Bird Watching is Britain’s best-selling birdwatching magazine. Each issue is packed with expert advice on when, where and how to see more birds, from common garden visitors to the most elusive rarities. There are features from some of British birdwatching’s best-known names, superbly illustrated by the work of the world’s best bird photographers, plus comprehensive coverage of all the latest sightings, guides to the best birdwatching sites, ID masterclasses, news and reviews of all the latest gear.
Welcome
BIRDING QUESTION • We ask this month’s contributors: What’s your ‘bogey’ bird for ID-ing? (eg, which one do you struggle to ID consistently)
…and the Bird Watching team’s answers
YOUR BIRDING MONTH
FIVE TO FIND IN OCTOBER • This is peak migration month for many birds. The mix of pre-departure summer visitors and just-arriving winterers means avian biodiversity reaches a maximum. Here are five species you may see.
RARITY PREDICTOR
‘Resident’ warblers • We think of warblers as summer visitors, and this is mostly the case. However, a couple of them are largely non-migratory and a couple of the commonest species are increasingly spending the winter in our warming, island climate. You can catch up with these four birds this month and through the winter.
UK TIDES OCTOBER • The times below are for high tide, when waders and wildfowl will be pushed closer to dry land…
Beyond Birdwatching • Fungi are going at full throttle in October, suggests James Lowen, while insects surprise with their continued abundance.
Weedon’s World • There are certain birds that look much better on the page than in real life. The Bearded Tit is not one of them, Mike claims.
Birders together • Huge efforts are being made to support Colombian birding industry workers affected by tourism shortfalls
GRUMPY OLD BIRDER • This month, Bo talks about the changes we need to make to help protect our natural world.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Early BIRDER • Thirty-minute-birder Amanda Tuke explains how making time for early morning birdwatching sets her up for the day.
Making time for birding..
HOW TO GET STARTED
Books about birding and emotional wellbeing
Make your garden a five-star location for birds • Iona Chisholm looks at ways you can increase what’s on offer in your garden to provide everything that birds need throughout the year…
at-a-glance Identification • A guide to our latest series of ID cards
Tice’s Meadow • The ongoing battle to protect a small slice of birding heaven and ensure future generations have a nature reserve to cherish.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE
goldfinch • It’s October, and it’s a great time to be just about anywhere – except, it seems, the garden.
ID Challenge • This month’s challenge features smaller gulls. How many can you name?
Answers & solutions • Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, as ever, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among those here
ID Tips & tricks • Here are a few extra tips to help you to identify smaller gulls
GO BIRDING • 10 GREAT SITES FOR BRILLIANT BIRDWATCHING
Reader Shots
YOURVIEW • PHOTOS, LETTER, TWEETS, QUESTIONS – HAVE YOUR SAY
Your Questions • Send all your birding questions to birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk and our experts will give you the answers
When is a twitch not a twitch? • Ruth recounts several ‘lucky’ occasions when being in the right place at the right time produced some amazing rare birds (without actually ‘twitching’)
From Aberdeen to the Arctic • Tuesday 17 May – Thursday 26 May Join us for a unique combination of Polar Bear, whales, pack ice and British...