Berkshire Ornithological Club

A poster showing two Black-tailed Godwits in flight, with the details of the Berkshire Ornithological Club talk on Wednesday 18th March 2026, 7.30pm. Palmer Building 109, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading. There is a Zoom link for people who can't attend in person: http://bit.ly/4lrQGl8

Our next FREE meeting is on Wed 18 March, 7.30pm.
Professor Jenny Gill, will talk about her research into godwit conservation.
How do we know where and when we should target conservation actions to be most effective?

Non-members welcome, in person or via Zoom: bit.ly/4lrQGl8.

#ornithology

And finally, the winners of the 'Portrait' category of our photo comp '26 are:
1st place and winner of the Gordon Langsbury cup: White Pelicans by Debby Reynolds
2nd place: Black-tailed Godwit, by Matthew Ball
Commended: Gannets, by Sue Truby.

With thanks to our judge, Rob Still

#birdphotography

#berksbirds #birdphotography #ukbirding

Winners in the 'Birds in Berkshire' category of the photo competition.
1st place: Great Crested Grebes, by Sue Truby
2nd place: Long-tailed Tit, by David Massie
Commended: Crossbill, by John Absolon

Thanks to Rob Still for being our judge and to the members who submitted their brilliant photos.

A Puffin, with a bill-full of sand eels, flying towards us with soulful eyes, wings pointing upwards.

A White-bellied Woodstar, hovering with face towards us, its wings blurred by their motion. Photo by Mike Taylor

Two red Kites in a mid-air tussle, their wings and tails spread out in agile aerobatic splendour.

We'll announce the 2026 photo competition results over the next 3 days. Thanks to Rob Still for the difficult task of judging the entries.
Today, the 'Flight & Action' category:
1st place: Puffin by Sue Truby
2nd place: White-bellied Woodstar by Mike Taylor
Commended: Red Kites by Trevor Baker

The 2026 photo competition results night is on Wed 4 March. See shortlisted work in three categories: Flight/action, Portrait, and Birds in Berkshire.
All welcome, in Room 109 in the Palmer Building, at 7.30pm - or join remotely via Zoom, using this link: bit.ly/4lrQGl8

#berksbirds
#birdphotography

Have you seen a Treecreeper lately? They're often heard before they're seen - treeeee, treeeee

Yes, we wouldn't dispute the facts of species decline and range-shifts due to climate change and other human activity. The 'optimism' is around new detection methods revealing the presence of many more LSWs than previously thought - even though the overall situation remains bleak.

After our talk about Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at @berksbirdclub.bsky.social thrilled to be given this woodcut monoprint on vintage wallpaper by the artist @peterdriver.bsky.social - 'Lesser Spotted now seldom seen' highlighting their decline since the wallpaper was made. Thank you Peter

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We are looking forward to it! Anyone can attend, free of charge, in person, or via Zoom.
Here's the Zoom link: bit.ly/4lrQGl8

Anticipating Ken and Linda Smith's talk tonight at @berksbirdclub.bsky.social on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.
Here's my 2020 woodcut monoprint on vintage wallpaper, about their decline since the wallpaper was made - from a series shown in So'ton and Reading.
@lesserspotnet.bsky.social
#berksbirds

Sparrowhawk (f) on Thursday's BOC trip to Otmoor RSPB. We observed 55+ species, including Tundra Bean Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Russian White-fronted Goose. As we walked back to the cars, we heard a Bittern booming from the reedbed.
Thanks to Gray Burfoot for leading a wonderful trip.
#ukbirding

You're invited to this free talk, Wed 18 Feb, 7.30pm, G44 Edith Morley Building, Uni of Reading (or via Zoom).
Ken & Linda Smith of woodpecker-network.org.uk on their research into the status of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. New research techniques give some grounds for optimism.
#ornithology

Nice one Gary!

#berksbirds

Black Redstart at Green Park Lake, Reading this rainy afternoon. Often flies over to the other side of the lake if a pedestrian walks by so patience is key.
@berksbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
@rarebirder.bsky.social

Two Tundra Bean Goose at Ufton Green, Berkshire this afternoon. Sharing a flooded field with Lapwings, Greylag and Canada Geese. No surprise that they were the most distant.
@berksbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
@rarebirder.bsky.social

Join us on a future field trip (they're free!) See programme here: berksoc.org.uk/club-news/pr...

Status and habitat associations of breeding Green Sandpipers in the Highlands – the role of wetland management Abstract The Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus has been a rare breeding bird in the UK for probably over 100 years. To assess the current...

If you read these two blogs about wintering Green Sandpipers:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/04/12/g...
wadertales.wordpress.com/2019/01/18/w...
You may find new breeding Green Sandpiper paper interesting.
OpenAccess in @britishbirds.bsky.social:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
#ornithology

Two images of a Blackbird in the hand being examined by a blue-gloved researcher. The text says: Where have all the Blackbirds gone? Arran Folly 7.30pm, Wednesday February 4th. Edith Morley Building, Rom G44 Whiteknights Campus University of Reading Free Entry Or join online via Zoom http://bit.ly4LrQGl8 Berkshire Ornithological Club

Come to our next indoor talk on Wed 4 February, 7.30pm.
Dr Arran Folly will talk about mosquito-borne diseases threatening our Blackbirds and the research underway to understand what is happening.

Non-members welcome, free of charge. Alternatively, join us on zoom (link in bio).

#ornithology

An outdoor group photograph of thirteen people of various ages, mostly looking at the photographer and smiling. The majority are female. Everyone is in cold weather gear in a range of colours, pinks, greens and blues, wellies or boots. No camo. They are mostly wearing binoculars. Beside the group is a spotting scope on a tripod. They are standing on a grassy track beside a lake edged by wintery leafless willows.

Last Saturday's Intro to Berkshire Birding walk explored Woolhampton gravel pit. The River Kennet had risen, closing off some of the route but the group still found interesting birds, including Pintail, Kingfisher and Mandarin.
Join us on a future walk - programme on our website.
#berksbirds

Three highlights from the joint BOC/NDOC field trip to Lepe/Calshot/Holbury last week.
1. Water Rail
2. Marsh Tit
3. 'The' Great-tailed Grackle
Thanks to Elaine Charlson for the pics.
Check out our programme and come join a future field trip: berksoc.org.uk/club-news/pr...

#hantsbirds #ukbirding

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Here's the Zoom link to join the meeting. You can join from 7.15 pm and the meeting will start at 7.30 pm. You will be muted when you join; please stay muted except when you have been asked to unmute, for recent sightings, questions, etc.
bit.ly/4lrQGl8

A poster for the event with the date and time and a zoom link to join the talk remotely. It features a head and shoulders picture of Gary holding his lightweight binoculars. He looks weather-beaten but is smiling. He's wearing a camo jacket and a baseball cap branded with the Viking optics logo. There's also a little cartoon caracter with a bicycle loaded with four cartoon creatures, a lizard, a bear, a parrot and an eagle.

You're invited to our next indoor talk, with Gary Prescott The Biking Birder, recounting tales of his adventures birding Rwanda by bike. Brilliant photos, stories, maybe a bit of song & dance!
Wed 21 Jan, 7.30pm. Room G44 Edith Morley Building, University of Reading. (in person or via Zoom)
#birding

Producing breeding population estimates to monitor Little Egret trends Abstract Modelling of Little Egret Egretta garzetta data from the Heronries Census (HC) and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) has been...

Producing breeding population estimates to monitor Little Egret trends

The RBBP continues to monitor breeding abundance, with the latest figure being 1,614–1,696 pairs in 2023 (Eaton et al. 2025).

Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
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📸David Tipling, Thomas Willoughby

Common Crane, Bewick's Swan and White-fronted Goose were some of the highlights of yesterday's coach trip to WWT Slimbridge, organised jointly with Wokingham & Bracknell RSPB group.
We'll be doing it again next year!
Join us to enjoy our full programme of field trips and indoor talks.
#ukbirding

Visit BOC's stall at the Wild Tilehurst Nature Fair on Saturday 10 January, 2-4pm. It's free entry, with free children’s crafting. Lots of local groups will be there - bats, bees, birds, butterflies and geologists to name a few.

All welcome.

#Tilehurst #rdguk

BOC members started the year with a walk at Moor Green Lakes on Friday, led by Elaine Charlson. 53 species were spotted. Many Siskin, a few Redwing & Fieldfare, the obliging Tawny Owl, and the site's winter speciality: Goodander.
Join us on a future free field trip. All welcome.
#berksbirds

Join us on Wednesday 7th January for a talk by Keith Betton on some of the 9,000 species he's seen in over 100 countries!
We will meet in Room G44, in the Edith Morley Building at 7.30pm.
Alernatively, use this link to join on Zoom: bit.ly/4lrQGl8 (from 7.15pm on the night)

Two Pintail asleep on the water, their plumage reflected perfectly in the still silvery water.

Thank you to our members and followers for your support in 2025. We wish you a peaceful and successful New Year.
Perhaps 2026 is your year to attend more field trips or indoor talks. You would be made very welcome.

Image: pair of Pintail at Keyhaven by Elaine Charlson.

#ukbirding #pintail