The Rare Breeding Birds Panel
@ukrbbp.bsky.social
We encourage and support the recording of rare breeding birds in the UK, collate data in order to report annually on their numbers, trends and distribution, and maintain a secure archive to support conservation and research on these species.
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
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
Another example of Quail song to get your ear in…
Mark Eaton@markaeaton.bsky.social · 4y agoNow’s the time to be listening out for the distinctive ’wet-my-lips’ call of Quail, especially at dusk and dawn, and submitting records to help @ukrbbp monitoring. This one was just west of Alnwick last night @NTBirdClub
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.
BirdTrack@birdtrack.bsky.social · 4w agoThe influx of Quail has continued strongly over the last month. The latest weekly reporting rate of 2% is the highest recorded since BirdTrack began in 2004! #ukbirding
Worrying results from the 2025 national Dotterel survey, with a decline of 73% since the last survey in 2011, and 89% since the late 80s www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... #ornithology #birds
UK could be set to lose Dotterel to climate change
We look at the worrying results of the latest national Dotterel survey. Discover how climate change appears to be a cause of decline.
rspb.org.uk
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
Birders are being given a rare opportunity to follow the breeding season of European Honey Buzzards in Sussex through a new nest livestream:
New honey buzzard nest livestream offers glimpse into secretive raptor
A new livestream from a European Honey Buzzard nest in Sussex is offering unprecedented views of one of Britain's most elusive breeding birds of prey.
f.mtr.cool
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
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
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?...
Some advice on confirming breeding by RBBP species
YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel
youtu.be
NEW BLOG - enjoy some weekend reading on the results of the RSPB/BTO/NE national Heathland Bird Survey by Andy Stanbury of @rspbscience.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding @btobirds.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social rbbp.org.uk/2026/06/18/t...
The national Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar surveys
The national Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar surveys Heathland, Sam Turley (rspb-images.com) Few wildlife experiences in the UK can rival the atmosphere of a summer visit to lowland hea...
rbbp.org.uk
Birmingham City Black Redstart & fledgling 5 male Black Redstarts Great! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds
@jjzomerset.bsky.social · 2mo agoBirmingham City 2026 Black Redstart Breeding success!! 😃 3rd year in a row Great! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @bbs-birds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #wmbirds #birds
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
NEW BLOG - enjoy some weekend reading on the results of the RSPB/BTO/NE national Heathland Bird Survey by Andy Stanbury of @rspbscience.bsky.social #ornithology #UKbirding @btobirds.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social rbbp.org.uk/2026/06/18/t...
The national Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar surveys
The national Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar surveys Heathland, Sam Turley (rspb-images.com) Few wildlife experiences in the UK can rival the atmosphere of a summer visit to lowland hea...
rbbp.org.uk
Nice bit of breeding evidence for @ukrbbp.bsky.social … one of two broods of Shovelers at Buston Links this morning #NEbirding
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?...
Recording rare breeding birds in mid-summer
YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel
youtu.be
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
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
Corncrakes! Part of the peaceful soundscape here at Mannal, Tiree #BirdingScotland
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:
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.
bit.ly
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
📣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...
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
