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Welcome to the Rare Bird Alert website

Established in 1991 Rare Bird Alert is the longest running instant birdnews service in the UK. Our team of experienced and dedicated birders check and send reports as soon as they break, sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Ways to get our birdnews

We offer the most comprehensive range of birdnews services to suit all birders. If rarity hunting is your thing, just like to bird locally or only go birding occasionally we have a solution to meet your needs. If you would like any advice or help with any of our services please contact us today.

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Pagers

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Still the ultimate tool for birders in the field who don't want to miss news.

  • Unrivalled reception works in many parts of the country where mobiles don't. Particularly good coverage in rural 'birding' areas
  • Flexible change the areas you get news from whenever you want
  • Packages to suit all birders
    local pagers covering individual counties or entire coverage for the UK, you decide
  • TRY FOR FREE today
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From
£134
per year

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Online

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  • Live birdnews over 100,000 sightings per year, updated all day, every day
  • Newsmaps so you can see where the birds are
  • Photo Gallery share your photos of birds in Britain
  • Previous Records fully searchable database of all the accepted rarities in Britain and Ireland, including maps, stats and photos
  • Articles finders' accounts, identification papers, news stories and much more
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Only
£59.99
per year

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Phones

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iPhone and Android App

  • Alerts instant alerts on breaking news
  • Browse the news search the news using quick links or build advanced filters
  • Gallery latest UK bird photos

Text messages

  • Instant text alerts to breaking news to any phone
  • Great for occasional use
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From
£59.99
per year

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Latest article

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Weekly birding round-up: 21 - 27 Aug

Jon Dunn brings you his weekly lookback at the week's best birds from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic. More here >

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Record 161 young Choughs fledge in Cornwall

Fifty-six successful pairs raised an average of almost three young each as Cornwall's naturally recolonised Chough population continued its remarkable recovery. More here >

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Little Egrets breed in north-east Scotland for first time

Four chicks have fledged at Forvie National Nature Reserve in what is thought to be the most northerly UK breeding record for the species. More here >

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Record 35 pairs of Black-necked Grebes breed at Woolston Eyes

Restored wetland in Cheshire supported 29 of the pairs in 2025, reinforcing Woolston Eyes as the UK's most important breeding site for the scarce grebe. More here >

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Cinereous Vultures breed in Iberian Highlands for first time in a century

Two chicks hatched after five reintroduced pairs settled in Alto Tajo Natural Park, marking the return of breeding Cinereous Vultures after around 100 years. More here >