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Welcome to the Rare Bird Alert

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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Suffolk's wader partners report a halt to coastal declines

Ten years of work across reserves and farmland have helped stabilise Lapwing and Redshank numbers, according to the organisations managing the marshes. More here >

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Feathers reveal where Woodcock shot in Britain and Ireland came from

Most sampled birds came from northern or eastern Europe, but residents were represented in all six winter regions, even where Woodcock no longer breed. More here >

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Fewer Puffins breed on the Farnes, but more chicks leave monitored burrows

The 2026 census recorded 33,939 breeding pairs across the islands. On two islands, the burrows rangers followed had their most productive season in three years. More here >

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Hoopoe and Glossy Ibis influxes feature in first-ever BTO BirdTrack report

Two waves of Hoopoes and an unprecedented autumn influx of Glossy Ibis are among the highlights of the BTO's first annual BirdTrack report. More here >

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Cyprus operation removes 1,000 limesticks and 79 nets

Anti-poaching teams report more than 100 live birds rescued and 35 suspected trappers caught during the continuing autumn migration operation. More here >