What began as a foggy day of late-autumn birding for Dave Cooper ended with a prize find long woven into British birding folklore.

The events in 2021 highlight the concerning impacts of climate change in the Mediterranean.

A camera-trap photograph from Nepal's Jajarkot district has extended the known range of the Asian Golden Cat by nearly 400 km, yet the species is now classed as Vulnerable owing to mounting threats including habitat loss, snaring and retaliatory killing. Conservationists are calling for more dedicated research, greater community engagement and better protection measures to ensure the survival of this elusive medium-sized wild cat.

A new study led by Edinburgh Napier University has found that seabirds are more likely to 'divorce' in windy weather. Using two decades of data from European Shags on the Isle of May, researchers showed that late-winter wind speeds strongly affect mate faithfulness and breeding success. The findings highlight how climate change and increasingly stormy conditions could disrupt seabird pair bonds and population dynamics.

Britain's first American Barn Swallow was a standout of a chilly November week, as a drake Bufflehead was found in Ireland.

An amusing image of a Common Buzzard scoops up this week's award.

Puffins have returned to the Isle of Muck in Co Antrim for the first time in decades after Ulster Wildlife's rat eradication and habitat management programme. Trail cameras captured birds using a burrow this spring, suggesting possible breeding. The comeback adds to other positive seabird trends on the island, offering fresh hope for this red-listed species and future restoration efforts.

More than 5,000 Red-footed Falcons formed a single night roost in Hungary’s Hortobágy National Park in September 2025, a record for the Carpathian Basin that underlines the area's importance for migratory raptor conservation.

A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer.

Jenny Wetson has joined the Rare Breeding Birds Panel as an independent member. The RBBP announced the decision earlier this month, saying in a statement:

Cutting-edge Rough-legged Hawk ID, reflections on a lifetime of birding in Northumberland, celebrating the return of White-tailed Eagle, the rise of Bonaparte's Gull in the UK, birding Islay, why pittas are so alluring and our Artist of the Year award all feature in the December 2025 issue of Birdwatch, out now!

A camera-trap photograph from Nepal's Jajarkot district has extended the known range of the Asian Golden Cat by nearly 400 km, yet the species is now classed as Vulnerable owing to mounting threats including habitat loss, snaring and retaliatory killing. Conservationists are calling for more dedicated research, greater community engagement and better protection measures to ensure the survival of this elusive medium-sized wild cat.

What began as a foggy day of late-autumn birding for Dave Cooper ended with a prize find long woven into British birding folklore.

A new GPS-tagging initiative at Jbel Moussa in northern Morocco has tracked 11 Critically Endangered Rüppell's Vultures and a White-backed Vulture, revealing key movement paths across the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Sahel. The data offer vital insights into migration, transboundary conservation and the status of these threatened African vultures, helping to guide future protection strategies.

After a blank spring for sightings of an iconic common migrant in his local area, our columnist weighs up the pros and cons of south-coast birding.

A new study led by Edinburgh Napier University has found that seabirds are more likely to 'divorce' in windy weather. Using two decades of data from European Shags on the Isle of May, researchers showed that late-winter wind speeds strongly affect mate faithfulness and breeding success. The findings highlight how climate change and increasingly stormy conditions could disrupt seabird pair bonds and population dynamics.

More than 5,000 Red-footed Falcons formed a single night roost in Hungary’s Hortobágy National Park in September 2025, a record for the Carpathian Basin that underlines the area's importance for migratory raptor conservation.

A new two-year feasibility study by the South West Wildcat Project shows that European Wildcats could be reintroduced to South West England after more than a century. With suitable habitat, strong public support and minimal ecological risk, the report marks an important step towards restoring the UK's most endangered mammal. Challenges such as hybridisation and community engagement remain, but conservationists say the study provides a solid foundation for future plans.

It's tricky enough to see a Great Grey Shrike these days, let alone take an image as superb as Lee Fuller's, which makes him a worthy Photo of the Week winner.