RARE BIRD ALERT

Daily News Summaries: This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 MARK JOHNSON'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page.

RARE BIRD ALERT

Sunday 23rd December 2018 : A first-winter Laughing Gull was discovered on Lough Foyle (Co.Donegal). There was late news of a cluster of seven White-billed Divers off Papa Westray (Orkney) yesterday. Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Penduline Tit (Dorset) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). Scarcities comprised 11 Shorelarks, a Great Grey Shrike, a Richard's Pipit, 203

RARE BIRD ALERT

Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Please login

first.

RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu POWERLINE DIVERTERS DRAMATICALLY REDUCE BIRD STRIKES Powerline diverters dramatically reduce bird strikes. Hundreds of special diverters have saved migrating swans and geese from colliding with overhead power lines in Lancashire following the first study of its kind in the country. BEE-EATERS HATCH CHICKS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ORNITHOLOGY The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which

RARE BIRD ALERT

Daily News Summaries: This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 MARK JOHNSON'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page.

RARE BIRD ALERT

Sunday 23rd December 2018 : A first-winter Laughing Gull was discovered on Lough Foyle (Co.Donegal). There was late news of a cluster of seven White-billed Divers off Papa Westray (Orkney) yesterday. Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Penduline Tit (Dorset) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). Scarcities comprised 11 Shorelarks, a Great Grey Shrike, a Richard's Pipit, 203

RARE BIRD ALERT

Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Please login

first.

RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu POWERLINE DIVERTERS DRAMATICALLY REDUCE BIRD STRIKES Powerline diverters dramatically reduce bird strikes. Hundreds of special diverters have saved migrating swans and geese from colliding with overhead power lines in Lancashire following the first study of its kind in the country. BEE-EATERS HATCH CHICKS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ORNITHOLOGY The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which

RARE BIRD ALERT

Daily News Summaries: This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days).

RARE BIRD ALERT

Sunday 23rd December 2018 : A first-winter Laughing Gull was discovered on Lough Foyle (Co.Donegal). There was late news of a cluster of seven White-billed Divers off Papa Westray (Orkney) yesterday. Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Penduline Tit (Dorset) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). Scarcities comprised 11 Shorelarks, a Great Grey Shrike, a Richard's Pipit, 203

RARE BIRD ALERT

Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Please login

first.

GREATER SAND PLOVER BY FRANK GOLDING Tyninghame (Lothian): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered POWERLINE DIVERTERS DRAMATICALLY REDUCE BIRD STRIKES Powerline diverters dramatically reduce bird strikes. Hundreds of special diverters have saved migrating swans and geese from colliding with overhead power lines in Lancashire following the first study of its kind in the country. OUTRAGE AS MAN ONLY GETS CAUTION FOR #WILDLIFECRIME ON Outrage as man only cautioned for wildlife crime on North Yorkshire grouse moor. An individual has received a police caution after admitting responsibility for setting three pole traps on a grouse shooting estate inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. FIRST FOR BRITAIN: RED-FOOTED BOOBY IN SUSSEX First for Britain: Red-footed Booby in Sussex. A Red-footed Booby is currently being cared for by the RSPCA after one was found exhausted on the beach at Hastings in BEE-EATERS HATCH CHICKS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ORNITHOLOGY The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 21 There’s a lingering suspicion that, since the first record in June 2011 off the Aberdeenshire coast, our subsequent records of mainland American White-winged Scoter may well all relate to that same bird. Five years after the first-winter male at Murcar in 2011, back at Murcar, from 25th June to 29th August 2016 an adult drake was lingering offshore for weeks and, last year, he was back again COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 STEVE HOPPER'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu BOOK REVIEW: UNDISCOVERED OWLS Perhaps the most eye-catching proposal is a vocalisations-based split of the Little Owls into two ‘new’ species - our own Little Owl, breeding in northwest Europe (including Britain) and Iberia, and the quaintly-named Cucumiau, comprising the other Athene owls in southern and eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.. Other proposals include the recognition of three Atlantic TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. FINDERS-IN-THE-FIELD: ELEGANT TERN, HAYLING ISLAND Two days later, Andy relocated the bird, fishing over the sea off Sandy Point, at the south-east end of Hayling Island. This time the bird lingered for just a few minutes before it departed ESE along the coast, and was lost to view in the distance. THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 14 That amounts to almost 100 past records up to the end of 2014, compared with a paltry 32 accepted birds in Britain to the end of 2016. Crudely speaking, it would be easy to put that dominance down to Ireland’s position in the west of the region – but that wouldn’t explain why Co.Clare, on Ireland’s west coast, has only the one accepted record of American Herring Gull on the record THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 21 Ireland dominated sightings of Glossy Ibises this week, starting with the duo still at East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) on 22nd-24th, with one remaining there on 27th. Further sightings came from Co.Cork at Kinsale again on 24th-25th and Ballymacoda still on 24th; and at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) still on 25th. RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 STEVE HOPPER'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu BOOK REVIEW: UNDISCOVERED OWLS Perhaps the most eye-catching proposal is a vocalisations-based split of the Little Owls into two ‘new’ species - our own Little Owl, breeding in northwest Europe (including Britain) and Iberia, and the quaintly-named Cucumiau, comprising the other Athene owls in southern and eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.. Other proposals include the recognition of three Atlantic TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. FINDERS-IN-THE-FIELD: ELEGANT TERN, HAYLING ISLAND Two days later, Andy relocated the bird, fishing over the sea off Sandy Point, at the south-east end of Hayling Island. This time the bird lingered for just a few minutes before it departed ESE along the coast, and was lost to view in the distance. THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 14 That amounts to almost 100 past records up to the end of 2014, compared with a paltry 32 accepted birds in Britain to the end of 2016. Crudely speaking, it would be easy to put that dominance down to Ireland’s position in the west of the region – but that wouldn’t explain why Co.Clare, on Ireland’s west coast, has only the one accepted record of American Herring Gull on the record THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 21 Ireland dominated sightings of Glossy Ibises this week, starting with the duo still at East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) on 22nd-24th, with one remaining there on 27th. Further sightings came from Co.Cork at Kinsale again on 24th-25th and Ballymacoda still on 24th; and at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) still on 25th. RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which

RARE BIRD ALERT

Sunday 23rd December 2018 : A first-winter Laughing Gull was discovered on Lough Foyle (Co.Donegal). There was late news of a cluster of seven White-billed Divers off Papa Westray (Orkney) yesterday. Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Penduline Tit (Dorset) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). Scarcities comprised 11 Shorelarks, a Great Grey Shrike, a Richard's Pipit, 203 RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK BIRDING ROUND-UP 20 The return of the recent regular wintering adult Pacific Diver in Co.Cork at Crookhaven – a bird still present this week on 22nd at least – was always likely to herald the finding of one of the recent annual Cornish birds too, and so it proved this week with the discovery of an adult bird off Penzance on 23rd-25th.. Astonishing to think that these birds were once the stuff of drop OUTRAGE AS MAN ONLY GETS CAUTION FOR #WILDLIFECRIME ON Outrage as man only cautioned for wildlife crime on North Yorkshire grouse moor. An individual has received a police caution after admitting responsibility for setting three pole traps on a grouse shooting estate inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. FIRST WHITE-TAILED EAGLES RELEASED ON ISLE OF WIGHT, # The first White-tailed Eagles to be reintroduced to England have been released on the Isle of Wight. The six young birds, the first to be returned to southern England for 240 years, are part of a five-year programme to restore this lost species led by Forestry 24 WHITE STORKS RELEASED IN WEST SUSSEX REWILDING PROJECT A group of 24 juvenile White Storks have been released at the Knepp rewilding project in West Sussex as part of an initiative to restore populations of the species in Southern England. SEABIRD SENTINELS WILL HELP MITIGATE BYCATCH, NEWS FROM The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. 12 BIRDS OF CHRISTMAS 2014: #4 CRETZSCHMAR’S BUNTING The weekend of April 26th-27th was, arguably, the strongest of spring 2014. Testament to that strength-in-depth of the birds discovered within that 48 hour period was that the lone-observer Alpine Accentor found at Holme, in west Norfolk on 26th (the first record of the species in almost a decade) came in at just #3 for the “birds of the

weekend”.

THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 6 The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 9 The same two counties shared the third and fourth of the week, at Studland on 12th and Sandwich Bay on 13th and a tidy week for this cute-looking Hippo was rounded off by two singles further in to the southwest of Britain, on St. Mary’s (Scilly) on 14th and Bowling Green Marsh RSPB (Devon) on 15th. COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 STEVE HOPPER'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu BOOK REVIEW: UNDISCOVERED OWLS Perhaps the most eye-catching proposal is a vocalisations-based split of the Little Owls into two ‘new’ species - our own Little Owl, breeding in northwest Europe (including Britain) and Iberia, and the quaintly-named Cucumiau, comprising the other Athene owls in southern and eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.. Other proposals include the recognition of three Atlantic TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. FINDERS-IN-THE-FIELD: ELEGANT TERN, HAYLING ISLAND Two days later, Andy relocated the bird, fishing over the sea off Sandy Point, at the south-east end of Hayling Island. This time the bird lingered for just a few minutes before it departed ESE along the coast, and was lost to view in the distance. THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 14 That amounts to almost 100 past records up to the end of 2014, compared with a paltry 32 accepted birds in Britain to the end of 2016. Crudely speaking, it would be easy to put that dominance down to Ireland’s position in the west of the region – but that wouldn’t explain why Co.Clare, on Ireland’s west coast, has only the one accepted record of American Herring Gull on the record THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 21 Ireland dominated sightings of Glossy Ibises this week, starting with the duo still at East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) on 22nd-24th, with one remaining there on 27th. Further sightings came from Co.Cork at Kinsale again on 24th-25th and Ballymacoda still on 24th; and at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) still on 25th. RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 STEVE HOPPER'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu BOOK REVIEW: UNDISCOVERED OWLS Perhaps the most eye-catching proposal is a vocalisations-based split of the Little Owls into two ‘new’ species - our own Little Owl, breeding in northwest Europe (including Britain) and Iberia, and the quaintly-named Cucumiau, comprising the other Athene owls in southern and eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.. Other proposals include the recognition of three Atlantic TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. FINDERS-IN-THE-FIELD: ELEGANT TERN, HAYLING ISLAND Two days later, Andy relocated the bird, fishing over the sea off Sandy Point, at the south-east end of Hayling Island. This time the bird lingered for just a few minutes before it departed ESE along the coast, and was lost to view in the distance. THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 14 That amounts to almost 100 past records up to the end of 2014, compared with a paltry 32 accepted birds in Britain to the end of 2016. Crudely speaking, it would be easy to put that dominance down to Ireland’s position in the west of the region – but that wouldn’t explain why Co.Clare, on Ireland’s west coast, has only the one accepted record of American Herring Gull on the record THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 21 Ireland dominated sightings of Glossy Ibises this week, starting with the duo still at East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) on 22nd-24th, with one remaining there on 27th. Further sightings came from Co.Cork at Kinsale again on 24th-25th and Ballymacoda still on 24th; and at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) still on 25th. RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which RARE BIRD ALERT, RELIABLE BIRD NEWS SERVICES SINCE 1991 Welcome to the RBA photo gallery: To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered

RARE BIRD ALERT

Sunday 23rd December 2018 : A first-winter Laughing Gull was discovered on Lough Foyle (Co.Donegal). There was late news of a cluster of seven White-billed Divers off Papa Westray (Orkney) yesterday. Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Penduline Tit (Dorset) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). Scarcities comprised 11 Shorelarks, a Great Grey Shrike, a Richard's Pipit, 203 BOOK REVIEW: UNDISCOVERED OWLS Perhaps the most eye-catching proposal is a vocalisations-based split of the Little Owls into two ‘new’ species - our own Little Owl, breeding in northwest Europe (including Britain) and Iberia, and the quaintly-named Cucumiau, comprising the other Athene owls in southern and eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.. Other proposals include the recognition of three Atlantic TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. FIRST FOR BRITAIN: RED-FOOTED BOOBY IN SUSSEX First for Britain: Red-footed Booby in Sussex. A Red-footed Booby is currently being cared for by the RSPCA after one was found exhausted on the beach at Hastings in WALTHAMSTOW WETLANDS TO BE EUROPE’S LARGEST URBAN WETLAND Walthamstow Wetlands to be Europe’s largest urban wetland reserve. London Wildlife Trust will be working with Waltham Forest Council and Thames Water to create Walthamstow Wetlands, an exciting new urban wetland nature reserve. 24 WHITE STORKS RELEASED IN WEST SUSSEX REWILDING PROJECT A group of 24 juvenile White Storks have been released at the Knepp rewilding project in West Sussex as part of an initiative to restore populations of the species in Southern England. SEABIRD SENTINELS WILL HELP MITIGATE BYCATCH, NEWS FROM The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. BEE-EATERS HATCH CHICKS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ORNITHOLOGY The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which IAN BOLLEN'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page.

RARE BIRD ALERT

Daily News Summaries: This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 NICK WAKELING'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. BLYTH'S REED WARBLER BY JONATHAN FORD Papa Westray (Orkney): (RBA - the UK birders news service)

RARE BIRD ALERT

Sunday 23rd December 2018 : A first-winter Laughing Gull was discovered on Lough Foyle (Co.Donegal). There was late news of a cluster of seven White-billed Divers off Papa Westray (Orkney) yesterday. Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Penduline Tit (Dorset) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). Scarcities comprised 11 Shorelarks, a Great Grey Shrike, a Richard's Pipit, 203

RARE BIRD ALERT

Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Please login

first.

GREATER SAND PLOVER BY FRANK GOLDING Tyninghame (Lothian): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. IAN BOLLEN'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page.

RARE BIRD ALERT

Daily News Summaries: This page gives you access to all of RBA's daily news summaries (since April 13, 2006), 10 days at a time. The most recent are shown, or you can select a specific date to show (along with the previous 10 days). COMMON ROSEFINCH BY LUKASZ PULAWSKI Kilminning (Fife): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 NICK WAKELING'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. BLYTH'S REED WARBLER BY JONATHAN FORD Papa Westray (Orkney): (RBA - the UK birders news service)

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Sunday 23rd December 2018 : A first-winter Laughing Gull was discovered on Lough Foyle (Co.Donegal). There was late news of a cluster of seven White-billed Divers off Papa Westray (Orkney) yesterday. Lingering rarities included Pied-billed Grebe (Shetland), Penduline Tit (Dorset) and Ferruginous Duck (Hampshire). Scarcities comprised 11 Shorelarks, a Great Grey Shrike, a Richard's Pipit, 203

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GREATER SAND PLOVER BY FRANK GOLDING Tyninghame (Lothian): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. PADDYFIELD PIPIT BY JOHN MILLER Sennen (Cornwall): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 ARCTIC WARBLER BY THOMAS TAMS Taken: Sun, 04 Oct 2020 : Tynemouth (Northumberland) Date Added: Sun, 04 Oct 2020 : At Prior's Park. Bird was heard to call on several

occasions

FIRST FOR BRITAIN: RED-FOOTED BOOBY IN SUSSEX First for Britain: Red-footed Booby in Sussex. A Red-footed Booby is currently being cared for by the RSPCA after one was found exhausted on the beach at Hastings in TALKING NATURALLY BY RBA AND WILDSOUNDS In this episode of Talking Naturally Episode 31 is in two parts. First a recording from this year's British Birdfair of Charlie Moores (Talking Naturally and BAWC), Dominic Dyer (CEO of the Badger Trust), and Mike Dilger (ecologist and TV presenter eg the BBC's One Show), discussing wildlife crime, then a conversation with the World Parrot Trust's Africa Programme Manager Dr Rowan Martin on FORTY-FIVE PERCENT OF ALL FINNISH BREEDING BIRDS ARE This is the analysis of the latest assessment of the Red List of Birds for Finland, published in January.Of the 245 Finnish breeding species evaluated, 87 (36%) are Threatened and 23 (9%) are Near Threatened. APP REVIEW: AVES VOX PRO FOR IOS Aves Vox claims to include at least one vocalisation for over 80% of all bird species worldwide, including more than 30,000 recordings. While it is possible to access the Xeno-canto website itself on a smartphone, via its browser, the app offers several advantages. OUTRAGE AS MAN ONLY GETS CAUTION FOR #WILDLIFECRIME ON Outrage as man only cautioned for wildlife crime on North Yorkshire grouse moor. An individual has received a police caution after admitting responsibility for setting three pole traps on a grouse shooting estate inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. FINDERS-IN-THE-FIELD: RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN, FETLAR, VIA A day or so following our arrival on Fetlar I found an American golden plover, despite the predominant easterlies. While watching a short-toed lark at Tresta, I received a message from James Hanlon asking me to give him a heads-up if I found a Siberian blue or rufous-tailed robin. I replied with a crying-with-laughter emoji and a

thumbs up.

WALTHAMSTOW WETLANDS TO BE EUROPE’S LARGEST URBAN WETLAND Walthamstow Wetlands to be Europe’s largest urban wetland reserve. London Wildlife Trust will be working with Waltham Forest Council and Thames Water to create Walthamstow Wetlands, an exciting new urban wetland nature reserve. ALLEGED ILLEGAL KILLING OF A PROTECTED HEN HARRIER, # Court proceedings against a former gamekeeper, accused of shooting a protected hen harrier, have been dropped by the Crown Office, who have indicated that after considering all of the relevant material they could not use RSPB Scotland video evidence to support the prosecution

in court.

IAN BOLLEN'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. NICK WAKELING'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page.

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Close: Save Changes : Regions are: Southwest England, Southeast England, East Anglia, The Midlands, South Wales, NW England & N.Wales, Northeast England, Scotland MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu MIGRATORY BIRDS DISPERSE SEEDS LONG DISTANCES #ORNITHOLOGY Migratory birds disperse seeds long distances. Some species of plants are capable of colonising new habitats thanks to birds that transport their seeds in their plumage or digestive tract. APP REVIEW: AVES VOX PRO FOR IOS Aves Vox claims to include at least one vocalisation for over 80% of all bird species worldwide, including more than 30,000 recordings. While it is possible to access the Xeno-canto website itself on a smartphone, via its browser, the app offers several advantages. TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. FIRST FOR BRITAIN: RED-FOOTED BOOBY IN SUSSEX First for Britain: Red-footed Booby in Sussex. A Red-footed Booby is currently being cared for by the RSPCA after one was found exhausted on the beach at Hastings in HOLLY BLUE NUMBER ARE UP DESPITE 'EVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE Holly Blue number are up despite 'evolutionary struggle' with predatory wasp. Despite being ‘locked in an evolutionary struggle’ with a killer wasp the Holly Blue has bounced back this summer following a series of steep declines, results from the Big Butterfly Count have revealed. IAN BOLLEN'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page. NICK WAKELING'S GALLERY AT RARE BIRD ALERT Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991. Welcome to the RBA photo gallery. To search the gallery to view photos use the filters below to show the photos of your choice. The RBA gallery is free to view, and all registered users of the RBA website can upload photos. Guidelines for submission can be found on the upload page.

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Close: Save Changes : Regions are: Southwest England, Southeast England, East Anglia, The Midlands, South Wales, NW England & N.Wales, Northeast England, Scotland MONTAGU’S HARRIERS SET UK LONGEVITY RECORD, #ORNITHOLOGY Montagu’s Harriers set UK longevity record. The two Montagu’s Harriers ringed as chicks in Dorset in 2004 were caught this year by the RSPB and become the oldest known birds to be seen in the UK. They announced the news in their 2017 breeding season roundup in which we also found out that only five nests were located, meaning the Montagu MIGRATORY BIRDS DISPERSE SEEDS LONG DISTANCES #ORNITHOLOGY Migratory birds disperse seeds long distances. Some species of plants are capable of colonising new habitats thanks to birds that transport their seeds in their plumage or digestive tract. APP REVIEW: AVES VOX PRO FOR IOS Aves Vox claims to include at least one vocalisation for over 80% of all bird species worldwide, including more than 30,000 recordings. While it is possible to access the Xeno-canto website itself on a smartphone, via its browser, the app offers several advantages. TALKING BIRDS: @FILEYBIRDER SPEAKS TO BRETT RICHARDS, VIA The UK’s leading birdnews service since 1991. Sending over 90,000 instant and reliable birdnews reports each year. On pagers, smartphones, tablets and online. FIRST FOR BRITAIN: RED-FOOTED BOOBY IN SUSSEX First for Britain: Red-footed Booby in Sussex. A Red-footed Booby is currently being cared for by the RSPCA after one was found exhausted on the beach at Hastings in HOLLY BLUE NUMBER ARE UP DESPITE 'EVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE Holly Blue number are up despite 'evolutionary struggle' with predatory wasp. Despite being ‘locked in an evolutionary struggle’ with a killer wasp the Holly Blue has bounced back this summer following a series of steep declines, results from the Big Butterfly Count have revealed. GREATER SAND PLOVER BY FRANK GOLDING Tyninghame (Lothian): (RBA - the UK birders news service) Rare Bird Alert, Reliable Bird News Services Since 1991 MONTAGU'S HARRIER BY MARTIN STANDLEY Sunk Island (Yorkshire): (RBA - the UK birders news service) FORTY-FIVE PERCENT OF ALL FINNISH BREEDING BIRDS ARE This is the analysis of the latest assessment of the Red List of Birds for Finland, published in January.Of the 245 Finnish breeding species evaluated, 87 (36%) are Threatened and 23 (9%) are Near Threatened. WALTHAMSTOW WETLANDS TO BE EUROPE’S LARGEST URBAN WETLAND Walthamstow Wetlands to be Europe’s largest urban wetland reserve. London Wildlife Trust will be working with Waltham Forest Council and Thames Water to create Walthamstow Wetlands, an exciting new urban wetland nature reserve. OUTRAGE AS MAN ONLY GETS CAUTION FOR #WILDLIFECRIME ON Outrage as man only cautioned for wildlife crime on North Yorkshire grouse moor. An individual has received a police caution after admitting responsibility for setting three pole traps on a grouse shooting estate inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. THE @RAREBIRDALERTUK BIRDING ROUND-UP 20 The return of the recent regular wintering adult Pacific Diver in Co.Cork at Crookhaven – a bird still present this week on 22nd at least – was always likely to herald the finding of one of the recent annual Cornish birds too, and so it proved this week with the discovery of an adult bird off Penzance on 23rd-25th.. Astonishing to think that these birds were once the stuff of drop FINDERS-IN-THE-FIELD: RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN, FETLAR, VIA A day or so following our arrival on Fetlar I found an American golden plover, despite the predominant easterlies. While watching a short-toed lark at Tresta, I received a message from James Hanlon asking me to give him a heads-up if I found a Siberian blue or rufous-tailed robin. I replied with a crying-with-laughter emoji and a

thumbs up.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT Happy Christmas from Rare Bird Alert. Phew - what a year! From Pine Grosbeak and Harlequin at the beginning of the year, through to Cape May Warbler and Ivory Gulls at the end, 2013 will surely go down as one of the most memorable years in British and Irish birding. BRITISH MILITARY BASE ON #CYPRUS (@BFCYPRUS) Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said: “This report sadly highlights that the British base is the number one bird killing hotspot on the whole island of Cyprus. “Many much loved garden bird species are being trapped and killed for huge profit by criminal

gangs.

RARE BIRD ALERT'S WEEKLY BIRDING ROUND-UP 16 Back in Fair Isle some still evenings heralded the unfurling of the mist nets for a spot of Storm Petrel ringing in the Havens. Sure enough, the faithful male Swinhoe’s Petrel came unbidden into the nets on 16th and 18th alike. On both occasions, as set out in the guidelines agreed with the BTO for this unusual set of circumstances, the petrel ringing session concluded at the point at which

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POSTSCRIPT - THE TACUMSHIN 'WESTERN SANDPIPER' Killian Mullarney re-identifies a stint he originally 're-identified' as a Western Sandpiper previously in the spring. MORE HERE > SCOPS OWL SHOT FOR SINGING TOO LOUDLY The dead Scops Owl was found by children in their garden in the district of Neunkirchen, Lower Austria. MORE HERE > copyright Rare Bird Alert 2020. Rare Bird Alert - 17 Keswick Close, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 6UW enquiries: admin@rarebirdalert.co.uk or call 01603 457016 Please read our Cookies Policy and our Privacy Policy