Articles

Here you will find birding articles from conservation organisations and other groups, together with individual accounts of rare bird finds and a range of other features.

RBA Daily News Summaries – daily bird news on an easy-to-use, searchable page.
Finders in the Field: Black-billed Cuckoo, North Ronaldsay, Oct 2014 (Finders account)
Following his regular census route Mark Warren, from North Ron Bird Observatory, was checking out a redpoll in Holland House Garden when a bird evading a Merlin dropped into the garden and caught his attention. Minutes later he was watching Orkney's first Black-billed Cuckoo and only the 15th to occur in the British Isles.
Read Mark's finders account here
Written by Mark Warren, Rare Bird Alert (29 Oct 2014)
Conviction for English egg collector who 'exported' crimes to Bulgaria (Press report)
An English egg collector has been handed a six month prison sentence, suspended for three years, and a 5000 Lev (£2024) fine after pleading guilty to the illegal possession of 16 birds' eggs and three taxidermy specimens by a court in Burgas, Bulgaria, today. This follows a lengthy investigation by the Burgas Police, assisted by The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), and the RSPB.
Read the full story here
Written by RSPB (25 Oct 2014)
Weekly round-up: 15 - 21 October 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
A Siberian Thrush trapped in Shetland was found to have been ringed nearly three weeks earlier in Norway. Elsewhere a Bridled Tern flew past Cornwall and Shrikes made headlines from the east coast. Read the roundup here
Written by Mark Golley (22 Oct 2014)
Weekly round-up: 08 - 14 October 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
Another fantastic week for rare and scarce migrants. Highlights include Eastern Bonelli's Warbler on Shetland, Audouin's Gull in Kent, Great Snipe in Wales, Brunnich's Guillemot off Yorkshire and a huge rarity in Scotland in the form of a Cetti's Warbler! Read the roundup here
Written by Jon Dunn (15 Oct 2014)
Trail Camera Wildlife Recording - Code Of Practice (Conservation News)
The use and popularity of motion activated trail cameras to record wildlife has exploded in the past 5 years. As prices reduce and quality of recorded images increases the audience for these powerful wildlife monitoring tools is likely to continue to grow at an incredible rate so a new code of practice has been drawn up.
More details here
Written by Wildlife Gadgetman, Rare Bird Alert (15 Oct 2014)
Weekly round-up: 01 - 07 October 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
A very busy week with quality rarities being from Shetland to Scilly and Norfolk to Cape Clear. A Scarlet Tanager on Western Isles was the star turn but a male Siberian Rubythroat and White's Thrush double act meant Shetland remained in the headlines! Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (08 Oct 2014)
Weekly round-up: 24 - 30 September 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
The Northern Isles stole the show this week as east met west. North Ronaldsay scored a stunning Eyebrowed Thrush and on Shetland an uber showy White's Thrush got the heart beats racing with a supporting cast of Myrtle Warbler and Swainson's Thrush. Ireland wasn't to be outdone though scoring an Ovenbird and Red-eyed Vireo! Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (01 Oct 2014)
App Review: Aves Vox Pro for iOS (App Review)
Marcus Nash reviews Aves Vox Pro, a comprehensive bird calls app which features over 30,000 recordings from the highly acclaimed Xeno-Canto website. At just £2.99 it appears to offer a lot of bang for your buck.
Read the review here
Written by Marcus Nash (01 Oct 2014)
Book review: The World of Birds (Book review)
A groundbreaking guide to every aspect of bird life and a complete survey of the world's orders and families of birds. Written by eminent natural history expert Jonathan Elphick and with special photography from award-winning wildlife photographer David Tipling, it is the ultimate companion for birders and wildlife enthusiasts. Read the review here
Written by Andy Stoddart (26 Sep 2014)
Weekly round-up: 17 - 23 September 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
Britain's 3rd ever Masked Shrike made landfall at Spurn and topped the bill for rarities this week. A Fea's Petrel tracked along the north east coast over 9 hours and seen in five counties will be, for those who saw it at least, another big talking point. Elsewhere there were rarities a plenty and enough scarcities to keep one particular weekly roundup author indoors in front of a computer screen for far too long!
Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (24 Sep 2014)
Hen Harriers disappear without trace (Conservation News)
Two young satellite-tagged Hen Harriers have vanished in Lancashire in unexplained circumstances. They had both fledged this year from nests on the United Utilities Bowland Estate in Lancashire where they had been protected around the clock by RSPB staff and volunteers
Read the full story here
Written by RSPB (24 Sep 2014)
First 'Grand-Chick' for Conservationist (Conservation News)
The first ever Spoon-billed Sandpiper chick to be hatched in the wild by a hand-reared bird. With the global population estimated to be less than 100 pairs it is another glimmer of hope for this enigmatic species.
Read the full story here
Written by WWT (24 Sep 2014)
Weekly round-up: 10 - 16 September 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
Despite the weather the 'big rare' everyone hoped for never materialised. However There was plenty of scarce migrant action with large numbers of Red-breasted Flycatchers on the east coast and the first Yellow-browed Warblers touched down too. Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (17 Sep 2014)
Review: The Bird Songs of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for iOS (App Review)
The Bird Songs of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East by Andreas Schulze & Karl-Heinz Dingler was originally released in 2003 as a 17 CD set. This app takes all the audio from the original CDs and adds an interactive user interface together with additional features, including species descriptions and photos. Marcus Nash from the 'The Bird Id Company' comprehensively reviews it for us.
Read the review here
Written by Marcus Nash (16 Sep 2014)
Weekly round-up: 03 - 09 September 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
A Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler trapped and ringed in Hampshire was both a first for the county and the earliest record for Britain. In East Devon a Little Crake drew the crowds whilst across the Irish Sea the Stilt Sandpiper goes wandering and headed to the capital. And in Norfolk bitter-sweet news that the summering Short-toed Eagle went undetected, by most anyway. Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (10 Sep 2014)
Review: Collins Bird Guide app for iPad and iPhone (App Review)
Since publication in 1999 the Collins Bird Guide has been widely acclaimed as the pre-eminent field guide for the region. It has now moved into the digital age and is available for iPad and Iphone. Marcus Nash gives a comprehensively review but has it made a successful leap from paper to screen?
Read the full review here
Written by Marcus Nash (10 Sep 2014)
Finders in the Field: Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Hampshire Sept 2014 (Finders account)
Away from Shetland a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler is always big news and even bigger when it is a county first on the mainland! After ringing over 4500 Grasshopper Warbler at Titchfield Haven in 15 years those present on the 6th Sept were expecting more but instead got a very pleasant surprise when they plucked a 'PGTips' from the nets. Read Trevor Codlin's account of the find here here
Written by Trevor Codlin (09 Sep 2014)
RSPB to fight for nationally important site for Nightingales (Conservation News)
The RSPB will be asking the Secretary of State to examine last night's decision by Medway Council, in North Kent to approve an outline planning application for the development of 5000 homes on Lodge Hill - a nationally protected wildlife site, home to a nationally important population of Nightingales.
Read the full story here
Written by RSPB (05 Sep 2014)
Book review: National Birds of the World (Book review)
There are now almost 100 national birds spanning every imaginable group from condors to parrots, Trogons to Frigatebirds. National Birds tells of how they came to be adopted and presents a wide range of official and cultural contexts where they appear from feathers in tribal costumes to stamps and currency.
Read the review here
Written by Andy Stoddart (04 Sep 2014)
Weekly round-up: 27 Aug - 02 Sept 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
Major new rarities were fairly thin on the ground though there was still [another] Swinhoe's Petrel in Ireland, Gloucestershire's first Marsh Sand whilst Norfolk had a Putative Eastern Common Tern. However the main talking point of the week was the fall of scarce migrants on the east coast.
Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (03 Sep 2014)
Batumi - Migration Marvel Under Fire (Personal Account)
With more than one million migrating raptors of up to 35 species passing through Batumi on Georgia's Black Sea coast, it is simply the greatest bottleneck for migrating birds of prey in all Eurasia. An estimated 10,000 raptors are illegally killed in the Batumi Gorge every year. Oliver Reville is part of team monitoring the situation this year and gives us his first in a series of reports. Read the full story here
Written by Oliver Reville, Rare Bird Alert (02 Sep 2014)
Check your Sandwich for bling. National Trust needs your help to spot their Sandwich Terns (Conservation News)
For a second year, Sandwich Tern chicks were ringed on National Trust Blakeney Point this summer. Last year, 50 were fitted with blue colour-rings. This year, twice as many were ringed. Ringing was done by Jez Blackburn of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and his small team, with assistance from National Trust rangers. They are now looking for birders to report any ringed Terns which they see.
Read the full story here
Written by National Trust, Rare Bird Alert (29 Aug 2014)
Weekly round-up: 20 - 26 August 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
Another week and yet more mega rare seabirds. A lucky few at the Bridge's of Ross scored a Swinhoe's Petrel, which more than made up for an otherwise very poor week there. Yet more Fea's Petrels this week as two were seen off a pelagic out of Baltimore in Co.Cork. Elsewhere, the east coast saw a modest fall of scarce migrants and on the Isle of Wight the numbers of fledgling Bee-eaters continues to grow!
Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (27 Aug 2014)
Bee-eater chicks fledge on the Isle of Wight (Conservation News)
Four Bee-eater chicks have fledged on National Trust land on the Isle of Wight thanks to a joint protection operation by the National Trust, the RSPB and Isle of Wight naturalists. It is the first time Bee-eaters have bred successfully in the UK for 12 years. Read the full story here
Written by National Trust, RSPB (21 Aug 2014)
Weekly round-up: 13 - 19 August 2014 (Weekly Roundup)
Fea's Petrel's stole the show this week with two records from Ireland's west coast but it was a photographed bird off Scilly which will grab all the headlines. Elsewhere we learned about the first (unsuccessful) breeding attempt of Glossy Ibis in Britain and on the Isle of Wight the (successful) breeding Bee-eaters were playing happy families. Read the round-up here
Written by Mark Golley (20 Aug 2014)
Finders in the Field: Fea's Petrel from Scilly Pelagic 18 Aug 2014 (Finders account)
The Scilly Pelagic team have been enjoying a vintage year in the Southwest Approaches with plenty of Wilson's Petrels, large shearwaters and even a contender for a Scopoli's. So it wasn't all that surprising when Bob Flood found a Fea's Petrel on the evening of 18th, but nobody could have predicted the the 'point blank' views those onboard were lucky enough to get. Read the full story here
Written by Scilly Pelagics, Bob Flood (20 Aug 2014)
Hookpod - just 5 days to go to - and needs your help (Conservation News)
As many of you will know we have been supporting Hookpod for the last few weeks. With just 5 days to go it is £15,000 short of its target to raise £100,000 to get the device into large scale production and into the hands of fishermen. This is a final call to action to get this project 'over the line'. Read more here
Written by Hookpod, Rare Bird Alert (19 Aug 2014)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)