Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP) are now on Bluesky! 🦢 We'll be sharing our latest research findings, how to get involved & vacant survey sites. We’d love to know what you’ve seen on your surveys too, so tag us in your posts. 🦆 #Ornithology #UKBirding

Back with a #WeBSSpeciesSpotlight✨ On the stage today are Avocets💃 These long-legged waders returned from UK-wide extinction in the 1800s, now providing an air of elegance to our wetlands. To learn more about WeBS species, visit BirdFacts➡️ www.bto.org/birdfacts #Ornithology #UKBirding

Fantastic too see big numbers of Golden plovers back on the Humber this week - at least 14500 at Stone creek this afternoon and over 4000 in Brough/ Whitton Sands area on Tuesday. The Humber SPA is regularly the most important site in UK for Golden plovers #Eastcoastwetlands @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

Many of us could do with a reason to get outside, connect with nature, and make a difference for conservation, for our own wellbeing as well as our environment's. Here are 5 reasons why WeBS might be your answer 🍂 @rspb.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social #UKBirding #Ornithology ➡️ www.bto.org/webs

This weekend is the International Golden Plover Census🌍🪶 If you fancy another outing to your WeBS site, we would love for you to do another count so we can feed more golden plover data into the census, or you can log your plovers in BirdTrack if you want to go elsewhere!📋 #UKBirding #Ornithology

We have only 13 sectors left in our region requiring volunteers for this important and highly enjoyable survey. Request a sector asap to avoid disappointment! #BirdingWales

Fancy getting involved with a survey that happens only once every 🔟 years? Learn more about the Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey (NEWS) here ⬇️

1/ 50 years of @webs-gsmp.bsky.social 🥳 Here's what we've found out with the help of our amazing volunteers ⬇️🦆 #WorldMigratoryBirdDay @webs-gsmp.bsky.social is coordinated by @btobirds.bsky.social in partnership with RSPB Science & JNCC

Today is the October WeBS Core Count - keep an eye out for winter visitors arriving at our WeBS sites! 👁️ #ornithology #birdingUK/IRE

As the weather cools down, you might begin to see some more of our favourite feathered friends settling in for the autumn🍂🪶 Some are resident in the UK, while others migrate here for the winter, bringing a boost in numbers to some areas. Learn more at➡️ www.bto.org/birdfacts #Ornithology #UKBirding

This weekend marks the first Icelandic-breeding Goose Census (IGC) count of the season! 🪿 GSMP volunteer counters will be out counting Pink-footed Geese and Icelandic Greylag Geese at their roosts across the UK 🔭 Find out more about taking part here ➡️ bit.ly/3VP9fZp #Ornithology #UKBirding

Time for a #WeBSSpeciesSpotlight✨ Today we have the gorgeous Shelduck. These chunky, charismatic birds are usually seen on estuaries and coastal marshes, and they nest in burrows! To learn more about Shelducks and other WeBS species, visit BirdFacts➡️www.bto.org/birdfacts #Ornithology #UKBirding

Look to the skies over northern & eastern UK in the next few weeks, and you might spot Pink-footed Geese arriving for winter after a long flight from their Arctic breeding grounds! 🪿 Learn more about our Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme ➡️ www.bto.org/gsmp #Ornithology #UKBirding

We need your help!🫡 The NEWS IV survey period runs again from 1 December 2026 - 31 January 2027 🎉 If you'd like to take part in a single-visit waterbird count along a stretch of coastline this winter, visit www.bto.org/webs-news for more info on how you can get involved🦆 #Ornithology #UKBirding

We are in need of intermediate & expert birders to join the counting team at Portsmouth & Langstone Harbours, to ensure good coverage! If you can help, please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at bit.ly/4xVTSg1 or message @geoffersbutler.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding

🪶It’s Plover Appreciation Day! These lovely birds get a whole day to celebrate their diversity and beauty💚! You can help us track how plovers are fairing by taking part in WeBS▶️ bto.org/webs-vacant-sites If you're out birdwatching, keep your eyes peeled for plovers! 👀🕊️ #UKbirding #Ornithology

Were you out doing a @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count over the weekend? Did you see anything of note? Jemma had to decide whether she was looking at Tufted Duck or Scaup at her WeBS site in Co. Antrim. It was a tricky call but she landed on Tufted Duck in the end. IDing diving ducks can be tricky!

More very dry WeBS sites @webs-gsmp.bsky.social

That time of year again: @webs-gsmp.bsky.social by bus! Unsurprisingly for September, Port Solent (Portsmouth Harbour) was quiet with a grand total of 27 Black-headed, 3 Common & 1 Herring Gulls 😅 #LowCarbonBirding

Today is the September WeBS Core Count and the first of our winter counts! Let's see what we find on our WeBS sites! #ornithology #birding UK/IRE

Zero counts count! 🦸‍♀️ With the dry weather that much of the UK has experienced this summer, many of our wetland sites have dried up. We ask that counters still continue visiting dried up WeBS sites, as counts with zero birds is still incredibly important data. #zerohero

Are you a birder in Derbyshire and able to help us with counting the birds found on our wetlands, once a month? Then please do contact the WeBS Local Organisers at derbyshire.webs@gmail.com The next Core Count is this Sunday, so the perfect time to get involved! #ornithology #birdingUK

With two weeks until our training sessions, there are still places left! Book your spot here ➡️www.bto.org/training

Today is the August Priority Core Count. 🦆With the effects of drought in much of the UK impacting our wetlands, it's more important now, than ever, that we count our waterbirds to see how their populations are faring.

Not sure what WeBS is about or need a confidence boost with counting birds, before getting involved? In Sept, we will be running 3️⃣ FREE, virtual 'Counting Birds and WeBS' sessions, aimed for amateur birdwatchers who want to increase their skills. Sign up ➡️ www.bto.org/training

We've just published the details of some of our autumn training about wetland birds and the Wetland Bird Survey. Head over to the website to find out more and book your place. www.bto.org/about/where/... #BirdingScotland

Mark your calendars! 🐦 Our 2027 Annual Conference will take place in Sheffield, from Friday 5 to Saturday 6 March. Join us for the whole event or just Friday or Saturday only! #Ornithology Find out more and book your place today ➡️ www.bto.org/landing-...

Waterbird ID practice, and an introduction to @webs-gsmp.bsky.social & @birdtrack.bsky.social Two practical sessions led by BTO experts at a wetland near Rugeley, around 45 minutes from Market Drayton and Newport. #ShropshireBirds www.bto.org/our-work/eve... www.bto.org/our-work/eve...

Happy new (WeBS) year! 🥳 Today's Core Count is the first count of the 2026/27 WeBS year, which runs from July - June. So let's get out and celebrate with our waterbirds! RSPB Science JNCC

If you’re a beginner birder on mainland Orkney, we need your help! Carness Loch hasn’t been counted since 1971! If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #BirdingScotland #Ornithology #UKBirding

If you’re a beginner birder in Shropshire, we need your help! Cottage Pool - Nib Heath was first counted in 2006 but hasn’t been covered since 2024! If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #Ornithology #UKBirding

Gadwall is next for #WeBSSpeciesSpotlight ! As a breeding species, Gadwall is thought to have become established with the aid of intros. in the 1850s while winter nos. are swelled from the arrival of individuals from both Europe and Iceland. Read more at BTOBirdFacts ➡️ bit.ly/4uMKHfv #Ornithology

Dream job alert 🎉 Are you a talented videographer with a passion for nature? Join our team! Apply online ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs 📆 Full time. 📝 £33,954 per annum. 📍 Thetford, Norfolk (Hybrid). ⚠️ Application deadline: 5 July.

Another year over... always a quiet month as few waterbirds nest in this part of the estuary, but 120 non-breeding Oystercatchers roosted. Not many Herring Gulls, but it was a mid-morning count and the Conwy Quay chippy hadn't opened. I've added a key question to your form @webs-gsmp.bsky.social 😉

Today is the June Priority Core Count date and the last count of the 2025/26 WeBS year! A massive thank you to all our fantastic volunteers for carrying out WeBS counts this year! Is there is any outstanding data yet, please can this be submitted to WeBS Online asap. #UKbirding #ornithology

If you’re a birder in Northern Ireland, we need your help! Lough Muck in Co. Tyrone has only been counted twice in 1992 and attracts common waterbird species. If you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #Ornithology #UKBirding

Thank you so much to our volunteers for their fantastic efforts and contributions to the Wetland Bird Survey!

If you’re a beginner birder in Wales, we need your help! Dinefwr Pools was last counted in 2024 and attracts a good variety of common waterbird species. If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #Ornithology #BirdingWales

Today is the May WeBS Priority Core Count! What have you seen on your WeBS site today? #ornithology #birdingUK

This weekend is the May WeBS Priority Core Count! Let's go out and count our wetland birds! #ornithology #birdingUK

This weekend is the May WeBS Priority Core Count! Let's go out and count our wetland birds!

Discover the curiosities of birds and their world with a BTO membership! For just £3 a month, you'll have access to the latest news, research and resources, including exclusive content just for members. 🐦 Start your membership today ➡️ www.bto.org/join

RSPB Scientist Simon Wotton shares a summary of the results from two recently published reports: Breeding Bird Survey and Wetland Bird Survey. Read on to learn more about the ups and downs of the UK’s birds www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... #CitSci @jncc.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶 🧪

Are you an experienced birder in Argyll? We are looking for a volunteer to count Loch Melfort which hasn’t been counted regularly since 1991! If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #Ornithology #BirdingScotland

Happy World Curlew Day! 🎉

Today is the April WeBS Priority Core Count! WeBS data contributes towards reporting how our wetland birds are faring and the latest WeBS report, Waterbirds in the UK 2024/25, was published this week and can be read here - www.bto.org/wituk! #ornithology #birding UK/IRE

Are you a birder in Norfolk? We are looking for a volunteer to count Scoulton Mere, between Watton and Hingham as it hasn’t been counted since 1976! If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #Ornithology #NorfolkBirding