Figure 1. Hypothesised drivers and movements of Nearctic landbirds associated with the passage of Hurricane Lee in autumn 2023. NAO, North Atlantic Oscillation. Image credits: Eastern Spruce Budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) used with permission from Lucas Benaiche, wildfires and solar eruption by Gerd Altmann/geralt (Pixabay), Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) by Lucas Lombardo, Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) by Ian Davies, and Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) by Sam Viles.

New paper on the pattern, process and implications of trans-Atlantic vagrancy for ecology and evolutionary biology, written with @pauldufour80.bsky.social and Andrew Farnsworth read free at: authors.elsevier.com/a/1mzPI3QW8S... #Ornithology #Ecology #UKBirding 🪶🦋🌱🌎🌍🧪

Some variety today #BudleBay #NEbirding @rossahmed.bsky.social

Not much of a day to do anything outside so a good chance to finish these. Destined for @northronbirdobs.bsky.social #BirdArt #BirdingScotland

Bonaparte's Gull no longer a British rarity Following an upturn in records, the BBRC has made the decision to downgrade the rarity status of the North American larid in Britain as of the start of 2026.

The BBRC has announced that Bonaparte's Gull is no longer to be considered a national rarity:

Marsh Sandpiper at Boldon Flats second earliest ever. Previous April arrival dates:

6 April
10 April
17 April
19 April
20 April
22 April
23 April
23 April
24 April
25 April
28 April
28 April
29 April
30 April

A fine male Redstart at Boulby this morning along with my first Ring Ouzel, Redpolls and Willow Warbler of the year @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social

Steve Routledge Bird And Wildlife Videos,Phonescoped With My Swarovski ATX85 Telescope & Google Pixel 8 Pro. Also the occasional gigs we go to as well.

youtube.com/@steveroutl7... Some new stuff here.

Female Scaup at Farmoor this evening. Have been testing the Swarovski AT Balance last few days - pretty amazed by the quality. This video shot on phone, through hand-held 'scope, standing exposed on the causeway at Farmoor in a F5-6 wind

Came across this mixed-singing Willow Warbler in Northumberland last year. Put out a recorder and in 81 hours of recording it sang c.19,000 Willow Warbler songs and c.6,000 Chiffchaff songs.

Another good day of Meadow Pipit passage at Boulby with over 4000 through this morning @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social @trektellen.bsky.social www.trektellen.org/count/view/3...

British Columbia’s first-ever Taiga Bean Geese (middendorffii) gave fabalis views in Port Renfrew yesterday. Hot on the heels of Canada’s first Taiga Flycatcher, they continue this winter’s run of Taiga vagrants in the province. #CanadianBirding

Bank Island
female Common Scoter
1 Otter

Wheldrake Ings
9 White-fronted Geese
576 Black-tailed Godwit
236 Pink-footed Geese
7 Lesser Canada x Barnacle Geese hybrids
2 Great Egret
1 Peregrine
1 Sand Martin
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Goosander
91 Pintail
@ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Review of the Week: 9-15 March 2026 A Tengmalm's Owl caused a stir in Shetland, while an Oriental Turtle Dove was discovered in Northern Ireland. Miles Cluff reports.

Review of the Week: 9-15 March 2026

A Tengmalm's Owl caused a stir in Shetland, while an Oriental Turtle Dove was discovered in Northern Ireland. Miles Cluff reports:

Robin in Canada | British Birds On 7 January 2026 Sabrina Jacob saw a Robin. Without any further context, readers of British Birds would wonder why this sighting is worthy of a section in 'Latest news'. Well, the location at which…

The magnitude of the sighting only hits home with full context – the species involved was European Robin – the first record for Canada. It is one of just a handful of records for the whole of North America.

📸 Louis Lemay.

Fantastic @egioxford.bsky.social seminar from @pauldufour80.bsky.social on the latest work on avian vagrancy

Guest Post: Sequencing the “Uncommon Mourningthroat” A fun challenge for birders, once we’ve become familiar with common bird species, is recognizing hybrids.

There's a new guest post on the WOS blog! WJO author Kevin Bennett describes the work that went into definitively identifying an "Uncommon Mourningthroat," a Mourning Warbler x Common Yellowthroat hybrid. #ornithology

Canada Warbler in Pembrokeshire: new to Britain September 2023 saw an unprecedented influx of Nearctic landbirds to Britain and Ireland, with an exceptional breadth of American species recorded during a...

This month's Free Access Editorial Team Choice: Canada Warbler in Pembrokeshire!

Magnolia Warbler at St Govan’s Head, Pembrokeshire, found by Toby Phelps was then added to with the discovery of Britain’s first Canada Warbler.

Read more:

📸 Canada Warbler by Graham Jepson

This bird has now amassed 1,850 photos on eBird!

Europe's only regular Ring-billed Gull flock shows signs of recovery After years of decline, numbers have increased considerably on Terceira, Azores, this winter.

After almost two decades of decline, Europe's only regular wintering flock of Ring-billed Gull has shown a welcome recovery in numbers this winter: 

Apparently patch birding does all come good in the end. 1w Ring-billed Gull this evening and glad some people managed to connect after my rather garbled attempt at putting news out. Blog post to follow #ukbirding

No UK eBird records of Rough-legged Buzzard from 2026 yet (below); this species will likely be rarer nationally than Black-winged Kite in future. Both very visible signs of climate (and land-use) driven range shifts #UKBirding #Ornithology

Bioacoustics as a tool for the detection and monitoring of a scarce woodland bird – the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Having declined massively in numbers and range in Britain over the last few decades, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor is a priority...

Following the December 2025 paper on detecting& monitoring Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, we’re inviting your questions.
We’ll put them to the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Network next weekend when they meet,&publish their answers soon
The paper: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
Add your questions below

Five of the eight Taiga Bean Geese in a frosty field in Ayrshire. Such distinctive birds, completely different to Tundras

Had to call in to see the Taiga Bean octet in Ayrshire this morning to add to the haul in this winter of geese. And then onwards to Kintyre and a Russian Whitefront amongst 256 Greenlands at Rhunahaorine #goosing #scottishbirding

Still had Tundra Bean Goose on the brain today so wasn't expected 11 Taiga Bean Goose at Hoppen Kiln Flash. Nearby 2 Common Crane flew north.

Good test for the Swarovski AT Balance in foul weather on Isle of Man today. Hard not to be impressed with the IS when phonescoping this Wigeon flock on 4x Optical iPhone zoom/18x scope zoom. Scope/phonescope setup handheld on half-down window of van. IS off, then on, then off in clip. #BirdingGear

Really useful to see records from a site consistently monitored over time!

Plenty more for you boys to aim for!

Night Heron © Frank Gibbons Night Heron (small mostly grey heron with relatively long yellow legs, long pointed bill and black cap) in a tree #RareBirdsUK

SBRC Online Conference - last chance to book!

24-26 February 19:00-21:15

Join us as we talk about one of the most exciting aspects of birding in Scotland and beyond: rarities & rare bird recording!

Secure your free place before bookings close on 19 Feb www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

First clue to White-billed Diver (left) yesterday was
'vanishing bill', giving impression bird apparently lacked a bill. But dark bill Great Northern Diver (right) still visible at long range.

'Should I have one last scan of the sea?' Answer is always yes! White-billed Diver found in one last scan off Goswick. Green-winged Teal on Monk's House Pool this morning.