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| Weekly round-up: 19 - 25 Sept 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A comprehensive round-up of a remarkable week, the highlight of which was undoubtedly Britain's second ever Magnolia Warbler on Fair Isle. With an outstanding supporting cast of Swainson's Thrush, Sykes's Warbler, Blyth's Pipit, White's Thrush, it was a week which will live long in the memory. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (26 Sep 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 12 - 18 Sept 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Headline of the week was undoubtedly Shetland scoring its first-ever Red-eyed Vireo way up on Unst. Lingering rarities included the Short-billed Dowitchers in Dorset and on Scilly and the Baillon's Crake in London. Whilst in Somerset there was confirmation that Little Bittern bred once again on the Somerset Levels for the third year in a row. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (19 Sep 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 05 - 11 Sept 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Another week packed with quality rarities, Britain's third ever Semipalmated Plover on the Western Isles, a new Short-billed Dowitcher in the south west and a co-operative Baillon's Crake in London were the headline makes but there were lots more goodies to be had Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (12 Sep 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 29 Aug - 04 Sept 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| What a week... a first for the WP in the shape of a fly-by Black Skimmer in County Mayo, Britain's second ever Short-billed Dowitcher in Dorset plus American Black Tern in the NW, Spanish Sparrow in Suffolk, Yelkouan Shearwater in County Durham plus much more Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (05 Sep 2012) | |
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| Berries and birds survey (Press report) |
| Do birds use the berry bushes in your garden in the autumn? If so, you can help the BTO by contributing your observations in a new survey. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (05 Sep 2012) | |
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| A tern for the better (Press report) |
| In contrast to the bad news from many seabird colonies around the British coast, the Sandwich Terns on Blakeney Point had a remarkable breeding season this year. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (05 Sep 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 22 - 28 Aug 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Dapper male Spanish Sparrow makes a brief touch down in Suffolk, a Fea's (type) Petrel cruises past the tip of west Cornwall, another Irish Barolo Little Shearwater, an influx of Azorean (Yellow-legged) Gulls.. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (29 Aug 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 15 - 21 Aug 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A trio of Fea's (type) Petrels off the Irish coast, Ireland's second Least Sandpiper of the autumn flies through County Cork while a Barolo Little Shearwater also passes the Cork coast. Meanwhile the Northern Isles and east coast enjoyed another week of drifters and rares. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (22 Aug 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 08 - 14 Aug 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Eleonora's Falcon photographed in west Cornwall, County Kerry lands another Least Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier flies by in the Republic too... a 1st for Clare, Stilt Sandpiper lingers a little longer in Northumberland and much more Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (16 Aug 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 01 - 07 Aug 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Scotland's fourth ever Black-winged Pratincole makes landfall on Lewis, a Northumberland first in the shape of a Stilt Sandpiper and large numbers of Cory's Shearwaters are reported en-masse Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (08 Aug 2012) | |
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| Shoot first - ask questions later? (Personal Account) |
| Avid patch watcher Julian Smith is privileged to have St.John's Pool at the top of Scotland as his local patch. 2012 has proved to be a superb year for the site and in July whilst photographing what he thought were a couple of Greenshank he noticed that one had bright yellow legs! Julian takes up the story here
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| Written by: Julian Smith (03 Aug 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 25 - 31 July 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| The Greater Yellowlegs makes a reappearance in Highland, as does the Roller, this time on Orkney. Lothian hosts it second ever Semipalmated Sand whilst the east coast gets peppered with White-winged Black Terns. Perhaps the most amazing news of all though was the revelation that multiple Baillon's Crakes have been spending the summer in England and Wales Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (01 Aug 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 18 - 24 July 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
Andy Stoddart steps in for Mark Golley again this week and details a very early Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on Orkney, a very mobile Caspian Tern in Norfolk and an all too brief Terek Sandpiper in Sussex.
Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (25 Jul 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 11 - 17 July 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Autumnal wader arrivals stepped up a gear this week. Rare seabirds included a Fea's Petrel off Mizen Head and Wilson's Petrel and Cory's Shearwaters in the southwest. And it was announced that not one but two pairs of Great White Egret have bred in Somerset. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (18 Jul 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 26 June - 03 July 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Little Swift on The Wirral becomes longest staying ever. Late spring migrants include Arctic and Paddyfield Warblers, the Black-browed Albatross reported again in The Channel and much more Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (04 Jul 2012) | |
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| Golden Eagle found poisoned in the Scottish Highlands (Conservation News) |
| Police are appealing for information after a Golden Eagle was found dead near Morar, Lochaber in March. A post-mortem conducted by the Scottish government laboratory of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture showed that the eagle had been poisoned with banned pesticides. Read the full story |
| Written by: RSPB (02 Jul 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 20 - 26 June 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A long-staying Little Swift on The Wirral performs for the masses over the weekend and into the week. A Black-browed Albatross is photographed at sea some 30miles south of Portland, plus Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, possible Red-headed Bunting on the Western Isles and much more Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (27 Jun 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 13 - 19 June 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A Little Bittern in Hertfordshire gives folk the run-around before giving itself up, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Roller and River Warbler still hanging around and perhaps bird of the week was a female Grey Phalarope in Highland, see the gripping photos and Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (20 Jun 2012) | |
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| LIPU's 29th International Camp alerts on poaching! (Conservation News) |
| LIPU's (BirdLife in Italy) annual International 'anti-poaching' camp took place from April 28 to May 13. The participants' main mission was to observe migratory birds and report on illegal hunting. The spring migration of raptors in Calabria (Italian region) this year has been characterised by a significant resumption of poaching in the south of the region. Read the full story |
| Written by: BirdLife (20 Jun 2012) | |
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| When eagles dared! (Conservation News) |
| Eagles would once have soared widely across English skies, but they disappeared at the hands of man: that's a key finding from a new study looking at the historic distribution of Britain and Ireland's two largest birds of prey. Read the full story |
| Written by: RSPB (08 Jun 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 30 May - 05 June 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| After all the commotion of last week things started to settle down somewhat. This week a Roller in East Yorkshire was the main draw after deciding to hang around and perform very well for visiting birders. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (06 Jun 2012) | |
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| Great White Egret confirmed as a British breeding bird (Conservation News) |
| Natural England announced last week that Great White Egret had nested in Britain for the first time. This week they have confirmed that at least one chick has been seen on the nest at their Shapwick Heath in Somerset, making this a new breeding bird record for the UK. Read the full story |
| Written by: Natural England (31 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 23 - 29 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Although it was touch and go, late May finally produced a monster rarity with just a few days to spare in the shape of a Western Orphean Warbler at Hartlepool Headland. Other top birds included a Roller in East Yorkshire and Ireland's first Collared Flycatcher in Donegal. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (30 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 16 - 22 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
Although the coast had a good scattering of Spring scarcities, it was inland Herefordshire which struck back with the remarkable discovery of a Cream-coloured Courser.
Read the round-up here > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (23 May 2012) | |
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| High-tech help for scarce songster (Press report) |
| The latest in satellite tracking technology is being use to unlock the secrets of one of Britain's most elusive and endangered breeding birds. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (22 May 2012) | |
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| Fronting for White-fronts (Press report) |
| An international agreement to take action for Greenland White-fronted Goose will be signed today at a major international meeting in France. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (21 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 09 - 15 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
Another week and the Flamborough Ficedula Flycatcher is still making the headlines. This time though for many birders it's for all the wrong reasons as DNA sequencing has proved it to be a Pied Flycatcher.
Read the round-up here > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (16 May 2012) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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 >
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| Written by: Mike Youdale, WWT (20 Mar 2012) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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