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Bird watching and birding for the mildly interested

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I am not a hardcore, or even medium core, birder. I like big obvious birds, colourful birds, impressive birds and birds in huge numbers, occasionally. LBJs don’t do it for me. We will keep you up to date with news, and let you know good places to go and see (big, obvious, numerous) birds, but if you want a dedicated, specialist birding site, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

Where to watch birds and wildlife in the UK
See the guide to wildlife watching in the UK.

 
 
birds/tubbutaha_ranger_counting Studying some of South East Asia’s rarest seabirds
5:30 AM. Under an overcast sky, a maddening cacophony of birdcalls conveniently served as our alarm clock.

We are bivouacked on the cold, wet sands of Tubbataha North Islet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Asia's great seabird enclaves.

Read more »
birds/yellowantpitta[1] A close encounter with the Antpittas of Ecuador.
Mercedes Rivadeneira, a bir tour organiser from Ecuador, has a close encounter with an endangered Giant Antpitta.
Read more »

Related News Articles

birds/July_2010/Golden_Eagle_carbofuran Golden eagle poisoned in Ireland
There has been outrage at the poisoning of a golden eagle in Ireland; The bird was poisoned with the outlawed chemical, Carbofuran.
Read more »
misc/cat-eats-bird Feral cats kill 480 million birds in US every year - Responsible for 33 extinctions
Feral cats in the USA are devastating wildlife and costing the economy as much as $17 billion.
Read more »
old_images/s/sea-eagle Sea eagle numbers reach new levels in Scotland
The Scottish population passed the 50 breeding pairs milestone and produced more young per pair than in any other year since their reintroduction 35 years ago.
Read more »
photography/2010/veolia_ants Winners of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year announced
The much coveted title of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year was awarded to Hungarian photographer Bence Máté from Pusztaszer for his image A marvel of ants, a simple shot that captures the complexity of the behaviour of leaf-cutter ants in the Costa Rican rainforest.
Read more »
uk/uk_wildlife/severn_herons Severn Barrage abandoned
A barrage like the one proposed between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare would not only destroy huge areas of estuary marsh and mudflats used by 69,000 birds each winter and block the migration routes of countless fish, but, as confirmed by this report, it would dramatically increase risk of flooding to residential properties.
Read more »
birds/July_2010/crane_flight 21 Cranes released onto the Somerset Levels
So, the day in question finally arrived and it was time to release the cranes. Although it was a bit more blustery than we might have liked, we decided that, because of the nature of the release site and the bird's clear attachment to their grey suited parents and release site, things would be ok.
Read more »
birds/July_2010/buzzard_poison Birdcrime still on the rise in the UK – 384 reported incidents in 2009
2009 was another shocking year for the persecution of birds of prey with incidents of shooting, trapping and poisoning, according to the RSPB's 20th annual Birdcrime report.
Read more »
birds/July_2010/madeira_dead-adult Catastrophic forest fire delivers huge blow to Europe’s rarest seabird
A massive forest fire on the island of Madeira has killed several breeding adults and 65% of this year's chicks of the Endangered Zino's Petrel.
Read more »
birds/2010_jan/Purple_heron_chick_Peter_Castell_Birdguides First sighting of purple heron chicks confirm UK wildlife first
It's a sight wildlife lovers have been waiting for - the first purple heron chick ever to be raised successfully in the UK has taken its first flight and is learning to fend for itself. But is this news good or bad as it is further evidence of global warming?
Read more »
birds/june_2009/golden_eagle_poisoned_rspb Worst year on record for bird poisoning in Scotland – 2009
2009 marked the highest number of confirmed poisoning incidents discovered in a single year in Scotland in the past two decades, according to an annual report by RSPB Scotland.
Read more »
Mega rare white-tailed plover turns up at WWT Slimbridge
With only a handful of records in the UK ever - one of which at WWT Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire in 2007, WWT Slimbridge has just confirmed the sighting of a white-tailed plover on the reserve in Gloucestershire.
Read more »
world/australia/eyre_flood_satc Lake Eyre floods for the second year in a row.
Following last year's spectacular sight as floodwaters filled the once dormant Lake Eyre in South Australia, the remarkable natural phenomenon is occurring for a second consecutive year, on an even bigger scale.
Read more »
birds/2010 jan/rspb_purple_heron Purple herons breed for the first time in the UK
The first purple herons ever to breed successfully in the UK have hatched their chicks on the RSPB's Dungeness Nature Reserve in Kent. It is not yet known how many chicks have hatched and confirmation will only be possible when the young fledge in a few weeks time.
Read more »
birds/2010 jan/great_bustard_chick_10 Four Great bustard chicks hatch in the wild in the UK
One of the most spectacular birds on the planet, the Great Bustard looks set to consolidate its return to the UK with the news that four chicks hatched so far this year and that there are 4 confirmed nests.
Read more »
reviews/lost_world Lost World - The marine realm of Aldabra & the Seychelles
One of the best books we have seen for a long time, with some extraordinary underwater images as well as some fantastic bird shots. 
Read full review »
world/Asia/october_2009/ci_foja_wallaby New species of pigeon, spike-nosed frogs and world’s smallest wallaby found in New Guinea
The array of new species includes several new mammals, a reptile, an amphibian, no fewer than twelve insects. 
Read more »
birds/2010 jan/ireland_eagle_poisonned_allan_mee Six eagles and nine buzzards amongst twenty one raptors poisoned across Britain & Ireland
A horrific total of 6 eagles, 10 buzzards, 3 red kites, a Peregrine falcon and a sparrowhawk have all been poisoned in recent weeks across Ireland, England and Scotland. And these are just the ones that we know about and have been discovered.
Read more »
whales/marine_2009/Manatees_fwc 20 National Wildlife Refuges threatened by Louisiana oil spill
With as many as 20 National Wildlife refuges threatened by the oil spill, and rare and endangered species such as sea turtles, manatee, sea birds (including brown pelicans) and Gulf sturgeon all in danger, USFWS have launched a series of measures to try to mitigate the dire consequences of such a large spill in such an environmentally sensitive area.
Read more »
birds/2009_jan/Loch_lowes_osprey_swt Osprey update 2010 - First ospreys arrive back in the UK
The bird thought to be oldest breeding female of its kind ever recorded in the UK returned for the 20th consecutive year to the Loch of the Lowes wildlife reserve, astonishing wildlife experts.
Read more »
photography/2009_uk_photo_competition/davis_puffin_gull UK wildlife photography competition 2010
The UK has some fantastic wildlife, and we want you to get out and photograph it.  It costs nothing to enter, but there are 6 cameras, wildlife artwork, wildlife photography books and a £500 donation to a UK wildlife charity on offer. Entry is free.
Read more »
birds/2010_jan/rspca_starlings 75 starlings die in mystery crash landing
Mystery surrounds the death of 75 starlings which crashed to the ground and died on a single driveway in Somerset.
Read more »
world/americas/owlet_whiskered New population of a rare and endangered Long-Whiskered owlet found in Peru
The Long whiskered owlet, one of the rarest birds in the world, has been filmed and photographed in January 2010 in the Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) main research area, La Esperanza, in Peru.
Read more »
reviews/collins_bird_guide Collins Bird Guide - 2nd edition

The long awaited second edition of Collins Bird Guide is now here. Covering Britain and Europe, the second edition has been update and revamped. Distribution maps have been updated allowing for recent bird movements; the text has been expanded and new illustrations have been included - There are now 3500 illustrations!

Click Collins Bird Guide to read more

birds/june_2009/mull_eagle_chicks_fc Are Sea eagles coming back to Suffolk? Vote on what you think should happen
In any debate about conservation, it is always important to discount 10% of the arguments at either end of the range, as some people will support all conservation, no matter what the cost or practicalities, and others would complain about spending 5 Euros to save the last elephant. Somewhere in the middle is a rational debate and, usually, the right answer.
Read more »
birds/2010 jan/Spectacled-Flowerpecker-Webster New bird species found in Heart of Borneo
A bird species new to science, The "Spectacled Flowerpecker," has been discovered in the heart of the Bornean rainforest. However, so little is known about the bird that that it has yet to be given a scientific name.
Read more »
birds/nov_2009/rspb_bee_eater 418 species of bird recorded in Britain in 2008
With up to 418 species of bird spotted in Britain, 2008 is looking likely to smash records for the number of bird species seen within a single year.
Read more »
birds/nov_2009/limestone_warbler New bird species discovered in Laos
Named the "limestone leaf warbler" because it breeds in Laos's limestone karst environments, it is similar to other warblers in this area of Southeast Asia, except for its distinct vocalizations and slight morphological differences.
Read more »
photography/2009_uk_photo_competition/davis_puffin_gull UK wildlife photography competition - 2009 - results
Successful wildlife and wilderness photography does not necessarily involve long flights and equally long immigration queues. The inaugural Wildlife Extra UK wildlife photography competition is not only a fabulous example of just how beautiful the British Isles are, but also that it does not need a fat pay cheque to seduce talented photographers into wanting their work displayed. There are no remote cameras involved (yes, that is a dig) and no ludicrous Photoshop sorcery either, just a litany of belting images.
Read more »
old_images/v/vulturesrspbmed New drug threat to Asian vultures – Edging them towards extinction
For every 1000 Oriental white-backed vultures occurring in southern Asia in the 1980s only one remains today because of the lethal effects of diclofenac - a drug used to treat livestock - on vultures. Alarmingly, researchers looking into safe alternatives have now identified that a second, livestock treatment in Asia - ketoprofen - is also lethal to the birds.
Read more »
safaris/october_2009/secretary_bird_price_wx_pg Wildlife trade raping Africa – Hundreds of species for sale on the internet
We were recently approached by a Tanzanian wildlife dealer, offering us an eye-wateringly wide range of species. Although it is not currently legal to import wild birds into the UK (This was not implemented with any thought for wildlife, but because of bird flu.), it is still legal in many countries.
Read more »
birds/nov_2009/Pochard_ducklings_Lewis-Durrell_c Madagascar Pochard - The world’s rarest ducklings hatched in captive breeding programme
A complicated and challenging mission to a remote lake in Madagascar has resulted in a huge step being taken in efforts to save the world's rarest duck from extinction.
Read more »
world/Asia/october_2009/panay_monitor_laman Biodiversity loss shows no signs of slowing down - IUCN
The 2009 Red List, issued by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, shows more than one-third (36 percent) of the 47,677 species assessed are threatened with extinction.
Read more »
birds/june_2009/banggai_crow Long feared extinct, rare crow rediscovered in Indonesia
The Banggai Crow was thought to be extinct until Indonesian biologists finally secured two new specimens on Peleng Island in 2007.
Read more »
old_images/j/jerdons_courser Critically endangered Jerdon’s Courser seen for the first time for several years
The birds, a nocturnal ground bird found in scrub jungles, were seen in the heart of the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary.
Read more »
world/mid_east/bald_ibis_shot_rspb Desperate year for Northern bald ibis as birds are shot and electrocuted
One of the last remaining wild birds in the Middle East has been shot by a hunter in Saudi Arabia.
Read more »
world/europe/malta_cemetry_ Shocking bird slaughter continues in Malta – Mass bird graveyard found including 34 Marsh harriers
The carcasses of 76 protected birds have been found in Malta, concealed under stones and rubbish.
Read more »
birds/june_2009/bare-faced-bulbul New species of ‘bald’ bird discovered in Laos
A previously unknown and very unusual songbird with a bald head has been discovered in a rugged region in Laos.
Read more »
birds/Birds_april_09/eagle_golden_poison_rspb Golden eagle poisoned in West Scotland
Strathclyde Police officers have carried out an extensive search of Beinn Udlaidh in the Glen Orchy area of Argyll following the discovery of a dead golden eagle.
Read more »
birds/Birds_april_09/kielder_osprey Ospreys breed in Northumberland for first time in over two centuries
For the first time in at least 200 years ospreys are nesting and are believed to have hatched chicks in Northumberland.
Read more »
birds/Birds_april_09/bustard_chick_rspb The First Great Bustard chicks hatch in the UK for 177 years
For the first time since 1832, the Great Bustard - one of Europe's most threatened birds - has nested in the UK with two separate females successfully hatching chicks.
Read more »
old_images/g/gorgeted-puffleg More birds are critically endangered than ever before – Now 1227 species
BirdLife International's latest evaluation of the world's birds has revealed that more species than ever are threatened with extinction. A staggering 1,227 species (12%) are now classified as Globally Threatened but the good news is that when conservation action is put in place, species can be saved.
Read more »
birds/emperor_penguins Vast reserve to protect remote Prince Edward Islands in the Southern Ocean
South Africa's is to establish one of the world's largest Marine Protected Area's (MPA) around its Prince Edward Islands. This is an achievement of global importance which will help protecting a suite of spectacular wildlife, including albatrosses, penguins and killer whales.
Read more »
world/Africa/sidamo_lark_davies Detailed study predicts Africa’s first bird extinction looming
The Sidamo lark, confined to the Liben Plain grassland in southern Ethiopia, is critically endangered by bush encroachment, permanent settlement and agricultural conversion.
Read more »
birds/2009_jan/vanikoro_white-eyes New species of White-eye discovered in the Solomon Islands
The discovery of a new bird to science in a distant archipelago is providing evidence of how, in the absence of competitors, unique species can evolve rapidly to fill empty niches.
Read more »
world/Asia/Lake_Eyre_flooding Lake Eyre filling up for the first time in 10 years – wildlife spectacle
The world's largest salt lake, Lake Eyre in South Australia is once again bursting into life as Queensland floodwaters flow along normally dormant creeks and rivers to reach Australia's lowest point, 15 metres below sea level.
Read more »
nz/rangi_kakapo_chris Long lost kakapo rediscovered after 21 years
A male kakapo last seen 21 years ago on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, just off Stewart Island, has been rediscovered, adding his genetics to the small but increasing kakapo population.
Read more »
news/Chris_Packham Chris Packham - Ecological cleansing

Chris Packham writes about exterminating invasive species - or not. Perfection is beautiful, but extremely rare, and the ever increasing scrutiny of anything tending to it invariably reveals a flaw.

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birds/storkatcamera Wildlife news letters

See all our past newsletters.

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old_images/b/baldibismedium 3 Northern bald ibis poisoned in Jordan
Three of the world's rarest birds have been found poisoned in a remote Jordanian desert hundreds of miles from their breeding grounds in Turkey.
Read more »
birds/birds_september_2008/abboots_cockatoos_indonesia World's rarest cockatoo rediscovered in Indonesia
90 years after it was first discovered, Abbott's Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo has been rediscovered in Indonesia
Read more »
A Life of Ospreys

.Written by Roy Dennis. What Diane Fossey is to gorillas and David Shepherd is to Elephants, Roy Dennis is to ospreys.
Read full review »

birds/birds_september_2008/border_ospreys_fc A record 18 osprey chicks fledged in the Scottish borders in 2008
A record number of 18 osprey chicks have successfully fledged in the Scottish Borders this season.
Read more »
birds/birds_september_2008/osprey_repb_in_flight Satellite tagged Loch Garten osprey ditches in Atlantic
One of two young ospreys from the famous Loch Garten nest has died during his first migration.
Read more »
birds/birds_september_2008/yellow_cardinal_birdlife Common birds declining worldwide – Indication of deteriorating environment
Common birds are declining worldwide, providing evidence of a rapid deterioration in the global environment that is affecting all life on earth - including human life.
Read more »
birds/Spoonbill_scotland_Keith_Kirk Spoonbills breed in Scotland for the first time
A pair of spoonbills have successfully bred for the first time in Scotland and only the second time in the UK. An adult pair have raised and fledged three chicks on Kirkcudbright Bay in Dumfries and Galloway.
Read more »
birds/olive_backed_forest_robin_Brian_Schmidt_ New Forest Robin bird species discovered in Gabon
The newly discovered olive-backed forest robin (Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus) was named by the scientists for its distinctive olive back and rump.
Read more »
news/Chris_Packham Chris Packham asks –‘What’s the point of nature reserves?’
Without nature reserves we would have nowhere to go on Sundays to meet fellow minded geeks and discuss the minutiae of our passions. We wouldn't be able to stand hands on hips and smugly gaze at a living representation of what we imagine our green and pleasant landscape once looked like.
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misc/tana_river_delta_kenya Major Kenyan wetlands to be sacrificed for biofuels
The Kenyan government has approved a controversial plan to grow biofuel crops on an internationally important coastal wetland.
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New species of bird discovered in China

A new bird species of bird has been discovered in China near the border with Vietnam.

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news/Colombia_new_bird Another new bird species from Colombia

Another new bird has been discovered in the Serranía de los Yariguíes mountains in Colombia, a subspecies of the Pale-bellied Tapaculo.

Read more »
birds/Toucan_trade Government may lift bird import ban
Despite Tony Blairs promise to ban the import of wild birds permanently, the government has recently revealed that the ban may only be temporary.
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news/becks-petrel Seabird, Not Seen For 80 Years, Photographed off Papua New Guinea

Extinct seabird rediscovered off Papua New Guinea.

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Zululand Birding Route celebrates ten years
One of Africa’s most established and celebrated ecotourism initiatives, the Zululand Birding Route (ZBR), celebrated its 10th anniversary this weekend.
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news/hornbill-thailand Hornbill Conservation in Thailand - Poacher to Gamekeeper.
How the dedicated work of one woman has saved several species of hornbill from extinction in Thailand.
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news/finch New species of bird discovered in Colombia.
The Yariguies Brush-Finch was found in a remote mountain range by and Anglo - Colombian team, it is notable for it's striking colouration.
Read more »
Two Sightings of Northern Bald Ibis in Middle East Bring a Spark of Hope
Sightings of this incredibly rare bird in Djibouti and Ethiopia have raised hope that it might avoid extinction.
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news/white-shouldered-Ibis Record Numbers of White-shouldered Ibis found in Cambodia
A large flock of white-shouldered ibis, one of the world's rarest birds, has been spotted in Cambodia.
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news/spoon-billed_sand_summer Unique wader threatened with extinction
This unique shorebird from the far east has seen its population drop by 80% in the last 30 years to just 400 pairs.
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news/dove2 'Extinct' dove breeds at London Zoo.
A Socorro dove, extinct in the wild for 30 years, has bred for the first time at London Zoo.
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news/rainforestsmall Doubts raised over Australian ´New Parrot` claims.
Doubts have been raised over the claimed discovery of a new species of Fig parrot in Queensland.
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news/Oloidien6_DMHarper Lake Oloidien flamingos
The lake has only recently become saline enough for the bacteria that the flamingos rely on for food to exist.
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US Army project foiled by Ivory-billed woodpecker.
A judge in the US has ordered a halt to a US army engineering scheme that would have taken billions of gallons of water from the swapms where the Ivory-billed woodpecker is thought to be clinging on.
Read more »
news/sumatran-cuckoo Rare Sumatra Ground Cuckoo caught on camera in Sumatra
Reserachers from Kent University were amazed to find the had photographed a Sumatra Ground Cuckoo while conducting a tiger survey in Sumatra. It is only the second time it has been recorded in the last 90 years.
Read more »
news/b_bugun_liocichlamed New species of bird discovered in India
A new colourful, but very rare babbler has been discovered in the mountain forests of North East India.
Read more »
news/StarvingguillemotSNH[1] Starving seabirds being found across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Staff at RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage are concerned about the number of common guillemots that have been found dead or dying.
Read more »
news/becks-petrel 16 bird species saved from extinction 1994 - 2004.
16 of the world's rarest birds were saved from extinction between 1994 - 2004.
Read more »
news/baldibismedium[1] The Middle East's rarest bird fitted with satellite tags.
Three Northern bald ibis, thought extinct in the Middle East until 2002, have been satellite tagged in an attempt to discover where they spend the winter.
Read more »
news/pochardfemale 'Extinct' Madagascar Pochard re-discovered
The Madagascar pochard, thought extinct since 1990, has been found alive and well. 9 adults and 4 young were seen by researchers.
Read more »
news/large-billed_warbler The world's least known bird, the Large-billed Reed-warbler, rediscovered.
The Large-billed reed warbler, previously only known from 1 specimen collected in India in 1867, has been rediscovered in Thailand.
Read more »
news/kokako-extinct South Island kokako declared extinct
The South Island Kokako has been officially declared extinct by New Zealand authorities.
Read more »
news/new-hummingbird Stunning new hummingbird species discovered in Colombia
A stunning new species of hummingbird has been discovered in Colombia, but it needs urgent protection.
Read more »
news/Caatinga Caatinga Woodpecker rediscovered in Brazil after an 80 year absence.
The Caatinga woodpecker, only known from a single 1926 specimen, has been rediscovered in Brazil.
Read more »
news/eagle-poisoned Only breeding female Golden eagle in Scottish Borders poisoned.
A joint investigation by Lothian and Borders Police, RSPB Scotland, the Scottish SPCA and the Scottish Executive discovered poisoned bait on a grouse moor in the Borders.
Read more »
birds/July_2010/proaves_baudo New population of one of the world’s rarest birds discovered in Colombia
An expedition in northwestern Colombia by the conservation organization Fundación ProAves has discovered two previously unknown colonies of one of the world's rarest, most endangered birds - the Baudo Oropenduala (Psarocolius cassini).
Read more »
birds/2009_jan/Loch_lowes_osprey_swt UK Ospreys 2009 - First osprey chick in Dumfries in living memory
Latest news. Chicks have hatched, including the first osprey chick in Dumfries in living memory; and Loch Garten ospreys out of danger after freeing themselves from fishing line. 2007 Lake District osprey chick at Leighton Moss.
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birds/Birds_april_09/irish_eagle_chick Golden Eagle chicks hatch in Ireland’s Glenveagh National Park
A pair of Golden Eagles has hatched 2 young chicks in Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal in Ireland. This same pair reared a chick in 2007, but failed to breed in 2008.
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birds/hen_harrier_Male_ready_to_fledge Hen harrier. Persecution is prime cause of disappearance, says Natural England – Could be reintroduced to new areas
Detailed monitoring work since 2002 has shown that the critically low breeding numbers and patchy distribution of the hen harrier in England is a result of persecution - both in the breeding season, and at communal roosts in the winter - especially on areas managed for red grouse or with game rearing interests.
Read more »
uk/uk_wildlife/wildcare_field WildCare scheme boosting rare birds on UK farms
Figures released by the wildlife habitat scheme, WildCare, show that declining species such as brown hares, yellowhammers and even the humble house sparrow are making a dramatic comeback on participating farms.
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old_images/s/sea-eagle6 White-tailed sea eagles to be released in Norfolk?
The magnificent sea eagle could make a return along the Norfolk coast next summer if a proposed re-introduction scheme gets the go ahead.
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birds/birds_september_2008/corncrake_pensthorpe Corncrake found in Manchester car park
. A corncrake found wandering around a restaurant car park in Manchester in September, has been given a safe haven at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham
Read more »
old_images/b/bustardcloseupmedium Great bustards released on Salisbury Plain
The Great Bustard Group released 19 birds on Salisbury Plain at the end of September, the fifth annual release that is part of the UK reintroduction project scheduled to continue until 2013.
Read more »
old_images/b/baldibismedium Breeding failure prompts captive breeding proposal for Syria’s Northern Bald ibis
One of the world's rarest wild birds, the Northern bald ibis, should be supplemented with captive bred stock.
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news/eagle-poisoned Bird crime stats jump 40%
July 2008. Reported crimes against birds of prey escalated to an unwelcome record in 2007, increasing by 40 per cent on 2006.
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old_images/e/eagle-poisoned Golden eagle persecution preventing the bird’s recovery in England and Scotland
Study shows that persecution of Golden eagles is halting their recovery in Scotland and is thwarting the bird's return to northern England.
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world/Honed_toad_new_discovery Dwarf woodpecker and legless lizard among 14 new species discovered in Cerrado region of Brazil

April 2008. An expedition to a remote region of Brazil has lead to the discovery of a legless lizard and a tiny woodpecker along with 12 other suspected new species in Brazil.

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news/gull-arrow Campaign of cruelty to Birds Continues in East Sussex
After last week’s report of 5 gulls being shot in Sussex, we have today (April 21st) received 2 further reports of appalling cruelty from the Hastings/Eastbourne area.
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world/antiquoia-finch5 New Bird Species Recognised in Colombia, May Already be Extinct
A new bird species, the Antioquia Brush-Finch or Atlapetes blancae – has been described as a result of studies supported by Fundación ProAves in Colombia.
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news/grey-partridge Garden Birds in Sharp Decline Across Europe

An analysis of 124 of Europe’s common birds has revealed that over a 26-year period 56 species (45 percent) have declined across 20 European countries.

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news/black-grouse1 Black Grouse turn the corner in England as numbers climb above 1000.

Although times have been hard for the Black grouse, conservationists hope that the species may have turned the corner after years of decline thanks to more sensitive land management. 

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news/twistwing A DISTINCTIVE NEW SPECIES OF TYRANT FLYCATCHER (PASSERIFORMES: TYRANNIDAE: CNIPODECTES) FROM SOUTHEASTERN PERU
The bird, a 'Rufuous Twistwing' was first found in 1992, but only recently recognised as a new species.
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news/moorhen-leucismno4[1] Very rare 'Leucistic' moorhens seen in the UK.

We have now been sent 4 photos of different leucistic moorhens in the UK. Leucism is very rare and to have four birds in the country simultaneously is highly unusual.

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news/2009_jan/ivory_bill_reward_50000 $50,000 Reward For Locating Live Ivory-billed Woodpecker
The Nature Conservancy have increased the reward for finding an Ivory-billed woodpecker to $50,000. Get your Binocs out!
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news/glossy-ibis Glossy ibis flock arrives at Slimbridge.
Usually only seen in the UK every 5 years, a flock of seventeen have recently settled at Slimbridge.
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news/goldeneaglemed Reward offered for Golden eagle killers.
In separate incidents, 2 Golden eagles have been found poisoned in Scotland, and anonymous donors have offered a £5,000 reward in each case for information leading to the conviction of the killers.
Read more »
news/bearded-tit Bearded tits thriving in Lancashire.
Bearded tits are thriving at RSPB Leighton Moss thanks to some innovative conservation work.
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news/lakenheath-crane Cranes breed in the Fens for the first time in 400 years
May 2007. Cranes have been found breeding in the Fens of East Anglia for the first time in 400 years.
Read more »
news/albatross Grey-headed albatrosses on the brink in Australia
The sole population of Grey headed albatross left in Australia is under severe threat from competition with eveasive species such as rabbits.
Read more »
news/golden-eagle_carcass New Golden Eagle viewing scheme launched in Scotland
For the first time in Scotland one of the country's most enthralling wildlife spectacles is to be included as the centrepiece of an exciting new visitor attraction, which opened to the public on 1st April 2007.
Read more »
news/AvocetsandchicksJustindeVilleneuve2006medium Rare Waders Successfully Breed in London
Four rare Avocet chicks hatched on Saturday 17 June 2006 at the WWT London Wetland Centre .in Barnes, South West London – the closest breeding location to central London since records began.
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news/takahereleaseJune06PhilBrownmedium First mainland breeding population of takahe to be established in the North Island New Zealand.
Two highly endangered takahe have been introduced to a special enclosure in the Maungatautari reserve in New Zealand.
Read more »
news/Siroccomedium Rare chance to see a Kakapo.
The Ulva Island trust is offering a chance to see one of the worlds rarest birds, the kakapo, on Ulva Island, as well as the chance to see some of the other rare birdlife there, such as the weka.
Read more »
news/squacco Squacco heron in London
A Squacco heron, a very unusual sight in the UK, has taken up residence in London.
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news/great-bustard10 Great Bustards in the UK
The thrid batch of Great bustard eggs is due to arrive shortly from Russia, and many of last years hatchlings have returned to the project site.
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news/great-bustard_eggs Great Bustards nest again in UK after 175 years wait
Earlier this spring a female Great Bustard from the Great Bustard Group (GBG) reintroduction trial in Wiltshire nested and laid two eggs. Due to fears of egg thieves and disturbance from bird watchers, the announcement was delayed and the location of the nest is being kept secret.
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news/bittern-booming Bitterns breeding in the Fens for the first time for 70 years
September 2007. The recovery of the bittern, took a small step forward with news that, despite flood problems, male bitterns were recorded at more sites than any other year since 1990.
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Crane love raises hopes of successful species re-introduction
Common crane touches down at Pensthorpe, bonds with Pensthorpe crane.
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news/CirlBunting[1] Cirl buntings re-introduced into Cornwall.
The rare Cirl bunting was reduced to just a few hundred pairs in south Devon, but they have now been re-introduced into Cornwall.
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reviews/reviews_2010/ethiopia_birding Where to watch birds in Ethiopia
I once took a trekking group to the Bale Mountains and the keen birders in the group had recorded some 350 species f bird after 1 week. We then had a week visiting other areas of Ethiopia, and I remember very clearly sitting outside our hotel in Lalibela (Home of the world famous rock hewn churches) as around 2 dozen Lammergeiers circled around our heads.
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Wildlife watching in Spain
Wildlife of Spain
IberiaNature.com (nothing to do with Wildlife Extra, but very good) has a very good guide to the wildlife of Spain.
Golden Eagles in Ireland 2008.

The latest update on the status of Ireland's Golden eagle population.

Golden Eagles in Ireland 2008

features/seaeagle White-tailed sea eagles introduced into Eastern Scotland - one shot dead.
Following the news that White-tailed sea eagles are thriving in northwest Scotland, they have been introduced onto the east coast. However since their introduction, 2 have been electrocuted, and one has been shot on a grouse estate.
Sumatra Ground Cuckoo photographed.
Reserachers from Kent University were amazed to find the had photographed a Sumatra Ground Cuckoo while conducting a tiger survey in Sumatra. It is only the second time it has been recorded in the last 90 years. Full story.
features/gurneys-pitta6 Rare Birds Year Book 2009 Photo Competition
A new photo competition has just been launched for photos of the rarest birds in the world, those categorized as Critically Endangered, to be featured in the next edition of Rare Birds Yearbook which is due in October 2008.

Details.
features/zsl-logo Avian Reintroduction Biology: current issues for science and management - symposium
Avian Reintroduction Biology: current issues for science and management - symposium
 
8 - 9 May 2008. 
click here.
features/sunagor Reader offer. The world's most powerful binoculars
Sunagor are offering Wildlife Extra readers a chance to buy a pair of the world's most powerful binoculars, the Sunagor 25-150 X 70 Megazoom, for just £199.99 (RRP £399.99).

Click here to read the review or to buy.
Bird links
Fundacion Proaves. Protecting and discovering the bird life of Colombia.
Dean Birders. Disabled Forest of Dean birders.
Birdwatch Ireland. Conserving birds in Ireland.
England nature

Read about the nature of England, and see a guide to nature reserves in England.
Click here to see more about English Nature