Exceptional arrival across Scilly over the last 24 hours - pallid swift, night herons, purple herons, R-r swallow, woodchat shrike, hen harrier, R-n duck & 7+ golden orioles!! As always, I couldn’t see it all, but after seeing this scene below, little else mattered! #ScillyBirds

REVEALED: 18 Tory MPs have written to Environment Secretary Steve Barclay urging him to gut Natural England’s powers to create nature reserves (SSSIs)

This latest #AttackOnNature must not succeed

(Thanks to Joe Marshall for obtaining the letter)

Thread 1/

Dispersal patterns of the first White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) GPS-tracked in Iberia | link.springer.com/article/10.100… | Journal of Ornithology | #ornithology

Crossbills, Nuthatch, Brent Geese and early migrants highlights of March bird round-up for Walthamstow Wetlands on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com with bonus, late Feb summary. Thanks to Sam O'Donnell Chris Farthing Ivor hewstone HB Steve N Rom London & MLP

3D birding David Callahan David Bradshaw

The covers of the Id Handbook European Birds (Princeton Nature🔥).

Txs to the hard labor of James Lidster, Vincent vd Spek, Nils and Sam Gobin it is going to happen this autumn 🙏

For more info or signing up
press.princeton.edu/books/hardcove…

Also available via the birding bookstores.

The 18th anniversary of seeing the most famous, most important bird I ever saw ...

I rarely proselytise but this is a great article ...

nytimes.com/2024/03/30/opi…

Some childhood favourites repurchased in a Devon charity shop recently ...

Some childhood favourites repurchased in a Devon charity shop recently ...

I'm pretty sure this is a Pacific Diver - today c 1km W of Whitehills, Banff, ABZ. Comments welcome.
Consistent features: 1 Chinstrap 2 Never showed white patch/flaring at rear (even when preening) 3 Ear coverts dark 4. Small bill & smaller build /sz than BTD BirdGuides

gentilis will be Accipiter no longer

1/ The OEP is investigating Government for failing to follow scientific advice on new protected areas for wildlife.

This is exactly why proposals to give Natural England's powers to designate SSSIs to ministers is wrong - it will privilege short term politics over nature's need.

What's that you say? You want to go birdwatching in London and the South-East? Well, I have just the (hopefully definitive) guide for you ...

New stuff and lots and lots of bargains on my eBay page – all ending later today ... plenty of bird books and field guides ...
ebay.co.uk/usr/opp0sitela…

New stuff and lots and lots of bargains on my eBay page – all ending later today ... plenty of bird books and field guides ...
ebay.co.uk/usr/opp0sitela…

This is the highest rated photo in the entire Macaulay Library. I’ve taken some sweet photos of a White-faced Storm-Petrel, but I gotta say, this one is better than mine. 📷: JJ Harrison macaulaylibrary.org/asset/413988131

What is the function of the highly contrasting white-underwing panel & black wingtips in some raptors? Signalling?
They very obviously wink in the sun when the birds are flapping in display flights/tussles, and are most obvious on Red kites and Common Buzzards. Anyone know?

We are very disappointed that Dover District Council planning committee approved the applications for a 120-bed hotel & Seahive surf lagoon development at Betteshanger Country Park.

This is a loss for nature and the local community.

That was fast, Osprey back on the nest in Scotland already...