Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre

Welcome to the WSBRC website, WSBRC




The Wiltshire & Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) is a not-for-profit partnership initiative housed at the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust which provides a central reference point for environmental information on species, sites, habitats and geology in Wiltshire and Swindon. Find out more about us.

 

Recent Sightings

Poplar Hawk moth, Tony Coultiss/ WWT

We have recently received a record of a Poplar Hawk-moth - Laothoe populi which is probably the commonest of our hawk-moths. It was seen on 20/07/2010 at a bus stop at ST913622.

If you see anything similar let us know!

Take a look at other recent sightings

  

Get involved with the non-native invasive plants survey

Giant Hogweed, Louise Smith

Invasive non-native plants are plants that have not evolved naturally in the UK and cause problems for our native wildlife, our health and our economy. The presence of non-native invasive plants in Wiltshire poses a significant threat to the characteristic species and habitats of Wiltshire.

You can help by reporting any sightings of non-native invasive plants within Wiltshire which will then be used to assess the scale of the problem of invasive non-native plants in Wiltshire. 

Find out more about the survey

 

WSBRC is a member of ALERC

Cottongrass, WWT/Adam Surgenor

The WSBRC is a member of the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC). The Association, formally launched in 2008, represents the interests of Local Records Centres in the UK, promoting standards and services in biodiversity and geodiversity data collation & service provision.

 


  • Report your sightings online

 

  

 

White Legged Damselfly female, WSBRC/ Steve Covey

Recent Updates

Recent updates and additions to our website are listed below:

ID parade 27/07/2010

Invasive Plants Survey 22/07/2010

Road Verges with updated monitor vacancies 22/07/2010

Downloads with updated forms and newsletters 13/07/2010

Your Records 13/07/2010

Your Photos with latest images sent into us 13/07/2010

Sightings board updated 07/07/2010

New Recording forms Two new excel recording forms, making it easier to send us your records. 07/07/2010

Latest River Monitoring Newsletter  06/07/2010


Eight day old Great Tit chicks Susan Allen/ WSBRC

Follow the ups and downs of raising a family

29 Jun 2010

Three years ago our volunteer River Monitoring Co-ordinator, Susan Allen, placed a bird box and camera in her back garden, praying for something to nest. She has not been disappointed, as Great Tits have nested every year.

This year as the box and the nests have been fairly successful, she chose to record what happened to the young family of Great Tits.

Two swifts in a nest Erich Kasier courtesy of Swift Conservation

Swift Action Needed For Swift Recovery

23 Jun 2010

The Common Swift isn’t soaring like it should be, in fact their numbers have dived by 30% in recent years. They have now landed on the Amber list as birds of Conservation Concern, and need our help.

A destruction of nest sites is the suspected cause of the decline, in the form of demolitions, renovations and roof repairs. It is estimated that 16% of nest sites are currently under threat. An analysis of current known nesting sites show them to be present in half of houses built before 1919, 25% of houses built 1919 to 1944, and 24% of public buildings (such as schools).

Great Bustard II Sergey Yeliseev May 2007

Bustards on the rise on Salisbury Plain

15 Jun 2010

A new set of Great Bustard chicks has hatched in Wiltshire, only the second wild set since the species was reintroduced to this country. The Great Bustard, which became extinct in Britain as a nesting bird in 1832, successfully nested last year, when two pairs fledged two chicks on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire. This year though there have been four nests with young so hopes for their survival are high.


The WSBRC is housed at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered as a charity. No. 266202
Registered Office: Elm Tree Court, Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1NJ. Limited Company No. 730536