Birdwatch

Rarity finders: Savannah Sparrow in Shetland David Cooper produced one of the birds of the year while out and about on his Unst stomping ground in mid-May: bit.ly/46NSYaw

Island appeal Soon to begin her new role as editor of Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review, Lucy McRobert discusses the exciting plans for Higher Moors: bit.ly/4om7Bsj

Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, has voiced his support for reintroducing Eurasian Lynx to the British countryside: bit.ly/4f6qg76

German conservationists have visited the Norfolk coast to collaborate with British experts on protecting vulnerable bird species which nest along the shoreline: bit.ly/45kYbW8

Young Northern Gannet chicks will be harvested this autumn on a remote Hebridean islet for the first time in four years: bit.ly/4o00NQV

New research has revealed how harriers have evolved owl-like hearing to locate hidden prey: bit.ly/4f44wsj

A section of the Great Fen in Cambridgeshire will be one of only four sites selected across Europe to trial 'wet farming' techniques as part of an innovative project: bit.ly/4o2LoPv

Meet the BirdGuides sightings team Get to know the birders behind Britain's number one birding news service. Here, we speak to Alan Tilmouth: bit.ly/3UqWFeW

A surprising discovery in Belgium this year has revealed that Little Owls are capable of hunting Sand Martins – a species not commonly associated with the owl's known diet: bit.ly/44Yl0O2

Color in Nature review This book is an eye-opener in more ways than you might think, says Keith Betton: bit.ly/4nTvsz3

A record number of Purple Emperors has been recorded at the Knepp Estate in Sussex, as the species – and many other butterflies – enjoy a prolific summer in southern England: bit.ly/40w5I1Q

Grey Hypocolius appears to have bred in Israel for the first time, suggesting a potential westward expansion of the species' range: bit.ly/46U7ptH

Switzerland recorded unprecedented numbers of breeding Common Rosefinch in 2023, marking a notable increase in the species' presence in the country: bit.ly/4l29ozT

Review of the Week: 14-20 July 2025 The seawatching season continued to produce surprises, while a flurry of Black-crowned Night Herons was detected during an entertaining late summer period: bit.ly/4nYCMtp

An unusual interaction between a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Little Owl wins Clive Daelman today's Photo of the Week: bit.ly/4f3B85F

The Big Butterfly Count 2025 has got underway, with members of the public being urged to contribute to help Britain's beleaguered butterfly populations: bit.ly/4lxKatY

The UK Government has announced a long-awaited ban on toxic lead ammunition, which has been praised as a major victory for wildlife and the environment: bit.ly/44QHGzF

Birding Cheshire, the history of Rutland Water, South Polar Skua ID, the UK status of Ortolan Bunting, Hornsea Mere's Little Gulls, the renaming of birds and Pallas's Reed Bunting and Song Sparrow accounts all feature in this month's Birdwatch, out now! bit.ly/3THVJ5O

Record numbers of Hen Harriers have been illegally killed or gone missing in suspicious circumstances over the last five years: bit.ly/40lpZqM

Travel in moderation David Campbell reflects on a recent trip to South Africa and wonders if there's middle ground to be reached when it comes to the indulgence of international travel and strict low-carbon birding: bit.ly/44wHcQv