1/ Nature is in peril. Drastic declines and specialist species struggling is what the Wild Bird Indicators, using BTO data & published by Defra, show. Here’s what we know ⬇️

The All Bird Species Index shows 19% declines in the UK since 1970. This comprises 132 species. 📉 #Ornithology

Finally caught up with the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Boulmer this afternoon, it’s been an elusive bird. Rather distant video, but catches its hyperactive vibe well #NEbirding

📢 SAVE THE DATE

Announcing our one-day #BOUasm27 conference

Birds and Artificial Intelligence | 12 October 2027 | York, UK & Zoom & Bluesky

The call for keynote nominations is now open: bou.org.uk/event/bir...

🗓️ Nominate by the 16 November deadline

#ornithology 🪶

No proper birding today, but a short dusk dog walk was good value, with c540 Barnacle Geese yapping their way towards the Solway Firth, and a male Goshawk exchanging words with the local Buzzards #NEbirding

Before the excitement of Cranes, a potter around Craster produced a few Chiffchaff, one Whooper Swan, and another six Mediterranean Gulls (which seem to be everywhere at the moment). And a very impressive sun halo #NEbirding

See that red ring? That’s our very distant view of the Northumberland coast, across which have just flown 3 Cranes, giving a 10 second view at something like 4-5 mile range. House mega! With thanks to @gary-woodburn.bsky.social for the tip-off 🍾🙂🏡✅ #NEbirding

Boulmer, late pm… Lapland Bunting still present, Ruff, Barnacle Goose, Little Owl, 2 Arctic Skuas, c210 Little Gulls & 40+ Mediterranean Gulls - the latter an amazing count, several times my previous site best #NEbirding

Boulmer in the afternoon - Shorelark arrived onto Longhoughton Steel, Redstart, Whimbrel, Brambling, Ruff, 8 Wheatears, c20 Song Thrushes, 2 Snipe, c3200 Golden Plover #NEbirding

A morning of good birding and terrible photos around Seaton Pt, Northumberland… ringtail Hen Harrier, Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, 2 Redstarts, 8 Bramblings, 228 Song Thrushes (no Redwing!), Sooty Shearwater, 4 Arctic Skuas, c20 Little Gulls, 7 Pintail #NEbirding

A strangely quiet day with @yolobirder.bsky.social on Holy Island - a handful of Bramblings the highlight - was suddenly improved by being in the right place at the right time to see the Olive-backed Pipit found by Stef McElwee. A surprisingly rare bird in Northumberland #NEbirding

Duck-tastic at Seaton Pt today, with c630 Teal inc. a flock of c510 on the sea, and a patch scarcity Shoveler. Also 1 Pomarine (a cracking spoony adult), 5 Arctic & 3 Great Skuas, 1 Sooty & 3 Manx shearwaters, 1 Med & c80 Little Gulls, c50 Common & 8 Arctic Terns, 22 P-b Brents #NEbirding