Simon West

BOC shot from this afternoon of the Mow Cop (Cheshire) Shore Lark #cheshirebirds #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds
@btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

Shore Lark still present (15.25) at Cow Mop (Cheshire) in muddy field just off the Grimstone Trail #cheshirebirds #ukbirds #birds #ukbirding @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

Working just outside Cheltenham (Gloucestershire) today & saw my first Brimstone. Also 2 Roe & 3 Muntjac Deer along with good numbers of Brown Hare @savebutterflies.bsky.social @mammalsociety.bsky.social @gloswildlife.bsky.social

Being reported as erroneous now.

It’s not quite spring, but it’s on the way. Which means it’s time to start recording rare breeding birds to help the work of the RBBP. Stay tuned through the spring & summer for videos and blogs with guidance on how you can add extra value to your birding #ornithology #ukbirding #birds

My first orchid of the year, the Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertianum) that are in Oxfordshire @ukorchids.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social

First butterfly of the year for me, a Red Admiral at the back of my flat in Enfield (Middlesex) @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Stop press - the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker monitoring module is now freely available for all to use on BTO @btobirds.bsky.social Acoustic Pipeline app.bto.org/acoustic-pip...

Redhead Smew still on Marsworth Reservoir (4.15 p.m) & 43 Russian W-f Geese just outside Ivinghoe on flooded field (3.45 p.m) #hertsbirds #bucksbirds #ukbirds #ukbirding @hertsbirds.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

😂

Thanks

Are they regular there?

Great Grey Shrike - Fillingham (Lincolnshire) 3/2/26 #lincsbirding #ukbirds #ukbirding #greatgreyshrike @lincsbirding.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

You’re welcome

Great Grey Shrike still at Fillingham (Lincolnshire) in hedge beside road (on field side) at 10.15 a.m. #lincsbirding #ukbirds #ukbirding #greatgreyshrike @lincsbirding.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

Seven satellite-tagged Hen Harriers lost on English grouse moors in 2025 The RSPB has announced that seven satellite-tagged Hen Harriers are suspected or confirmed to have been illegally killed in England during 2025, renewing calls for licensing of all gamebird shooting to tackle raptor persecution.

The RSPB has reported that seven satellite-tagged Hen Harriers are suspected or confirmed to have been illegally killed in England during 2025, all on or close to land managed for grouse shooting:

Snow Goose - Insh Marshes RSPB (Highland) 31/1/26 #highlandbirds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

Typical. I’ve been up there for 3 weeks & this turns up on the day I drove home. A nice find!

Mountain Hare - Lochindorb (Highland) 31/1/26 #ukmammals #mountainhare #scotland @mammalsociety.bsky.social

Driving back home& passed through Lochindorb & saw 6 Mountain Hares. Stopped by Ruthven Barracks & saw the Snow Goose #highlandbirds #birdingscotland #ukmammals #ukbirding #ukbirds @mammalsociety.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

One of my last days up in Morayshire so popped out after work for a brief seawatch at Lossiemouth before the light went. Managed singles of GND & Fulmar plus a few Kittiwakes. Still plenty of L-t Ducks & Eider on the sea #moraybirds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding @scottishbirding.bsky.social

We shouldn’t be surprised by his actions, just amazed it’s taken so long to get one of these lowlife charged. Hopefully this is the start of many more prosecutions! It’s the only way that this may (🤞🏻) stop!

You did well to pick up the Harvest Mice.

The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem.
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Well done. We can only hope that the bunch in power will now do the same in England. #winningthebattle #saveourswifts

Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE ⁦‪ MARK RUSKELL MSP‬⁩ ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!

Juvenile Glaucous Gull still (3.45 p.m) in field besides Westerfolds Farm, Lossiemouth, with Herring Gulls at approx. NJ196680 #moraybirds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

I know. Blooming predictive text & didn’t spot it until after I posted!

Long-tailed Duck - Burghead Harbour (Moray) 26/1/26 #moraybirds #birdingscotland #ukbirding #ukbirds #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

Thanks Dawn. Will do.