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.

Bird Watching • We asked this month’s contributors “What’s your best ever spring rarity find?”

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YOUR BIRDING MONTH • MAY

FIVE TO FIND IN MAY • Hooray, it’s May. Two (no, three!) bank holidays to enjoy the best that spring birding has to offer; what a month! Here are just a few of the very many great birds to enjoy this month.

RARITY PREDICTOR

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

Beyond Birdwatching • In May, the ground beneath your feet is alive, says James Lowen

Weedon's World • Mike enjoyed the first warm days of spring, sitting down to enjoy the gorgeous woodland soundscape

Everyone's a winner! • Your bite-sized pieces of nature writing thrilled our judges, and produced some outstanding winners

Grnmpy Old Birder • Teamwork makes the dream work… Bo, in an uncharacteristically good mood, extols the virtues of ‘him and her’ birding.

Sign up to #My200BirdYear • SET A TARGET OF SEEING 200 BIRDS IN ONE YEAR!

Hull-timate BIRDING • Thirty-minute birder Amanda Tuke visits the East Yorkshire city and is inspired to start submitting bird records

City birdwatching in Hull… • What the local birders recommend.

SPURN: A magical place for migration

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Don't fall into the CONTEXT TRAP • During migration periods like now, we expect the unexpected. But are we creating a self-fulfilling prophecy?

IDChallenge • This month’s reader challenge is all about British tits

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 tits

GARGANEY • Dominic Couzens takes a look at the world of this dazzling delight of a duck…

LOCH RUTHVEN RSPB

PIGS PARADISE

GILSLAND GORGE

KINGSDALE HEAD

LANGSETT RESERVOIR

WHITEMOOR HAYE

GRASSHOLM

ROMNEY SALTS

LODMOOR RSPB

POSTBRIDGE & BELLEVER

Reader Shots • Send your snaps to birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk to be in with a chance of seeing your photo in print. All images should be high resolution JPEG files.

YOURVIEW • PHOTOS, LETTERS, TWEETS, QUESTIONS - HAVE YOUR SAY

PICS FROM OUR FACEBOOK GROUP • Join our dedicated #My200BirdYear Facebook group and share your best birding experiences and images with the community:

Your Questions • Send all your birding questions to birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk and our experts will give you the answers

Bird Watching

Black Redstarts • They have a habit of turning up where you least expect them - Ruth Miller sings the praises of the beautiful Black Redstart

We expect to see many, if not most, of these species;

Birds and mammals in the kingdom of the Polar Bear! • NEW! Head to Svalbard in the Arctic Circle, with Bird Watching

Discover IDYLLIC BIRDING ISLES • They’re among the less well-known Scottish islands for birding, but Colonsay and Oronsay have a lot to offer

Chaffinch • Though still very common, the...