Fieldwork Coordinator (BTO Scotland)

Anthony is responsible for carrying out and reporting on fieldwork projects across Scotland.
Originally trained as a botanist, Anthony started his career working as a habitat surveyor for Forestry Commission Scotland, before joining the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Developing Ecological Survey Skills trainee programme. Anthony has a broad range of multi-taxa survey skills and specialises in upland and forest habitats in a Scottish context, as well as at-sea seabird surveys. Prior to joining BTO Scotland in 2020, Anthony worked with RSPB on the long-running Ring Ouzel monitoring project in the Cairngorms and on a Willow Tit radio-tracking project in Yorkshire. He has also worked as a consultant ecologist, as a ringer at Landguard Bird Observatory, and has carried out fieldwork internationally, including assisting with a complete breeding population census of the critically endangered Christmas Frigatebird in 2017.
Anthony’s responsibilities include planning and carrying out fieldwork across Scotland and Northern England, GIS analysis of tracking data, and providing GIS support to Research Ecologists. His main interests are upland birds, particularly Ring Ouzel and Ptarmigan, arctic-alpine habitats and seabird conservation. He is happiest on the hills, or onboard a boat on the high seas.
Anthony is an active ringer and a member of the Tay and Shiants Auk Ringing Groups, and is also a member of the Ring Ouzel Study Group. His other interests include learning Scottish Gaelic and exploring the use of art in science and conservation communication. Anthony’s pronouns are he/him.
MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants, University of Edinburgh, 2010
BSc (Hons.) Conservation and Forest Ecosystems, Bangor University, 2009
Recent BTO Publications
- Wetherhill, A.S., Dickson A. Matthew, D.A., Mayowa, E.S. & Izang, M.S. Description of the downy chicks of the Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus View at journal website( DOI: )
- Ashton-Butt, A., Gillings, S., Thurston, L., Wells, F., Wetherhill, A. & Newson, S.E. Farming in Project Landscapes – Turtle Dove Monitoring Project, 2024 Report View at journal website( DOI: )
- Author(s): Calladine, J., Southall, C., Wetherhill, A. & Morrison, N. Use of dwarf shrubland–grassland mosaics by a nomadic predatory bird, the Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus 10.1007/s10336-024-02174-z View at journal website( DOI:10.1007/s10336-024-02174-z )
- Noyes, P., Laurie, P., Wetherhill, A. & Wilson, M. Watching Out for Waders: The Working for Waders Nest Camera Project View at journal website( DOI: )
- Bowgen, K.M., Austin, G.E., Wetherhill, A. & Woodward, I.D. Analysis of Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) data for The Humber Estuary SSSI, SAC, SPA and Ramsar site: fourth appraisal — sector-level trends to winter 2021/22 View at journal website( DOI: )