@angusrobin.bsky.social
SW LesserSpot network volunteer, birder and GP based in Taunton
Blurry picture of a White-letter Hairstreak nectaring at East Quantoxhead, Somerset this morning.
A new Pied Flycatcher nest on a fledged Blue Tit nest @piedflynet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social
This Wood Warbler was singing in a new spot on the Quantocks for me this year. Nearby a female Lesser Spot was quietly feeding. Only one new GSW nest found today (calling young giving them away) @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social
Here’s an example of LSW young calling from a nest (there were three young not far off fledging in this nest) @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
These 2m and 2f LSW young will fledge in the next few days. Two other Somerset nests have already fledged on Thursday. There will be young calling from LSW and GSW nests over the next two weeks @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social
6 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests have been monitored in Devon and Somerset this year. One failed at the hatching stage, others will be fledging in the next few days, 1-2 weeks early. Young can now be heard calling in nests @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
It’s May, so no more seed and peanuts in bird feeders. BTO Senior Research Ecologist Dr Kate Plummer, part of the Technical Steering Group that carried out the evidence review on which the new guidance is based, sets out the reasoning behind the changes in this BTO blog ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/new...
May LSW nesting update. Go out now to look for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests. Adults actively feeding their young become more detectable. To find a nest this year, get out into the woods now, it will all be over in 4 weeks. Latest update on nests www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/index.php/news
Lesser Spotted Wdpkr nests monitored across Southern England are generally early this year, with several already hatching. Some nests will fledge from mid-May, with young birds audible preceding week. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
Foggy Exmoor morning today with an unpaired LSW still drumming. Wood Warbler singing with Firecrest, Redstarts, Pied Fly and Garden Warbler @somersetbirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
By submitting records of rare breeding birds, you can help inform their conservation. Don’t know how to submit records? Don’t worry, here’s RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social to tell you how youtu.be/MWNq_JM9cZU?... #UKbirding #ornithology #birds
Submitting records of rare breeding birds
YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel
youtu.be
Our new guidance note/protocol for using sound recorders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers gives practical details for using Song Meter Mini & Micro recorders from Wildlife Acoustics in woodland with suitable habitat & has proved a great success www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/index.php/ne...
Woodpecker Network - Setting up and using sound recorders for detecting Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers
A forum to encourage and facilitate the study of woodpeckers in Britain and Ireland
woodpecker-network.org.uk
Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker paper now live in the latest British Birds journal. Read more:
Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Having declined massively in numbers and range in Britain over the last few decades, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor is a priority...
britishbirds.co.uk
⚠️ The UK’s smallest and rarest woodpecker, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a shy and elusive bird. It’s rapidly becoming one of our scarcest breeding birds, with substantial declines since the 1980s. 🧵⬇️ #bioacoustics #ornithology
BTO | British Trust for Ornithology@btobirds.bsky.social · 9mo ago1/ A new study from @lesserspotnet.bsky.social & BTO in @britishbirds.bsky.social looks at how passive acoustic monitoring is an effective way of surveying Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ➡️ www.bto.org/LSWBioacoust... #bioacoustics #ornithology @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
Group of eleven Black-throated divers seen from the Applecross Inn, looking towards Skye. Earlier had a pair of WT Eagle overhead - so close the pic was with my phone.
The latest issue of the SOS newsletter - the Bittern - is winging its way to members' inboxes this week. somersetbirding.org.uk/membership/
somersetbirding.org.uk
1 Pleased to be presenting the latest results gathered by Woodpecker-Network volunteers on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and what we can do to conserve them better #BOUatEOU www.woodpecker-netwo...
Pied Fly pair have built a nest in this root hole, no eggs yet. Warm on thermal imaging. @piedflynet.bsky.social
4 Pied Fly eggs in the earliest of the nests on my Quantock run of boxes. 7/16 boxes have PiedFly so far and have really cracked on this week @piedflynet.bsky.social
My first Cuckoo of the year calling in Aisholt wood, Quantocks today (view is towards Aisholt Common)
Wood chips from an oak on the path - looked up to see a new GSW nest in progress in Hodders Co, Quantock Hills. (There’s an older hole below the new one too.)
Lots of PiedFly on the Quantocks this morning, maybe five males on a loop walk.