You can tell how good your local farmer is by the size of their hedges!
This hedgerow provides food & shelter for Redwing & Fieldfare, mammals, insects, beautiful groups of roosting Bullfinch, and birds, like this Willow Warbler, on the last legs of their epic migrations 😊👌
I’ve walked 107 miles, counting 1,189 butterflies along the way
I’m doing this:
1. To show YOU their beauty
2. Because the number of butterflies indicate the health of our world
3. So that you might consider retweeting & donating? 😊
#Butterflies4HopeUK
It was a privilege to rescue a sheep that had been stuck in a pool overnight.
At first she was frightened & moved away, but then seemed to realise that I was trying to help. She then moved closer & allowed me to wrap my arms around her & lift her out of the water 😊
The perfect Christmas present!
At least 35 Goldfinch had their Christmas breakfast in the wildlife garden!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS to everyone who appreciates, loves, respects and protects nature 😊
Well done
@dudleymbc
👌
By not mowing Manor Way (A446), Halesowen, beautiful Orchids have emerged to charm local residents whilst walking to keep fit and Goat’s-beard, which could only be seen in two very isolated local patches, has now spread all along the carriageway!
Thank you my friend!
I enjoyed our brief exchange this morning!
I gave you carbon-dioxide, attention & respect!
You gave me oxygen, shade and serenity!
Take care my friend!
This is what a hedgerow should look like and sound like in Spring!
Reed Bunting fed along the field margin during winter and now beautiful Yellowhammer have claimed the hedge to breed and help keep nature in balance 👌
#HeroFarmers
Please RT then follow & support
@NFFNUK
I feel the need to celebrate butterflies today!
Butterfly numbers act as an indicator, helping to show how healthy our world is!
There was variety today, but not the big numbers of yesteryear!
RT if YOU agree: that we should all be looking after nature AND our environment!
Who would have thought that it would be an increase in Brambling that would take the finch & bunting numbers past 1,500 for the 1st time at
@BibbeysWildFarm
?!
An extraordinary 225+ Brambling were present this morning, with Linnet now consistently over 1,000
Great work Carl and great composure to get a cracking photo! It was always going to be just a matter of time, because your passion and commitment is always overflowing 😊👍👌
Wow... something happened this afternoon that never happens to me! I found a rare bird! 😀
More than that, I even managed this shot of it. 😊
It's a Lapland Bunting, and the first time I've ever seen one!
Taken at the Huntspill seawall in Somerset.
#TwitterNatureCommunity
🐦
Hospital says nothing more can be done for my dad.
I wish for two miracles…
1. For my dad to live
2. For peace and harmony to wash over the world so that all life thrives. Life is a miracle and we should cherish it
Please wish for at least one of these miracles for me 🙏✨🙏
13 Yellowhammer were between Manor Way & Breach Farm - a record for recent years!
There’s great hope that, when this cloud over humanity lifts, we can learn to live in harmony with the rest of nature & each other.
By doing so we can create a much happier & healthier world! 🌈
Yes!!!!
First Painted Lady of the year... and isn’t “she” a beauty!
If seeing her has brightened up your day, please RT so that she can help others too 😊🌈
(Record will be submitted to
@savebutterflies
via
@iRecordWildlife
)
Wishing all of my followers and everyone else out there that loves nature, cherishes their local green spaces and shares the wonders of wildlife with their community a Happy New Year, filled with love,light and warmth (because that’s the stuff that will heal our world). 😊🌈🙏
It was an absolute pleasure to inform
@BibbeysWildFarm
that 25+ Yellowhammer were at Breach Farm this afternoon, moving between the feeding stations - a site record for recent times!
A cold weather movement was also under way with 33 Lapwing & 15 Golden Plover heading South 👌
44+ Yellowhammer flew out of 200 metres of hedgerow this morning at
@BibbeysWildFarm
!
This is a new record for January, 5 away from being a record for this century and 17 away from beating the all-time record set in the 90s!
Numbers usually increase between now and March!🤞🚜
Happy New Year to everyone out there that loves & protects nature!
Connecting with the rest of the natural world adds something truly wonderful to your life.
My best moment of 2021 was when this young chap found his way back to the same hedgerow after spending Summer elsewhere
Here is one of my havens!
It's called "The Butterfly Field"
I have resolved issues here.
I have developed strength here.
I have changed my views here.
I have created visions and dreams here.
I couldn't have done it on my own!
The rest of NATURE gave me a helping hand! 💚🌍
#ButterflyCount
x21
@BibbeysWildFarm
1 Meadow Brown x443 😮
2 S White x73
3 S Tortoiseshell x40
4 Ringlet x34
5 S Skipper x28
6 L Skipper x14
7 G-v White x11
8 L White x11
9 Marbled White x6 😎
10 Red Admiral x3
11 Comma x2
12 Gatekeeper x2
13 S Copper x2
14 S Heath 👌
15 S Wood
It was absolutely fascinating to watch this Common Blue butterfly when the sun showed after heavy rain
It flew & settled on a grass stem with wings closed, then turned around the stem before opening its wings perfectly angled to face the evening sun. Once dry/warm - off to feed
The 1st Finch & Bunting count of 2022 at
@BibbeysWildFarm
was very special; over 1,000 present for the first time since Autumn passage:
710 Linnet
260 Chaffinch
67+ Brambling (all-time record)
21 Yellowhammer
10 Goldfinch
5 Greenfinch
4 Bullfinch
_____
1,077 TOTAL 🚜💚🐦
7th Heaven at
@BibbeysWildFarm
this afternoon!
BLACK REDSTART!
Superb male Common Redstart
11 Wheatear
Common Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Swallows in at last!
300+ Brambling/Linnet (40:60) still
(No sign of Black Redstart from 2:30pm, on private land)
75 species in 2022 so far!
Iconic farmland species left a strong impression on this morning’s birding with all traditional Yellowhammer territories occupied, 14 Skylark present and 25+ Linnet still on spots of supplementary seed
Wheatear became the 76th bird species recorded at
@BibbeysWildFarm
this year
Witnessing the restoration of nature is absolutely breath-taking!
In only its 2nd year of
@Ruralpay
Countryside Stewardship,
@BibbeysWildFarm
this morning evoked childhood memories:
40+ Linnet
Whinchat
Lapwing calling
Young Linnet, Yellow Wagtails, Greenfinch and Yellowhammer
Birmingham produces another amazing experience!
Absolutely magical, listening to this beautiful Dipper singing today at
@cannonhillpark
The city’s parks top up our health & wellbeing, but also offer a fantastic opportunity to explore the wonder and gift of life on Earth 😊👌
£440 has now been raised to HELP
@savebutterflies
MASSIVE thanks to EVERYONE that has donated so far
If YOU see this tweet, PLEASE RT 😊
Let’s have more butterflies in the world for our happiness, health & wellbeing:
#Butterflies4Hope
#ButterflyCount
A milestone for
@BibbeysWildFarm
and an emotional experience for me
The improving habitat means that Yellowhammer territories have increased. This was probably the first singing bird to be heard from Bromsgrove Road this century!
Linnet on both farms flew to me this morning 😊
The more bird song in a neighbourhood, the healthier that neighbourhood is likely to be
Birmingham’s open spaces are oases for birds & other wildlife and also sanctuaries for local residents
I walked 34 miles yesterday with the heroes that look after these special places 🙏👌
As well as helping to
@savebutterflies
through citizen science, the
#ButterflyCount
provides a great opportunity to get familiar with your local bees!
Can anyone ID the one on the purple willowherb please? 😊
@BumblebeeTrust
1/14….The Boxing Day challenge was simple; walk a marathon (26.2 miles) during daylight whilst connecting with Brum’s birdlife!
It was a fabulous day that took me back to childhood, connected others to the city’s birdlife along the way and inspired great vision for 2024….
Tomorrow I’m aiming to cover Handsworth Park, Perry Hall Park, Perry Park, Witton Cemetery, Witton Lakes, Bleak Hill Park & Rookery Park because they have not had a
#ButterflyCount
yet
I will head back to city centre along a section of Grand Union Canal that hasn’t been surveyed
I’ve walked 107 miles, counting 1,189 butterflies along the way
I’m doing this:
1. To show YOU their beauty
2. Because the number of butterflies indicate the health of our world
3. So that you might consider retweeting & donating? 😊
#Butterflies4HopeUK
We need to live in harmony with the rest of nature to create balance for all.
Stress is not good for us or the rest of nature!
For all those that are struggling or mourning in these challenging times, I send wishes & the beauty, peace & tranquility of a British woodland 🌈
After just 2 years of farming under
@Ruralpay
Countryside Stewardship, New Years Day birding
@BibbeysWildFarm
has been transformed!
51 species incl: Snipe, Little Egret, Barn Owl, loads of Rook & Stock Dove, Raven, 2 Stonechat, big finch flocks, 25+ Yellowhammer & Reed Bunting
Please donate a RT to help the birds of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire & West Midlands by raising awareness of
@WestMidBirdClub
- check out their work and the benefits of being a member of this awesome bird club.
Thank you 😊
Introducing the Garden Warbler!
It may appear plain and nondescript, but when it travels from the African Savannah and starts singing, it becomes nothing short of magical!
RT if YOU think that NATURE is AWESOME! 😊👇👌
@BirdTherapy
@qbbull
@beztenfifty6
@Ethical_Ins
A record-breaking 737+ Finch & Bunting were at
@BibbeysWildFarm
this morning!
All our Linnet were on site and Chaffinch numbers had swollen to 226+, with most birds gathered at Oatenfields by 10am.
6+ Brambling, 6 Skylark (Breach) & a Reed Bunting were the stars of the show 😎
As well as providing health & wellbeing benefits, nature can be a great source of inspiration!
So whether you want to climb the ladder at work, seek out new opportunities or just become the best version of yourself for your loved ones, get out into nature & be inspired! 😎👍
Really enjoyed testing 1 of 4 new butterfly recording transects
@BibbeysWildFarm
today.
3 Small Tortoiseshell 2 Peacock & 2 Comma recorded
To HELP protect these gorgeous insects follow & support
@savebutterflies
& locally
@BC_WestMids
(Peacock/Tortoiseshell: farm stock images)
If YOU live in Birmingham & Black Country join the team and record your local wildlife from 30th April to 3rd May 2021.
Let’s show the world how wild we are!
@WTBBC
Please RT to create a MASSIVE TEAM 😊
💚🦇🐦🐝🦋🐞🦎🦡🦔🌳🌼🦢
I went to
@BibbeysWildFarm
today for both solace and inspiration
And then, whilst stood out in the open, something magical happened!
A flock of birds flew straight over to me and landed in the hawthorn by me
These birds knew me and were back!….the Linnet from last winter!
By the end of today, I will have walked almost 200 miles and counted over 2,000 butterflies!
This challenge is a seed of hope, to help create a happier, healthier world filled with butterflies.
If YOU see this tweet, please share and consider donating 😊👇
#Butterflies4HopeUK
I’ve walked 107 miles, counting 1,189 butterflies along the way
I’m doing this:
1. To show YOU their beauty
2. Because the number of butterflies indicate the health of our world
3. So that you might consider retweeting & donating? 😊
#Butterflies4HopeUK
One of the local Red Foxes and I were admiring this morning's sunrise together.
We had so many things in common, but the biggest one that struck me was that we were both part of Nature & deeply connected to each other & the community of life on earth, upon which we ALL depend!
On 19th May 2018 I watched the sun rise as I pondered on how to restore nature across the landscape
This morning I sat in the same place, with butterflies dancing around my feet, looking across 300 acres of farmland where nature is bouncing back!
We CAN turn the clock back! 🌞
Another day on the farms and more records are broken!
Over 1,400 finch & bunting were recorded at
@BibbeysWildFarm
for the 1st time!
75+ Brambling broke the previous record of 67
@RingersWm
ringed 100+ birds in 1 session here for the 1st time
What a special day! 😎🌈🚜💚🐦
I’ve spent 8 months with the Linnet at
@BibbeysWildFarm
They have come to recognise me and have allowed me into their fascinating lives
I now have a greater understanding of their needs and survival strategies and I’m determined to help get them off the UK red list
#LoveLinnet
What a day
@BibbeysWildFarm
!
203 Stock Dove! The baseline maximum for this amber-listed species on the farms was 8!
The finch & bunting spectacles on the farm have grown a bit too!
Kestrel and the nation’s favourite on posts for good measure!
How is it that, as a society, we fail to notice and appreciate the rest of nature around us?
RT if YOU are part of the movement that will love and protect it!
How many bird species do you recognise in this little late afternoon chorus? 😊
@NFFNUK
A 1st for
@BibbeysWildFarm
!
🚜😎****JACK SNIPE!****😎🚜
113th bird species recorded on the farms!
Also 2 Reed Bunting in
@Ruralpay
bird food crop. Historically scarce locally but now annual passage & wintering. 1st time 2 have been seen in September
13+ Skylark, 200+ Linnet
From 17/7/20 to 9/8/20 I will be counting butterflies across Brum’s green spaces & raising money for
@savebutterflies
Please consider donating here
or create your own
@JustGiving
UK event & join Team “Butterflies4HopeUK” here:
😊
It’s a year to the day since the Arctic Redpoll first graced
@BibbeysWildFarm
. On that day it was a single Brambling that drew me to the bird
A year later and 300+ Brambling were at Breach Farm this morning after another influx
Plenty of new habitat around now for Kestrels too
A record-breaking morning for one of our target species
@BibbeysWildFarm
with 10+ Reed Bunting present (beat 6 with only 1 pre-nature friendly farming record in 90’s)
Also
2 Lapwing
Jack Snipe
13 Skylark
2 new Stonechat
215+ Chaffinch
500+ Linnet
2+ Lesser Redpoll
5 Yellowhammer
After 202 miles, counting 2,080 butterflies, my journey came to an end at dusk last night.
I am taking a break now to rest & consider how best to use the
#Butterflies4HopeUK
experience to help
@savebutterflies
Please help this reach £700 target by sharing & donating 😊👇
I’ve walked 107 miles, counting 1,189 butterflies along the way
I’m doing this:
1. To show YOU their beauty
2. Because the number of butterflies indicate the health of our world
3. So that you might consider retweeting & donating? 😊
#Butterflies4HopeUK
Just when you think you’ve seen all at
@BibbeysWildFarm
another amazing experience fills you with excitement and joy!
125+ Brambling were counted easily from one position this morning as numbers of these gorgeous birds continue to swell on the farms
🚜💚🐦
The wonderful
@WestMidBirdClub
archives/publications show that c248 bird species have been recorded across what is now the city of Birmingham.
My goal is to record 100 species in one year!
The
#100BrumBirds
challenge is a celebration of the city’s open spaces and birdlife 😊
A significant migrant fall this morning
@BibbeysWildFarm
Male & female Common Redstart, with the male constantly being mobbed by the Robins
Garden Warbler
3 Lesser Whitethroat (earliest ever by 6 days)
3 Willow Warbler (occasional on farms)
Loads of Chiffchaff & Blackcap
Here’s a great way to relax for your health & wellbeing:
Explore your neighbourhood & see what wildflowers you can find, then share your photo’s during
#wildflowerhour
!
This is my contribution, from Halesowen, West Midlands this afternoon!
Please RT to share the medicine 😊
I looked up, whilst sat on a stile writing notes at dawn, to find a Fox had come & sat by me! 😍
The Bullfinches
@BibbeysWildFarm
have started impersonating our Stonechat!
Also 1st record of 10+ Reed Bunting at Breach, 1st yaffling Green Woodpecker of the year and Little Egret
Heaven sent!
After telling a lovely audience at the
@BOSFonline
AGM about seeing my 1st Wheatear on the seat of a tractor!…
…this little beauty dropped almost vertically out the sky onto a gate in front of me!
Moments in Nature cost nothing but boy do they feed the soul 😎
There are now over 35 Yellowhammer at
@BibbeysWildFarm
and a vocal Tawny Owl early on took my tally to 53 species on the farms so far this year!
One of the Brambling & Chaffinch flocks took flight upon the arrival of a male Sparrowhawk that looked splendid in the morning sun
It was an absolute pleasure to spend time with Patrick Clement whilst exploring his magical wildlife garden. He has recorded 700+ species of moth in this wild wonderland. Bullfinch, Stock Dove & Nuthatch were noted during my visit along with plenty of butterflies & darters 😊
Hi Twitter! I need your help to make my wish come true!
I just wished that, tomorrow, everyone will wake up and work together in peace and harmony to protect all life on earth 🙏🙏🙏
445+ Chaffinch were
@BibbeysWildFarm
this morning (71% up on previous January Record!) with 325+ on show near Seth Somers Park
The Linnet flew into Breach and started preening above my head!
Also Little Egret, Woodcock, 3 Tawny Owl, 2 Stonechat, 40+ Fieldfare & 2 Reed Bunting
Buntings have been hogging the limelight
@BibbeysWildFarm
just lately with record Yellowhammer numbers & a Reed Bunting guest appearance
Today Finches were centre-stage with Linnet numbers rising to 40+, Chaffinch back over 20 & 8+ cracking Redpoll
Also 30 M Pipits & 14 Lapwing
I was a bit under the weather this morning. A short but sweet visit to
@BibbeysWildFarm
was medicine!
Linnet 474 (+106% cf 22/3/22)
Chaffinch 190 (+171% cf 22/3/22)
Brambling
6 Stonechat (New Record thanks to
@Ruralpay
AB9/GS1/margins mosaic)
Male Wheatear
Peregrine
1st Comma🦋
2 bonuses, whilst marking out new wildlife field corners at
@BibbeysWildFarm
today:
A Snipe flew off Breach Farm South field (1st since 10th Jan) & some local residents were keen to get involved in wildlife gardening & recording (e.g
@savebutterflies
#butterflycount
)
😊💚🦋🌈
The remarkable
@BibbeysWildFarm
story continues!
Grassland butterflies are rapidly colonising the new arable margins
There were now 23+ Linnet at Oatenfields this morning with 12 of them moving to Breach
Also 92+ Goldfinch, 8 Yellowhammer & an exceptionally early Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting numbers continue to increase
@BibbeysWildFarm
with a record-breaking 32+ around the winter bird food crops & feeding stations today
Birdlife continues to diversify here with 62 species recorded already in 2024, not bad for farmland on the urban fringe! 🚜🐦💚
Excited for three reasons!
1. Going mothing tonight for the first time in my life!
2. I am so lucky to be going with Patrick Clement
3. We are going to a site that has never been surveyed before!
Nature has a habit of providing a constant source of excitement & discovery 😎👌
The cold weather continues to draw finch & bunting to
@BibbeysWildFarm
This morning there were 1,416+
The Chaffinch continue to break records with 515+ present whilst Linnet numbers have risen to 813+
Nature friendly farming is a source of great hope and it feeds the soul 😎
53 bird species can be seen around
@BibbeysWildFarm
during the Summer, but at this time many are still secretive whilst breeding.
30 species were noted this morning, but there was still plenty of other wildlife to enjoy, whilst reflecting and energising my mind, body & soul 😊
1st evidence of
@BibbeysWildFarm
providing feeding options to red-listed species across the wider landscape?
400+ Linnet flew off our most southerly seed crop towards Walton Hill today.
This produced a record-busting Finch & Bunting count of 993+!!
Also 22 Greylag & Grey Wag
Another record set
@BibbeysWildFarm
this morning in a winter wonderland!
Reed Bunting wintered for the 1st time last year so it was great that 14+ were still around today (Dec 2023 max: 4)
Also 5 Lapwing, Woodcock (flew out of bird food crop!) & 2+ Brambling
A great start to February
@BirdTrack
recording at
@BibbeysWildFarm
with 41 species noted this morning incl:
11 Lapwing, 2 Herring Gull, 3+ Stock Dove, 5 Skylark, Goldcrest, 4 Nuthatch 4 Mistle Thrush, 100+ Redwing, 12 Meadow Pipit, 30+ Linnet, 2 Redpoll, and 15+ Yellowhammer
Fantastic to see a Cinnabar Moth visiting the new wildlife garden; at first for a shaded rest on the young Hazel, followed by a prolonged & elegant flight around the caterpillar food plants.
There’s nothing quite as rewarding as watching your wildlife garden community grow
A record-breaking morning at
@BibbeysWildFarm
with 28+ Yellowhammer on the supplementary seed & 42+ Redpoll on the fallow at Breach Farm
Also 4 Greylag Goose, Red-legged Partridge, 2+ Kestrel, 3 Skylark, 17+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Linnet & Reed Bunting
Always great to meet
@qbbull
👍
A Fantastic morning at
@BibbeysWildFarm
& Seth Somers Park:
3 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (now paired), 2 Raven, 12 Meadow Pipit, 34 Linnet, 10+ Redpoll & 16+ Yellowhammer.
Treecreeper & 30 Siskin were new for the month and Little Egret made it 64 species in 2021.
My 2020
#100BrumBirds
challenge starts here: Quinton Meadows (1/1/2020: 8am)
The aim is to raise awareness of Birmingham’s wonderful variety of birds, together with the sites that provide their food, shelter and nesting habitat.
All sightings will be logged via
@BirdTrack
A magical morning at
@BibbeysWildFarm
!
40+ Linnet & 40+ Redpoll were scattered around the fallow area in mixed flocks, occasionally coming together as one amazing spectacle!
The 3rd Stonechat of the year was West of Breach Farm & 2 Greylag Goose were at nearby fisheries
Still 175+ Brambling around supplementary seed & crop aftermath at
@BibbeysWildFarm
this morning.
Plenty of Linnet around having switched to supplementary seed.
Greylag Goose, Lapwing, 6+ Skylark, 7+ Greenfinch of note. Chiffchaff & Goldcrest make it 63 species for the year
I’ve fallen in love with the land at
@BibbeysWildFarm
...so it felt amazing to see
#PatchGold
and a lifer!
Female MERLIN at Breach Farm!
Now over 35 Chaffinch and also 35+ Linnet, 18+ Yellowhammer, 7 Greenfinch, 5+ Redpoll & female Reed Bunting
Have I mist something?...😬🦌
It is an absolute honour of the highest order to serve the club that gave me so much during my youth!
I shall be using all of my passion and love of nature to promote
@WestMidBirdClub
and its activities, whilst performing my duties for the committee, membership and trustees 👍
Congratulations to Chris Millward on on becoming the new Hon Sec of the West Midland Bird Club at the AGM.Chris is known for his passion for promoting urban birding but is also currently developing nature friendly farming in North Worcestershire and across the West Midlands.
No camera so with a bit of patience I managed to get record shots using IPhone & bins
The last thing I was expecting to see on 25th October was a Spotted Flycatcher along the Birmingham & Fazeley canal at Minworth just inside the city boundary 👌
Latest
@WestMidBirdClub
date?
Another memorable morning at
@BibbeysWildFarm
with the 2nd Brambling of the Winter attracted to supplementary seed at Breach Farm & a “white-rumped” Redpoll which I’m putting out for discussion.
The wintering Little Egret was seen at Bibbey’s Hollow
@craig_round
Walking with butterflies!
There were at least 200 Meadow Browns on the Butterfly Field, South of Halesowen yesterday!
Clover along the path & bramble/vetches in base of good quality hedgerow were the main food sources
@qbbull
@WestMidlands_BC
@savebutterflies
@BeccasButterfli
A fabulous start to April
@BibbeysWildFarm
with 47 bird species recorded including Lapwing, Kestrel, 5 Rook, Blackcap, Redwing, 2 Grey Wagtail, 19 Meadow Pipit (in new field corner), Bullfinch, Siskin & Yellowhammer
Brambling numbers are back on the up with 71+ around the farms
A memorable morning
@BibbeysWildFarm
!
515 Linnet
475 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
G W Egret (90th species of 2023)
C Snipe
J Snipe
Axion 2 XQ35 PRO thermal demonstrates the impact that nature friendly farming has had on visitor experience at Seth Somers Park where birds rest & chat!
Great to be out checking feeding stations & arable field margins
@BibbeysWildFarm
today
Linnet numbers have dropped significantly & 2 Little Egret, 125 Stock Dove, a pair of Stonechat, 4+ Chiffchaff and female Reed Bunting noted
A nice bit of frogspawn in the reformed pond too