BirdGuides

The trail cameras and teamwork supporting turtle dove recovery Operation Turtle Dove relied on more volunteers than ever in 2024. Helen Moffat reports on how their trail cameras, time and commitment are helping the species.

Operation Turtle Dove relied on more volunteers than ever in 2025. Helen Moffat reports on how their trail cameras, time and commitment are helping the species:

Citril Finch population collapses in Germany amid broader European declines Citril Finch has nearly disappeared from Germany’s Black Forest, with numbers plunging by over 97%. Across Europe, habitat loss and climatic change threaten this mountain specialist, prompting urgent calls for coordinated conservation action.

Citril Finch is disappearing at a dramatic rate across its range in Germany, amid wider declines in Europe:

Farne Islands seabird census paints mixed picture The annual Farne Islands seabird survey shows a 23% decline in Puffin pairs but a strong increase in Arctic Terns, according to the National Trust.

The National Trust's latest seabird census on the Farne Islands has revealed a mixed picture for one of Britain's most important seabird colonies:

Bumper Sociable Lapwing count offers hope for global population More than 5,000 Critically Endangered Sociable Lapwings were counted at a major migration stop-over in Turkmenistan in autumn 2025. The record high offers rare good news for the species and highlights the importance of key staging sites.

Counts carried out this autumn on the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border have logged more than 5,000 Sociable Lapwings – one of the largest gatherings of this Critically Endangered species recorded in recent decades:

Motus tracks Jack Snipe from Teesside to Swedish breeding grounds Saltholme RSPB's new Motus station has tracked Jack Snipe migrating between Teesside and Sweden, providing rare insights into their routes and showing the importance of wider coverage across northern England.

A Motus antenna at Saltholme RSPB has tracked the movements of two Jack Snipe between Sweden and the UK, offering new insight into the species' migration routes:

Now in its second edition, get RSPB British Birds of Prey from the BirdGuides Bookshop.

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As Pygmy Cormorant edges west, is Britain next? Pygmy Cormorant has expanded steadily westwards over the last two decades and recently likely began breeding in France for the first time. With growing numbers now recorded across central Europe, the species is edging closer to Britain – is the first bird for Britain just around the corner?

Pygmy Cormorant has expanded steadily westwards over the last two decades and recently began breeding in France. With growing numbers now recorded across central Europe, the species is edging closer to Britain – is the first bird just around the corner?

Noctules hunt and consume passerines at altitude A landmark study has revealed that Europe's largest bat, Greater Noctule, hunts and eats small birds mid-flight, providing unprecedented insight into nocturnal predation at altitude.

Europe's largest bat, Greater Noctule, has been recorded capturing and consuming small songbirds in mid-air:

Mark Avery: good and bad news While the Westminster debate on grouse shooting was anticlimactic, the decision to finally ban lead shot is most welcome, writes Mark Avery.

Good and bad news

While the Westminster debate on grouse shooting was anticlimactic, the decision to finally ban lead shot is most welcome, writes Mark Avery:

Flurry of Streak-throated Swallows in Western Palearctic Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have all recorded birds during the last week, suggesting an influx of the South Asian species is underway.

Three Streak-throated Swallows have been seen in the Western Palearctic during the past week – nearly the entire total of previous records of the species in the region:

Mysterious Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale documented alive for first time For the first time, scientists have photographed and genetically confirmed live Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whales – a species previously known only from stranded animals – showing just how little we knew about one of the ocean's most cryptic large mammals.

Marine researchers have documented living Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whales at sea for the first known time – a breakthrough that resolves decades of mystery surrounding one of the ocean's most elusive cetaceans:

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Review of the Week: 24-30 November 2025 Killdeer, Black-browed Albatross, Eastern Black Redstart and 'queen eider' made for an excellent late autumn period of discoveries. Miles Cluff rounds up the action.

Review of the Week: 24-30 November 2025

Killdeer, Black-browed Albatross, Eastern Black Redstart and 'queen eider' made for an excellent late autumn period of discoveries. Miles Cluff rounds up the action:

Photo of the Week: 24-30 November 2025 This week's winning image showcases a delightful capture of a majestic Hen Harrier.

This week's Photo of the Week winner showcases a delightful capture of a majestic Hen Harrier:

The trail cameras and teamwork supporting turtle dove recovery Operation Turtle Dove relied on more volunteers than ever in 2024. Helen Moffat reports on how their trail cameras, time and commitment are helping the species.

Operation Turtle Dove relied on more volunteers than ever in 2025. Helen Moffat reports on how their trail cameras, time and commitment are helping the species:

Motus tracks Jack Snipe from Teesside to Swedish breeding grounds Saltholme RSPB's new Motus station has tracked Jack Snipe migrating between Teesside and Sweden, providing rare insights into their routes and showing the importance of wider coverage across northern England.

A Motus antenna at Saltholme RSPB has tracked the movements of two Jack Snipe between Sweden and the UK, offering new insight into the species' migration routes:

Citril Finch population collapses in Germany amid broader European declines Citril Finch has nearly disappeared from Germany’s Black Forest, with numbers plunging by over 97%. Across Europe, habitat loss and climatic change threaten this mountain specialist, prompting urgent calls for coordinated conservation action.

Citril Finch is disappearing at a dramatic rate across its range in Germany, amid wider declines in Europe:

Have you got your copy of The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook 2026?

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Species in Peril report reveals Wales's most endangered wildlife A new Species in Peril report from Natural Resources Wales identifies more than 3,000 species in Wales now found in just five or fewer locations. The study highlights butterflies, beetles, lichens and more – and suggests simple, low-cost habitat management could help secure their future.

Natural Resources Wales has published a pioneering report identifying more than 3,000 species in Wales that now occur in five or fewer locations – putting them at very high risk of extinction in the country:

As Pygmy Cormorant edges west, is Britain next? Pygmy Cormorant has expanded steadily westwards over the last two decades and recently likely began breeding in France for the first time. With growing numbers now recorded across central Europe, the species is edging closer to Britain – is the first bird for Britain just around the corner?

Pygmy Cormorant has expanded steadily westwards over the last two decades and recently began breeding in France. With growing numbers now recorded across central Europe, the species is edging closer to Britain – is the first bird just around the corner?

Noctules hunt and consume passerines at altitude A landmark study has revealed that Europe's largest bat, Noctule, hunts and eats small birds mid-flight, providing unprecedented insight into nocturnal predation at altitude.

Europe's largest bat, Noctule, has been recorded capturing and consuming small songbirds in mid-air:

Mysterious Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale documented alive for first time For the first time, scientists have photographed and genetically confirmed live Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whales – a species previously known only from stranded animals – showing just how little we knew about one of the ocean's most cryptic large mammals.

Marine researchers have documented living Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whales at sea for the first known time – a breakthrough that resolves decades of mystery surrounding one of the ocean's most elusive cetaceans:

Farne Islands seabird census paints mixed picture The annual Farne Islands seabird survey shows a 23% decline in Puffin pairs but a strong increase in Arctic Terns, according to the National Trust.

The National Trust's latest seabird census on the Farne Islands has revealed a mixed picture for one of Britain's most important seabird colonies:

Get Birdland: A Journey Around Britain on the Wing from the BirdGuides Bookshop.

Buy here: https://bit.ly/4hM41o5

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Review of the Week: 24-30 November 2025 Killdeer, Black-browed Albatross, Eastern Black Redstart and 'queen eider' made for an excellent late autumn period of discoveries. Miles Cluff rounds up the action.

Review of the Week: 24-30 November 2025

Killdeer, Black-browed Albatross, Eastern Black Redstart and 'queen eider' made for an excellent late autumn period of discoveries. Miles Cluff rounds up the action:

Photo of the Week: 24-30 November 2025 This week's winning image showcases a delightful capture of a majestic Hen Harrier.

This week's Photo of the Week winner showcases a delightful capture of a majestic Hen Harrier:

The trail cameras and teamwork supporting turtle dove recovery Operation Turtle Dove relied on more volunteers than ever in 2024. Helen Moffat reports on how their trail cameras, time and commitment are helping the species.

Operation Turtle Dove relied on more volunteers than ever in 2025. Helen Moffat reports on how their trail cameras, time and commitment are helping the species:

Citril Finch population collapses in Germany amid broader European declines Citril Finch has nearly disappeared from Germany’s Black Forest, with numbers plunging by over 97%. Across Europe, habitat loss and climatic change threaten this mountain specialist, prompting urgent calls for coordinated conservation action.

Citril Finch is disappearing at a dramatic rate across its range in Germany, amid wider declines in Europe:

France launches its largest rewilding project in the Dauphiné Alps Rewilding Europe has designated the Dauphiné Alps its 11th landscape – and France’s largest – aiming to restore wild horses, Eurasian Lynx, Grey Wolf, vultures and other species as part of a long-term ecosystem revival.

An ambitious rewilding initiative has begun in the Dauphiné Alps, marking the largest such project ever launched in France:

At first glance, The Fens may appear a flat, endless patchwork of farmland. But this low-lying region hides some of Britain's most dramatic winter birding spectacles.

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