Loving the "Campus Biodiversity" boards around @universityofleeds.bsky.social campus and launch of a "Greenery Trail". When that greenery flowers beautiful things happen. I've recorded an amazing 16 butterfly species around campus this year, including this Gatekeeper. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

++BREAKING++ The UK and Spanish governments have issued a joint statement overnight: "[We] agreed that this summer’s wildfires demonstrated that climate change was now a national security emergency facing Europe and threatening our way of life." www.gov.uk/government/n...

June and July records added to my Skye holiday #patchbirding year. Some nice changes in just 2 weeks. Cuckoo singing in June, not in July. Ringed plover & Common Sandpiper both weeks then Sanderling & Greenshank in week 2. Probable Quail for my 100th Skye species. #skyebirds #ukbirding #birdtrack

A Whinchat on Skye last week. I usually see them, if at all, on Autumn migration so it was nice to see one in breeding season. Disappointed to see only one in two weeks, even though we walked through lots of similar habitat. #skyebirds #highlandbirds #ukbirding

Spotted flycatcher on Skye this week. Pleased to see this one feeding a juvenile nearby. #skyebirds #highlandbirds #ukbirding

Common sandpiper at a lochan on Skye this week - perhaps on every loch and most beaches. Ringed plover and Oystercatcher on every beach. Snipe displaying over the moors. #Skyebirds #highlandbirds #birdingscotland

Identification of Little Brown Jobs is a lot easier when they come with a pink flash - one of a few Twite on beaches in Skye this week. #Skyebirds #highlandbirds #birdingscotland

Just two of the many Painted lady butterflies which have made it north to Skye. These two on the coast in Sleat, south of Skye. Even in chilly, breezy conditions often saw them along paths, on the coast and on moorland. More than all other species put together. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Large skipper and Small skipper this week. Leaving an unmown area of Woodhouse Moor park growing rough and flower-rich is paying dividends. Also Meadow brown and Ringlet plus Red admiral, Comma, Small tortoiseshell and Painted lady. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @leedscitycouncil.bsky.social #Leeds

A Heron feeling the heat for our bird discovery day on Leeds Uni campus. 20+ species found - Peregrine was good, Treecreeper was a surprise. Thanks Alysia, RSPB/Uni ambassador, for organising @rspbleedslocalgr.bsky.social to help look for birds. @universityofleeds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Breeding Bird Survey late visit in the hills at the weekend. #YorkshireDales. Best was this Short-eared owl but wish I'd revised SEO vs LEO to be sure. #Audiomoth recorders left out at the early visit have lots of am and pm recordings to check for anything missed in person. @bbs-birds.bsky.social

Dipper the best of this week's birding in the city - first of the year and none in 2025. Some Black-headed gulls back in the park (graph) after only ~3 months away. Lots (~80) of Woodpigeon arrived too. Ok, not the most glamorous migrants. 29 species for the week. #patchbirding #Leeds #BirdTrack

Breeding Bird Survey late visit today up in the hills and limestone pavement. #YorkshireDales Mipits, Skylark and Wheatear. Already juvenile Starlings and Rooks with adults. 10 species across both visits. Needed most of my winter layers in not ideal conditions for birding. @bbs-birds.bsky.social

Coach trip last weekend to Bolton Abbey with @rspbleedslocalgr.bsky.social. "Nah, I'm not going to need a 'scope for a woodland walk", but would have been useful for better views of this Redstart. Pied flycatchers using nest-boxes and Spotted flycatchers. #Yorkshirebirding

RSPB Leeds Local Group@rspbleedslocalgr.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Please click on the link below to read our Bolton Abbey coach trip report. Photos courtesy of Mike. #RSPB #Leeds @rspbengland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social group.rspb.org.uk/leeds/news-b...

Much better breeding evidence on the patch this week. This Great spotted woodpecker chick has been stretching out of the nest hole more each day this week. Mandarin duck with 10 ducklings, Mallard ducks with ducklings. 30 species for the week of birding in the city. #BirdTrack #patchbirding

Quality birding in the city last week. Mandarin duck along the Beck - female (pictured) plus two males. First Kingfisher of the year. Swifts back over the park - 5 days earlier than average but still later than last year. And a Painted lady - lots about. 26 species for the week. #patchbirding

When you want lots of species, sometimes they actually show up - for the Leeds Uni campus Bioblitz. Mandarin duck on the pond - campus first? At least for me. Plus Brimstone, Green-veined white, Peacock & Small tortoiseshell 🦋. More flowers = more butterflies please @universityofleeds.bsky.social.

I'm running a birding walk around Leeds Uni campus Friday 1pm, as part of our Bioblitz program. Hoping to add some butterflies in the forecast sunshine. More info from link reposted below.

Iain Manfield@iainmanfield.bsky.social · 4mo ago

A Peacock butterfly, from a sunny lunchtime on Leeds Uni campus last week. @universityofleeds.bsky.social A nice record ahead of the Campus Bioblitz on Friday 24th April - walks around campus to record as many species as possible. sustainability.leeds.ac.uk/latest/events/

Willow warbler still singing in the park, joining multiple Chiffchaff & Blackcap in the park & along the Beck. Unusually this time of year Black-headed, Lesser black-backed & Herring gulls - boosting the week list to 31 spp. In the sun, Orange tip, GV white, Speckled wood & Holly blue. #ukbirding

Last week the RSPB announced updated guidelines around feeding garden birds. Please click on the link below to read the statement on our website and follow the links for more information. #Leeds #RSPB group.rspb.org.uk/leeds/news-b...

An Update on the RSPB's Guidance for Feeding Garden Birds - Leeds Local Group

The RSPB has updated its guidance around feeding garden birds. Please read this statement and follow the links to find out more information.

group.rspb.org.uk

A Peacock butterfly, from a sunny lunchtime on Leeds Uni campus last week. @universityofleeds.bsky.social A nice record ahead of the Campus Bioblitz on Friday 24th April - walks around campus to record as many species as possible. sustainability.leeds.ac.uk/latest/events/

Wheatear male in the #YorkshireDales yesterday (pic). Lots around but not all of them up in moorland territories yet. Merlin chasing Meadow pipits before they've had chance to do much about making more mipits too. Still Fieldfare and Golden plover, in wintery weather. #Yorkshirebirding

Click on the link below to read the report about our coach trip to Upper Teesdale which took place on Saturday 28th March. Photos courtesy of Geoff. #Leeds #RSPB group.rspb.org.uk/leeds/news-b...

RSPB Leeds Local Group trip to Upper Teesdale on 28th March 2026 - Leeds Local Group

A report on our Coach Trip to Upper Teesdale on Saturday 28th March 2026

group.rspb.org.uk

Last event in the Wharfedale Nats winter calendar was my Grassington walk at the w/e. Fittingly, Whooper swans (38) flew over plus Golden plover and Fieldfare still. Curlew singing all day, Lapwing displaying but missed out on Redshank and Snipe. Wheatear plus mipits & Skylarks. #Yorkshirebirding

Iain Manfield@iainmanfield.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Recce in the #YorkshireDales for a Wharfedale Naturalists walk above Grassington in two weeks. Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Golden plover all the waders I hoped to find. Bonus flock of Fieldfare and Starling. 🤞they're still there April 4th. #Yorkshirebirding #ukbirding

Oh, ok, a duck in a tree. Mandarin checking out nesting sites, after successfully breeding along the Beck last year. Blackcap and a few more Chiffchaff but still only half-hearted song. A Coal tit - not many recently. One Redwing, the last of the winter? 31 spp for the week. #patchbirding #Leeds

Recce in the #YorkshireDales for a Wharfedale Naturalists walk above Grassington in two weeks. Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Golden plover all the waders I hoped to find. Bonus flock of Fieldfare and Starling. 🤞they're still there April 4th. #Yorkshirebirding #ukbirding

Singing Chiffchaff this week, unusually in the park before (the better habitat?) in the woods along the Beck. Female Blackcap in the park too. Pr of Mandarin ducks back on the Beck. Pied wagtails gone but a few Redwing still on both patches. 36 spp for the birding in the city week. 🎉 #patchbirding

Still wintery in the #YorkshireDales y'day. Looking up Littondale to Pen-y-ghent. Not much on the tops - a few mipits & Curlew. Redshank, Oystercatcher & Lapwing in wet fields and river-banks. Dipper, Pied & Grey wagtails in Upper Wharfedale. #ukbirding @yorkshiredales.org.uk @nationaltrust.org.uk

Please don't forget that our next indoor meeting is taking place THIS WEDNESDAY starting at 7:30pm. The speakers are Pauline Hogg and Phill Brady who will be taking about 'Wildlife and Rural Crime - What constitutes Wildlife and Rural Crime and what can I do if I come across it'. #Leeds #RSPB

Some of 100-150 Curlew on wet grassland the last 2 weeks. Already Curlew singing higher up in the #YorkshireDales, but these lingering. I love that people walking along the canal stop to tell me how good it is to have the Curlew back. Barnoldswick, Leeds-Liverpool canal. #Lancsbirding #ukbirding