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​Nightjars breeding at RSPB HQ for first time in 45 years

The RSPB has announced that nightjars are breeding at The Lodge nature reserve, home of the charity’s UK headquarters for the first time since 1973, 45 years ago.
 
A single pair of the nocturnal birds have nested and raised chicks on an area of restored heathland on the reserve.
 
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COUNTRY INNOVATION LAUNCHES NEW RSPB AVOCET JACKETS

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Country Innovation, the Somerset based brand with a growing reputation for quality amongst birders and outdoor folk in general - has launched two brand new jackets ready for the autumn season in association with the RSPB... the Avocet and Lady Avocet. 

The brands driving force, Maria Chilvers, has been working on these jackets for the past couple of years and  they are now on their way and will be launched at this year’s Birdfair 17 – 19 August.

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we take A CLOSER LOOK AT THE South Coast RSPB reserve WHICH attractED THE American Royal TERN - PAGHAM HARBOUR

PictureAmerican Royal tern photo: Andrew House
Following on from the UK's first appearance by the rare American Royal tern at RSPB Pagham Harbour 
in late June, we take a closer look at the reserve which seems to have the 'magic touch' when it
​comes to terns in particular...
 
RSPB Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, has gained a well-earned reputation in recent years for being one
of the best locations to spot rare tern species. And it would seem quite rightly so, with the threatened roseate and black terns briefly visiting last year and thousands of birders also visiting the site last June, when the aptly named ‘elegant tern’ arrived with a breeding colony of Sandwich terns.

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British Trust for Ornithology  fits 10 Cuckoos with tiny satellite tags in a bid to follow them back to their wintering grounds in central Africa

PictureImage: Chris Knights / BTO
As part of an on-going study to find out why our Cuckoos are disappearing – we have lost almost three-quarters of our Cuckoo population during the last 25 years – the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has fitted 10 Cuckoos with tiny satellite tags, in a bid to follow them back to their wintering grounds in central Africa.

The study has already identified important migration routes via stopover sites in northern Italy and southern Spain, and the precise wintering locations in the Congo rainforest. 

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rare black-tailed godwit eggs hatch after being saved from spring flooding

PictureImage: WWT
Godwit eggs rescued from muddy farmland in East Anglia have hatched successfully. 

Conservationists, trying to protect the rare black-tailed godwit, teamed up with local farmers to save the eggs, which were found in poor condition after heavy spring downpours.
 
Collecting eggs for rear and release, known as head-starting, was already planned in the area as part of a five-year EU funded project. When flooding forced wild birds to nest away from the safety of their wetland habitat in the Nene Washes, the project team launched a rescue operation to help even more eggs. 
 
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kite optics expand their sp scope range with compact 65mm model

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KITE have announced the release of an innovative new scope model in their SP range - the SP 65. 

Available to buy now, this scope may be small but it packs a big punch. 

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Rescue effort saves rare black-tailed godwit eggs after spring flooding

PictureImage: WWT
Unseasonal April downpours forced tens of thousands of birds to nest away from the safety of the wetlands after their habitat in the Fens, East Anglia became submerged.

Conservationists, trying to protect the rare black-tailed godwit, discovered clutches of their eggs on nearby farmland, trapped in mud, sparking fears over their future. Thankfully, farmers and conservationists were able to work together to help save the eggs.
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OSPREY AT BASSENTHWAITE LAKE adding flowers to his nest to impress new mate

PictureImage: Lake District Osprey Project
When one of the Lake District’s most famous ospreys returned without his partner of five years this Easter - staff, volunteers and visitors to the Lake District Osprey Project (LDOP) feared that he would be left heartbroken...

But, ‘Unring’ has finally found love with a new female osprey, which arrived over the bank holiday weekend.

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Have you seen a hen harrier? rspb reboots bird of prey hotline

PictureImage: RSPB
As spring has finally arrived, the RSPB is calling on wildlife fans who enjoy exploring the remote moorlands of the North East to look out for hen harriers, one of England’s rarest birds of prey.
 
The nature conservation charity has relaunched the Hen Harrier Hotline in the hope of discovering where these birds might be nesting.      
 
At this time of year, the male hen harrier performs his courtship display known as skydancing, involving a spectacular series of swoops and somersaults. If he attracts a female, he then proves his worth as a mate by passing her food offerings in mid-air.
 
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COMMON CRANE BREEDS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT WWT WELNEY

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Spring has arrived along with the pitter patter of tiny feet at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, where the common crane has bred successfully for the first time.
 
These scarce birds are shy and secretive during the breeding season, but to the delight of staff and visitors two chicks arrived on March 21.
 
 The baby birds are just six inches tall (15cm) when they hatch, and are quickly able to walk, swim and run.  Over the next 10 weeks both the parent birds will protect these precious chicks from predation and teach them how to find the food they need to grow.

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SWAROVSKI OPTIK release pa-i8 digiscoping adapter for iphone 8 owners

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SWAROVSKI OPTIK have released an updated version of their popular digiscoping adapter - the PA-i8.

​Used to attach SWAROVSKI OPTIK spotting scopes and bino's to your iPhone 8, instantly turning your smartphone device into a telephoto zoom lens and ideal for capturing responsive bird images and videos in the field.

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STEINER LAUNCH NEW OBSERVER SERIES BINOCULARS WITH 10 YEAR WARRANTY​

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Steiner launch new Observer series Binoculars with 10 year warranty.

​Recently launched and now available in the UK, Steiner's new Observer range of binoculars have been designed to provide versatility - with the promise the new binoculars will match even the most testing situations under almost any condition. Quite something within a range costing little over 200 pounds.

​You get a choice of 2 full-sized models, each providing comfortable ergonomics for long-term observation. The Observer range should provide an ideal bag companion for general purpose birdwatching use and with a 10 years guarantee, be quite competitive. 

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UK’s internationally important seabird populations being affected by fishing activities in the North Sea

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Plenty of fish in the sea? Not according to interesting new research led by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

Their research shows that the ​UK’s internationally important
seabird populations are being affected more than ever by fishing activities in the North Sea. 

Levels of seabird breeding failure were higher in years when a
greater proportion of the North Sea’s sandeels, important prey for
​seabirds, was commercially fished. 

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