There’s a blog with tips on recording rare breeding birds in May at tinyurl.com/RBBPMay

It’s May, and we’re approaching the peak of the breeding season. It’s a brilliant time to be out recording rare breeding #birds #UKbirding youtu.be/lSmGRDsp8-g?...

Pleased to monitor our first 2026 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest on 2 May, found by a LesserSpotNet volunteer in the Home Counties. Nest camera showed 3 chicks just hatched + 3 eggs waiting, both adults feeding. Good to get data on clutch size. Another very early nest & the highest at 16 metres

There are some really useful tips in here for adding value to any records of rare birds you might be lucky enough to encounter! Bonus marks for identifying some of the birds in the background... #BirdingScotland

Last week we talked about how to submit records of rare breeding birds. This week we move onto what those records should contain - the details - precise location, numbers, breeding evidence and so on - to make them as useful as possible for the work of the RBBP. youtu.be/HSl4RpMrT8k?...

Own up, who’s got Kent’s Med Gulls? @hosbirding.bsky.social?

Lesser Spotted Wdpkr nests monitored across Southern England are generally early this year, with several already hatching. Some nests will fledge from mid-May, with young birds audible preceding week. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Last week we talked about how to submit records of rare breeding birds. This week we move onto what those records should contain - the details - precise location, numbers, breeding evidence and so on - to make them as useful as possible for the work of the RBBP. youtu.be/HSl4RpMrT8k?...

Foggy Exmoor morning today with an unpaired LSW still drumming. Wood Warbler singing with Firecrest, Redstarts, Pied Fly and Garden Warbler @somersetbirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Monitoring the UK’s rarest breeding birds: Our latest blog and accompanying video take you behind the scenes of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. British Birds has published the annual RBBP report since the very first one, in 1973. 🔗 britishbirds.co.uk/news/rbbp-mo... | @ukrbbp.bsky.social

A nice reminder below explaining about the value of reporting rare breeding birds. BirdTrack is one of the best routes to do so and adding breeding data is quick and easy.

Great job opportunity, coordinating the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme. Closing date 17th May #ornithology britishtrustforornithology.postingpanda.uk/job/871085

To anyone birding in Kent, please remember to take & submit good notes of the UK Rare Breeding Birds you see. For ducks look out for male/female pairs, females and ducklings. #kentbirding #ukbirding @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Black Redstarts nesting in a Swift brick in Winchester!! We advocate for these as universal nest bricks and they really are. No other types of integrated bird box are required @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social @sosswifts.bsky.social

By submitting records of rare breeding birds, you can help inform their conservation. Don’t know how to submit records? Don’t worry, here’s RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social to tell you how youtu.be/MWNq_JM9cZU?... #UKbirding #ornithology #birds

By submitting records of rare breeding birds, you can help inform their conservation. Don’t know how to submit records? Don’t worry, here’s RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social to tell you how youtu.be/MWNq_JM9cZU?... #UKbirding #ornithology #birds

I've managed to find 3 lesser spots excavating 3 holes this spring. And I've found two other new holes nearby. Here's hoping the birds use one or two of these for nests. This male like the others has almost finished. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds The birds are now very quiet and elusive.

At this time of year when I'm out birding I really try to make an effort to add breeding evidence to my records. It's really quick and easy in @birdtrack.bsky.social and adds value to my records, especially for @ukrbbp.bsky.social species. Added P for pair in suitable habitat. #ornithology

OPERATION EASTER: 29 years of protecting the UK's rarest birds. Press release from National Wildlife Crime Unit ⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/05/o...

What better way is there to spend the Easter 🐣 🐣🐣 weekend than birdwatching, and hopefully finding and recording rare breeding birds to help their conservation? There’s lots to look for in April, so here’s some ideas from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding

Chris Packham asks the questions about Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers & our own @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social and @mallalieum.bsky.social provide the answers & latest updates in this video from ecotalk at Bowyers Wood. Watch here www.ecotalk.co.uk/community-st...

The long Easter weekend - a perfect opportunity for recording rare breeding birds! There’s a blog with lots of tips on what to look for in April at rbbp.org.uk/2023/04/25/w...

What better way is there to spend the Easter 🐣 🐣🐣 weekend than birdwatching, and hopefully finding and recording rare breeding birds to help their conservation? There’s lots to look for in April, so here’s some ideas from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding

It’s also important to think carefully before sharing sightings of rare breeding birds in the spring & summer - could this lead to disturbance, or worse? Read the RBBP guidance here tinyurl.com/RBBPsound and if in doubt, don’t! [2/2] youtu.be/Q739XXYWgDo?...

It’s the time of year to be out finding, recording and enjoying rare breeding birds, but it’s vital to put their welfare first. Here’s some advice from @markaeaton.bsky.social, and there’s a blog here tinyurl.com/RBBPsafe [1/2] youtu.be/5xXc9Dl7vwk?...

It’s looking fair for England and Wales tomorrow, although there might be showers to dodge in Scotland & N Ireland. Wherever you are, there will be rare breeding birds to be found, establishing territories and pairing up. Read our blog at rbbp.org.uk/2023/03/17/w... for some top tips #UKbirding

It’s the time of year to be out finding, recording and enjoying rare breeding birds, but it’s vital to put their welfare first. Here’s some advice from @markaeaton.bsky.social, and there’s a blog here tinyurl.com/RBBPsafe [1/2] youtu.be/5xXc9Dl7vwk?...

It’s looking fair for England and Wales tomorrow, although there might be showers to dodge in Scotland & N Ireland. Wherever you are, there will be rare breeding birds to be found, establishing territories and pairing up. Read our blog at rbbp.org.uk/2023/03/17/w... for some top tips #UKbirding

Recent efforts are finding LSW at previously undiscovered sites, with passive acoustic monitoring being a game-changer. Now is the best time to find this elusive species - get tips on how to find them, as well as a new guidance note on acoustic recording, at www.woodpecker-network.org.uk

The RBBP were delighted to be part of the fantastic workshop on Lesser Spotted Woodpecker monitoring & research, organised by @lesserspotnet.bsky.social in Kent at the weekend. There’s amazing progress being made by enthusiasts across England and Wales #ornithology #UKbirding

Success! Lesser spotted woodpeckers, a male and female pair. The morning after the lesser spotted woodpecker workshop. @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

What a weekend! It was a privilege for Kent to host 2026 @lesserspotnet.bsky.social workshop in the Blean! Interesting discussions had between different regions, good connections made, exciting things ahead. Some Lesser Spots didn’t go a miss either @kentishplover.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

The RBBP were delighted to be part of the fantastic workshop on Lesser Spotted Woodpecker monitoring & research, organised by @lesserspotnet.bsky.social in Kent at the weekend. There’s amazing progress being made by enthusiasts across England and Wales #ornithology #UKbirding

March and April are the best time to look & listen for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers calling and drumming in wet, broadleaf woodland. Find out more about Woodpecker Network, listen to Ken Smith's zoom talk for Essex Birdwatching Society from January. ebws.org.uk/talks/jan26

1/ Five leading charities forge partnership for bird conservation for the Bird Atlas 2027–31! 🐦 But what is the Bird Atlas? ⬇️🧵 #Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social

Another species that’s worth looking for establishing territories in the early spring is the Marsh Harrier. Learning their call might help as well - have a listen to this youtu.be/d5wD5vivbfE?...

Early spring is by far the best time to record breeding Goshawks as they display over territories, particularly on calm and sunny days - here’s some encouragement from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ukbirding #ornithology youtu.be/hVgl6jYOX6A?...

It’s nearly March, spring is springing, and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel has emerged from hibernation again to encourage you to get out recording rare breeding birds #UKbirding #ornithology

It’s nearly March, spring is springing, and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel has emerged from hibernation again to encourage you to get out recording rare breeding birds #UKbirding #ornithology

New blog from BTO Senior Research Ecologist Ian Woodward for @ukrbbp.bsky.social delves into a new method for estimating breeding populations of Little Egrets. It discovered they were higher than previously thought – likely exceeding 2,000 pairs in the UK! #Ornithology 📖

BLOG: Ian Woodward, senior research ecologist at @btobirds.bsky.social, describes how combining data from the RBBP and the BTO’s Heronries Census has improved our knowledge on the UK’s Little Egret population, as in new @britishbirds.bsky.social paper #birds #ornithology rbbp.org.uk/2026/01/30/l...

BLOG: Ian Woodward, senior research ecologist at @btobirds.bsky.social, describes how combining data from the RBBP and the BTO’s Heronries Census has improved our knowledge on the UK’s Little Egret population, as in new @britishbirds.bsky.social paper #birds #ornithology rbbp.org.uk/2026/01/30/l...

1/🧵 New BTO-led research sheds light on the number and range of Little Egrets with population estimates higher than previously thought – likely exceeding 2,000 pairs in the UK! 🙌 #Ornithology @britishbirds.bsky.social 📖 www.bto.org/little-egret...

Great to see RBBP data being used in work led by @btobirds.bsky.social that improves our knowledge on the status of Little Egrets in the UK… there are more than we thought!

4/Roseate Tern numbers fell from 154 pairs in 2022 to 118 in 2023 following deaths of 90 adults from bird flu in the 2022 breeding season. Although breeding numbers were lower than prior to bird flu, there are signs of hope with 2024 representing the second most successful breeding season on record.

3/ However, there’s also some concerning news from the report. In northern Scotland, numbers of Slavonian Grebes fell to just 16 pairs, the lowest total since the @ukrbbp.bsky.social began reporting in 1973.

2/A pair of Temminck’s Stint laid four eggs in 2023 but sadly the nest was washed out by rising water levels. The report also revealed 15 species reached record totals in 2023! This included White-tailed Eagle, with 160 pairs in the UK, and Marsh Harrier, which reached 500 pairs for the first time.

1/🧵 Two bird species bred in the UK in 2023 for the first time since the 1990s! The latest report by @ukrbbp.bsky.social published in @britishbirds.bsky.social confirmed a pair of Hoopoes raised three young from a nest in Leicestershire and Rutland. #Ornithology

1/ A new study from @lesserspotnet.bsky.social & BTO in @britishbirds.bsky.social looks at how passive acoustic monitoring is an effective way of surveying Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ➡️ www.bto.org/LSWBioacoust... #bioacoustics #ornithology @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social

Our paper in December's @britishbirds.bsky.social describes success in using sound recording for detecting Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. We found Lesser Spots still present in woodlands where they have not been seen/heard for years. This is very exciting www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/index.php/ne...