nest in burrows, raising a single chick each summer before spending winter at sea. They take ~3 years to mature & can live for >30 years. 📊Breeding success: 0.75, above average 📉Adult survival: 82%, average #IsleOfMay #Seabirds 2227 22
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 10/03/2026@ukceh.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social @smp-seabirds.bsky.social 010 1
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 10/03/2026How was the 2025 season for Guillemots on the Isle of May? 📊 Breeding success: 0.72, average 📉 Adult survival: 83%, below average Adult survival is crucial for long-lived seabirds, so even small changes matter. Long-term monitoring helps us track how they respond to a changing world. #seabirds 1165 16
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 03/03/2026@ukceh.bsky.social @smp-seabirds.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social @steelyseabirder.bsky.social 000 0
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 03/03/2026This #WorldWildlifeDay, we’re celebrating the seabirds of the Isle of May — from Puffins & Guillemots to Razorbills & Kittiwakes. These cliffs support thousands of breeding birds, a powerful reminder to protect our marine wildlife & coastal habitats. 🐦🌊 #IsleOfMay #seabirds #ornithology 2166 16
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 02/03/2026@ukceh.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social 000 0
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 02/03/2026Despite facing ongoing challenges from avian flu (amongst other things), the Isle of May Kittiwake population continues its upwards trend from a low count of 1,712 nests in 2013. 🐦📈 #IsleOfMay #seabirds #ornithology #breedingsuccess #productivity #island #wildlifescience #conservation 1233 23
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 27/02/2026@ukceh.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social 000 0
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 27/02/2026Shags have had a tough few years on the Isle of May following a large mortality event in winter 2023/24 and a smaller event earlier this year. Thankfully both 2024 and 2025 saw above average productivity, so hopefully the population can recover in time. 🐣 #IsleOfMay #seabirds #ornithology 1277 27
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 23/02/2026@ukceh.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social @steelyseabirder.bsky.social 000 0
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 23/02/2026The 2025 #seabird breeding results are in from the Isle of May: Razorbills fledged 0.63 chicks per pair - right on the long-term average. Even better: 91.2% survival, well above the long-term average of 83.9% Strong productivity + excellent survival = a really encouraging year for #Razorbills. 💚 34611 46
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 18/02/2026Puffins and Shags seem to have been hit hardest by recent storms, with many reports of birds washed ashore. This includes one Isle of May Puffin that was ringed as an adult in 1995, making it at least 34 years old! #stormChandra #seabirds #winterstorms www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukPuffin aged 34 dies after being washed up in stormy weatherStaff at an Aberdeenshire rescue centre were able to trace its history thanks to a ring on its foot. 23624 36
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 18/02/2026Lots of reports of dead seabirds in the aftermath of recent storms. Please keep an eye out for any dead colour ringed Shags and send details to shags@ceh.ac.uk #seabirds #ornithology #winterstorm 03133 33
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 29/01/2026After 9 days of strong easterlies they will not have been able to feed adequately along the east coast and have made a desperate flight for calm conditions. Suspect these are the lucky ones to have survived so far 010 1
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 29/01/2026As @aberladybirder.bsky.social says if you can report to shags@ceh.ac.uk with any shag colour rings we'll send back a full sightings history. 200 2
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 16/01/2026I'm looking forward to the 2027 conference even more now 010 1
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 12/01/2026I was concerned by the first photo with them upright on their objective lenses. Always gives me the fear when i see them perched like this and that a slight miss-grab will send them tumbling. Glad to see bins posture rectified in second image😰 020 2
UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 31/12/2025New Year, new job. Come and join the @ukceh.bsky.social team on the Isle of May ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/CEH_Ca...ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.comAvian EcologistSalary - £31,942 - £33,898 Depending on experience Hybrid working (50/50) Location: Edinburgh Closing date: 16th January 2026 We are looking for an enthusiastic Avian Ecologist to join our team in Edi... 01827 27