The winter visitors are back! A few of the Shropshire WeBS team recorded returning Wigeon and Goosander on today’s core count, and one found two Whooper Swans at his site near Bishop’s Castle. The birds stayed briefly before flying off to the south.
#ShropshireBirds
@webs-gsmp.bsky.social

Goosander having a lovely splash around by Shrewsbury Weir this morning. #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

Bluesky Cormorant #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

Moorhen fight! Wait for it... #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

Crow #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

Wonder if these guys will be performing a flypast this evening? #birds #shropshire #shropshirebirds

Tasty Perch! #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

In the #ShropshireBirds area "our" adult Shelducks make a moult migration and leave us for the Dutch or German coast, or to one of six UK coastal sites, to drop all of their flight feathers in relative safety. Adults depart in June/July and return in November, leaving the juveniles behind.

Important habitat and site maintenance work at Venus Pool NR

1) From 29 September. Major programme of willow scrub management to restore the grassland away from the pool to the north.

2) 5 to 7 October. Annual maintenance work. Essential, but likely to cause some disturbance.

#ShropshireBirds

"Whoa! A leaf!" #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

It was an exceptional summer for Quail in Shropshire, too. Please add any notebook records to @birdtrack.bsky.social so that the Shropshire Bird Report for 2026 can better reflect where, when and how many of these enigmatic little birds were present.

#ShropshireBirds

Longtail feeding on Himalayan Balsam, shame they don't eat the plant.
#ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

Kingfisher, river Severn, Shrewsbury #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography

House Martens on Attingham house #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography #NationalTrust

I had Wood Lane NR (Ellesmere) to myself in the rain after work today. Three Green Sandpiper, three Snipe and a Greenshank were the highlights, along with 13 Gadwall, one of my favourite ducks.
Full list here, by the magic of @birdtrack.bsky.social
app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu....

#ShropshireBirds

An animal rescue centre has said it has seen an increase in the number of birds of prey coming into its care.

Cuan Wildlife Rescue in Much Wenlock said most had been found thin and grounded, most likely due to the hot summer making it difficult for them to find food.

#ShropshireBirds

The equinox occurs on 23 September, but for me autumn started at 17:25 today as I left the office, noticed a thin white line of gulls in the just-ploughed far field, and for the first time since spring no Swallows or martins, but 40+ Meadow Pipits, calling and flying south overhead.
#ShropshireBirds

It's been a great Quail year in the #ShropshireBirds area, too!

First recorded on 11 May with a total of 22 records that month and another 30 in June. Q2 total of 52 (awaiting July & August data) compares well with these annual totals from the Bird Report:
2024 19
2023 36
2022 8
2021 26
2020 74

Grainy, rainy Heron #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography #UKBirding #birds #photography #Blackandwhitephotography

Massed Swallows on the overhead wires beside the River Severn near the Royal Hill Inn (Pentre) this morning. There were scores of House Martins feeding over the river.

Holly Banks NR held singing Chiffchaffs, and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.
#ShropshireBirds