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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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Record breeding season for Bonelli's Eagles in France

A provisional total of 44 young Bonelli's Eagles have fledged or are expected to leave their nests in France this year, surpassing the previous national record. More here >

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First Puffin chick in 30 years seen at Dorset colony

The discovery of a young Puffin at Dancing Ledge has provided fresh hope for the survival of the last regular breeding colony on the mainland coast of southern England. More here >

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Birdsong plays greater role than plumage in preventing hybridisation

Closely related bird species with distinctive songs are less likely to hybridise, while differences in male plumage appear to provide little protection against interbreeding. More here >

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Birds shorten wing strokes to save energy in formation

A new model suggests that birds flying in a V-formation cut their energy use principally by reducing the depth of their wingbeats while exploiting the wake of the bird ahead. More here >

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Weekly birding round-up: 10 - 16 Jul

A Blue-cheeked Bee-eater on Orkney leads Jon Dunn's look back at the best birds from the past seven days in this week's round-up. More here >