Bird Watching

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.

BIRDING QUESTION • We ask this month’s contributors: “What’s your favourite ever autumn migration find?

Welcome

…and the Bird Watching team’s answers

YOUR BIRDING MONTH • AUTUMN

FIVE TO FIND IN AUTUMN • Courtesy of our magic 13th issue, we are in the lovely catch-all time of year we call autumn, which in this context means the spread of September and October. Luckily, that equates with the most exciting time of the second half of the calendar. Here are some very pleasant birds you may want to look for this autumn.

RARITY PREDICTOR

Coniferous woodland birds

UK TIDES SEPTEMBER • The times below are for high tide, when waders and wildfowl will be pushed closer to dry land…

Beyond Birdwatching • Autumn offers a fascinating mix of plants and animals to track down, says James Lowen.

Weedon’s World • In the heat of an August day, Mike took a pilgrimage to Grafham Water to pay homage to a ‘first for the UK’

Tracking data offers migrant insight • A tagged Curlew’s flight to Portgual highlights migrant birds’ struggles and environmental problems.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Grumpy Old Birder • Accidental conservation, mis-used National Parks and uncaring governments! Bo is fuming!

WIN with Rohan

Sign up to #My200BirdYear

InsideOUT! • Thirty-minute birder Amanda Tuke makes the most of birdwatching through her window

Could the BTO’s Garden BirdWatch be the perfect citizen science project for window birding when you can’t commit much time?

Glossy IBIS • The chances of spotting this exotic nomad in the UK are on the rise… praise be!

Fabulous FEATHERS • Amanda Tuke encourages us not to take these miraculous and often dazzling structures for granted

PROJECT PLUMAGE - finding out what feather colour can tell us about bird evolution

HAT’S OFF TO ETTA, EMILY AND ELIZA - One hundred years since the Plumage Act came into force.

ID Challenge • This month’s challenge is all about the identification of autumn seabirds

Answers & solutions • Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among these…

ID Tips & tricks • Here are a few extra tips to help you identify autumn seabirds

GO BIRDING • 10 GREAT SITES FOR BRILLIANT BIRDWATCHING

Reader Shots

YOURVIEW • PHOTOS, LETTER, TWEETS, QUESTIONS – HAVE YOUR SAY

PICS FROM OUR FACEBOOK GROUP

Your Questions

Oodles of OUZELS

Spotted Flycatcher • This bird does little or no preparation for its mammoth flights, but succeeds all the same, despite ‘winging it’.

Join the Bird Watching team for some fabulous birding in the Scottish Highlands this autumn… • Autumn in Scotland means rich wildlife potential in a gloriously colourful countryside, and you can join us there for an exclusive trip from: 23 October to 28 October 2022

Birding ON THE UISTS • The Outer Hebridean islands of North and South Uist are as bird-friendly as they are picturesque, says Vanessa Wright

Feral Pigeon • Common as muck, spreader of disease and destroyer of city buildings… Why should we care about the ‘Flying Rat’?

Enjoy yourself: Nothing else matters • Photography shouldn’t be...