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.

BIRDING QUESTION

Welcome

BIRD OF THE MONTH BITTERN

FIVE TO FIND IN DECEMBER • The freezing, short days of mid-winter offer the last chance to add something special to your year list, perhaps as a yuletide treat. Here are five birds to enjoy in December, each one a potential Christmas cracker!

RARITY PREDICTOR

SKY LARK

GREEN WOODPECKER DIGGINGS

TAKE BINOCULARS OUT WITH YOU!

WINTER THRUSHES IN NUMBERS

Six dabbling drakes • We have six common species of dabbling ducks in the UK. Can you see them all in a day, this month? Females of all species are brown and streaky, cryptically coloured, and best distinguished by shape and size.

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

Beyond Birdwatching • The year end may be quiet, but still offers surprises, says

Weedon’s World • Early October brought two sensational birds to the Peterborough area, at opposite ends of the size range

Record beaters • Global event records more than 7,000 birds in one day

GRUMPY OLD BIRDER • Bo wants us all to refamiliarise ourselves with the Country Code…

NEWS IN BRIEF

Magical MURMURATIONS • There’s a real buzz about Starling murmurations at this time of the year – here’s all the advice you need about getting the best vantage point!

Where can I see murmurations?

THE HAMPSHIRE 150 PHOTO-CHALLENGE OCTOBER 2020 UPDATE

chasing the dream … • It was a case of ‘the birdwatching that wasn’t’ for this Waxwing chaser…

Happy accidents • Looking for just one bird on your local patch can reap many other avian rewards for the birder

Bird Watching's Xmas quiz • Test your birding general knowledge – questions posed by Gordon Hamlett

Andy Clements • In 2007, after careers in the civil service and academia, Andy Clements became chief executive officer at the BTO. Retirement now beckons - Andy will start his next life-chapter at Christmas

Rare encounter • You’re lucky if you catch sight of a Hoopoe in the UK, but it’s not an impossibility as some make it over here during migration

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

ID Challenge • This month’s challenge concentrates on the difficult problem of winter birds of prey

Answers & solutions • Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, as ever, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among those here

ID Tips & tricks • Here are a few extra tips to help you to identify winter birds of prey

GO BIRDING • 10 GREAT SITES FOR BRILLIANT BIRDWATCHING

PRACTICAL INFO

PRACTICAL INFO

PRACTICAL INFO

PRACTICAL INFO

PRACTICAL INFO

PRACTICAL INFO

PRACTICAL INFO

Reader Shots

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

PICS FROM OUR FACEBOOK GROUP

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

great grey Shrike • There’s good reason why these are known as ‘butcher birds’ – how they deal with their prey is a particularly gruesome affair…

BIRDTHEWORLD Somerset Starling spectaculars • THE BEST...