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.

MEET THE TEAM

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

GET IN TOUCH • Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA

Welcome

THE BIG QUESTION: WHAT BIRD WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTRACT TO YOUR GARDEN?

PURPLE SANDPIPER

FIVE TO FIND IN OCTOBER • October is the best month of the year. Some may argue for May, April, or even September. But October is the real best birders’ month (at least until next spring, when we will champion April and May!). Here are five of the 100s of birds you can see this month!

RARITY PREDICTOR • Each month, we take a free hit of a guess at what very rare birds may occur in the UK during the given month. Like these three...

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Foraging feeding flocks

Woodpigeon droppings with berry seeds

PLOVERS IN NUMBERS

Divers in flight

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

Beyond Birdwatching • The burnished tones of autumn leaves are reflected in other October highlights

Weedon’s World • Suburban birder Mike took a short late summer break in Serbia, and got a nice taste of continental European urban birding

A tern for the better • Rangers’ efforts pay off as they celebrate seabird breeding success in Northumberland

GRUMPY OLD BIRDER • Here, Bo tips his hat to young campaigners who are doing their bit to make the world a better place

NEWS IN BRIEF

Perfect Pintail • This duck faces many obstacles in its life, so we all have a duty to ensure that its future is secure

Helping birds • In part one of our two-part feature on how to help birds, we are concentrating on what you can do to give the bird of your garden a bit of a helping hand

SNAILS ARE THRUSH FOOD

How to build a wildlife pond

Making your pond a home for wildlife

How to make a nest box

Paths less trodden • North Norfolk offers some of the best birding opportunities the UK has to offer. Follow our guide to getting the most out of your next visit…

Collared Dove • The story of this seemingly unremarkable bird’s distribution across the world is nothing short of fascinating

Maria, I’ve just met a girl named Maria... • Ruth was very lucky indeed to enjoy sightings of the hard-to-see Giant Antpitta on a trip to Ecuador

ID Challenge • Once again we dabble in the world of ducks, in this case, dabbling ducks. Can you name them?

Answers & solutions • Compare your answers with our answers and reasoning below. How well did you do, this month?

ID Tips & tricks • Here are a few extra tips to help you identify dabbling ducks in the field

GO BIRDING • 10 GREAT SITES FOR BRILLIANT BIRDWATCHING

CRARAE GARDENS • Superb Victorian gardens with views of Loch Fyne

SITE GUIDE

KEY POINTS

COLLEGE VALLEY • A beautiful area with a mixture of birding opportunities

SITE GUIDE

KEY POINTS

THIRLMERE • Raptors and wildfowl in a scenic Lake District setting

SITE GUIDE

KEY POINTS

SCAR HOUSE RESERVOIR • Find waders and much more at this Pennine stopover

SITE GUIDE

KEY POINTS

VALLEY WETLANDS • An easy...