New guidance from the eBird Team - summarising - don't use AI tools to edit your bird photos! ebird.org/news/threat-... link to original paper: rdcu.be/ftx6h #Ornithology #UKBirding 🧪🌎

From Truth to Fake: The Threat of AI to Media Archives - eBird

As AI becomes commonplace, what you see in a photograph may no longer represent reality. Learn about how this impacts eBird and what you can do to help.

ebird.org

14 ad Blackwits dropped in at Seton Burn dusk on Friday, tricky at 300m range but grateful to @jengill.bsky.social for matching and history of RR-W/W, a bird which winters on the Stour with 126 resightings - though relatively early return date might suggest it is a failed breeder... #BirdingScotland

Eider with small duckling way out in Gosford Bay, seems quite late, presumably from a replacement clutch; several green darvic juv Sandwich from Scolt Head colony, incl g-KFF ringed 25 June, also Spanish ringed w-M9M, previously seen by Scott (21/8/21) and Billy (1/8/24); app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...

Med Gull white-32A4, 2010 chick from de Kreupel, IJsselmeer, Netherlands, back for 16th time, on grass at Ferny Ness - a typical early return date (earliest 14/7/20); breeding season records south of natal area, incl Nieuwkoop south of Amsterdam, Total Antwerp and Lier, south of Antwerp last year...

Gull advice📢 At this time of year, it is quite common to come across young gulls that have fallen or fledged from rooftops and are on the ground...

The influx of Quail has continued strongly over the last month. The latest weekly reporting rate of 2% is the highest recorded since BirdTrack began in 2004! #ukbirding

BirdTrack@birdtrack.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Could it be a Quail year? We've seen a big increase in reports of this elusive migrant gamebird in the last two weeks. Reports don't usually peak until late June, so it will be interesting to see whether the influx continues into the summer #ukbirding

Little Tern numbers at Seaton Carew have fallen dramatically this summer, with conservationists warning that increasing disturbance from dogs may be a significant factor:

Dog disturbance linked to drop in Little Tern numbers at colony

Conservationists are urging beach users to respect exclusion zones after Little Tern numbers at one of the UK's most important colonies fell by 50% amid rising levels of disturbance from dogs.

bit.ly

Hobby reports have increased recently in Lothian but only 27 accepted records 2000-2022, incl 2 dead, and still rare; obviously cautious in reporting but lovely view of one heading N over open farmland at The Heugh, North Berwick on 21 June, driving so evaded documentation: ebird.org/checklist/S3...

Common Scoters: several hundred have been present way offshore from Seton, often c.5km, since Oct-25, 440+ today; at 21:45hrs 180 circling over sea c. 5km west, gaining height to 3x Inchkeith, then 2x Queensferry towers (400m+), moving SW towards Edinburgh; lost them 21:56hrs (sunset 22:02hrs) [1/2]

NEW on #theBOUblog from Chris Batty and Alexander Lees Revision of Category E of the British List bou.org.uk/blog-batt... #ornithology 🪶

The gamebird shooting industry argues that the RSPB persecution data are misleading. But a closer look demonstrates that it's the shooting industry that's misunderstood & misrepresented the figures! #SchoolboyError Details⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/05/29/s...

Shooting industry’s flawed analysis of RSPB raptor persecution data

In a typically desperate attempt to undermine and deflect from the stark findings published by the RSPB in its excellent Patterns of Persecution report earlier this week, the shooting industry has …

raptorpersecutionuk.org

1/ The latest Winter Gull Survey revealed that over the two decades since the last count, the total number of gulls wintering in the UK has decreased from 3.9 million to just under 2.5 million! 📉 #Ornithology #Seabirds 📖 Read the report www.bto.org/WinGSReport

Our new research shows that HPAI increased Northern Gannet mortality by a factor of ~6 and ~4 at two of the world’s largest colonies. We predict this impact will take almost two decades to recover from. #biologicalconservation #seabirds #hpai Full paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111887

2cy Casp very briefly on Seton Burn at dusk before flying out to roost, along with continuing presumed LWHG hybrids (Herring x GBB, pics, plus regular Herring x LBB); two cranes reported E over earlier #birdinglothian

Med Gull yellow-AKLU ringed Insel Poel on German Baltic coast (only 1 brood ringed there 2025), at Longniddry/Seton 27/8-13/9/25 (pics), logged Safi, Morocco 10/3/26 by Dutch birder, Holmer V.), a journey of 2250+ miles, cf. ~1% of UK/Eire foreign recoveries from Morocco: app.bto.org/ring/countyr...

Third bite of cherry on the oddball 4cy LWHG on Wrecked Craigs just after sunset: head now clean white but very variable shape, however more towards bulky/small eye bring me back to Herring x GBB hybrid - tail markings and dark coverts panel are consistent, plus strong pinkish legs, short wing [1/3]

Stephen Welch@lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Oddball imm LWHG at Seton, suspected HGxLBB hybrid when first seen distantly on Burn on 19/3 but with closer views on Wrecked Craigs is a dumpy bird with an unusual head shape, solid dark brown greater coverts, as per some dark 4cy Herring, but bill looks too small for possible GBB influence? [1/2]

Good news! Raeshaw Estate in the Scottish Borders loses appeal against 3-yr General Licence restriction in relation to Golden Eagle 'Merrick' being shot & killed. New blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #Wildlifecrime #BirdingLinks 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/07/r...

Raeshaw Estate loses appeal against 3-yr General Licence restriction in relation to Golden Eagle Merrick being ‘shot and killed’

Good news! Raeshaw Estate, in the Scottish Borders, has lost its appeal against its latest three-year General Licence restriction. The restriction was imposed by NatureScot on 10 February 2026 in r…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

What better way is there to spend the Easter 🐣 🐣🐣 weekend than birdwatching, and hopefully finding and recording rare breeding birds to help their conservation? There’s lots to look for in April, so here’s some ideas from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding

Oddball imm LWHG at Seton, suspected HGxLBB hybrid when first seen distantly on Burn on 19/3 but with closer views on Wrecked Craigs is a dumpy bird with an unusual head shape, solid dark brown greater coverts, as per some dark 4cy Herring, but bill looks too small for possible GBB influence? [1/2]

A striking 2nd-cycle Herg type arrived Seton Burn just after sunset, ink-tipped bill pale yellow base, extensively dark below and on underwing, dark shawl contrasting pale mantle, impression of solidly dark greater coverts and fairly dark tertials, though some white on tips; hope to see again! [1/4]

More on the Ferny Ness "Hoodie" (resident since at least 18/10/25) - today feeding in buckthorn at south end Bents c/p 3 (w3w.co/roofed.moth....) and in Fernyness Wood in trees around water bldg and to east, overall plumage looks good, undertail mainly pale, but hints of dark might suggest impurity?

imm drake White-winged Scoter just off Long Craigs rocks at dusk, engaged in display with ad m Velvet, then mating seen twice, ad m Velvet on top biting back of head (1st image), 3x video in replies; 90s later mated again. Mating does happen btwn male ducks in courtship period [1/4] #birdinglothian

Norwegian Lesser Black-backed Gull black-J674U (metal 4286774) now at Nouâdhibou, Mauritania, 4584km to the south - obs there in dense flock LBB, with terns incl Caspian, per A Goedecke 10/2/26...

Stephen Welch@lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 11mo ago

A red letter day: at Wrecked Craigs earlier ad LBB black-J674U nearly alone on rocks, an intermedius type from literally last rocks on southern tip of Norway; there are 5 previous ringing recoveries from Norway in online ringing report for Scotland: app.bto.org/ring/countyr... #birdingscotland [1/2]

Study 👇 showing ubiquity of microplastics in Scottish Dippers from three rivers; Dighty Water (Dundee), South Esk (Midlothian) and Kelvin (Glasgow) #birdingscotland 🪶

Pablo Salmón@pablosalmon.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🔈New study! Microplastics found in 62% of White-throated Dipper broods in Scotland & Basque Country. No body condition effects detected. Led by @cmartin3.bsky.social @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk @aranzadiornito.bsky.social 🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #Ornithology🐦 #Microplastics #Freshwater💧

For those who like hybrid gulls, presumed LBB x Herring on Seton Burn (possibly "returning"*), small end, yellow legs, smooth intermediate shade mantle, clean head, orange orbital, long call 45 degrees; contrast larger/heavily streaked lingering argentatus Herrings... * cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_ful...

Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to the shooting of Golden Eagle Merrick. Statement from NatureScot & commentary from me ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/10/t...

Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to shooting of Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’

NatureScot has today announced a three-year General Licence restriction on Raeshaw Estate (and on neighbouring Watherston Wood, which is understood to be under separate management to Raeshaw), in r…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

Press release from Police Scotland 🔽 #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/18/m...

More detail on the ‘missing’ White-tailed Eagle in south Scotland

Further to the news yesterday (here) that three White-tailed Eagles have ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances, one in England, one in Wales and one in Scotland, Police Scotland has…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

Golden Eagle found shot in the Scottish Borders - Police Scotland appeals for information. 'Hamlet' is the sixth victim of eagle persecution in south Scotland in recent years. Details in blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/09/g...

Golden Eagle found shot in Scottish Borders – Police Scotland appeals for information

Press release from Police Scotland (9 February 2026) APPEAL AFTER GOLDEN EAGLE SHOT IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS Wildlife officers are appealing to the public for information after a four-year-old golde…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

One of those ad Common Gulls with nape streaking and the wavy pattern on breast that's fairly rare (<1 in 130 on gull-research*) and reminiscent of the other races, faint bill marking quite typical of ad canus, Seton Burn (+old friend now 4cy GBB black-J97AY)... * gull-research.org/canus/270120...

Large gulls typically scarce on Seton Sands pre-roost, more variety than usual: 1. the juv Glauc, 2. ad, slight build, blue-ish back, yellow legs, but streaked (presumed Baltic Herg?), 3. large v dark-mantled sub-ad, bright pink legs, boa, large P10 mirror, black to P6 ("northern" argentatus?) [1/2]