11,070 Barnacle Geese have been counted this October at the Mersehead reserve, rising from a peak count of 10,035 last year. More here >

As the Hawfinch irruption continues Andy Stoddart rounds up another good week, with Common Yellowthroat, Grey-cheeked Thrushes, Ross's and Ivory Gulls all featuring. More here >

The Indian Government has taken an important step towards preventing the extinction of Asia's Critically Endangered vultures by upholding the ban on large vials of diclofenac. More here >

A new study has shown that Golden-crowned Sparrow chicks can name their tune in just one note - even before knowing the song. More here >

Little Terns have had a remarkable breeding season after fledging more than 600 chicks in 2017.
More here >

A new manakin from the heart of Peru remained undetected for years until researchers identified it by its unique song. More here >

Andy Stoddart reviews the latest series of interviews with acclaimed birdwatchers by Keith Betton and Mark Avery. More here >

Neil Wright describes how he and his brother found, what eventually turned out to be the first Eastern Orphean Warbler for Britain, on St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly. More here >

Richard Stonier describes finding the possible Siberian Oystercatcher on Scilly this autumn. More here >

Andy Stoddart reviews another interesting week with the two best birds involving re-identifications of birds present last week, plus new discoveries including two Grey-cheeked Thrushes, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and lots more. More here >

The Birdwatcher's Yearbook 2018 is the essential work of reference for British birdwatchers.
More here >

An update from Ashley Fisher and Bob Flood on the Orphean Warbler which is now identified as an Eastern. More here >

Ashley Fisher and Bob Flood discuss the finer points of the identification of this autumn's Orphean Warbler on Scilly. More here >

The curlews are one of the most widespread and far-travelling of all the bird families, and also one of the most threatened. We can't let the Far Eastern Curlew go the same way as its fellows. More here >

Wide-scale, unchecked hunting has, in the space of just three decades, driven frightening declines in Yellow-breasted Buntings and other species. The BirdLife Partnership is now working to help buntings recover. More here >

Mass starvation has wiped out thousands of penguin chicks in Antarctica, with unusually thick sea ice forcing their parents to forage further for food. More here >

RSPB Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government's announcement that it will not support the development of unconventional gas extraction in Scotland as a win for the climate and wildlife. More here >

International commitment is needed now from over 120 countries to ensure the recovery of 15 vulture species. More here >

Andy Stoddart reviews an interesting week with a good, if somewhat random, scatter of new discoveries including Western Orphean Warbler, Two-barred Greenish Warbler and Rock Thrush plus lots more. More here >

In The Secret Life of the Owl, John Lewis-Stempel explores the legends and history of the owl.
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In his latest interview Mark Pearson puts the questions to David La Puma, American ornithologist with many strings to his bow, including running Cape May Bird Observatory.
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Tom Gale and Lewis Hooper describe finding one of the most stunning rarities of the year. More here >

A cold spell in late winter 2016-17 had birds flocking to garden feeders, including higher counts of Britain's smallest bird, the Goldcrest, according to British Trust for Ornithology's Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS). More here >

The Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB Scotland, Buglife Scotland, Plantlife Scotland, Butterfly Conservation Scotland and the Marine Conservation Society are campaigning to save Coul Links. More here >

Latest research by the British Trust for Ornithology has found that, although several birds may benefit from a changing climate, some species will be hit hard and among these are some of the most vulnerable British birds. More here >

Footage from penguin-mounted mini video recorders shows four species of penguin eating jellyfish and other gelatinous animals of the open ocean. More here >

Orkney lands this week's, and probably the year's, star bird, a male Siberian Blue Robin, Shetland has a White-crowned Sparrow plus lingering American vagrants on Scilly and in Ireland and lots more. More here >

Jamie Partridge describes finding a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on St. Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, part of a purple patch for the islands. More here >

The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood and the words of the natural world, such as Dandelion, Otter, Bramble and Acorn.
More here >

More than a 38% of the Neotropical parrot population of the American continent (Neotropic) is endangered due the impact of human activity, according to a scientific study published in the journal Biological Conservation. More here >

One of the UK's most striking and widespread butterflies, the Red Admiral, has experienced a record summer despite soggy weather conditions. More here >

An international team of researchers has found via experimentation that New Caledonian Crows and Kea Parrots learn about the usefulness of objects by playing with them, similar to human baby behavior.
More here >

Jim Almond looks back at a memorable 12 days spent on St. Mary's when he took part in 11 Scilly Pelagic sessions from the 10th to 21st August 2017. More here >

Whilst leading a Tour on St. Agnes, Will Wagstaff found a Cedar Waxwing, another top rarity in a purple patch for Scilly. More here >

Another superb week for rarities with Scilly hitting the headlines, plus a showy Scops Owl in the north east, a Scarlet Tanager in south west Ireland and much more. More here >

Butterfly Conservation has voiced several major concerns about the growing interest in releasing butterflies at weddings and other functions. More here >

An innovative 'self-service' beach clean station installed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust has proved a success in its first month. More here >

Dan Brown has compiled a 'Top 40' list of the very best that the country has to offer, from watching huge congregations of geese or waders, spending a night in a petrel colony.
More here >

RSPB's nature friendly demonstration farm in Cambridgeshire had record numbers of breeding farmland birds and butterflies this summer. More here >

In the first of its kind study on these raptors, researchers examined differences between populations of the birds in Edinburgh and in the Ayrshire countryside. More here >

Populations of many North American songbirds are declining, and in many cases we don't understand why. More here >

On Wednesday Gwent Wildlife Trust argued the case to save Wales' own equivalent of the Amazon rainforest, the Gwent Levels. More here >

A new study shows that draining and the peat industry are to blame for decreases in numbers of Wood Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and Reed Bunting. More here >

Renowned researcher Jonathan Losos reveals what the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology tell us about one of the greatest ongoing debates in science.
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It was a superb week for rarities with highlights including Yellow-breasted Bunting and Siberian Thrush on Shetland as well as multiple Pallas's Grasshopper Warblers elsewhere. More here >

Whilst doing his first WeBS count of the autumn Rory Tallack flushes a Black-billed Cuckoo from a patch of Japanese Knotweed. More here >

The buntings are kept in tiny cages, where they are force-fed to increase their fat reserves, before being drowned in brandy, roasted and served. More here >

Following a successful trip to Out Skerries in 2016 Steve Wignill, Dave Bywater & Micky McNaghten return to Out Skerries and find themselves a mega rare bunting. More here >

A week long series of bird ringing demonstrations, guided migration walks and evening lectures kicks off on Oct 14 and its all FREE! More here >

Calling Storm Petrels have been recorded for the very first time on the Shiants, an important milestone for the Shiant Isles Recovery Project.More here >

Stuart White finds a mega rare locustella whilst out for a walk at one of his favourite haunts, Burnham Overy in Norfolk.
More here >

Hunters transitioning from lead to non-lead ammunition may allow these apex scavengers to succeed there once again. More here >

A new study warns that Viet Nam's sizeable trade in wild birds is going unchecked and could harm wild populations if not managed. More here >

A new report has highlighted the threat marine plastic pollution poses to seabirds in the north-eastern Atlantic region and found that of 34 species investigated, 74% have ingested plastic. More here >

A new poisoning incident came to light recently in Limpopo National Park where 45 vulture carcasses were found. More here >

A newly published study has shown the potential vulnerability of birds and bats around the world to collide with wind turbines. More here >

In this stunning book, one of the world's finest bird artists, Lars Jonsson, explores 40 of our best-loved winter birds.
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A Black-billed Cuckoo on Shetland was only the second record for the archipelago, the first being over 60 years ago. And we roundup the best of the rest from UK, Ireland and the WP. More here >

A rare instance of a White-tailed Eagle being being killed another has been documented in Kerry in southwest Ireland.
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Wading birds gathered in record numbers at Dove Stone in the Peak District this breeding season, thanks to an ambitious ongoing bog restoration programme. More here >

Experts from the (WWT) travelled over 2000 miles to the tundra to ring Bewick's Swans but sighted just five cygnets over nine days. More here >

Researchers have found evidence for what they believe should be 21 newly recognised Neotropic bird species.
More here >

Ecologists have made a ground-breaking discovery, uncovering evidence of Night Parrots, the 1st record in SA for more than a century.
More here >

In his latest interview Mark Pearson puts the questions to international bird guide and the current BBRC chairman Paul French.
More here >

American Redstart on Barra, Stilt and Least Sandpipers at same Dorset site, the 5th Black-bellied Storm-petrel for the WP and much more.
More here >

Bob Flood describes being onboard a Lanzarote Pelagics trip when the 5th Black-bellied Storm-petrel for the WP is found. More here >

The newly designated Marine Special Protection Area stretches 12 miles from the coastline into the North Sea. More here >

City life is tough for young birds. But if they survive their first year, they are less susceptible to the effects of stress, according to research.
More here >

The RSPB have announced the loss of a two more satellite-tagged Hen Harrier from the 2017 breeding season.
More here >

Barra birder Bruce Taylor describes finding Britain's 6th American Redstart in Eoligarry churchyard on the picturesque Western Isles island.
More here >

Ruddy Shelducks can reach altitudes of up to 6,800 metres (22,000 feet) to cross the Himalayas, new research shows.
More here >

In Mozart's Starling, Haupt explores the unlikely bond between one of history's most controversial characters and one of history's most notoriously disliked birds. More here >

Mark Golley rounds up the latest rare and scarce birds from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic.
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A total of 26 Black-tailed Godwits, hand-reared at WWT Welney in Norfolk, have spread their wings for warmer climes.
More here >

Keepers at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo are excited to announce the arrival of the first pair of Critically Endangered Baer's Pochard to be born at the park. More here >

The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), has a long and successful track record of exploiting bird translocation opportunities at any given time. More here >

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust is calling for the public's support to buy 77 acres of land neighbouring the Lackford Lakes nature reserve near Bury St Edmunds. More here >

This summer's census of Griffon Vultures in the western Alps has counted almost 2500 Griffon Vultures, a significant increase on previous years. More here >

The Cuckoo, notorious for evading parental duty by hiding her eggs in the nests of other brooding birds, is even more devious than previously thought. More here >

The RSPB has issued an appeal for information after a satellite tagged young Hen Harrier disappeared on an Aberdeenshire grouse moor. More here >

The bird was found with suspected gunshot wounds on a public laneway outside Moneyslane on Thursday 17th August. More here >

Our book of the week is the new Birder's Guide to Africa, the first comprehensive summary of bird watching in the African region. More here >

A new study suggests that the aerodynamics of swifts' wings enable them to adapt effortlessly to sudden changes in wind speed and direction.
More here >

A flock of Tufted Ducks are currently spending time in the new aviary that could help save the Madagascar Pochard. More here >

A Pacific Diver in Dublin and presumed Elegant Tern in Cornwall were the major new birds this week but the news was dominated by drift migrants.
More here >

The RSPB has condemned the Planning Inspectorate's decision to grant permission at appeal for the building of 177 houses on the south edge of Watton. More here >

Borders Butterfly Recorder Iain Cowe spotted the White-letter Hairstreak feeding in a field edge near Paxton, Berwickshire on the Scottish borders on 9 August. More here >

The British List now stands at 610 after the BOURC accept the Western Purple Swamphen found at RSPB Minsmere last summer before relocating to Lincolnshire. More here >

A power-cut and a visit from his mother-in-law played a large part in Duncan Walbridge finding the first Yellow Warbler for the mainland, he tells us his story here. More here >

Style, substance, sonic splendour and some surprises combine to impress Mark James Pearson as The Sound Approach's new release finds a loving home in the 'S' section. More here >

On a trip to Ireland to visit relatives Eugene Dillon-Hooper and his father make a mega discovery.
More here >

The tail end of Hurricane Gert deposits two Yellow Warblers on a magic Monday, whilst in Netherlands a Brown Booby is the WP bird of the week.
More here >

Our overseas book of the month is the new Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, a fully comprehensive guide to all 462 bird species in the country. More here >

Our Book of the Week is the stunning new photographic guide by Lars Gejl. Through outstanding photography and concise, detailed text, Waders of Europe is indispensable for anyone interested in learning more about waders. More here >

Devon and Cornwall police are investigating a suspected case of raptor persecution following the death of a Peregrine.
More here >

Red-footed Booby has become the latest addition to the British List after the BOURC accepted the second-calendar-year female at St.Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex in 2016. More here >

A male White-tailed Eagle has successfully raised chicks from two different nests in East Scotland for the first time ever in Scotland. More here >

This year, nine Blue-throated Macaw chicks have successfully hatched from nest boxes including the first-ever second-generation nest box fledging. More here >

Having completed its second year, Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) is pleased to announce the 2017 winners of this prestigious competition.
More here >

Eight Osprey chicks have taken their first flights in Poole Harbour after being raised and released at a confidential location within the area.
More here >