birders

Dutch nature media report the first-ever breeding attempt of a grey hawk in the Netherlands, marking a notable first for the country's bird population. Birdwatchers and wildlife followers are sharing the news, as the species' nesting in Dutch territory signals a possible range expansion. Conservation organisations are monitoring the nesting attempt closely.

A Cassin's Sparrow has turned up in British Columbia, far outside its normal range, in what is described as the first sighting of the species there. The small, plain-looking bird drew attention from local birders and photographers, who noted how out of place it looked and documented the visit with photographs.

The new season of Project FeederWatch, the citizen-science bird counting program, began November 1st. Participants are already submitting counts, with one backyard observer recording 20 species totaling 73 individual birds in the first week, including dark-eyed juncos despite unseasonably warm weather. Birdwatchers are sharing their early tallies and comparing notes on which species are arriving at feeders as winter approaches.

A birdwatcher has captured a clear photograph of a Cetti's Warbler at the WWT London Wetland Centre, in the heart of the city. The species is famous for its loud, distinctive song but is notoriously difficult to see, with birders typically getting only fleeting glimpses in reedbeds. After countless heard-only encounters, the bird briefly perched in the open on a branch, finally allowing the long-awaited photo.

A birder reported seeing an Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) on 28 August 2024 along the Camino Los Palacios in Sobrarbe, Huesca, Spain, sharing photographs of the bird. The sighting draws attention among nature and birdwatching communities to this scavenger raptor, which is of conservation concern in Europe and commonly observed in the Pyrenees during migration season.

A birdwatcher visiting a beach to see Black-faced Spoonbills this afternoon was rewarded with an unexpected sight: an Osprey diving and grabbing a fish. The moment, shared with wildlife photography communities, is drawing warm reactions from birding enthusiasts who appreciate both the endangered spoonbills and the dramatic hunting display.

A Japanese birder reports that a mandarin duck, a colourful wild bird prized by watchers, is still staying in the same spot, sharing photos and updates on a personal blog. The post has drawn attention from the birdwatching community on Fedibird, where nature enthusiasts follow sightings of wild birds across Japan.

Wildlife photographer Pekka Reittila has shared images of a pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum), known in Finnish as varpuspöllö, taken in Helsinki using OM System gear with an M.Zuiko 150-400mm Pro lens. The Eurasian pygmy owl is Europe's smallest owl and a prized sighting among birders, and the images are circulating among bird photography and nature communities.

A birdwatcher in Toronto, Ontario photographed a hermit thrush visiting their property, where the bird was feeding on English ivy berries growing along the side of the house. The thrush paused long enough to pose for a photo. The sighting is set against the autumn bird migration currently passing through the Toronto area, which birders are following closely.

A birdwatcher in Toronto, Ontario has posted the final photographs of a hermit thrush that frequented their yard this autumn, wondering how far the bird will travel for the winter. Hermit thrushes can migrate as far south as Mexico, a journey of some 3,000 kilometres. Nature lovers are enjoying the close-up images and discussing the species' migration habits.

A wildlife enthusiast shared a photograph of a tawny frogmouth, a master of camouflage native to Australia, appearing to play peekaboo from behind cover. The bird's striking resemblance to tree bark makes such sightings a favourite among birders. Nature lovers are enjoying the charming encounter with one of Australia's most iconic nocturnal birds.