New research shows that Spotted Flycatchers are increasingly overwintering around the Mediterranean rather than migrating to Africa, as Europe's milder winters reshape bird migration patterns. Using two decades of eBird data, scientists found that southern Iberia and Mediterranean islands now provide suitable wintering conditions, marking a major shift for this classic trans-Saharan migrant.

The latest Rare Breeding Birds Panel report has revealed that, in 2023, Hoopoe and Temminck's Stint bred in the UK for the first time since the 1990s, alongside record totals for several expanding species. On the other hand, other rare breeders continued to decline.

Pursuing a PhD is not just an academic endeavour—it is a test of resilience, determination, and self-belief. My journey to securing a fully funded PhD scholarship in the UK was anything but smooth. It...