Birdwatch

Birders around the world are being encouraged to take part in the 13th Wader Conservation World Watch on 31 October and 1 November, recording the waders they see and celebrating those working to conserve them: bit.ly/3UkuQZi

European Nightjar's wings appear to balance the demands of catching insects at low speeds with those of long-distance migration, according to new research: bit.ly/4kqMftU

Scottish Ministers have rejected a second proposal to build an 18-hole golf course at Coul Links, one of Scotland's most important coastal wildlife sites, following a public inquiry that recommended refusal: bit.ly/4sMZY0F

The latest episode of The BirdGuides Podcast is out and the guys are debating the rules of listing! Lots of birders keep lists – but what counts, what doesn't, and who decides? Everything, from heard-only birds to those that arrive by ship, is covered! bit.ly/3W1EYH7

High-octane birding in the Low Countries Lucy McRobert rose to the challenge of a 24-hour bird race, finishing the day with brilliant sightings, some embarrassing dips and three key lessons learned: bit.ly/3Ujyant

The African Bird Club has passed a major conservation milestone, providing £755,241 in grants for bird conservation across Africa since its Conservation Awards Programme began in 1996: bit.ly/4ij900b

LOWA Ventierra GTX Lo walking shoe review Josh Jones reviews a new walking shoe from LOWA: bit.ly/48cd2D0

Migrating Redwings may transport tens of millions of ticks carrying potentially pathogenic bacteria south across Europe each autumn, according to a study: bit.ly/4BefA0K

AviList, the unified global bird checklist, published its first major revision on 20 October, introducing taxonomic changes affecting several familiar European birds: bit.ly/3Wq4hCF

A strong breeding season for Gyr Falcon has been reported from Alaska's Seward Peninsula: bit.ly/4zxg8gH

Review of the Week: 19-25 October 2026 There were some heavyweight finds this week, with Rufous-tailed Robin and Slender-billed Nutcracker proving twitchable on the English east coast: bit.ly/4yAB5pX

In an outstanding week for submissions, Darryl Gorman's stunning Eurasian Sparrowhawk shot wins Photo of the Week: bit.ly/3W3KzNa

A fox attack has dealt a setback to the recovery of Little Terns breeding at Chesil Beach, Dorset, despite the colony recording its highest number of pairs since 2001: bit.ly/4ihKtJ9

Plans to ban lead gunshot across the European Union have cleared a major parliamentary hurdle after MEPs rejected attempts to block the proposed restriction on 8 October: bit.ly/4zRzIVb

Wildlife populations monitored around the world have declined by an average of 73% since 1970, according to the latest Living Planet Index, although experts warn that major gaps in monitoring limit what can be concluded about the state of nature: bit.ly/4yzrdN8

European Storm Petrels appear to forage most actively offshore on the darkest nights, according to new research into the nocturnal behaviour of the tiny seabird: bit.ly/3WG0RvC

A Red Kite has died after being found with gunshot injuries in the Peak District National Park, prompting a police appeal for information about the incident: bit.ly/4BkTJoy

One of the biggest twitches in British birding history is expected to kick off this weekend after the discovery of a Slender-billed Nutcracker in a Norfolk garden. Full story: bit.ly/4z6YyjE

Rarity finders: Rufous-tailed Robin in East Yorkshire After seven weeks birding in the Outer Hebrides, Zak Spaull headed to Flamborough hoping for a late-season rarity. His decision delivered one of the most desired of all megas: bit.ly/4BeOaYC

Beach-nesting birds on the Norfolk coast are set to benefit from new funding for conservation work, with an initial £384,000 award supporting projects aimed at protecting Little Tern, Ringed Plover and other coastal species: bit.ly/4hZObrV