Rarity finders: Sardinian Warbler in Cheshire A remarkable spring morning on Hilbre Island provided a Sardinian Warbler, a new species for Cheshire, for Chris Williams.

Rarity finders: Sardinian Warbler in Cheshire

A remarkable spring morning on Hilbre Island provided a new species for Cheshire for Chris Williams:

European Turtle Dove among species to receive DEFRA funding A £90-million package for species recovery in England will target priority taxa including European Turtle Dove, Chough and Diamond-backed Spider.

A major new funding package for threatened species in England has been unveiled by DEFRA, with a total of £90 million committed to recovery work over the next three years:

Iran conflict threatens survival of Critically Endangered Asiatic Cheetah Protection efforts for the world's rarest big cat have been severely impacted by war in the Middle East.

The conflict in Iran has severely disrupted conservation efforts for the Critically Endangered Asiatic Cheetah, raising fresh concerns for the survival of the world's rarest big cat:

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Making sense of the 2025-26 Taiga Bean Goose influx A widespread arrival of Taiga Bean Geese to Britain and Ireland during winter 2025-26 stood out as both remarkable and difficult to explain. Josh Jones reports.

A widespread arrival of Taiga Bean Geese to Britain and Ireland during winter 2025-26 stood out as both remarkable and difficult to explain. Josh Jones investigates this memorable influx:

Review of the Week: 13-19 April 2026 A couple of High Arctic visitors in the form of Walrus and Ross's Gull came as surprises in a quality week dominated by spring migrants. Sam Viles rounds up the action.

Review of the Week

A couple of High Arctic visitors in the form of Walrus and Ross's Gull came as surprises in a quality week dominated by spring migrants. Sam Viles rounds up the action:

Photo of the Week: 13-19 April 2026 Lee Fuller wins his second Photo of the Week award of 2026 for a smashing shot of the Red-spotted Bluethroat in Dorset.

Lee Fuller wins his second Photo of the Week of 2026 for a smashing shot of the Red-spotted Bluethroat in Dorset:

GoFundMe launched to help save one of world's rarest whales A new crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support conservation efforts for the Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale.

A new crowdfunding campaign has been launched in an effort to support conservation work for the Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, with fewer than 400 individuals thought to remain:

Wader tracking study links South Africa's wetlands to Arctic breeding grounds A new BirdLife South Africa initiative is providing unprecedented insight into the movements of migratory shorebirds along the African-Eurasian Flyway.

A new initiative by BirdLife South Africa is shedding light on the extraordinary journeys of migratory shorebirds, with tracking devices deployed on these species in the country for the first time:

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New leaf-warbler species described in Japan A genetic and acoustic study has revealed that Ijima's Leaf Warbler comprises two distinct species, with a newly described 'Tokara Leaf Warbler' identified from southern Japan.

A new study has revealed that the rare Ijima's Leaf Warbler is in fact two distinct species, with researchers formally describing 'Tokara Leaf Warbler' as new to science:

Another record year for UK Common Cranes A record 87 pairs of Common Crane bred in the UK in 2025, highlighting the species' continued recovery following centuries of absence.

Common Crane enjoyed a record breeding season in the UK in 2025, with 87 pairs raising 37 chicks and bringing the total population to some 250 individuals:

Inside the May 2026 issue of Birdwatch European Nightjar, Andalusian Hemipode, the epic spring of 1990 and the rise of AI bird ID all feature in the May 2026 issue of Birdwatch, out now!

Fair Isle, Common Nightingale, Arctic Tern and the evolution of flightless birds all feature in this month's Birdwatch, which is out now!

Iran conflict threatens survival of Critically Endangered Asiatic Cheetah Protection efforts for the world's rarest big cat have been severely impacted by war in the Middle East.

The conflict in Iran has severely disrupted conservation efforts for the Critically Endangered Asiatic Cheetah, raising fresh concerns for the survival of the world's rarest big cat:

Golden Eagle reintroduction in England moves a step closer DEFRA has confirmed funding for a possible Golden Eagle reintroduction scheme in England.

Plans to restore Golden Eagle to England have advanced after DEFRA confirmed that funding would be available:

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Review of the Week: 7-12 April 2026 Spring migration ramped up with some exciting continental overshoots, not least a Sardinian Warbler in Cheshire and a Marsh Sandpiper in Co Durham. Sam Viles reports.

Review of the Week: 7-12 April 2026

Spring migration ramped up with some exciting continental overshoots, not least a Sardinian Warbler in Cheshire and a Marsh Sandpiper in Co Durham. Sam Viles reports:

Patch gold: European Red-rumped Swallow at 'the George' Playing the conditions paid off for Ian Lycett, with a smart Sandwich Tern find at his local reservoir in London soon overshadowed by a far rarer goodie.

European Red-rumped Swallow at 'the George'

Playing the conditions paid off for Ian Lycett, with a smart Sandwich Tern find at his local reservoir in London soon overshadowed by a far rarer goodie:

Making sense of the 2025-26 Taiga Bean Goose influx A widespread arrival of Taiga Bean Geese to Britain and Ireland during winter 2025-26 stood out as both remarkable and difficult to explain. Josh Jones reports.

A widespread arrival of Taiga Bean Geese to Britain and Ireland during winter 2025-26 stood out as both remarkable and difficult to explain. Josh Jones investigates this memorable influx:

Wader tracking study links South Africa's wetlands to Arctic breeding grounds A new BirdLife South Africa initiative is providing unprecedented insight into the movements of migratory shorebirds along the African-Eurasian Flyway.

A new initiative by BirdLife South Africa is shedding light on the extraordinary journeys of migratory shorebirds, with tracking devices deployed on these species in the country for the first time:

Camera traps capture first images of rare antelope The first-ever photographs have been taken of the rare and little-known Pemba Blue Duiker on Zanzibar, confirming its continued survival.

Camera traps have captured the first-ever photographs of a rare antelope on the island of Zanzibar, providing important confirmation of its continued existence:

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Photo of the Week: 7-12 April 2026 A magnificent White Wagtail image takes top spot this week.

A magnificent White Wagtail image won Monday's Photo of the Week:

New leaf-warbler species described in Japan A genetic and acoustic study has revealed that Ijima's Leaf Warbler comprises two distinct species, with a newly described 'Tokara Leaf Warbler' identified from southern Japan.

A new study has revealed that the rare Ijima's Leaf Warbler is in fact two distinct species, with researchers formally describing 'Tokara Leaf Warbler' as new to science:

Inside the May 2026 issue of Birdwatch European Nightjar, Andalusian Hemipode, the epic spring of 1990 and the rise of AI bird ID all feature in the May 2026 issue of Birdwatch, out now!

Fair Isle, Common Nightingale, Arctic Tern and the evolution of flightless birds all feature in this month's Birdwatch, which is out now!

Golden Eagle reintroduction in England moves a step closer DEFRA has confirmed funding for a possible Golden Eagle reintroduction scheme in England.

Plans to restore Golden Eagle to England have advanced after DEFRA confirmed that funding would be available:

Another record year for UK Common Cranes A record 87 pairs of Common Crane bred in the UK in 2025, highlighting the species' continued recovery following centuries of absence.

Common Crane enjoyed a record breeding season in the UK in 2025, with 87 pairs raising 37 chicks and bringing the total population to some 250 individuals:

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House Sparrow tops Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 More than nine million birds were recorded in last year's Big Garden Birdwatch, organised by the RSPB, with familiar species dominating the rankings.

House Sparrow has once again emerged as the UK's most recorded garden bird, according to results from the 2026 Big Garden Birdwatch: