Paul French
@nomadbirder.bsky.social
Birder, purveyor of aerial bird identification wizardry & secretary of British Birds Rarities Committee
Reposted by Paul French
Get a taste for British Birds in this month's Open Access paper:
BB eye: A birder’s guide to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
BB eye: A birder’s guide to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
BB eye: A birder’s guide to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza
High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI, bird flu) virus infections have historically been most commonly associated with wild Eurasian waterfowl with...
britishbirds.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Get a taste for British Birds in this month's Open Access paper:
BB eye: A birder’s guide to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
BB eye: A birder’s guide to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
Does anyone know of any Long-tailed Skuas resembling the North American race pallescens being seen in the North Sea/Shetland areas? Birds resembling this form seen in SW and Spain (+ tracking data down mid Atlantic), but issue is paler birds in N Euro breeding grounds #RareBirdsUK
February 15, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Does anyone know of any Long-tailed Skuas resembling the North American race pallescens being seen in the North Sea/Shetland areas? Birds resembling this form seen in SW and Spain (+ tracking data down mid Atlantic), but issue is paler birds in N Euro breeding grounds #RareBirdsUK
Reposted by Paul French
The new Missing Records file is now live on the BB website, please have a look at britishbirds.co.uk/rarities-com... and consider submitting any outstanding rarities that you may have been lucky enough to discover in 2025. Thanks.
Missing records - British Birds
Download missing BBRC records Updated: 3 February 2025 This file contains details of all birds and/or...
britishbirds.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM
The new Missing Records file is now live on the BB website, please have a look at britishbirds.co.uk/rarities-com... and consider submitting any outstanding rarities that you may have been lucky enough to discover in 2025. Thanks.
This is a very worrying story with implications. Personally I'd like to fire the whole of AI into the outer Oort. stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com/2026/01/1492...
1492 : A Cautionary Tale.
stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:58 AM
This is a very worrying story with implications. Personally I'd like to fire the whole of AI into the outer Oort. stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com/2026/01/1492...
Reposted by Paul French
Oh shit! Our #TheTwoJonnies podcast guest this evening is our sister from another mister @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social 's very own Rob Hunton!
♠️
Got any questions for Rob? '26 fashion trends? Minor medical ailments? Life advice? Or even something to do with birds. Let us know! We might ask him.
♠️
Got any questions for Rob? '26 fashion trends? Minor medical ailments? Life advice? Or even something to do with birds. Let us know! We might ask him.
January 28, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Oh shit! Our #TheTwoJonnies podcast guest this evening is our sister from another mister @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social 's very own Rob Hunton!
♠️
Got any questions for Rob? '26 fashion trends? Minor medical ailments? Life advice? Or even something to do with birds. Let us know! We might ask him.
♠️
Got any questions for Rob? '26 fashion trends? Minor medical ailments? Life advice? Or even something to do with birds. Let us know! We might ask him.
Our long Dutch weekend comes to a glorious end, with some quality(!) WP tickage. Thanks to @gt1366.bsky.social for braving the perils of Amsterdam to give me a Cat C(rap) tick, and for the photo. Cheers mate!!
January 20, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Our long Dutch weekend comes to a glorious end, with some quality(!) WP tickage. Thanks to @gt1366.bsky.social for braving the perils of Amsterdam to give me a Cat C(rap) tick, and for the photo. Cheers mate!!
Our trip to Texel going very nicely so far, some Dutch megas with a few beers and quality bants. And who doesn't love Smew!!??
January 17, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Our trip to Texel going very nicely so far, some Dutch megas with a few beers and quality bants. And who doesn't love Smew!!??
Reposted by Paul French
The Little Terns at Beacon Ponds have made a remarkable recovery, but they need urgent help to thrive in 2026. Your support can fund a professional warden, ensuring these birds are protected from threats. Please share and contribute if you can!
gofund.me/83bf3bdd8
gofund.me/83bf3bdd8
Donate to Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project, organized by Spurn Bird Obs
Without urgent support, the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project may not be able … Spurn Bird Obs needs your support for Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project
gofund.me
January 16, 2026 at 9:45 AM
The Little Terns at Beacon Ponds have made a remarkable recovery, but they need urgent help to thrive in 2026. Your support can fund a professional warden, ensuring these birds are protected from threats. Please share and contribute if you can!
gofund.me/83bf3bdd8
gofund.me/83bf3bdd8
How is AI going to rule the World when you can't even share a contacts list from Outlook nowadays? The shittification of these things is mindblowing.
January 10, 2026 at 9:21 PM
How is AI going to rule the World when you can't even share a contacts list from Outlook nowadays? The shittification of these things is mindblowing.
"nuffin to see here guv'", says falconry expert who also happens to supply the Gulf royals with falcons 🥸
share.google/3kuF0oOSPv6K...
share.google/3kuF0oOSPv6K...
How demand for elite falcons in the Middle East is driving illegal trade of British birds
Exclusive: data reveals hundreds of UK nests have been raided in the past decade amid growing appetite to own prized birds for racing and breeding
share.google
January 5, 2026 at 12:17 PM
"nuffin to see here guv'", says falconry expert who also happens to supply the Gulf royals with falcons 🥸
share.google/3kuF0oOSPv6K...
share.google/3kuF0oOSPv6K...
While in the eBird garden year list, I'll happily take top 5. Always good to break 100, but amazing to see once again that both Tim Appleton's gardens score the same. How does he do it!!?? 😜
December 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
While in the eBird garden year list, I'll happily take top 5. Always good to break 100, but amazing to see once again that both Tim Appleton's gardens score the same. How does he do it!!?? 😜
In a fairly decent year for the garden, we soared to the dizzy height of 174, with Cattle Egret, Crane, Glossy Ibis and White-tailed Eagle all new. Most importantly, I won the predictions competition between myself and @clickbeetle85.bsky.social. A new year and new competition begins tomorrow.
December 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
In a fairly decent year for the garden, we soared to the dizzy height of 174, with Cattle Egret, Crane, Glossy Ibis and White-tailed Eagle all new. Most importantly, I won the predictions competition between myself and @clickbeetle85.bsky.social. A new year and new competition begins tomorrow.
Reposted by Paul French
For ID purposes videos can be great for familiarising yourself with seabird flight actions, structure, etc. but it’s a pain tracking down useful clips. I’ve collated video links for various N Atlantic species here #seabirds #seawatching #birding #birdID
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/12/23/s...
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/12/23/s...
Seabird Video Footage as a Learning Resource for Seawatchers
During the last few years significant progress has been made in improving our understanding of identification criteria and distribution of previously problematic seabird species. This progress has …
chatterstanes.wordpress.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:57 AM
For ID purposes videos can be great for familiarising yourself with seabird flight actions, structure, etc. but it’s a pain tracking down useful clips. I’ve collated video links for various N Atlantic species here #seabirds #seawatching #birding #birdID
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/12/23/s...
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/12/23/s...
Reposted by Paul French
Three Suffolk Shrikes - I have a signed, limited edition giclee print of a painting of the 3 rare shrikes in Suffolk this autumn (Isabelline, Turkestan and Brown). Just 50 available and only £50 window mounted (add £12 for P&P): PM me if interested and please repost, thanks
December 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Three Suffolk Shrikes - I have a signed, limited edition giclee print of a painting of the 3 rare shrikes in Suffolk this autumn (Isabelline, Turkestan and Brown). Just 50 available and only £50 window mounted (add £12 for P&P): PM me if interested and please repost, thanks
Reposted by Paul French
🏆 Carl Zeiss Award 2025: Celebrates top rarity submissions to
@britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social – the observations, images & recordings impress, visit:
🔗 britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🏅Winner: Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, by Frank Moffatt.
Thanks #ZEISSbirding for sponsoring & the prize binoculars!
@britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social – the observations, images & recordings impress, visit:
🔗 britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🏅Winner: Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, by Frank Moffatt.
Thanks #ZEISSbirding for sponsoring & the prize binoculars!
December 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
🏆 Carl Zeiss Award 2025: Celebrates top rarity submissions to
@britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social – the observations, images & recordings impress, visit:
🔗 britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🏅Winner: Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, by Frank Moffatt.
Thanks #ZEISSbirding for sponsoring & the prize binoculars!
@britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social – the observations, images & recordings impress, visit:
🔗 britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🏅Winner: Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, by Frank Moffatt.
Thanks #ZEISSbirding for sponsoring & the prize binoculars!
Reposted by Paul French
Super article in December @britishbirds.bsky.social detailing use of passive bioacoustic recorders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social et al
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
December 7, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Super article in December @britishbirds.bsky.social detailing use of passive bioacoustic recorders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social et al
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
Me: 'huh, Oscar Wilde died at age 46, I'm older than that now"
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
November 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Me: 'huh, Oscar Wilde died at age 46, I'm older than that now"
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
Wife: 'tick-tock muthatrucker'
🤔
Reposted by Paul French
Birdwatchers who are under 40 will not appreciate just how many breeding waders there were in Scottish farmland back in 1990.
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
25 years of wader declines
This article summarises a Bird Study paper arising from a 25-year Scottish study of breeding Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank & Curlew. The story is set against a backdrop of a changing farming…
wadertales.wordpress.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Birdwatchers who are under 40 will not appreciate just how many breeding waders there were in Scottish farmland back in 1990.
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
If your benchmark is 2015, look at what happened in the previous 25 years:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/2... 🎂8️⃣
And things have not improved since:
#ornithology
Reposted by Paul French
Above link fails! tinyurl.com/2026-Assista...
Job Opportunity:
We are recruiting - Bardsey Lodge & Bird Observatory Assistant Bardsey from the south Location: Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli), North Wales ...
tinyurl.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Above link fails! tinyurl.com/2026-Assista...
The Easington Hume's Wblr showed nicely on Friday, although the unseasonably bright sunshine made it surprisingly difficult to get a shot. Too much light combined with operator incompetence! #spurnbirds
November 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The Easington Hume's Wblr showed nicely on Friday, although the unseasonably bright sunshine made it surprisingly difficult to get a shot. Too much light combined with operator incompetence! #spurnbirds
Reposted by Paul French
A video from earlier in the autumn during some particularly heavy Pheasant migration in Highland! #highlandbirds
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A video from earlier in the autumn during some particularly heavy Pheasant migration in Highland! #highlandbirds
Its been a long while, but finally finished editing photos from my bucket list trip to Guyana last November. Bird of the trip? Barbados Bullfinch while transiting through there, of course!!
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
Guyana, Nov 2024 (plus Barbados airport)
Explore this photo album by Paul French on Flickr!
www.flickr.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Its been a long while, but finally finished editing photos from my bucket list trip to Guyana last November. Bird of the trip? Barbados Bullfinch while transiting through there, of course!!
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
The colours of autumn, a Siberian Chiffchaff on Vicars Lane, Easington shows just how its appearance can change against different backgrounds. Probably the split I'm most hoping for! #Spurnbirds
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 AM
The colours of autumn, a Siberian Chiffchaff on Vicars Lane, Easington shows just how its appearance can change against different backgrounds. Probably the split I'm most hoping for! #Spurnbirds
Well chuffed for @clickbeetle85.bsky.social finding this lovely little Hume's at the Tithe Barn, Easington. Now, if it will only scoot about 200m to the east, i'll be even happier! #Spurnbirds #RareBirdsUK
November 16, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Well chuffed for @clickbeetle85.bsky.social finding this lovely little Hume's at the Tithe Barn, Easington. Now, if it will only scoot about 200m to the east, i'll be even happier! #Spurnbirds #RareBirdsUK
Cracking photo of South Polar Skua with a Bonxie, the evidence keeps building.
After a month of research in #Porcupinebank on board #VizcondedeEza in the wild waters west of #Ireland, we're finally at home! The most amazing #seabird sighting was a South Polar skua! @rspb.bsky.social @irishbirds.bsky.social @ieo-cadiz.bsky.social Ireland waters are always a box of surprises!
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Cracking photo of South Polar Skua with a Bonxie, the evidence keeps building.