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Reposted by Stephen Welch

The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 18d

Our most recent report, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2022, is now available open access on our website at tinyurl.com/2xf23keu
All reports dating back to 1973 can be found at rbbp.org.uk/annual-repor....
Our next report, for 2023, will be published in @britishbirds.bsky.social in November

The cover of British Birds, November 2024, with a Glossy Ibis illustration

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 25d

Final bonus pics of the sharp beaks lying in wait, confirming sexes of Sparrowhawks, ad f and ad m, so presumably a pair - plenty of food to share out...

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 25d

20:05hrs Final rapid entry with birds dropping like stones into the reedbed, continued to 20:06hrs with only a few still out thereafter, though 100+ flushed out by a duck c. 20:10hrs [12/12]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

20:03hrs Sparrowhawk finally departed towards NE pursued by mobbing Swallows, now perhaps only 2-3k birds remaining in high cloud [11/12]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

20:00hrs Birds twisting and turning low over reedbed, some still bouncing and circling round again [10/12]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

19:59hrs Further views of clouds of birds before main entry started [9/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

19:59hrs Huge clouds of birds again in every direction [8/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

19:58hrs Approaching roost again suggestions of in excess of 10k birds [7/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

19:57hrs Still an absolutely enormous cloud of Swallows up, looking east and beyond end of tanks [6/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

19:56hrs Swallows now approaching reeds but most not entering, "bouncing", but possibly first entries [5/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

19:54hrs Sparrowhawks both chasing into and low over reedbed, male then female, perhaps assisting count by keeping birds out of the roost for longer, though 16 mins after sunset still quite early [4/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

ad f Sparrowhawk on fence joined by a second bird; ad m Sparrowhawk seen later on track by reedbed so likely a pair despite lack of obvious size difference [3/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

At 19:48hrs up to 5k Swallows, sample counts for age breakdown based on obvious long tail streamers on ad m (9 in 111), suggests the vast majority of birds c. 85% are juveniles [2/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

c. 300 birds had arrived by sunset 19:38hrs, some Pied Wags dropped into roost; first video here 19:46hrs when up to c. 3k Swallows, Sand Martin also heard but very few, and Sparrowhawk perched on fence lying in wait [1/10]

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 26d

Mega hirundine roost continues at Blindwells Minewater Treatment Scheme, in tall phragmites reeds on middle tank (55.962,-2.938), 10k+ Swallows on 12/9/25, sample 8% ad m, 2 Sparrowhawk in attendance; 10x 720p videos follow, full: app.box.com/s/k3xq53bsbg... #birdingscotland @btoscotland.bsky.social

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 28d

juvs on wires would suggest pre-migration, however I'm not sure they necessarily all go south, dispersal around UK to good feeding areas before main departures might also happen. New post on this gathering, suspect your bird was present again but could not get an clear view bsky.app/profile/loth...

Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 28d

The mega Blindwells hirundine roost has now completely transformed from >99% Sand Martin to >99% Swallow, approx numbers in the 6-7k range on last three evenings, with attention from local Sparrowhawk and an all white Swallow seen, poss from further south*...

* bsky.app/.../lothianr...

Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 28d

Last video...

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 28d

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 28d

The mega Blindwells hirundine roost has now completely transformed from >99% Sand Martin to >99% Swallow, approx numbers in the 6-7k range on last three evenings, with attention from local Sparrowhawk and an all white Swallow seen, poss from further south*...

* bsky.app/.../lothianr...

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 29d

One more, Flamborough 28/7/25, c/o Brett, though this is a "brown" mutation and seems to be more extensively reddish on throat. Hope can get a better view of "ours", though probably unlikely... www.birdguides.com/gallery/bird...

Swallow by Brett Richards

Visit our new-look Galleries to view and search images of thousands of bird species, and join our worldwide community of bird photographers

www.birdguides.com

Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 29d

And a juv being fed in Suffolk on 9 August, c/o Phil Spraggins here*. Is it too fanciful that they could all be same bird - hirundine build up here could easily involve coasting birds from further south, 800+ feeding over sea at Port Seton early evening...

* bsky.app/profile/phil...

philspraggins.bsky.social @philspraggins.bsky.social · Aug 9

How many people have seen a White Swallow in West Suffolk?

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 29d

Interesting obs - for info/by coincidence there was an all-white Swallow today at the mega hirundine roost at Blindwells, East Lothian, among 6k+ Swallows (10k+ Sand Martin in late July):

bsky.app/profile/loth...

Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · Jul 29

Huge Sand Martin roost at Blindwells continues, none on mud banks after first day and I feel slightly reduced but fairly steady ~8k; entry to roost has been later, tonight when brighter mainly 30-40 mins after sunset. Numbers for 22nd (mismatch) and 25-26th (I arrived late) adjusted #BirdingScotland

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 29d

One today - all white Swallow - in the mega hirundine roost at Blindwells minewater treatment scheme reedbeds, East Lothian - 6k+ Swallows present, previously 10k+ Sand Martins on 22 July*...

* bsky.app/profile/loth...

Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · Jul 29

Huge Sand Martin roost at Blindwells continues, none on mud banks after first day and I feel slightly reduced but fairly steady ~8k; entry to roost has been later, tonight when brighter mainly 30-40 mins after sunset. Numbers for 22nd (mismatch) and 25-26th (I arrived late) adjusted #BirdingScotland

Reposted by Stephen Welch

Fife Bird News @fifebirdnews.bsky.social · Sep 8

Garganey & Spotted Redshank @ Angle Park, Garganey @ Morton Lochs, 112 Mediterranean Gull @ Easy Wemyss, 3 Curlew Sandpiper @ Guardbridge
08/09/25

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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · Sep 8

Another lanky young LWHG, watched for barely a minute on rocks behind Seton harbour late pm; no open wing, underwing or tail, but strong Casp features: grey saddle, muted contrast replaced scaps, uniform pale brown median coverts, solid brown base greaters and tertials, pale-headed with hint of mask

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