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 has been your favourite UK sighting of the year so far?

Welcome

YOUR BIRDING MONTH • OCTOBER

FIVE BIRDS TO FIND IN OCTOBER • October is back again, as thrilling as every year (we hope). After the endless, rainless summer, let's hope peak autumn's more diverse weather delivers peak birding delights

Beyond Birdwatching • Surprising insects and other life forms attract attention this month, James Lowen suggests…

Weedon's World • Mike has reached one milestone for his patch year list, but he still craves just that bit more

Autumn chill brings goose bumps • There's nothing more thrilling than the arrival of winter geese, writes Jon Carter

The heat is on

Grumpy Old Birder • Mothing ventured, mothing gained! Why not try it yorself, writes Bo Beolens…

Sign up to #My200BirdYear • Migration continues throughout the month, so October has plenty to interest and intrigue all birdwatchers, with plenty of crossover between ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ species, as well as passage migrants…

Home or away? • 30-minute birder Amanda Tuke enthuses about the benefits of having an ‘away patch’…

The man who defined British birding • Stephen Moss worked with the legendary TV presenter Bill Oddie for almost 20 years, producing the groundbreaking series Birding with Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie Goes Wild, and the BAFTA award-winning Springwatch. Here, he reflects on their professional and personal friendship, Bill's legacy, and his huge influence on birding today…

Astounding avian anatomy • What allows certain species to thrive in certain conditions? Amy Brewer has been finding out…

IDChallenge • This month's challenge is all about the identification of birds on the sea shore

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 tips to help you identify sea shore birds

GO BIRDING • 10 great sites for brilliant birdwatching

LOCH OF MEY • A water body with passage migrants

BOWMORE • You know the whisky, now try its amazing birdlife

LOWER BURNMOUTH • Rocky foreshore, cliff side scrub and woodland

CAMBOIS • Beaches, Industrial wasteland, woodland and grassland

BOLTON MOSS • Former peat workings provide a variety of good habitat

COTTON DELL SWT • A steep-sided valley with some scarce species

LOWER MOOR

COMBE HILL • Ideal for late passage migrants

HATHERLEIGH MOOR • A lesser-known tract of moorland north of Dartmoor

NOOK BEACH • Wetland haven on south coast shingle

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

Rewilding in mid-Wales • Ruth Miller discovers a site full of promise for biodiversity

Nut hatch • Is it the Kingfisher of the forest? You can make a good case for that, writes Dominic Couzens…

Portugal in early spring • 15-22 February 2027 Lisbon estuaries, Alentejo & Algarve €2,600 (excluding...