...also on the ringing front: we've received notification of a fantastic recovery of a Firecrest ringed here last October that was controlled a few days ago by a ringer in the Czech Republic - the first movement of a UK-ringed Firecrest to the Czech Republic or indeed to anywhere in central Europe

We’ve received news of an amazing yet sad ringing recovery from the Stour Ringing Group who have only just found out themselves of an adult Curlew that was ringed by their group in the harbour, Feb 1987 which was shot in NW Russia, April 2015, 2486km away c28 years [email protected]

Frustratingly 100% brief and solo views of Hudsonian Whimbrel from Tor Ness The bird flew N. low over the wave cut platform and by the time I had raised my bins I had <30 seconds on the bird. Uniform upper-parts with strong cap and dark lores extending behind eye. @northronbirdobs.bsky.social

Yellow-browed Bunting trapped, ringed and released at the Swannery. It's flown to the hedge which runs alongside the Swannery grounds and the bird may be viewable from the permissive path heading west from Grove Lane.

UK is well on course for losing Willow Tit, Spotted Flycatcher & Wood Warbler as breeding species in our lifetime. Wood Warbler already virtually gone from England. I think Willow Tit would be first extinction of a resident bird since Capercaillie in 1700s or White-tailed Eagle in 1918. #ornithology

Coming to the UK this autumn? The 3 WP records of Dark-sided Flycatcher make a triangle with a blank area with the Northern Isles at its centre that needs filling! All 3 records between 1-6 Oct; all since 2012. Interestingly mainland USA 1st record in California 4 days ago ebird.org/checklist/S2...

Much improved overnight mothing on a calm night at the Obs although the feeling was that most of the migrant catch involved things surfacing after recent inclement weather rather than new arrivals; 9 Convolvulus Hawks the pick of the catch, 285 Rush Veneers their highest total of the year.

Photo from Mark Cutts

One of the @ldvnnr.bsky.social reintroduced Corncrakes has pinged our MOTUS Tower! On 24th August at 21:32 it was picked up migrating over Spurn for 6 minutes! Amazingly, the same bird was detected just 90 minutes later at Weybourne, Norfolk! More info here www.facebook.com/share/p/1Arw...

Today, it not only rained heavily, but it rained Curlew Sandpipers! At least 93 juveniles at Ardivichar, with 40+ at Northbay! A flock of around 100 in Northbay arrived in torrential rain but was unsure if Ardivichar birds were also involved? #BirdingScotland #BirdingHebrides ##BirdingOuterHebrides

A flock of 34 Glossy Ibises flying over a family party of Zitting Cisticolas on the Suffolk coast is pretty indicative of the direction of future UK avifaunal community shifts under #ClimateChange #UKBirding #Ornithology

...you get the idea

Pygmy Cormorant is probably the most overdue Category A first for Britain and future colonist britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti... and currently sits on Category F on the basis of a fossil which *might* signal historic breeding here onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #UKbirding #Ornithology

Aquatic Warbler ringed in Lower Piddle Valley this AM near Wareham, Poole Harbour @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Passenger for @alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social at Freshwater Bay the night's show-stopper migrant moth. Only modest increases in numbers at the Obs with no stand-out rares; small arrival/emergence of Western Conifer Seedbugs of interest

Striped Hawkmoth to actinic in Romsey, Hampshire (VC11) 22.08.25. #teammoth #mothsmatter @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Amongst all the local-breds some small signs of new moth migration last night incl singles of Passenger (seventh for Portland) and Olive Spinner oleastrella (second for Portland, first for the Obs) at the Obs; 2 Striped Hawks and a Convolvulus Hawk amongst the routines.

Zitting Cisticola Breeds in Britain for the First Time Family party in Suffolk confirms long-anticipated arrival of a new breeding species on the British mainland www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Z...

The amazing eye of a Thornback Ray (Raja clavata). #fish #fishing

So many Striped Hawks that we're running out of suitable large pots for them - this one from our garden at the Grove is the fourth from the island last night

Sadly we have to report that today a Goshawk came calling to the live Hobby nest. Nature is incredible & hard at times. Goshawks are also amazing. We've learned loads about the lives of these heathland Hobbies & thanks for your support Read on: drsg.co.uk/f/a-goshawk-... @forestryengland.bsky.social

Lots more migrant moths at the Obs last night incl 6 more Toadflax Pearl and a Convolvulus Hawk. Nice selection of strays/Portland rares around the island incl Beautiful Yellow Underwing and Acleris emargana at the Obs, Epinotia immundana at Sweethill for Debby and Poplar Kitten at Weston for Dunc

Another ripping catch of migrant moths overnight at the Obs incl 17 Vestals, 4 Toadflax Pearls and an Old World Webworm + the first three figure total of Rush Veneers so far this year; elsewhere, a Striped Hawkmoth from Duncan Walbridge's garden at Weston

In September 2024, whilst researching specimens at the NMS for the forthcoming Birds of Fair Isle book, I noticed this pipit amongst the Red-throated Pipits - now accepted as a new British first for Pechora Pipit (but unfortunately knocking the 1925 Fair Isle record from that position).

Two decisions relating to the #BritishList 🧵 1/2 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus has been moved from Category D to Category AE bou.org.uk/british-l...#BritishList #ornithology 🪶

A very interesting week of weather on the way, with thunderstorms, high temperatures & Saharan dust (which has already reached SW Britain). A tropical night (min 20c) in store for some areas tonight, with a keen E Wind on the S coast. Tonight looks good, Tues & Weds even better. #teammoth

Our friends at the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England have some exciting info to share: www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/first-wild-w... @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Tony Marr 1939 - 2025 Richard Porter looks back at the life of his dear friend of over 67 years www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/T...

Huge news! A new species of butterfly for Britain found today at Landguard Bird Observtory by Will Brame - Southern Small White! Will's kindly shared his photo with us - what an excellent find by him. It's not been seen since the time of finding, but surely more will follow...

Well I wasn't expecting to see Zitting Cisticola on the patch when I set out this morning - 1 km south of Walberswick - record shots #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Norfolk birder & photographer Steve Gantlett is collating an archive of photos of rare birds in Norfolk. The aim is to ensure that the best possible pictures of each species are preserved for use in future publications - if you think you can contribute then please get in touch with Steve.

Word received via @jodiemhenderson.bsky.social who's holidaying on Skokholm this week of a fantastic Storm Petrel recovery: one of the 20 caught here in the early hours of Friday morning (02.15am) was recaught at Skokholm at 03.00am this morning - c280 miles via the tip of Cornwall in 25 hours!

News of Common Scoter moving west over Winter Hill, 7mls south of where I live in Blackburn, had me rushing outside where I got lucky in the first 5mins with this flock of 38 west at 22:10. Even better, it was still light enough to see them with the naked eye. A vismig sight to behold! #LancsBirding

0.1% of Dartmoor in good ecological condition. And each Dartmoor ewe loses its owner £16.90 – the ecological and economic craziness of the current sheep grazing regime well explained by @chrisgpackham.bsky.social. Time to change how this amazing place is managed. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Some nice moths to MV last night in Romsey VC11. An unexpected Triangle, Ethmia quadrillella, Oncocera semirubella and Pempelia genistella.

Do you know a young person with an interest in insects? 🦋 The Douglas Boyes Fund aims to provide people aged 14-18 with access to entomology equipment, fostering their passion for insects and inspiring them to engage and share their interest with other young individuals 🔽

We have some very exciting news: www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/osprey-news/... @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

The ultra-mega-rare #Alpine Catchfly (Silene suecica) is only found in two sites in Britain! We were absolutely delighted to see it in full flower today while botanising in the #Cairngorms; growing on a very unusual high-altitude serpentine rock rich in magnesium. #mountainflowers #wildflowerhour

8 Jun. Scops Owl on Fair Isle this evening.

Absolute carnage in the Białowieża Wood Warbler study this year. Nest failure rate currently running at over 83%!!!! Almost all due to predation: mostly foxes, jays and martens. Some also trampled, possibly Red Deer. Only a handful of nests have fledged any chicks. @martamaziarz.bsky.social

Pallas's Reed Bunting! The first for the UK was found at Fair Isle on the day I was born, so I've always wanted to see one here. I now owe Alex a pint after he found this gorgeous peerie thing in the Wirvie Burn this morning! #BirdingScotland

All the way from Siberia... Shetland's eighth-ever Eye-browed Thrush at Gutcher, Yell this afternoon. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds

💥🔥😍 Male Eyebrowed Thrush at Gutcher, Yell today. Could be extremely elusive, but does occasionally hop out of cover onto the lawn. Amazing find by Christian! 😎👍 #YellBirding #Shetland ##RareBirdAlertUk #Birdguides #RareBirdsUK

Brilliant news for headstarted Curlew in East Anglia!

A little ringing of nestlings in Hampshire over the last few weeks. All done under licence and appropriate Schedule 1 approval where needed. #BTO #ringing #birds

Some nice day flying moths at Stockbridge Down, Hampshire thus afternoon. Best was the nationally scarce, and very smart, Olethreutes arcuella #teammoth

Just found an absolutely stonking male Collared Flycatcher at Creachan, a species I've been dreaming of finding for years! This is the first for Barra and the third for the Outer Hebrides. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

🆕 Today, UKHSA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have confirmed the first detection of West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected in the UK. There is currently no evidence of wider circulation in birds or mosquitoes, and the risk to the public remains very low. 📰🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...