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.

Welcome

Bird Watching • What was the ‘spark bird’ that got you into birding as a child?

YOUR BIRDING MONTH • OCTOBER

FIVE BIRDS TO FIND IN OCTOBER • September may be the new October, but October is still October, full of rich promise of exciting birds. Birds are coming, birds are going, rare and scarce could appear at any time. It's exciting.

RARITY PREDICTOR • Every issue we have a go at guessing which extreme rarities may turn up. Here are our predictions for October.

DABBLING DUCKS IN NUMBERS

Five commonest gulls • Here are the five most commonly encountered gulls in the UK out of the breeding season. The UK's commonest breeding gull is the true ‘sea gull’, the Kittiwake, which is not encountered frequently away from the coast.

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

Beyond Birdwatching • James Lowen looks at the best of October's other wildlife

Weedon's World • In late summer, Mike decided to revive some classic old BW schemes to introduce birding to a complete beginner

Tracking change as we birdwatch • Another way in which you can get directly involved in vital conservation work

Become a better birder with BTO training courses

Grumpy Old Birder • Bo has a fable for us all to learn from – look out for the commonwealth of nature

Sign up to #My200BirdYear • Birdwatching in October can be almost as exhilaratingly full-on as in the height of the spring migration season, with the departure of the last of our summer visitors, the arrival and/or passage of large numbers of wintering birds, and the constant possibility of rarities and scarcities. So, fill in those gaps on your list with the help of these tips, writes editor Matt Merritt

Giving a good impression • Thirty Minute Birder Amanda Tuke tries out ways of introducing beginners to the delights of urban birdwatching

What was the most valuable birdwatching tip you received when you started out?

Passing on the birding flame • Getting young people interested in birdwatching is more difficult than ever, but we need to make it happen, writes David Lindo

Wildlife along the wall • It's a unique historical site, and a much loved tourist attraction, but Hadrian's Wall can also be a vital wildlife corridor, writes John Miles

Glorious Great Bustards! • A Salisbury Plain safari brings encounters with these amazing birds, writes Ruth Miller

IDChallenge • This month's challenge is all about the identification of smaller birds of prey

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 Juvenile harriers

GO BIRDING • 10 great sites for brilliant birdwatching

DULNAIN BRIDGE

DUNOLLIE WOOD

BUTTERMERE

LORDSTONES

FELBRIGG ESTATE

TAD BAY

MAGOG DOWN

CLIPPER DOWN

LOWER HALSTOW

MOLLAND COMMON

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

Reader Shots

PICS FROM OUR FACEBOOK GROUP

Your Questions • Send all your...