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| Weekly round-up: 06 - 12 August 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
It was a case of all quite on the major new rarity front but this week was all about seabirds. The remnants of hurricane Bertha hit Britain and Ireland much to the delight of those on headlands and pelagics alike.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (13 Aug 2014) | |
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| Book review: Birding Frontiers Challenge Series: Autumn by Martin Garner (Book review) |
Martin Garner is well known for his Birding Frontiers website and his 2008 book 'Frontiers in Birding'. Obvious in both is an infectious enthusiasm, a real delight in birds, a love of discovering and learning and a real ability to collaborate and communicate. These attributes are now showcased once more in Martin's latest book.
Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (12 Aug 2014) | |
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| The "Scopory's" Shearwater off Scilly, August 2014 (ID Article) |
| The 2014 autumn pelagic season off the Isles of Scilly is in full flow, turning up multiple Wilson's Petrels, plenty of large shearwaters and even the odd Leatherback Turtle! Since finding Britain's first accepted Scopoli's in 2004 the Scilly Pelagic team have been on the lookout for another and here Bob Flood discusses a contender from a recent outing. Read the account here |
| Written by: Bob Flood (11 Aug 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 30 July - 05 August 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
A reasonably quiet week for new rarities, well if you count a week with three Fea's Petrels quiet! Lingering birds included the Stilt Sand, Swinhoe's Petrel and Black-winged Pratincole. Elsewhere there were plenty of scarcities including the autumn's first Barred Warbler and a very early Rustic Bunting. And down in Scilly the autumn pelagics score Wilson Petrel, big 'shears' and even a Leatherback Turtle!
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (06 Aug 2014) | |
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| Book review and Special Offer: A Message from Martha (Book review) |
| September 1st, 2014 sees the centenary of one of the best-documented extinctions in history - the demise of the Passenger Pigeon. From being the commonest bird on the planet 50 years earlier, the species became extinct with the death in Cincinatti Zoo of Martha, the last of her kind. A Message from Martha marks the centenary of that tragic event. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (06 Aug 2014) | |
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| Book review and Special Offer: Penguins - Close Encounters (Book review) |
| The vibrant and exciting world of penguins is shown in all its glory in this new book from renowned wildlife photographer David Tipling, who has trekked to remote and beautiful locations to capture birds in their natural habitat going about their daily lives. Moments rarely caught by humans have been preserved on film and reproduced in glorious full-colour images. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (06 Aug 2014) | |
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| Hen Harrier Day 2014 (Conservation News) |
| Hen Harrier Day 2014 will take place this Sunday (10th). A day of peaceful protest at three sites across Northern England it will bring together birders and wildlife lovers who have had enough of Hen Harriers being persecuted on grouse moors. Read more here |
| Written by: Birders Against Wildlife Crime (05 Aug 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 23 - 29 July 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
A busy week as autumn wader migration continued to pick up pace. A Stilt Sandpiper in Northumberland was the star find whilst the Black-winged Pratincole remained in Cambridgeshire but the Minsmere Collared decided to go for a wander, all the way to Northumberland. Elsewhere a Pacific Golden Plover in Staffs ensured landlocked birders got in on the action whilst back on the east coast Lincs scored a Broad-billed Sand.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (30 Jul 2014) | |
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| Book review: The Nature of Japan by Mark Brazil (Book review) |
| The web of life that binds these Japanese islands together into a natural whole, distinguishing them and connecting them, has been Mark Brazil's fascination for more than thirty years. "The Nature of Japan" presents not only a broad view of this geographical and biological diversity, but through personal essays reveals Mark's passion for the nature and seasons of his adopted home. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (25 Jul 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 16 - 22 Jul 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
The wandering Black-winged Pratincole heads from Norfolk to Cambridge. On Shetland the Swinhoe's Petrel is still present, a Bufflehead in Suffolk makes a brief appearance whilst unconfirmed reports of Bridled Tern in Norfolk and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Cork provide the rest of the weeks talking points.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (23 Jul 2014) | |
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| The Inglorious 12th! (Personal Account) |
After years of persecution on grouse moors the Hen Harrier is facing near extinction as a breeding bird in England. Former RSPB Conservation Director Mark Avery along with the recently formed Birders Against Wildlife Crime, Chris Packham and others, are taking a stand this August and need your support.
Read the full story here |
| Written by: Mark Avery, Rare Bird Alert (22 Jul 2014) | |
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| Get shirty at Birdfair 2014 (Conservation News) |
| In conjunction with kits4causes and The Rutland Osprey Project, visitors, exhibitors and the general public at this year's BirdFair, are being asked to bring along any unwanted football kit to be donated to school children in Senegal and The Gambia. Read the full story here |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (18 Jul 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 09 - 15 Jul 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
Norfolk scored a hat-trick of mega rare waders. Topping the bill, a three-day Great Knot at Breydon Water, whilst an even more brief Stilt Sandpiper was present at Hickling, and in north Norfolk a Black-winged Pratincole made an even briefer stop at Cley NWT, present as it was for just a few hours.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (16 Jul 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 02 - 08 July 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
As we reach one of the quietest times of year a few lingering rarities provided most of the news this week. However a fly-by Black-browed Albatross off Portland on the morning of the 5th was the undoubted highlight.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (09 Jul 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 18 - 24 Jun 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Mid-summer it may be and although it has been quietening down on the number of sightings the quality remained high. Two White-throated Sparrows are found on the same day, the Bridled Tern on Fair relocates south to NE England, whilst back 'up north' Shetland bagged a Scops Owl. In Southern England the Short-toed Eagle disappeared, and then reappeared, whilst the record breaking Spectacled Warbler moved on permanently. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (25 Jun 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 11 - 17 Jun 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
Wow, what a week! Highlights included a Black-winged Pratincole in the north-east, Shetland's first Bridled Tern on Fair Isle, a Scops Owl ringed on North Ronaldsay, Black Scoter in Cleveland, not to mention the long-staying Short-toed Eagle and Spectacled Warbler plus Black-winged Stilt chicks hatch at multiple sites!
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (18 Jun 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 04 - 10 June 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
The Short-toed Eagle is re-found and goes on a tour of Southern England whilst in Norfolk the nest building Spectacled Warbler continues, its now record breaking stay. Elsewhere there were few new rarities of note but still a good number of scarce migrants to keep the summer lull at bay a while longer.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (11 Jun 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 28 May - 03 June 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
In Dorset a twitchable Short-toed Eagle delighted the masses and in North Norfolk a nest-building Spectacled Warbler was equally well received and meant it was a two-tick week for many! Elsewhere a first summer Ross's Gull was present in Devon having been previously identified as a Little Gull.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (04 Jun 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 21 - 27 May 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
A bumper May week included a brief appearance of a Slender-billed Gull at Titchwell, Britain's first in 14 years! Elsewhere there was Calandra Lark on Fair Isle, Baillon's Crake in Kent and a Collared Flycatcher in Argyll.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (28 May 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 14 - 20 May 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
The bolt from the blue this week came in the shape of a Bermuda Petrel photographed in Irish Waters. Elsewhere a super showy Terek Sandpiper proved to be a real crowd pleaser.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (21 May 2014) | |
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| Nightingales sing again after ninety years (Conservation News) |
| Ninety years to the day since the first outside broadcast of nightingale song on the BBC, the RSPB has decided to do it all over again to celebrate the anniversary and mark the plight of the threatened, long-distance migrant bird. Read the full story here |
| Written by: RSPB (16 May 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 7 - 13 May 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Fair Isle turns up Britain's third ever spring Hermit Thrush. Elsewhere a Myrtle Warbler relocates to Unst from North Ronaldsay. And in Northumberland a Bonelli's Warbler sees a belated compass point change, to something altogether rarer... Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (14 May 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 30 Apr - 6 May 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
A Myrtle Warbler on North Ronaldsay and Britain's first spring record of American Buff-bellied Pipit in Lancashire were this week's highlights. With lingering megas such as Cretzschmar's Bunting and Caspian Stonechat it proved to be another very good week indeed.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (07 May 2014) | |
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| Review: Megas seen in Britain and Ireland: 2009-2013 (Book review) |
| Since 2007 Steve Evans has been documenting the rarest birds to turn up in Britain. The latest in his series includes some stunning footage of Rock Thrush, Harlequin Duck, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat to name but a few. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (06 May 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 23 - 29 Apr 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
Fair Isle scores Britain's 5th ever Cretzschmar's Bunting and the same day a Caspian Stonechat! In Norfolk a lone patchworker bags the first Alpine Accentor in a decade and in Borders a male Collared Flycatcher. Elsewhere plenty of quality scarce migrants to keep everyone more than happy!
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (30 Apr 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 16 - 22 Apr 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| It was by no means a stellar week for major rarities but there were still plenty of scarce migrants to be found. A fly-by Northern Harrier in Dorset topped the Bill whilst Irish birders were treated to only the 3rd Sardinian Warbler ever. Whilst in Devon a Collared Pratincole was a first in the county since 1956! Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (23 Apr 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 09 - 15 Apr 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| After a previously quiet spring week things began to hot-up. A Crag Martin in East Yorks broke the one-day mould and stuck around for three! Leicestershire bags it's first Pied-billed Grebe whilst a record-equalling flock of Black-winged Stilts are found on the Isle of Wight Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (16 Apr 2014) | |
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| The Lynford crossbill conundrum. (ID Article) |
| Marcus Nash discusses the controversial first winter Two-barred Crossbill which has spent most of the winter at Lynford Arboretum in Norfolk. Read more here |
| Written by: Marcus Nash (11 Apr 2014) | |
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| Big Garden Birdwatch results: All change in the top ten (Conservation News) |
| Almost half a million people who took part in this year's RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch have discovered some interesting changes among our most popular garden birds, with some species that benefit from a bit of extra help creeping up the rankings. Read more here |
| Written by: RSPB (27 Mar 2014) | |
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| Topsey-turvey year for garden birds (Conservation News) |
| The 2013 annual results for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden BirdWatch (GBW) have just been published and reveal an interesting year for birds, with a very cold spring, a poor breeding season and a good autumn berry and seed crop all playing their part. Read more here |
| Written by: BTO (20 Mar 2014) | |
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| Champions of the Flyway - A unique bird race for conservation (Conservation News) |
| Fourteen teams of adrenalin charged birders will step boldly into the Israeli night at midnight on 31 March, as they cross the start line of a unique, new, bird race. Champions of the Flyway is the brainchild of SPNI (BirdLife in Israel) and will raise conservation funds to help BirdLife Partners tackle the illegal killing of birds in Southern and Eastern Europe. And RBA are delighted to be able to support one of teams. Read more here |
| Written by: BirdLife (19 Mar 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 12 - 18 Mar 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Plenty of birds were on offer as the weather generally remained fairly settled and favourable to more common March migrants and a few overshoots too. Whilst in West Sussex a hoaxed Savannah Sparrow was the unsavoury 'lowlight' of the week! Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (19 Mar 2014) | |
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| Book review: Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology since Darwin (Book review) |
| Provides a thoroughly engaging and authoritative history of modern ornithology, tracing how the study of birds has been shaped by a succession of visionary and often-controversial personalities, and by the unique social and scientific contexts in which these extraordinary individuals worked. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (04 Mar 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 19 - 25 Feb 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
Unlike their recent exploits in the Six Nations, Ireland managed a triple crown... of Ross's Gulls! Elsewhere it was a case of as you were with long-stayers such American Coot and Red-flanked Bluetail remaining in residence whilst the 2013/14 gull-fest continued.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (26 Feb 2014) | |
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| Book review: The North American Bird Guide, second edition (David Sibley) (Book review) |
| When David Sibley's North American Bird Guide was first published in 2000, it instantly became the definitive field guide for the region. Andy Stoddart gets his hands on this highly anticipated second edition and isn't left disappointed. SPECIAL OFFER £21.49 for RBA customers with £1.10 of every sale going to Spoon-billed Sandpiper conservation. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (21 Feb 2014) | |
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| The Birds of London (Book review) |
| SPECIAL OFFER £41.99 for RBA customers with £2 of every sale going to Spoon-billed Sandpiper conservation. The status, distribution and history of every species on the regional list is discussed in rich detail in Birds of London, the first comprehensive avifauna for the London area ever published. More here |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (19 Feb 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 12 - 18 Feb 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| There were two undoubted talking points this week, the first of which wasn't even a bird! The weather dominated, with Britain and Ireland seeing some of the strongest wind and heaviest rain ever recorded! Whilst in Kent a Chinese Pond Heron provided the avian topic of conversation. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (19 Feb 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 05 - 11 Feb 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Any thoughts that 2014 might start to 'quieten' down were well and truly dismissed as three top quality finds were made. A classic near-adult Slaty-backed Gull in Galway was the star turn with a Myrtle Warbler in Co.Durham and Fea's Petrel in East Yorks providing heavyweight back-up! Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (12 Feb 2014) | |
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| Book review: Lost Animals (Book review) |
| A truly extraordinary collection of photographs of animals now extinct in the wild. Often tinted sepia or in black-and-white, these images were taken in zoos or wildlife parks and in a handful of cases feature the last remaining example of the species. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (06 Feb 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 28 Jan - 4th 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A dead American Purple Gallinule in Co.Mayo was a case of what could have been whilst in Gloucestershire a dedicated patch worker stumbles across Britain's first ever wintering Red-flanked Bluetail. A new Ivory Gull in Ireland and plenty of long staying megas meant it was another busy week! Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (05 Feb 2014) | |
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| Book review: Ghosts of Gone Birds (Book review) |
| This an unusual book, tracing the story of a unique art project which has sought to explore and highlight the story of extinct bird species, the 'gone birds' of its title. Read the review here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (31 Jan 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 22 - 28 Jan 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| By recent standards it was a relatively quiet week but still there were plenty of quality birds to he had. Midland birders were treated to a county first in the shape of a Humes's Yellow-browed Warbler in Warwickshire. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (29 Jan 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 15 - 21 Jan 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Arctic birds continue to dominate proceedings this week, top of the list being a Pacific Diver found at Lough Fea County Tyrone. Other highlights include a Ross's Gull in Dublin, Ivory Gull in Wexford, Thayer's Gull in Glamorgan and American Coot in Highland. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (22 Jan 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 08 - 14 Jan 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Two weeks into 2014 and we are still looking to the amazing year of 2013 to make the headlines. A White-winged Scoter seen off Musselburgh on Boxing Day gets identified as Britain's first Stejneger's Scoter! Elsewhere Ireland gets in on the Ivory Gull action with a super showy bird at Tacumshin. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (15 Jan 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 24 Dec 2013 - 07 Jan 2014 (Weekly Roundup) |
| In a double helping covering the Christmas and the New Year fortnight, Jon Dunn brings you details of all the best birds. In Dorset a long-staying Brunnich's Guillemot delighted those who could drag themselves away from the turkey leftovers! Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Jon Dunn (08 Jan 2014) | |
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| RBA Scarce and Rare Bird Round-up Photograph of 2013 (Personal Account) |
| 2013 will go down as one of the most memorable years in British and Irish birding history. We received many excellent photographs for inclusion on our weekly round-ups and so to give credit to those photographers who have been generous enough to post their images, it was decided to hold the inaugural RBA Review Photograph of the Year award. See the contenders and winners here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (06 Jan 2014) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 18 - 23 Dec 2013 (Weekly Roundup) |
| In the last round-up of 2013, Mark Golley brings us the weeks highlights. A possible Steller's Eider in Lothian got the pulses racing for a short while. Cheshire scored a first in the shape of an American Buff-bellied Pipit and in E.Yorks the juvenile Ivory Gull continued to perform at Patrington. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (24 Dec 2013) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 11 - 17 Dec 2013 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A very wintry feel to the round-up this week with gulls taking the limelight. In Co.Donegal an adult Thayer's Gull was a top-drawer find whilst back in Britain an Ivory Gull in East Yorkshire drew the largest crowds. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (18 Dec 2013) | |
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