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 ask this month’s contributors: What is your favourite autumn wader?

Welcome

YOUR BIRDING MONTH • SEPTEMBER

FIVE BIRDS TO FIND IN SEPTEMBER • September is to October what April is to May – perceived to be second best in the respective season, but actually often the superior birding month. It is a time of movement and change. Here are five birds which are worth a bit of your time in the midst of all the excitement.

Beyond Birdwatching • Enjoy wildlife while summer hints at ceding to autumn, says James Lowen…

Weedon’s World • A rainy day in early June was livened up more than somewhat with the discovery of a very special bird

Watching out for waders • We can all help to reverse some worrying declines, writes Jon Carter…

Migration marvels

Grumpy Old Birder • It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it, writes Bo Beolens…

Sign up to #My200BirdYear • September is the first month where autumn migration truly shows its full force, and locally bred juvenile and freshly moulted adult birds mingle with those from the rest of the country, and further abroad, as they all head south, drawn by the magnet of their winter homes. This is arguably the time of year to see the most species and could certainly be the time you ‘mop up’ a lot of the species you may have missed in the spring…

Capital owls • 30-minute birder Amanda Tuke investigates the fortunes of Britain’s owls in London…

Rhythm is recognition • Nature beatboxer Jason Singh turns birdsong into music, and it can help your birding, writes Matt Merritt…

Birds ARE DINOSAURS! • Sometimes get more than a sense of something prehistoric when looking at certain birds? There is a reason for that, writes David Callahan…

ID Challenge • This month’s challenge is all about the identification of birds at the ‘waterhole’

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 age and sex Crossbills

GO BIRDING • 10 great sites for brilliant birdwatching

BALRANALD • Make discoveries on farmland and the Atlantic coastline

CORRAN FERRY • Get some bonus birding on the way to Mull

ALLEN BANKS • Steep-sided gorge with meadows, parkland and woodland

LAURIESTON FOREST • Woodland birds plus the chance of an eagle

ARNSIDE • Varied habitats close to the expanse of Morecambe Bay

PRIORY WATER NR • Winter wildfowl plus summer insect-watching

LEISTON COMMON • A wide range of birds are assured on the Suffolk hinterland

CRAIG GWLADYS CP • Woodland birds in the dramatic Neath Valley

DUNGENESS PENINSULA • Passage migrants at England’s most south-easterly point

BUDLEIGH SALTERTON • A varied birding walk centred on the lower Otter valley

YOURVIEW • PHOTOS, LETTERS, 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

Bird Watching

A British first on the DOORSTEP! • Sometimes you don’t even have to twitch a mega-rarity, writes...