Paul French
@nomadbirder.bsky.social
Birder, purveyor of aerial bird identification wizardry & secretary of British Birds Rarities Committee
Reposted by Paul French
Super article in December @britishbirds.bsky.social detailing use of passive bioacoustic recorders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social et al
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
December 7, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Super article in December @britishbirds.bsky.social detailing use of passive bioacoustic recorders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social et al
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
Me: 'huh, Oscar Wilde died at age 46, I'm older than that now"
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
November 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Me: 'huh, Oscar Wilde died at age 46, I'm older than that now"
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
Reposted by Paul French
Birdwatchers who are under 40 will not appreciate just how many breeding waders there were in Scottish farmland back in 1990.
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
25 years of wader declines
This article summarises a Bird Study paper arising from a 25-year Scottish study of breeding Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank & Curlew. The story is set against a backdrop of a changing farming…
wadertales.wordpress.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Birdwatchers who are under 40 will not appreciate just how many breeding waders there were in Scottish farmland back in 1990.
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
Reposted by Paul French
Above link fails! tinyurl.com/2026-Assista...
Job Opportunity:
We are recruiting - Bardsey Lodge & Bird Observatory Assistant Bardsey from the south Location: Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli), North Wales ...
tinyurl.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Above link fails! tinyurl.com/2026-Assista...
The Easington Hume's Wblr showed nicely on Friday, although the unseasonably bright sunshine made it surprisingly difficult to get a shot. Too much light combined with operator incompetence! #spurnbirds
November 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The Easington Hume's Wblr showed nicely on Friday, although the unseasonably bright sunshine made it surprisingly difficult to get a shot. Too much light combined with operator incompetence! #spurnbirds
Reposted by Paul French
A video from earlier in the autumn during some particularly heavy Pheasant migration in Highland! #highlandbirds
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A video from earlier in the autumn during some particularly heavy Pheasant migration in Highland! #highlandbirds
Its been a long while, but finally finished editing photos from my bucket list trip to Guyana last November. Bird of the trip? Barbados Bullfinch while transiting through there, of course!!
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
Guyana, Nov 2024 (plus Barbados airport)
Explore this photo album by Paul French on Flickr!
www.flickr.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Its been a long while, but finally finished editing photos from my bucket list trip to Guyana last November. Bird of the trip? Barbados Bullfinch while transiting through there, of course!!
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
The colours of autumn, a Siberian Chiffchaff on Vicars Lane, Easington shows just how its appearance can change against different backgrounds. Probably the split I'm most hoping for! #Spurnbirds
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 AM
The colours of autumn, a Siberian Chiffchaff on Vicars Lane, Easington shows just how its appearance can change against different backgrounds. Probably the split I'm most hoping for! #Spurnbirds
Well chuffed for @clickbeetle85.bsky.social finding this lovely little Hume's at the Tithe Barn, Easington. Now, if it will only scoot about 200m to the east, i'll be even happier! #Spurnbirds #RareBirdsUK
November 16, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Well chuffed for @clickbeetle85.bsky.social finding this lovely little Hume's at the Tithe Barn, Easington. Now, if it will only scoot about 200m to the east, i'll be even happier! #Spurnbirds #RareBirdsUK
Cracking photo of South Polar Skua with a Bonxie, the evidence keeps building.
After a month of research in #Porcupinebank on board #VizcondedeEza in the wild waters west of #Ireland, we're finally at home! The most amazing #seabird sighting was a South Polar skua! @rspb.bsky.social @irishbirds.bsky.social @ieo-cadiz.bsky.social Ireland waters are always a box of surprises!
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Cracking photo of South Polar Skua with a Bonxie, the evidence keeps building.
Nice to find a Water Pipit at Outstrays on this mornings WeBS count, plus a PB of 10 Great White Egrets. The pipit was in the north corner of the older realignment, near the new pumping station #Yorkshirebirding
November 9, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Nice to find a Water Pipit at Outstrays on this mornings WeBS count, plus a PB of 10 Great White Egrets. The pipit was in the north corner of the older realignment, near the new pumping station #Yorkshirebirding
While dipping on Pallid Swift, I was contemplating the future of the gas terminal. I reckon its got 15-20 years at current rates of erosion before the cliff top comes knockin'!
November 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM
While dipping on Pallid Swift, I was contemplating the future of the gas terminal. I reckon its got 15-20 years at current rates of erosion before the cliff top comes knockin'!
Reposted by Paul French
The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]
November 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]
Reposted by Paul French
I have 3 spaces available for the 2026 Challenger Expedition to the continental shelf edge in British waters.
See images below for more information, dates and contact details…
#seabirds #UKbirding
See images below for more information, dates and contact details…
#seabirds #UKbirding
November 2, 2025 at 9:20 AM
I have 3 spaces available for the 2026 Challenger Expedition to the continental shelf edge in British waters.
See images below for more information, dates and contact details…
#seabirds #UKbirding
See images below for more information, dates and contact details…
#seabirds #UKbirding
Google maps has been updated with new aerials of the Outstrays NR. A nice birds eye view of the developing realignment.
November 1, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Google maps has been updated with new aerials of the Outstrays NR. A nice birds eye view of the developing realignment.
Managing to be more focussed and actually get some photos edited. Here is a taster from our recent trip to Scilly to do some pelagics and have a general wander. More images at www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
November 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Managing to be more focussed and actually get some photos edited. Here is a taster from our recent trip to Scilly to do some pelagics and have a general wander. More images at www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
Reposted by Paul French
Vacancy on BOU Records Committee. Are you up for it? I found it a really interesting and educational experience. Happy to share my experience if you are interested.
#RarebirdsUK #UKBirding
#RarebirdsUK #UKBirding
📢 BOU COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS OPEN
➡️ Awards Nominations Committee
➡️ Engagement Committee
➡️ IBIS Management Committee
➡️ Meetings Committee
➡️ Records Committee
Plus NEW Committee Shadowing Scheme
More info & to nominate: bou.org.uk/about-the...
#ornithology 🪶
➡️ Awards Nominations Committee
➡️ Engagement Committee
➡️ IBIS Management Committee
➡️ Meetings Committee
➡️ Records Committee
Plus NEW Committee Shadowing Scheme
More info & to nominate: bou.org.uk/about-the...
#ornithology 🪶
October 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Vacancy on BOU Records Committee. Are you up for it? I found it a really interesting and educational experience. Happy to share my experience if you are interested.
#RarebirdsUK #UKBirding
#RarebirdsUK #UKBirding
Reposted by Paul French
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback!
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Patchwork Challenge Feedback
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback. Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a...
docs.google.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback!
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Our garden Yellow-browed Wblr showed very nicely all day today. We'll be giving it a name soon! #SpurnBirds
October 21, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Our garden Yellow-browed Wblr showed very nicely all day today. We'll be giving it a name soon! #SpurnBirds
Reposted by Paul French
A few opportunities to learn about rare breeding birds and the work of the RBBP. If your bird club/wildlife group/RSPB group would like an online talk from our Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social, get in touch.
October 20, 2025 at 5:57 PM
A few opportunities to learn about rare breeding birds and the work of the RBBP. If your bird club/wildlife group/RSPB group would like an online talk from our Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social, get in touch.
There are much closer photos out there, but in a mad dash "extended lunch break", I was happy just to see the Spurn Blk-faced Bunting. Then this Yellow-browed Wblr brightened up the afternoon back at my desk, giving our best ever garden showing despite just managing to see one every year #SpurnBirds
October 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
There are much closer photos out there, but in a mad dash "extended lunch break", I was happy just to see the Spurn Blk-faced Bunting. Then this Yellow-browed Wblr brightened up the afternoon back at my desk, giving our best ever garden showing despite just managing to see one every year #SpurnBirds
Turns out the pod of Bottlenose Dolphins that went north past Kilnsea & Easington yesterday morning contained a well known female called "Runny Paint" after the distinctive markings around her dorsal fin (visible in 3rd photo) @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Turns out the pod of Bottlenose Dolphins that went north past Kilnsea & Easington yesterday morning contained a well known female called "Runny Paint" after the distinctive markings around her dorsal fin (visible in 3rd photo) @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
The skies were dripping with thrushes today, but the arrival was localised mainly to the Kilnsea and south side of Easington. Despite looking out from the gas terminal for the whole morning, only 7 Redwings came in! But a few minutes walk to the south this pm, and I joined in the Fieldfare fun.
October 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The skies were dripping with thrushes today, but the arrival was localised mainly to the Kilnsea and south side of Easington. Despite looking out from the gas terminal for the whole morning, only 7 Redwings came in! But a few minutes walk to the south this pm, and I joined in the Fieldfare fun.
The 2024 BBRC report is now available via the website, and will be hitting doormats pretty soon:
British Birds Volume 118 Issue 10 | British Birds share.google/ilqsS7ib34do...
British Birds Volume 118 Issue 10 | British Birds share.google/ilqsS7ib34do...
share.google
October 14, 2025 at 5:48 AM
The 2024 BBRC report is now available via the website, and will be hitting doormats pretty soon:
British Birds Volume 118 Issue 10 | British Birds share.google/ilqsS7ib34do...
British Birds Volume 118 Issue 10 | British Birds share.google/ilqsS7ib34do...
Short news piece on the Challenger expedition and the Band-rumped fiesta: britishbirds.co.uk/news/band-ru...
#RareBirdsUK
#RareBirdsUK
Band-rumped Storm-petrels in UK waters | British Birds
The taxonomy and identification of the Band-rumped Storm-petrel Hydrobates castro/monteiroi/jabejabe complex is very, well, complex, as are their previous occurrences in Britain.
britishbirds.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Short news piece on the Challenger expedition and the Band-rumped fiesta: britishbirds.co.uk/news/band-ru...
#RareBirdsUK
#RareBirdsUK