Paul French
@nomadbirder.bsky.social
Birder, purveyor of aerial bird identification wizardry & secretary of British Birds Rarities Committee
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
This tiny patch of rank grass on the Easington coast path held a much anticipated Yellow-browed Wblr tonight. Presumably fresh in at 1730hrs. Autumn is finally here!
October 13, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This tiny patch of rank grass on the Easington coast path held a much anticipated Yellow-browed Wblr tonight. Presumably fresh in at 1730hrs. Autumn is finally here!
Its a f*****g conspiracy!!
October 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Its a f*****g conspiracy!!
Reposted by Paul French
If the world adopted a plant-based diet, we would reduce global agricultural land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares
We could reduce the amount of land used for grazing and croplands used to grow animal feed ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets
We could reduce the amount of land used for grazing and croplands used to grow animal feed ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets
If the world adopted a plant-based diet, we would reduce global agricultural land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares
We could reduce the amount of land used for grazing and croplands used to grow animal feed.
ourworldindata.org
October 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
If the world adopted a plant-based diet, we would reduce global agricultural land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares
We could reduce the amount of land used for grazing and croplands used to grow animal feed ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets
We could reduce the amount of land used for grazing and croplands used to grow animal feed ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets
Possibly the worst picture of Glossy Ibis taken this year, but theres 11 of them and they're on patch.
October 2, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Possibly the worst picture of Glossy Ibis taken this year, but theres 11 of them and they're on patch.
Here's some Band-rumped images from the recent Challenger trip to the Canyons MCZ ebird.org/checklist/S2...
#RareBirdsUK
#RareBirdsUK
eBird Checklist - 17 Sep 2025 - Dangaard Canyon - 10 species
Submitted by Paul French.
ebird.org
October 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Here's some Band-rumped images from the recent Challenger trip to the Canyons MCZ ebird.org/checklist/S2...
#RareBirdsUK
#RareBirdsUK
Brileider aanvaard als nieuwe soort voor Nederland - Dutch Avifauna
www.dutchavifauna.nl
September 27, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Fresh off the Challenger expedition to the Canyons MPA along the shelf edge at the limits of UK territory, we seem to have broken new ground with the status of Band-rumped Storm-petrels. A handful on the first two days were great, but on the third day, the cup truly runneth over, and 84 were...
September 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Fresh off the Challenger expedition to the Canyons MPA along the shelf edge at the limits of UK territory, we seem to have broken new ground with the status of Band-rumped Storm-petrels. A handful on the first two days were great, but on the third day, the cup truly runneth over, and 84 were...
Memories of last weekends Scilly pelagics still in the mind, and a mountain of photos to go through. I like this one, giving a sense of the big seas and a Cory's in wave rider mode #ukbirding
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Memories of last weekends Scilly pelagics still in the mind, and a mountain of photos to go through. I like this one, giving a sense of the big seas and a Cory's in wave rider mode #ukbirding
Its hotting up for 2nd place in the eBird garden year list as we head into what could be a very productive period for several participants. I aim to get 100 sp per year, hopefully on track for that. A certain Spurn birder is aiming for 200 from his garden this year, the difference a Humber can make!
September 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Its hotting up for 2nd place in the eBird garden year list as we head into what could be a very productive period for several participants. I aim to get 100 sp per year, hopefully on track for that. A certain Spurn birder is aiming for 200 from his garden this year, the difference a Humber can make!
Hybridization boosts survival of Europe's most threatened seabird share.google/gdJ3gWKogMec...
'Population on Menorca is genetically closer to Yelkouan'.
If it looks like a duck, its not surprising that it quacks like a duck!
'Population on Menorca is genetically closer to Yelkouan'.
If it looks like a duck, its not surprising that it quacks like a duck!
Hybridization boosts survival of Europe's most threatened seabird
When individuals from two different species interbreed, hybrid organisms may emerge that display characteristics from both genetic lineages. While hybridization is a common natural phenomenon, it is o...
share.google
September 7, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Hybridization boosts survival of Europe's most threatened seabird share.google/gdJ3gWKogMec...
'Population on Menorca is genetically closer to Yelkouan'.
If it looks like a duck, its not surprising that it quacks like a duck!
'Population on Menorca is genetically closer to Yelkouan'.
If it looks like a duck, its not surprising that it quacks like a duck!