RSPB England

RSPB England Protecting and restoring habitats, saving species and helping end the nature and climate emergency.

We encourage polite, friendly discussion, but personal insults, abusive or threatening language will not be tolerated, so please be respectful of each other and of our staff and volunteers. Any comments that include swearing or are deemed abusive will be removed and if individuals continue to post these types of comment to the page, then we may block them.

02/06/2026

Great results for Dartford Warblers on RSPB nature reserves!

A recent national Heathland Birds Survey has recorded 264 pairs of Dartford Warblers on RSPB reserves during 2025 – their best year on record. And incredibly, 97 of these pairs were at RSPB Arne and Weymouth Wetlands in Dorset, which is a record-breaking number for the site. Other pairs were also counted at RSPB Aylesbeare (25), RSPB Minsmere, RSPB North Warren (17), RSPB Farnham Heath (23) and RSPB Broadwater Warren (15).

Previously facing extinction in the UK with only a handful of pairs remaining in Dorset just over 60 years ago, their numbers have undergone population crashes due to cold winters but have since generally risen. On our reserves, the impressive numbers are largely thanks to efforts to restore their precious heathland habitat demonstrating the importance of these protected areas for threatened species.

Lowland heathland is one of the most threatened habitats in the UK with 80% lost since the 1800s due to forestry and land-use change. To tackle this, our dedicated staff and volunteers have been restoring the precious habitat here by removing plantations and reverting arable land. Joining areas of fragmented heathland provides Dartford Warblers with the vital dense gorse they need to thrive.

📷 credits:
Phillip Croft, RSPB
Les Cater, RSPB
Ben Andrew, RSPB
Phillip Croft, RSPB

🎵 Audio by:
David Darrell-Lambert, via Xeno-Canto

Thank you to everyone who sent in cover photo competition entries for June. So many wonderful pictures of birds and wate...
01/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who sent in cover photo competition entries for June. So many wonderful pictures of birds and water to choose from!

Congratulations this month go to Joanne MacLeod with this delightful photo of a Dipper - a beautiful image of this water loving bird 🙂

If you didn't win this time around, not to worry! Look out for our July competition towards the end of this month.

June has appeared rather suddenly and with it almost all the birds arriving here to breed.Our top 3 birds for this month...
01/06/2026

June has appeared rather suddenly and with it almost all the birds arriving here to breed.

Our top 3 birds for this month are a mixed bunch, as ever pop your photos in the comments.

💚 Barn Owl - whilst owls are largely thought of as nocturnal hunters, during the summer months when the daylight hours are longer and there are hungry mouths to feed, many will appear in the daytime. With their heart shaped face and silent flight, it always feels like a special treat to see one. Often seen quartering over grasslands and fields in search of prey, they can also be spotted brazenly perched on a fence post, glistening in the sun.

💚 Spotted Flycatcher - one of the latest summer visitors to arrive. A woodland dweller also seen in parks and gardens. This classic flycatcher sits from a carefully selected branch viewpoint and will make intermittent dashes in the air, to catch flying insects. Brown with a streaky breast and long wings, they're a charismatic little bird.

💚 Common Tern - frequenting inland gravel pits, reservoirs and lake sites as well as the coast they nest in loud colonies. With graceful, agile flight and loud calls they can be seen hovering above water before dramatically plunging headfirst into it in search of fish.

Ever seen a Ruff in a ruff? These ostentatious plumes are the birds breeding costume, all ready for the lek - a competit...
31/05/2026

Ever seen a Ruff in a ruff?

These ostentatious plumes are the birds breeding costume, all ready for the lek - a competition in which the males outdance one another for the female 'reeves' affection.

Male birds can be incredibly varied—rarely do any two look the same! Their collar and ear tuft patterns come in different shapes and colours, making each one completely unique
Breeding in small numbers in East Anglia, they're not frequently seen in such fine dress.

This male Ruff was recently seen at RSPB Marshside.

📸 June Facebook cover competition💦England is sweltering through an early spell of particularly hot weather, and our bird...
28/05/2026

📸 June Facebook cover competition

💦England is sweltering through an early spell of particularly hot weather, and our birds will regularly seek out water to drink and bathe in during the heatwave.

Do you have any photos of birds bathing, drinking or searching for food in water in your garden, local greenspace or when you've been out and about in town, or exploring the countryside or seaside? If you do please post below by the end of 31st May to be in with a chance of winning our water-themed Facebook cover competition for June. Good luck!

Photo: Avocet wading through water searching for food (c) Ben Andrew

Please note - we will advise the winner in early June only and not before. We will not post any links in response to your post leading to an external page that asks for your details. If this happens, please ignore it as this will not be taking you to an RSPB webpage and could be a phishing link.

Look who we found at RSPB Fowlmere. While out on the reserve, our colleague Ben photographed these wonderful Water Voles...
28/05/2026

Look who we found at RSPB Fowlmere.

While out on the reserve, our colleague Ben photographed these wonderful Water Voles.

Our nature reserves provide the perfect habitat for these water-dwelling mammals to survive. However, due to habitat loss across the UK and the loss of wetland and suitable stream environments, the Water Vole is under serious threat.

Water Voles usually have chestnut brown to dark brown fur. They are found in areas around waterways and can be distinguished from the Brown Rat by its furry tail, short, rounded nose and short ears. They can sometimes be seen swimming or foraging for vegetation. You might even spot the burrows along the riverbank.

They are easily disturbed and scared of humans, so if you spot one, keep your distance and watch from afar.

📷Ben Hurst

27/05/2026

We’re in prime baby bird season now, and lots of nature loving people understandably become concerned if they spot a baby bird on the ground and contact us for help. But for most fledglings (not Swifts) spending a couple of days hopping on the floor, unable to fly, is part of their natural development. And mum and dad will still be nearby continuing to feed and protect them.

If a chick is in direct danger, injured, or has been abandoned by it parents (which is very unusual), we’re not the right people to help because we’re a conservation charity, looking after the places that wildlife call home. We don’t have any medical expertise or facilities.

RSPCA (England & Wales) are the experts. Please visit here for their full guidance 👉 https://brnw.ch/21x2R0u

📷 Credits:
1. Blue Tit Chicks by Ben Andrew, RSPB
2. Blackcap Chicks by Verity Hill, RSPB
3. Mistle Thrush Chick by Ben Andrew, RSPB
https://brnw.ch/21x2R0t Sparrow Chicks by Ray Kennedy, RSPB
5. Blue Tit Chicks by Nicola Shafer, RSPB6. Wood Pigeon Chick by Ben Andrew, RSPB

26/05/2026

Put down those loppers!

Between 1 March and 1 September, birds are busy nesting, so it’s important to avoid cutting back hedges and trees wherever possible.

Did you know? It’s actually an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy an active bird’s nest—from the moment the first twig is placed until the chicks have safely fledged.

Some species even return for more than one brood, so nests may be reused throughout the season.

If you do need to clear vegetation, please check carefully first:

👀 Watch over a few days
🐦 Look for birds carrying nesting material or food
🏡 Check for signs of active nests

A quick check can make all the difference—let’s help give our nesting birds the space they need

If you are concerned an offence has been committed and proper checks haven’t been made, you can report it to your local Wildlife Crimes Officer by calling 101. Our website has further advice, https://brnw.ch/21x2OU8

📷credits

1. Garden Hedge by Doug Shapley (RSPB images)
2. Wood Pigeon on nest by Ben Andrew (RSPB images)
3. Hedgerow by Ben Andrew (RSPB images)
4. Blue Tit chicks by Ben Andrew (RSPB images)
5. Man inspecting garden hedge by Doug Shapley (RSPB images)
6. House Sparrow in hedge by Ben Andrew (RSPB images)
7. Garden hedge by Nick Upton (RSPB images)
8. Wood pigeon in hedge by Ben Andrew (RSPB images)

Swift Mapper is a great and easy to use tool to log your Swift sightings. Help us build a picture of where Swift nest ...
23/05/2026

Swift Mapper is a great and easy to use tool to log your Swift sightings. Help us build a picture of where Swift nest sites need to be protected and where future nest sites could be.

Check out our handy 'how to' guide:

https://brnw.ch/21x2KB2

📸 Sam Turley RSPB-images

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RSPB England Office, 1 Cornwall Street
Birmingham
B32JN

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+441767680551

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