Somerset Birding Forum

BTO Youth Representative

2025-11-01T14:20:30+00:00

Copied from a recent email received from BTO Youth Engagement:

Applications are now open for the next cohort of new Youth Representatives. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone between the age of 16-24 to help us engage more young people with the BTO!
Being a Youth Rep is different to everyone but could involve representing the BTO at events, running stalls and events in your local community to help inspire the next generation of birdwatchers.
Youth Representative (Voluntary Role) in Remote | British Trust for Ornithology
The deadline to apply is Sunday 9th November 11.59pm
https://britishtrustforornithology.postingpanda.uk/job/780251

BTO Heathland Bird Survey

2025-05-13T20:01:35+00:00

Hi all,

There are a number of squares left for the BTO’s Heathland Bird Survey this year for both Dartford Warbler and Nightjar. Details at the link below if anyone is able to assist with these:

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/heathland-birds-survey

BBC radio Somerset

2025-03-21T07:38:04+00:00

Last couple of days they’ve made a bit of a feature of RSPB announcement about 2000% increase in numbers of booming bitterns - 15 at ham wall last year and 41 across the Avalon marshes

BTO Winter Gull Surveys

2023-11-09T13:18:06+00:00

The BTO are relaunching a winter gull survey after a gap of 20 years. They are looking for volunteers that enjoy counting gulls at roost and are interested in collecting wintering gull data. The survey involves visits to key gull roosts and random samples across inland and coastal sites in January. The information will aid vital monitoring efforts to assess population changes and and provide data for the designation of protected wintering sites.

Supplementary data at key roost sites in Autumn is also encouraged. I have signed up for some sites near me but there are a lot of Somerset sites still available. Further information can be found at http://www.bto.org/wings or just google bto winter gull survey.

Crewkerne area birders, can you help?

2023-09-20T08:42:58+00:00

I have received the following request from Elly Wilkins , can anyone help? Reply to Elly at deputyclerk at crewkerne-tc dot gov dot uk

I am wondering if you can advise me if there is a local bird watching club in Crewkerne? We are holding a nature day at our local nature reserve and I wondered if someone could come along to talk to the general public about bird watching

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Elly Wilkins

Deputy Town Clerk

Avalon Marshes New Colonists Monitoring Group Report 2022

2023-01-29T16:56:57+00:00

The Avalon Marshes New Colonists Monitoring Group has published its 2022 report, which covers Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Bittern, Purple Heron and Night Heron. It was another record year for Great White Egrets.

See https://somersetbirding.org.uk/news/avalon-marshes-new-colonists-monitoring-group-report-2022

Heart of the Levels, group

2022-11-14T11:17:49+00:00

On Tuesday November 15th at 7.30 in Somerton Parish Rooms Jack Bedford and Shelley Easton of SWT will be talking on how the SWT is preparing the Levels for the affects of climate change. £3.50 for SWT members, £4 for non-members and children/students free. Tea and coffee.

Cranes

2022-10-14T16:56:18+00:00

Not a sighting, but notice of a Heart of the Levels talk at the Parish Rooms in the centre of Somerton on Tuesday October 18th at 7.30 given by Damon Bridge on the the introduction and its subsequent success of the cranes as part of the Great Crane Project on the Somerset Levels. Damon, who works for the RSPB helped mastermind the project. Tickets at the door, £3.50 for SWT members and £4 for non members, and youngsters free. Tea and coffee will be served.

Devon Birds Wetland Birds Conference

2022-10-14T15:33:44+00:00

For further information, see here.

closure of Longwood NNR

2022-05-25T15:11:01+00:00

Due to the apparent danger of falling trees from the ASH DIE BACK DISEASE ,,,, access to this area is now fenced off, a visit there this morning shows it has been for a week or so,,,, this is in the Cheddar Gorge area of Black Rock , Velvet Bottom