Birdwatch

The presence of six Puffins in Dorset, coupled with signs of breeding, has offered a glimmer of hope at the last colony on England's south coast: bit.ly/4eTyAZT

Two new species of antbird have been described from the Amazon rainforest following a detailed taxonomic study combining genetic, vocal and morphological evidence: bit.ly/4eRWDbA

Poland recorded its first successful breeding of Pygmy Cormorant in 2025, representing the latest sign of the species' continued expansion across Europe: bit.ly/3RbCTpF

Egret colonisation, Least Tern ID, hybrid breeders, a Svalbard birding adventure, a 'forgotten' gull and Tawny Eagle feature in this month's Birdwatch, out now! bit.ly/4eXPPZY

Red-and-green Macaw has bred successfully in Brazil's Atlantic Forest for the first time in approximately 200 years, following an ambitious reintroduction programme: bit.ly/4um6SJY

The energetic demands of reproduction may accelerate ageing in birds, according to new research examining the long-term costs of parental effort: bit.ly/4tLHCvO

The Irish Rare Birds Committee has added Scopoli's Shearwater to Category A of the Irish list, while also accepting a sighting of a South Polar Skua from the country's offshore waters: bit.ly/4nzN5nO

Masked Booby has recently been documented breeding on Ilha Brava, Cape Verde, with adults observed in Brown Booby colonies and apparent Brown × Masked Booby hybrids photographed: bit.ly/4ukoaav

Britain's gulls are undergoing substantial declines, according to the latest findings from the BTO's Winter Gull Survey: bit.ly/4wCgDVR

Unconventionally stylish with a new twist on modernity, SWAROVSKI OPTIK's latest incarnation of its Companion series is designed to appeal to birders. Mike Alibone takes a closer look: bit.ly/4fyp66m

An increase in octopus and cuttlefish numbers off south-west England is believed to be driving an unusual influx of Risso's Dolphins closer to shore: bit.ly/4uYyBk0

Spanish researchers have documented the first known case of a female-only pair of Bonelli's Eagles successfully adopting and raising young: bit.ly/4dQhDhO

It has been an amazing month for Temminck's Stint passage in Britain, with 45 logged last week as they head for the tundra. The Birdwatch team are all hoping to find one locally while they are moving!

The winner of the Royal College of Music's Larks Ascending composition competition, inspired by Eurasian Skylark recordings to highlight the species' long-term decline in the UK, has been announced: bit.ly/3PHJLuj

Review of the Week: 11-17 May 2026 An Eastern Subalpine Warbler holding territory on the East Sussex coast was one of the biggest stories of the past week, reports Sam Viles: bit.ly/4wTE2mb

A dynamic image of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Lincolnshire wins Photo of the Week! bit.ly/3RMhbsh

The National Trust has brought back its popular 'Puffin cams' to the Farne Islands, offering watchers close-up views of one of Britain's most important seabird colonies: bit.ly/3R8cokR

Folk music and field notes From Stornoway to Martin Simpson, folk music has soundtracked our David Campbell's life − and recorded humankind's changing relationship with nature: bit.ly/3R5J3HL

A pair of Critically Endangered White-backed Vultures fitted with GPS transmitters in northern Morocco have dispersed, with one successfully crossing the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain: bit.ly/4uEmDeY

Butterfly Conservation has launched the first-ever public vote to crown Britain's Favourite Butterfly, inviting people across the UK to choose the species they love most: bit.ly/4tzD4IC