Andre Farrar
@andrerfarrar.bsky.social
Worked for RSPB for ages and for IEMA. Based in Kent (UK). Chair Kent Ornithological Society, Speaker Zoom (everywhere) and live (southern half of England). Advisory board member for DICE. Trying to maintain a sense of humour in these troubled times.
Reposted by Andre Farrar
The RSPB has reported a significant increase in Western Capercaillie numbers at its Abernethy Forest reserve in the Scottish Highlands, providing a rare piece of positive news for a species facing extinction in the UK:
Capercaillie numbers rise at Abernethy Forest
A 50% rise in lekking Western Capercaillie at Abernethy Forest RSPB in the Scottish Highlands offers cautious optimism for one of the UK's rarest birds, as intensive habitat management begins to pay dividends.
bit.ly
February 17, 2026 at 12:46 PM
The RSPB has reported a significant increase in Western Capercaillie numbers at its Abernethy Forest reserve in the Scottish Highlands, providing a rare piece of positive news for a species facing extinction in the UK:
Reposted by Andre Farrar
Today is World Wetlands Day celebrating the more than 2500 areas of international importance. Some of these are in Kent such as the Thames Estuary and Swale. Wetlands represent 6% of Earth but are home to 40% of all plant and animal species. #kentbirding #WorldWetlandsDay2026
February 2, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Today is World Wetlands Day celebrating the more than 2500 areas of international importance. Some of these are in Kent such as the Thames Estuary and Swale. Wetlands represent 6% of Earth but are home to 40% of all plant and animal species. #kentbirding #WorldWetlandsDay2026
Reposted by Andre Farrar
The Red-flanked Bluetail and Pallas’s Warbler remained into this week, while a Black Guillemot flew past Dungeness and a Glaucous Gull offered close-up views in Margate. Full details on kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
January 29, 2026 at 5:31 PM
The Red-flanked Bluetail and Pallas’s Warbler remained into this week, while a Black Guillemot flew past Dungeness and a Glaucous Gull offered close-up views in Margate. Full details on kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
Reposted by Andre Farrar
KOS species of the month – January
Kittiwake – No longer a breeding species within Kent these medium sized gulls are best identified off the coast in winter by their yellow bill, grey wash over the back of the neck, black wing tips and black legs. #kentosbirding #kentbirding
Kittiwake – No longer a breeding species within Kent these medium sized gulls are best identified off the coast in winter by their yellow bill, grey wash over the back of the neck, black wing tips and black legs. #kentosbirding #kentbirding
January 12, 2026 at 5:03 PM
KOS species of the month – January
Kittiwake – No longer a breeding species within Kent these medium sized gulls are best identified off the coast in winter by their yellow bill, grey wash over the back of the neck, black wing tips and black legs. #kentosbirding #kentbirding
Kittiwake – No longer a breeding species within Kent these medium sized gulls are best identified off the coast in winter by their yellow bill, grey wash over the back of the neck, black wing tips and black legs. #kentosbirding #kentbirding
Winter Aconites peeping through the leaf litter - a week ahead of themselves!
December 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Winter Aconites peeping through the leaf litter - a week ahead of themselves!
Reposted by Andre Farrar
A nice week of winter birding with Black Guillemot, winter swans and ducks, the Hume’s Warbler again and an increase in Caspian Gulls. For all weekly highlights in Kent see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
December 11, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A nice week of winter birding with Black Guillemot, winter swans and ducks, the Hume’s Warbler again and an increase in Caspian Gulls. For all weekly highlights in Kent see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
Reposted by Andre Farrar
The third Hume’s Warbler of the autumn was finally more cooperative and could be seen one and off at Sandwich Bay. Sandwich Bay also hosted a Shore Lark and four Snow Bunting. For full weekly highlights in Kent birding see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
November 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The third Hume’s Warbler of the autumn was finally more cooperative and could be seen one and off at Sandwich Bay. Sandwich Bay also hosted a Shore Lark and four Snow Bunting. For full weekly highlights in Kent birding see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
Latest post on Canterbury RSPB Local Group blog group.rspb.org.uk/canterbury/n...
The Godmersham Gannet - Canterbury Local Group
My phone rang and it was my son Jack, reception was dreadful – I could barely hear what he was saying, but eventually I picked up the word ‘Gannet’. Odd because he was walking along the cycle track be...
group.rspb.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Latest post on Canterbury RSPB Local Group blog group.rspb.org.uk/canterbury/n...
Reposted by Andre Farrar
The Slender-billed Curlew was declared extinct in October 2025.
At #AEWAMOP9, delegates paid tribute to it, with this rare taxidermied specimen on view.
Read personal reflections and testimonies from those who searched for, studied, and cared deeply about it: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/reme...
At #AEWAMOP9, delegates paid tribute to it, with this rare taxidermied specimen on view.
Read personal reflections and testimonies from those who searched for, studied, and cared deeply about it: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/reme...
November 14, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Reposted by Andre Farrar
Heatwaves are already killing Pallid Swifts in Spain
“You would walk down the street and there would be 100 chicks, lying at the foot of a building, some dying and some barely alive,”
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/j...
“You would walk down the street and there would be 100 chicks, lying at the foot of a building, some dying and some barely alive,”
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/j...
‘They’re being cooked’: baby swifts die leaving nests as heatwave hits Spain
Ecologists raise concern over chicks’ attempts to escape high temperatures during one of earliest heatwaves on record
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Heatwaves are already killing Pallid Swifts in Spain
“You would walk down the street and there would be 100 chicks, lying at the foot of a building, some dying and some barely alive,”
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/j...
“You would walk down the street and there would be 100 chicks, lying at the foot of a building, some dying and some barely alive,”
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/j...
Moths have evolved many way of hiding in plain sight - or looking like something else. Here a December Moth trying to pretend it’s a Musk Ox.
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Moths have evolved many way of hiding in plain sight - or looking like something else. Here a December Moth trying to pretend it’s a Musk Ox.
Reposted by Andre Farrar
The weekly update is again available on the KOS website, with Pallid Swift, Pallas Warbler, good seawatching and an update on the Kent year list at the end of October. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
November 6, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The weekly update is again available on the KOS website, with Pallid Swift, Pallas Warbler, good seawatching and an update on the Kent year list at the end of October. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
www.theguardian.com/environment/... Abject, craven, weak- utterly shameful failure of leadership by a government failing to tackle the biggest threat we face.
UK opts out of flagship fund to protect Amazon and other threatened tropical forests
Decision is bitter blow to Brazil ahead of fund’s launch at Cop30 – and an embarrassment to Prince William
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM
www.theguardian.com/environment/... Abject, craven, weak- utterly shameful failure of leadership by a government failing to tackle the biggest threat we face.
Reposted by Andre Farrar
Reposted by Andre Farrar
Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91
“one of the true conservation giants of our time”
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
“one of the true conservation giants of our time”
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91
Jane Goodall Institute says ‘tireless advocate’ for natural world died in California during US speaking tour
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91
“one of the true conservation giants of our time”
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
“one of the true conservation giants of our time”
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
So sad to hear of the loss of the inspirational Jane Goodall - a brief meeting in 2017 was special. Another light had gone out in the dark times.
October 1, 2025 at 9:15 PM
So sad to hear of the loss of the inspirational Jane Goodall - a brief meeting in 2017 was special. Another light had gone out in the dark times.
Reposted by Andre Farrar
The most unusual sighting in Kent this week was an unseasonal Jack Snipe at Worth while the Bonaparte’s remained at Oare and juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were at Dungeness. Full highlights on Kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides
July 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The most unusual sighting in Kent this week was an unseasonal Jack Snipe at Worth while the Bonaparte’s remained at Oare and juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were at Dungeness. Full highlights on Kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides
Reposted by Andre Farrar
A second rare American gull visiting the county, another Caspian Tern and a large group of Cattle Egrets were among the highlights in Kent birding this week. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
July 10, 2025 at 9:19 PM
A second rare American gull visiting the county, another Caspian Tern and a large group of Cattle Egrets were among the highlights in Kent birding this week. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
Here’s looking at yer! Large Emerald and Black Arches - two favourite moth faces.
June 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Here’s looking at yer! Large Emerald and Black Arches - two favourite moth faces.
Orange-tailed Clearwing - fifth clearwing species for the garden.
June 19, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Orange-tailed Clearwing - fifth clearwing species for the garden.
Reposted by Andre Farrar
The weekly birding highlights in Kent included Golden Oriole, Black Kite and Bee-eater. See full details on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding
June 19, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The weekly birding highlights in Kent included Golden Oriole, Black Kite and Bee-eater. See full details on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding
The distinctive female Four-spotted Footman.
June 14, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The distinctive female Four-spotted Footman.