The Birdwatcher's Yearbook
@thebirdwatchersyb.bsky.social
What it says on the tin: annually updated compendium of information for UK birdwatchers
2 continued
So, in relation to land area, i.e. the space where birds might live, Scotland is still under-represented compared with England, albeit to a lesser degree than previously.
So, in relation to land area, i.e. the space where birds might live, Scotland is still under-represented compared with England, albeit to a lesser degree than previously.
December 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
2 continued
So, in relation to land area, i.e. the space where birds might live, Scotland is still under-represented compared with England, albeit to a lesser degree than previously.
So, in relation to land area, i.e. the space where birds might live, Scotland is still under-represented compared with England, albeit to a lesser degree than previously.
For the record
2/ I have seen concern expressed that Scottish reserves are 'over-represented in the '26 edition of the Yearbook.
In the '26 edition there are 400 English reserves and 179 Scottish ones. A ratio of 2.23: 1. The ratio of land areas is 1.67: 1.
2/ I have seen concern expressed that Scottish reserves are 'over-represented in the '26 edition of the Yearbook.
In the '26 edition there are 400 English reserves and 179 Scottish ones. A ratio of 2.23: 1. The ratio of land areas is 1.67: 1.
December 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
For the record
2/ I have seen concern expressed that Scottish reserves are 'over-represented in the '26 edition of the Yearbook.
In the '26 edition there are 400 English reserves and 179 Scottish ones. A ratio of 2.23: 1. The ratio of land areas is 1.67: 1.
2/ I have seen concern expressed that Scottish reserves are 'over-represented in the '26 edition of the Yearbook.
In the '26 edition there are 400 English reserves and 179 Scottish ones. A ratio of 2.23: 1. The ratio of land areas is 1.67: 1.
For the record.
1/ I have seen concern expressed that there is less space in the '26 edition of The Birdwatcher's Yearbook than in the '25 edition.
This is incorrect. There is more such space.
1/ I have seen concern expressed that there is less space in the '26 edition of The Birdwatcher's Yearbook than in the '25 edition.
This is incorrect. There is more such space.
December 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
For the record.
1/ I have seen concern expressed that there is less space in the '26 edition of The Birdwatcher's Yearbook than in the '25 edition.
This is incorrect. There is more such space.
1/ I have seen concern expressed that there is less space in the '26 edition of The Birdwatcher's Yearbook than in the '25 edition.
This is incorrect. There is more such space.
But there are still plenty of boxes to work through!
December 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
But there are still plenty of boxes to work through!
Copies of Yearbook packaged and ready to go
December 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Copies of Yearbook packaged and ready to go
Yearbook due from printer 5th December
November 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Yearbook due from printer 5th December
Last few days before pre-publication off ends
September 29, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Last few days before pre-publication off ends
Page 1 of checklist rearranged in AviList 25 sequence
September 5, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Page 1 of checklist rearranged in AviList 25 sequence
Went out for a stroll this afternoon looked up at the power lines next to my house and there was a Turtle Dove. not what you'd expect to see in Roxburghshire. I'm afraid the image is rather small, I only had an iPhone to hand.
August 31, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Went out for a stroll this afternoon looked up at the power lines next to my house and there was a Turtle Dove. not what you'd expect to see in Roxburghshire. I'm afraid the image is rather small, I only had an iPhone to hand.
BOURC has moved Booted Eagle from D to AE on the British List, placing it after Short-toed Eagle. BOU says it is going to adopt AviList 25 for future lists. In AviList Booted Eagle follows Greater Spotted Eagle.
Why not adopt AviList now instead of tinkering with a list that's going to be dumped?
Why not adopt AviList now instead of tinkering with a list that's going to be dumped?
August 31, 2025 at 9:54 AM
BOURC has moved Booted Eagle from D to AE on the British List, placing it after Short-toed Eagle. BOU says it is going to adopt AviList 25 for future lists. In AviList Booted Eagle follows Greater Spotted Eagle.
Why not adopt AviList now instead of tinkering with a list that's going to be dumped?
Why not adopt AviList now instead of tinkering with a list that's going to be dumped?
The 25 Starlings on the power line outside my bedroom window this morning seem to be just as unaware of how badly they are faring as flock of Tree Sparrows in the hedge beneath them.
August 11, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The 25 Starlings on the power line outside my bedroom window this morning seem to be just as unaware of how badly they are faring as flock of Tree Sparrows in the hedge beneath them.
Did my duty and was rewarded with a Dunlin and 2 Greenshank 20 miles up the Tweed
Don't forget that this Sunday is the August WeBS Priority Core Count! A great day to go out and count our birds!
@btobirds.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social
August 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Did my duty and was rewarded with a Dunlin and 2 Greenshank 20 miles up the Tweed
Almost finished reordering the checklist. Just one order to go. Oh dear, it’s the passerines.
August 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Almost finished reordering the checklist. Just one order to go. Oh dear, it’s the passerines.
Your autocorrect is clearly behind the curve Gordon, if it was really being helpful it would have saved you the trouble of typing Parasitic Jaeger
A gentle seawatch at Cley this morning, but it did produce my first two arctic skuas and manx shearwaters of the year. Autocorrect wrote seawater, arctic squash, and many shearwaters. Ho hum.
August 9, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Your autocorrect is clearly behind the curve Gordon, if it was really being helpful it would have saved you the trouble of typing Parasitic Jaeger
Reposted by The Birdwatcher's Yearbook
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, car park and hides will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
#BirdingScotland #UKWildlife
#BirdingScotland #UKWildlife
August 9, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, car park and hides will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
#BirdingScotland #UKWildlife
#BirdingScotland #UKWildlife
Trying to get my head around AviList. Auks ahead of Terns and Gulls, and between them and Skuas. How did that happen? And when you have a vernacular name, Skua, that is a precise match for the family, Stercocariidae, why opt for Jaeger as your primary name for some but all?
August 9, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Trying to get my head around AviList. Auks ahead of Terns and Gulls, and between them and Skuas. How did that happen? And when you have a vernacular name, Skua, that is a precise match for the family, Stercocariidae, why opt for Jaeger as your primary name for some but all?
How then, did you manage to miss that adult? Was it you who go the juvenile?
Indeed. I’ve been ringing Roseate Terns since 1991.
August 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
How then, did you manage to miss that adult? Was it you who go the juvenile?
But slightly fewer unknowns thanks to the BTO 😀
There are so many unknowns in the bird world, we can only hope.
August 8, 2025 at 11:31 AM
But slightly fewer unknowns thanks to the BTO 😀
It looks as if the adult is not ringed, so how will we ever know if he/she returns?
Adult Roseate Tern and youngster on the Northumberland coast. Safe journey, and hopefully we'll see the adult next year and the youngster in a couple of years. @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social @smp-seabirds.bsky.social #seabirds #nebirding #birdsoftheworld
August 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
It looks as if the adult is not ringed, so how will we ever know if he/she returns?
Decided to jump the gun and update The Yearbook's species list to follow AviList '25 before the BOU does for the official British List, since the BOU has announced that AviList '25 and its subsequent annual updates will be basis for future British Lists.
August 7, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Decided to jump the gun and update The Yearbook's species list to follow AviList '25 before the BOU does for the official British List, since the BOU has announced that AviList '25 and its subsequent annual updates will be basis for future British Lists.