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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Some light reading for the weekend… our most recent report, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK 2023, as published in @britishbirds.bsky.social, is now available open access at tinyurl.com/RBBP2023 #ornithology #ukbirding #birds

The cover of the Nov 2025 issue of British Bird, which contained the RBBP report for 2023

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Little Egret has bred in north-east Scotland for the first time, with four chicks successfully fledging at Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire:

f.mtr.cool

Little Egret breeds in North-East Scotland for first time

Four Little Egret chicks have fledged at Forvie National Nature Reserve in what is thought to be the most northerly breeding record for the species in the UK.

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Mark Mallalieu @mallalieum.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Reports from Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex suggest a good breeding season for Hawfinches. A trailcam in the Arundel area 1-23 July detected them daily, with up to nine in photos and up to five juveniles. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

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Alan Knox @alanknox.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I have 5 static recorders in Aberdeenshire forests & have had Quail in all: 1. 4 nights 23/5-3/7 2. 5 nights 21/5-19/6 3. 1 night 10/6 4. 10 nights 21/5-4/7 5. 8 nights 21/5-3/7 On only 2 nights calling started <midnight. @markaeaton.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social @inchgarthbirding.bsky.social

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Another example of Quail song to get your ear in…

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Quail are still arriving in high numbers, so now is a great time to be out listening for their “wet-my-lips” song. They sing round the clock, but mornings and evenings are the best times, in crops and grassland.

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Alan Knox @alanknox.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Long-eared Owl and Tawny Owl last night in the forest in Aberdeenshire. Don't seem to be as many LEOs this year. #birdingscotland @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Female Wigeon with young in Northeast Scotland this week. Now’s a great time for confirming breeding by Wigeon and other rare breeding ducks e.g. Shoveler, Pintail, Garganey, Pochard & Goldeneye

Female Wigeon with young in Northeast Scotland, taken by ex-RBBP member Ian Francis

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Watch BBC Countryfile tonight, BBC 1 at 7:15. It will include a short film of us in the New Forest looking for Woodpeckers and talking about volunteering for Woodpecker Network and @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

BBC Countryfile team filming us in the New Forest

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

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?...

youtu.be

Some advice on confirming breeding by RBBP species

YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel

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jjzomerset.bsky.social @jjzomerset.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Birmingham City Black Redstart & fledgling 5 male Black Redstarts Great! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds

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The White Falcon @markgolley.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Some brilliant Spoonbill action on Pat's Pool this evening, the juvenile constantly on at one of its parents for food, barely giving the adult a chance to snooze. Excellent entertainment 😊 a proper summertime highlight here. @linnetincley.bsky.social #cleybirds #norfolkbirding

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West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Another day, another album cover. 🦅 This week we colour-ringed another Goshawk nest at a private Staffordshire site, bringing us to 5 nests for 2026. True ghosts of the forest. Fantastic to see plenty of grey squirrel prey in the nest too. #Goshawk #Raptors

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Nice bit of breeding evidence for @ukrbbp.bsky.social … one of two broods of Shovelers at Buston Links this morning #NEbirding

A Shoveler duckling with its siblings and mum

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

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?...

youtu.be

Recording rare breeding birds in mid-summer

YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

My first fledged Long-eared Owl brood of the year, two juveniles with their characteristic begging calls, on the edge of Alnwick this evening #NEbirding @ukrbbp.bsky.social

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Pied Sandpiper @piedsandpiper.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

There are now two more female Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers out in the world! What a joy it’s been to share this patch of woodland with these incredible birds for the last 11 days. Thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social for the guidance. The clearing feels very quiet now! #HantsBirds #NewForest

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Amy R. @amythebirder.eurosky.social · 03/06/2026

Corncrakes! Part of the peaceful soundscape here at Mannal, Tiree #BirdingScotland

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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

The latest survey of Western Capercaillie in the Cairngorms NP has produced encouraging results, with the number of lekking males rising by 30% this year:

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Hope for Cairngorms capercaillie recovery as lek counts rise

Encouraging results have been recorded in 2026 for Western Capercaillie, one of the UK's most threatened bird species.

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Didn’t expect to end the week with another LIFER & my 175th bird of the year, only 10 minutes from home! A magnificent singing male red-breasted flycatcher. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #BirdingScotland #UKBirding #Birds #HighlandBirds

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Richard D. Gregory @richgreg3.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

📣Dartford Warblers at highest numbers on RSPB reserves with 264 pairs in 2025. RSPB/BTO/NE Heathland Birds Survey estimated the national population at 4,100 territories - up from 3,200 in 2006 📈📈🐦🐦 @rspb.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Oh, and don’t forget that the RBBP also collects data on rare non-native breeding birds, which includes waterfowl such as Ruddy Shelduck, Red-crested Pochard, Muscovy Duck and Wood Duck

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Wigeon are another under-recorded species in the breeding season, particularly in northern England and Scotland - again, please send all records in to help improve our understanding.

A pit of Wigeon in the Durham uplands, a valuable probable breeding record

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Goldeneye ducklings are now emerging - please keep an eye out, particularly in Northern Scotland - records of broods are a valuable addition to existing nestbox monitoring efforts.

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Red-breasted Mergansers are very under-recorded in the UK, especially in north and west Scotland where they are relatively widespread. They’re a late breeder, but will be settling in territories by now, so please report them to improve our knowledge… there are concerns that they may be declining

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

DUCKS: by this time of spring most ducks will have settled at potential breeding sites. So all records of scarce & rare breeding ducks, including Shoveler, Wigeon, Garganey, Pintail, Pochard and Red-breasted Merganser, should be submitted, with breeding evidence, to the relevant county recorder

A female Shoveler, the focus of attention for five drakes at a wetland in Northumberland this week. She appeared to be paired with one, so that’s a ‘probable breeding’ record.

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Although many records of Garganey earlier in the spring will be of birds still on migration, by mid-May birds are settling down and all records could be of birds hoping to breed. Females are very secretive when breeding.

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

If you are fortunate to find any of the RBBP duck species, please try to return to the site through the breeding season to look for broods - often the only way to confirm breeding as nests are usually well hidden.

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Here’s a short video on Shoveler, Pochard and Wigeon. Even just presence at a suitable wetland (“H”, a bird in habitat) may indicate breeding. A male on its own may mean there’s a female incubating nearby! Remember to include numbers, sexes and any obvious pairs with all records.

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Mark Eaton @markaeaton.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

The UK’s strangest avian couple at the Long Nanny, Northumberland this morning - the female American Black Tern with the same male Arctic Tern she bred (unsuccessfully) with in 2024. A small nest scrape but no eggs as yet. #NEbirding #rarebirdsUK

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angusrobin.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Here’s an example of LSW young calling from a nest (there were three young not far off fledging in this nest) @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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ynurc.bsky.social @ynurc.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Please remember when out #YorkshireBirding this spring and summer, to submit any rare breeding bird records to the county recorder, or through @birdtrack.bsky.social/eBird (including breeding status) to make sure they can be used in the yearly @ukrbbp.bsky.social Rare Breeding Bird Reports. Thanks!

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Dr David W. Smith @drdavebirding.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

It's coming to the end of lesser spot season, and chicks are fledging. Listen out for calling chicks if you're in the woods. Video by Paul Cox (thanks Paul for permission to use).

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Birds of Poole Harbour @harbourbirds.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Wow! Well that was quick. First chick fully hatched by 15:10. A great start to what will hopefully be another successful year in terms of productivity for this nest www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/.../osprey-w... @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @careyssecretgarden.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

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!

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

One of our regular reminders to ensure you put the welfare of rare breeding birds first, and don't cause unnecessary and possibly illegal disturbance.

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angusrobin.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

6 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests have been monitored in Devon and Somerset this year. One failed at the hatching stage, others will be fledging in the next few days, 1-2 weeks early. Young can now be heard calling in nests @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Breeding evidence is a key component of rare breeding birds recording. Here’s RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social with a brief primer for those who’d rather be birding than watching our longer version (youtu.be/nYEtKaAH7RU?...)

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Yet another new blog (like buses, you wait for ages then three come along at once) on how to use breeding evidence codes to make your records more valuable #UKbirding #ornithology rbbp.org.uk/2026/05/20/r...

rbbp.org.uk

Recording breeding evidence codes

Recording breeding evidence codes Displaying Ruff - a great piece of breeding evidence that should be recorded and submitted, using the evidence code D. (credit: Colin Bradshaw). We have recen...

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The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

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Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

How strong is site fidelity in Black-tailed Godwits? We know that adults return to the same sites each year but what do their chicks do, when it is their turn to breed? wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/05/21/s... 🎂8️⃣ #ornithology

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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

New in #BirdStudy Using trail cameras to monitor Corncrakes: Use of passive infrared-triggered trail cameras to study timing of breeding and habitat use of Corncrakes Crex crex in Scotland doi.org/10.1080/0006... #ornithology @rspbscience.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social

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Stuart keenor @stuckateur.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Incoming!!! LSW

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Tom Williams @pterodaktyl.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Monitoring a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest this morning for @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @edhorncastle.bsky.social using a remote camera to get detailed footage of food sources with minimal disturbance. Adults averaging a feed every 3.6 minutes, with a mix of invertebrates, predominantly aphids.

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