 |
|
|
 |
|
| Wild Cranes return to their motherland (Conservation News) |
| Four Cranes reared at WWT Slimbridge in 2010 and 2011 and then released into the wild as part of the Great Crane Project have returned home for the first time. More > |
| Written by: WWT (14 May 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Diary of a WWT Warden - March & April (Personal Account) |
| Warden Mike Youdale gives us the low down on the coming and goings at Caerlaverock WWT. As the wintering birds start to move on the first arrivals of spring begin arriving. More > |
| Written by: Mike Youdale, WWT (14 May 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Weekly Round-up 02 May - 08 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| As the Ficedula flycatcher remained at Flamborough the birding community is holding it's collective breath awaiting the outcome of DNA sampling to confirm the identity of this challenging bird. In the meantime a flood of new birds were on hand to keep everyone entertained with Kent scoring a mega lark double. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (08 May 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| A flyway success? (Press report) |
| BirdLife International's Partners in the Americas network have now completed three years of conservation efforts for migratory birds along the Western Hemisphere Flyway. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (05 May 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly Round-up 25 April - 01 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| This week a challenging Ficedula flycatcher in Yorkshire whose identity is still unknown could prove to be a British first. Plus a Bufflehead in Lincolnshire, roaming White Storks and some very smart looking passerines. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (02 May 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| English Black Grouse numbers doubled (Press report) |
| A survey this spring has revealed that numbers of Black Grouse have doubled in parts of northern England in the last two years. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (02 May 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly Review 18 - 24 April 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Another relatively quiet week on the new rarity front but still plenty of migrants to entertain despite the miserable conditions. A very smart looking Ashy-headed Wagtail in Cheshire and a flock of White Storks in Worcestershire star More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (25 Apr 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Cahow reaches new high (Press report) |
| The Cahow or Bermuda Petrel population has reached 101 pairs for the first time since the 17th Century. For the first time since its rediscovery in 1951, the population of Bermuda's National Bird, this Critically Endangered bird has passed the landmark number of 101 nesting pairs. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (24 Apr 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly Review 11 - 17 April 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Another relatively quiet week with few new birds reported but Mark doesn't let this stop him! Another packed review including Black-winged Stilt tracking and a major movement of Ring Ouzels More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (18 Apr 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly review 4 - 10 April 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Mark is away this week but we are delighted to welcome Andy Stoddart to the weekly review team. The news over the past week and Easter weekend was dominated by the Thayer's Gull in Lincolnshire. More > |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (11 Apr 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Save the sparrow (Conservation News) |
| Residents of Bupa care homes are calling on local communities to help reverse the decline in the UK house sparrow population by joining them in creating sparrow-friendly gardens. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (11 Apr 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly review 28 March - 03 April (Weekly Roundup) |
| A dramatic change in the weather as we moved into April meant a serious lack of new birds turning up. However the appearance of a very strong candidate for Thayer's Gull in Lincolnshire towards the end of the week is getting the larid lovers all excited. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (04 Apr 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Falling stars of the garden (Press report) |
| Counts in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch revealed that starling numbers are at an all time low since the survey began more than thirty years ago. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (31 Mar 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly review 21 - 27 March (Weekly Roundup) |
| Late March is not usually known for bumper crops of quality rarities and scarce migrants but that is exactly what got delivered last week. Irish birders in particular were treated to a couple of cracking birds including a welcome addition to most Irish birders lists. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (28 Mar 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Gulls play the field in UK schools (Conservation News) |
| A UK-wide survey of wildlife in schools has revealed that playing fields provide decent stomping grounds for some of the UK gulls including the 'red-listed' Herring Gull. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (28 Mar 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly review 14 - 20 March 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| No new major rarities to report this week, at least twitchable ones anyway, but a stellar cast of long stayers and a few "might have been" provide the entertainment. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (21 Mar 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Diary of a WWT Warden - February (Personal Account) |
The next diary instalment from WWT Caerlaverock warden Mike Youdale, good numbers of Barnacle Geese and a brief visit from a showy Ross's Goose feature More >
|
| Written by: Mike Youdale, WWT (20 Mar 2012) | |
| |
|
|
| Weekly review 07 - 13 March 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Week two of our new reviews and Kent is home to yet another British Short-toed Treecreeper record, a wintering Waterthrush remains on Scilly, wandering Ibises and much more More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (14 Mar 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| NEW FEATURE: Weekly review 28 February - 06 March (Weekly Roundup) |
| To coincide with the launch of our new-look website we are delighted to announce that Mark Golley will be writing a weekly review of birding's highs, and lows, from around the British Isles. Published each Wednesday, they promise to be a great read for all, we hope you enjoy them. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (07 Mar 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Common Yellowthroat in Gwent (Personal Account) |
| February 2012 saw the finding of Britain's 10th Common Yellowthroat at Rhiwderin in Gwent, south Wales. Local birder Darryl Spittle, who was instrumental in helping release the news to the masses, takes up the story. More > |
| Written by: Darryl Spittle (07 Mar 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| New-look Rare Bird Alert website (Conservation News) |
| As we are sure you have probably noticed by now the RBA website has undergone a major facelift with updates to our logo, menus, navigation and overall appearance and layout. We hope you like the new look and would love to hear your feedback. More > |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (07 Mar 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| First ASBO for wildlife crimes (Conservation News) |
| Serial egg collector Matthew Gonshaw, of Bow, has become the first person in England to receive an ASBO for crimes against nature. He is also believed to be the first person to be receive an ASBO restricting him from visiting Scotland. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (01 Mar 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Drought warning for wildlife (Press report) |
| The RSPB is warning that if the drought situation continues, it could spell potential disaster for wildlife. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (25 Feb 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Diary of a WWT Warden #1 (Personal Account) |
| In the first of a series of regular pieces Mike Youdale of Caerlaverock WWT, gives a wardens eye view of the day-to-day comings and goings at one of the countries prime nature reserves. More > |
| Written by: Mike Youdale, WWT (17 Feb 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Blizzard of birds hits frozen gardens (Press report) |
| Huge numbers of birds have swept into gardens over the last few days, the latest results from the BTO's Garden BirdWatch survey reveal. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (08 Feb 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Runners needed to help Britain's birds (Conservation News) |
| Want to run? Want to help Britain's birds? Want to support one of the country's biggest bird charities? Then the Brighton marathon could be just the right event for you. More > |
| Written by: BTO (01 Feb 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Pagham Harbour changes hands (Press report) |
| One of the country's most popular and internationally important nature reserves is now coming under RSPB ownership. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (23 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| New Birdfair for Scotland (Press report) |
| What promises to be one of the most exciting events in the birding calendar is set to launch this spring, with the inaugural Scottish Birdfair taking place on 19-20 May. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (19 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Cornish seabirds take net loss (Press report) |
| Large numbers of seabirds continue to be killed as by-catch by Cornish fishermen, it has been revealed. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (14 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Pike versus grebe (Press report) |
| Stopping the introduction of Pike into Scottish lochs could help ensure the future of one of Scotland's rarest birds, according to research by RSPB Scotland. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (11 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Save the Hooded Grebe (Press report) |
| An appeal has been launched to help rid the breeding colonies of Argentina's Endangered Hooded Grebe of introduced American Mink. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (10 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Cuckoos tracked to West Africa (Press report) |
| Five satellite tracked Cuckoos are revealing their migratory secrets in deepest West Africa. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (09 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Med gets joint conservation fund
(Press report) |
| The whole Mediterranean region has now got a comprehensive conservation strategy in place, owing to a new international collaboration. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (06 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| EU ministers favour farmers (Press report) |
| The EU Environment Council in Brussels has shown its true colours by favouring the short term interests of farm lobbyists over long-term biodiversity gains. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (04 Jan 2012) | |
| |
 |
|
| Deer are bad news for birds (Conservation News) |
| Deer may be affecting some bird species on far larger scales than previously appreciated, new research has found. More > |
| Written by: BTO (31 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Flurries of owls (Press report) |
| North America reports a significant influx of Snowy Owls into the Lower 48, way south of their usual wintering grounds. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (29 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Don't cause bird fat-alities (Press report) |
| Cooked turkey fat should NOT be fed to birds as it is extremely dangerous and could even kill them. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (26 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Spare your holly for the birds (Press report) |
| The festive holly branches of Christmas also benefit our birdlife in the cold winter months. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (20 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| From one cold coast to the other (Press report) |
| For 3 years a ringing team from Spitsbergen, Svalbard have been colour ringing Purple Sandpipers in a hope to find out the wintering distribution of breeding birds. More > |
| Written by: BTO (17 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Britain's most imprisoned egg collector back behind bars (Conservation News) |
| Matthew Gonshaw (49) of Cherrywood Close, Bow in East London, has extended his infamy for being Britain's most imprisoned egg collector by being sentenced to yet another jail term, for six months, following conviction for stealing and possessing wild birds eggs, including those of some of the rarest and most threatened birds in the UK. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (14 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Scotland's White-tailed Eagles soar to new heights (Conservation News) |
| 2011 has proved another record breaking year for breeding pairs of Scotland's largest bird of prey. White-tailed Eagles soared to new heights despite heavy storms throughout the 2011 breeding season. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (14 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Red-flanked Bluetail in California! (Personal Account) |
| North America's 2nd ever Red-flanked Bluetail outside of Alaska was found this week in California. Read the finders' account More > |
| Written by: eBird (10 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Seaduck on the slide (Press report) |
| Widespread declines in the numbers of seaduck in the Baltic are alarming conservationists. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (08 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Gamekeeper guilty of illegal killing of raptors (Press report) |
| David Alexander Whitefield pleaded guilty to poisoning four Common Buzzards using the lethal, banned pesticide Alphachloralose, while employed at a Culter Allers Estate in South Lanarkshire in 2009. . More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (08 Dec 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Spoony touches down at Heathrow (Conservation News) |
| In the latest stage of the inspiring project to save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper from extinction, the first batch of birds have arrived in the UK. Read the latest from the team and watch some fantastic footage of the birds arriving at Heathrow's animal reception centre. More > |
| Written by: WWT (16 Nov 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| A century of protection, and the poisoning continues (Press report) |
| Exactly a century ago, the barbaric acts of putting baits laced with deadly poisons out into the countryside to kill wildlife was outlawed. Yet despite this, a new report, published today by the RSPB, shows that this practice remains a major problem for the UK's birds of prey. More> |
| Written by: RSPB (04 Nov 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Cyprus kills its millionth migrant (Press report) |
| The ongoing toll of migrant birds in Cyprus has topped a new benchmark this autumn, as over one million have been illegally trapped and killed already this autumn. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (20 Oct 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Lake Natron reprieve (Press report) |
| Tanzania's Director of Environment has affirmed that there will be no soda ash mining at Lake Natron without addressing the concerns of conservationists. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (14 Oct 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Red-backed Shrike breeds on Dartmoor (Press report) |
| Red-backed Shrikes, once extinct in Britain, bred again on Dartmoor this summer, the second successive year of breeding in Devon this century. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (28 Sep 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Bird song complexity due to brain power (Press report) |
| The term 'birdbrain' may take on a whole new meaning as a study has found a link between the size of a songbird's brain and the complexity of its songs. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (22 Sep 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Record number of Golden Eagles poisoned (Rarity Review) |
| Four Golden Eagles, the most recorded in a single year, were among 29 birds illegally poisoned last year, according to an RSPB report. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (14 Sep 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Spoonbills return and successfully breed at Norfolk reserve (Conservation News) |
| Staff at one of Natural England's flagship reserves are celebrating the return and successful breeding of eight Spoonbill pairs. 14 young have successfully fledged this year, up from six last year, and is just rewards for the hard work and dedication of the reserve staff. More> |
| Written by: Natural England (12 Sep 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Looking out for vanishing woodland birds (Conservation News) |
| Two formerly widespread British nesting birds have now become so scarce their numbers will be monitored by a special panel of experts charting the UK's rarest breeding birds. More> |
| Written by: RSPB (07 Sep 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Avian fallout from Hurricane Irene (Personal Account) |
| Whilst the human cost and devastation to infrastructure caused by Hurricane Irene is still being counted along the eastern seaboard of the United States, expat birder Angus Wilson describes the avian fallout in upstate New York. More> |
| Written by: Angus Wilson (31 Aug 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Species count put at 8.7 million (Research) |
| The natural world contains about 8.7 million species, according to a new estimate described by scientists as the most accurate ever. More> |
| Written by: BBC (23 Aug 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Roseate went to The Americas (Press report) |
| The BTO recently received a recovery of a ringed Roseate Tern in a breeding colony in New Hampshire in the USA. More> |
| Written by: BTO (18 Aug 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| White-tailed Eagles released in Scotland (Conservation News) |
| Sixteen White-tailed Eagles have been released at a secret location in Fife, as the East Scotland Sea Eagle project's reintroduction scheme enters its penultimate year. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (16 Aug 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| They think its all over... and it could be in six minutes! (Conservation News) |
| With the Premier League kicking off this weekend the RSPB is asking people to think about the threats facing rainforests and calling for support to help save and protect them and all their wonderful wildlife. More> |
| Written by: RSPB (13 Aug 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Campaign for Irish Curlews (Conservation News) |
| A campaign has been launched by BirdWatch Ireland to raise funds for the country's declining Irish Curlew population. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch Ireland (02 Aug 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Nesting success for Middle East's rarest bird (Press report) |
| Conservationists have feared that Syria's current political unrest may have affected the fortunes of the Northern Bald Ibis, currently the most threatened bird in the Middle East with just one breeding pair left. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (25 Jul 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Winter waterbirds top 12.5 million (Press report) |
| Just published research gives an idea of the amazing numbers of waterbirds using Britain's wetlands in winter, many estimated for the first time. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (18 Jul 2011) | |
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| World's first Spoon-billed Sandpiper born in captivity (Conservation News) |
| The expedition to save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper has received a huge boost in the shape of two newly hatched chicks, the first time ever the species has been born in captivity. The team are hoping that this will be the start of the long road to recovery for the enigmatic wader. More > |
| Written by: WWT (12 Jul 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Wild bird trapping rife across Europe (Conservation News) |
| A pan-European conference has revealed the shocking truth about Europe's bird trappers. BirdLife Partners from 38 European countries have gathered information about the illegal killing and trapping of birds that occur in their countries, and the results were presented at a European Conference. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (07 Jul 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Emergency Action for Dartmoor's Ring Ouzels (Advertising feature) |
| The RSPB has teamed up with environmental funder SITA Trust and Dartmoor National Park Authority in an attempt to stem the decline of the Ring Ouzel in Dartmoor. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (06 Jul 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| How safe is mist netting? (Research) |
| Capturing birds in mist nets is one of the most common research methods in field ornithology, but until now, the risks mist nets pose to birds were largely unknown. The first large-scale study into the technique finds little risk to birds. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatching (30 Jun 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Safe arrival for White-tailed Eagle chicks (Conservation News) |
| 16 White-tailed Eagle chicks, gifted to Scotland from Norway as part of a major reintroduction project, have been settling into their temporary home at a secret location in Scotland. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (28 Jun 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Mousa Storm Petrel population doubles in just 12 years. (Advertising feature) |
| A just-published survey conducted in 2008 by RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage on the island of Mousa, Shetland, recorded an estimated 11,800 pairs - a huge increase on the 5,400 found in 1996. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (22 Jun 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Gyrfalcons are 'secret seabirds' (Advertising feature) |
| The world's largest falcon, the fast, taloned gyrfalcon, is a secret seabird, scientists have discovered. Gyrfalcons living in the high Arctic overwinter out at sea, spending long periods living and hunting on pack ice. More > |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (20 Jun 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| Gamekeeper guilty of bird of prey crime (Conservation News) |
| A Derbyshire gamekeeper has been found guilty of attempting to illegally trap and kill birds of prey, following a 10 day trial. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (14 Jun 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| VIDEO - White-throated Robin at Hartlepool Headland (Conservation News) |
| Britain's third ever, and first twitchable, White-throated Robin was found this morning (6-Jun-2011) at Hartlepool Headland. The bird, initially thought to have been a Red-flanked Bluetail, has been trapped+released and has been seen in the area around the bowling green on and off since. More > |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (06 Jun 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Emergency mission to save remarkable bird from extinction (Conservation News) |
| An international team of conservationists has flown out to the Russian Far East on an emergency mission to help save one of the worlds rarest birds from extinction. The Spoon-billed
Sandpiper is a unique and remarkable bird, but its shocking drop in numbers indicates likely extinction within a decade if urgent action is not taken. More > |
| Written by: WWT (03 Jun 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| New Atlantic seabird tracking scheme (Press report) |
| A new project has now begun to track the foraging movements of eastern Atlantic seabirds, to help site for marine protection areas. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (28 May 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Great Snipe - Great Speed (Research) |
| Scientists in Sweden carrying out research on the migration routes of Great Snipe have made some unexpected and amazing discoveries. One bird was found to have travelled over 4,200 miles in just 3.5 days travelling at speeds of 60mph. More > |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (25 May 2011) | |
| |
 |
|
| Maltese storks given armed protection but killing goes on (Press report) |
| As Malta continues to ignore EU conservation legislation, the largest flock of White Storks ever recorded on the islands has been shot at several times by hunters, with some being killed and others seriously injured. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (23 May 2011) | |
| |