Thank you, Ian! We're really going to miss you on the panel - your broad knowledge of birds and habitats, questioning mind and great company have made you a wonderful person to work with.

After 25 years on the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, Dr Ian Francis stepped down last week. Ian has made an amazing contribution to the RBBP’s work, and he will be missed hugely. However, we hope this will give him more time to find rare breeding birds in Northeast Scotland and elsewhere!

We are saddened to hear of the death of Patrick Stirling-Aird, who for many decades was a leading light in the monitoring and conservation of raptors. It was a honour to work with Patrick on the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme; we will miss him immensely. raptormonitoring.org/about-the-sr...

The Rare Breeding Birds Panel hard at work during their annual in-person meeting, at Druridge Bay Country Park, Northumberland, today.

Raptor recovery… Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, White-tailed Eagle and Osprey have all increased substantially over recent decades. Ospreys have colonised new counties at the rate of one a year, including Co. Fermanagh in 2023, the first breeding on the island of Ireland in 200 yrs #ukbirding #ornithology

Raptor recovery… Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, White-tailed Eagle and Osprey have all increased substantially over recent decades. Ospreys have colonised new counties at the rate of one a year, including Co. Fermanagh in 2023, the first breeding on the island of Ireland in 200 yrs #ukbirding #ornithology

The most recent report from the Rare Breeding Birds Panel celebrates the return of two long-absent breeding species and record totals for others, though some birds continue to decline:

The new RBBP report shows that some northern species are struggling. Numbers of Slavonian Grebes fell to just 16 pairs in 2023, the lowest total we have ever reported. There were only six pairs of Redwings, and no breeding Fieldfares at all. Read more at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #UKbirding

We’re delighted to welcome a new independent member to the RBBP, Jenny Weston. Jenny is a Senior Species Recovery officer for the RSPB, and in her spare time (amongst many things) she’s an active member of the North East of Scotland Raptor Study Group, and an A permit and ringing trainer.

The most recent report from the Rare Breeding Birds Panel celebrates the return of two long-absent breeding species and record totals for others, though some birds continue to decline:

Some good news for Friday: the new RBBP report reveals that five species of large wading bird reached record totals in 2023, including Spoonbill. See the trend since 2010 below… even the bird itself looks shocked by the increase! Read more at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ukbirding #ornithology

Both the Red-spotted and White-spotted races of Bluethroat try to breed in the UK occasionally but breeding has only been confirmed on five occasions, in 1968, 85, 95, 2016 (Red-spotted) and 1996 (White-spotted). There were single possible breeding records of both in 2023 #ukbirding #ornithology

Another species returning to breed in 2023 was Temminck's Stint; a pair laid a clutch of four eggs in Highland, although the nest was later flooded out. This tiny wader bred regularly in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, but this was the first confirmed breeding since 1997 #ornithology #BirdingScotland

This month's fascinating talk is about Recording Rare Breeding Birds in the UK and Essex, by Mark Eaton from the RBBP. It's streaming live on YouTube from 8pm on Friday: youtube.com/live/VlTi7GS... #essexbirding #RareBirdsUK @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Hoopoes bred in Leicestershire & Rutland in 2023, the first confirmed breeding record in the UK since 1996. Here’s the family - parents and three offspring. Can you see them all? Read more about rare breeding birds in 2023 at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... 📸 Carl Baggott

Hoopoes bred in Leicestershire & Rutland in 2023, the first confirmed breeding record in the UK since 1996. Here’s the family - parents and three offspring. Can you see them all? Read more about rare breeding birds in 2023 at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... 📸 Carl Baggott

Our report for 2023 is out now in @britishbirds.bsky.social. There's a summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... but if you prefer to watch rather than read then here's RBBP secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social with a few key points and some lovely photos! #ornithology #ukbirds youtu.be/arj1m7NfKmY

The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]

Our report for 2023 is out now in @britishbirds.bsky.social. There's a summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... but if you prefer to watch rather than read then here's RBBP secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social with a few key points and some lovely photos! #ornithology #ukbirds youtu.be/arj1m7NfKmY

Fantastic report from RBBP on rare breeding birds in 2023. Big thanks to all birders for submitting records and county recorder for sending to RBBP. Well done to @markaeaton.bsky.social for your hard work writing the report. Many thanks to @britishbirds.bsky.social for publication. #UKbirding

The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]

Looking forward to talking about the work of @ukrbbp.bsky.social at this tomorrow - should be a great conference

A few opportunities to learn about rare breeding birds and the work of the RBBP. If your bird club/wildlife group/RSPB group would like an online talk from our Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social, get in touch.

Our most recent report, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2022, is now available open access on our website at tinyurl.com/2xf23keu All reports dating back to 1973 can be found at rbbp.org.uk/annual-repor.... Our next report, for 2023, will be published in @britishbirds.bsky.social in November

Our most recent report, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2022, is now available open access on our website at tinyurl.com/2xf23keu All reports dating back to 1973 can be found at rbbp.org.uk/annual-repor.... Our next report, for 2023, will be published in @britishbirds.bsky.social in November

A lovely film of Leicestershire’s first confirmed breeding by Goshawks, filmed under licence by county recorder Carl Baggott youtu.be/FhI39qG4pQo?...

Great record!

It’s always nice to share some good news! www.channel4.com/news/uks-rar...

Honey-buzzard over Ashdown Forest today. The next 30 days are crucial for monitoring Sussex's Honey-buzzard population, so I'd welcome details of sightings and photos by email: [email protected] Thanks. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Long-eared #Owl. Fifth location I've had young calling this month (so far), within a limited area. I've also seen more voles running around this year. @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birdingscotland

Good news Friday! 🌞 Even with a super dry spring at RSPB Ynys-hir we kept water levels high in two swampy spots, and guess what? FOUR singing male Spotted Crakes showed up! 🎶 That’s a reserve record AND the first ones we’ve heard in years. 📸 : Andy Hay

Well done @stevedudley.bsky.social and team for super speedy work - the first 2024 report to reach RBBP HQ. Some good records of rare breeders too!

Surveying for rare breeding birds isn’t always successful, but is always worthwhile! RBBP member Ian Francis has been looking for the (increasingly?) elusive Dotterel… #birds #UKbirding youtu.be/FGa1ZKQbOKs?...

With two male Wilson’s Snipes (the North American ‘version’ of our Common Snipe) displaying in Sweden, you have to wonder whether there could be one hidden away on a British moor or marsh. The display sound is distinctly different - have a listen here #UKbirding youtu.be/dam0sDp6Xig?...

With two male Wilson’s Snipes (the North American ‘version’ of our Common Snipe) displaying in Sweden, you have to wonder whether there could be one hidden away on a British moor or marsh. The display sound is distinctly different - have a listen here #UKbirding youtu.be/dam0sDp6Xig?...

Verified 'Tzik' Hawfinch calls from a passive recorder on a cherry tree in NW Sussex: in this tetrad last breeding season Hawfinch record pre-2025 was 1980. Buy the man a coffee! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Spring is long gone, and even the summer is getting on, but there’s still plenty of rare breeding birds to be found. Here’s some tips rbbp.org.uk/2023/07/11/w...

Spring is long gone, and even the summer is getting on, but there’s still plenty of rare breeding birds to be found. Here’s some tips rbbp.org.uk/2023/07/11/w...

A new blog on our recent video topic - how to confirm breeding attempts in RBBP species. Keep looking! rbbp.org.uk/2025/06/27/c...

A new blog on our recent video topic - how to confirm breeding attempts in RBBP species. Keep looking! rbbp.org.uk/2025/06/27/c...

The dry spring has unfortunately reduced the number of Shoveler breeding in the #LDV (one of its national strongholds) this year, but several broods are now starting to appear, with our records to be sent to the @ukrbbp.bsky.social in due course. Image @duncbye.bsky.social

As mentioned in yesterday’s video, now is a great time for upgrading possible and probable breeding records to confirmed. Here’s a crib sheet of the breeding evidence to look for.

As mentioned in yesterday’s video, now is a great time for upgrading possible and probable breeding records to confirmed. Here’s a crib sheet of the breeding evidence to look for.

Summer’s a great time for confirming breeding by RBBP species, maybe by returning to sites where you’ve found possible or probable breeders in the spring to “upgrade” records. It can be challenging - here’s some tips on what to look for #UKBirding #birds #ornithology youtu.be/a3nDoucMHCk?...

Summer’s a great time for confirming breeding by RBBP species, maybe by returning to sites where you’ve found possible or probable breeders in the spring to “upgrade” records. It can be challenging - here’s some tips on what to look for #UKBirding #birds #ornithology youtu.be/a3nDoucMHCk?...

Can you help find Sussex's breeding Hawfinches by locating cherry trees and looking for split cherry stones? See www.sos.org.uk/archives/6421 Thank you! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

So, as we head through the summer there’s still loads of rare breeding birds to be found and recorded… here’s some ideas youtu.be/50fFUafiVgY?...

Another day - another 3 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests found and being monitored in Devon and the New Forest. Great work by LesserSpotNet volunteers. Healthy chicks being well fed by both parents in all the nests. More nests could be found this week.

A rare Osprey 'love triangle' has been captured on a live camera in the Scottish Borders:

Birders staying in the UK for spring & summer holidays can make a huge contribution to rare breeding bird monitoring, particularly in the north & west where there are more gaps in coverage. If you’re lucky enough to be heading away, please help the RBBP out by submitting your records!