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 • We ask this month’s contributors: What is the rarest bird you’ve seen?

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

Welcome

...and the Bird Watching team’s choices

RAVEN

FIVE TO FIND IN MARCH • Winter is over, the spring is here, and with it the most exciting time of the year. Not only is there migration (in and out), there is the increased wealth of song and the glorious kick-off of the breeding season. Here are five cracking birds to see and hear, this month.

RARITY PREDICTOR • It is that time when we make predictions about which ultra-rare birds will appear this month...

BREEDING PAIRS OF UK DABBLING DUCKS

Tawny Owl sounds

Fast stream birds

Last chance to see... • March is, of course, the first month in spring, and although the main wave of summer migrants has not really begun, there are several wintering species which are starting already to head back to the breeding grounds (which are mainly to the north of the British Isles). Here are some of the birds which most of us won’t be seeing until the start of next ‘winter’. Say farewell to…

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

Beyond Birdwatching • March offers varied excitement with mammals, plants and moths all on the agenda

Weedon's World • Mike admits there are times when mammals trump birds!

Australian bushfires • All is not lost, says David Chandler, who visited the country last October

GRUMPY OLD BIRDER • This month, Bo turns his attentions to the sheer number of four-legged friends using the coastline

NEWS IN BRIEF

Skilled hunter • Witnessing a Sparrowhawk capture its prey is always a mesmerising spectacle, which many of you will have experienced in your own back gardens

WHERE TO SEE... SPARROWHAWKS

Licensed to thrill • With the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, arriving in early April, now’s a good time to take a closer look at the birds of Ian Fleming and 007

BOND V BOND

CELLULOID BIRDS

FEMMES OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER

Slim chance... • Please will somebody else photograph a Slender-billed Curlew?

1995 KIT... • Chris’s gear when photographing the Slender-billed Curlew…

DRURIDGE BAY

Royal engagement • Being surrounded by the same colony of King Penguins as Sir David Attenborough is a moment Ruth will never forget

FACT FILE

Your garden and birds • Record birds that visit, garden of the month, top tips and your garden questions answered...

ID Challenge • This month we feature birds of the Highlands of Scotland

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 birds by looking at fine detail in the field

GO BIRDING • 10 GREAT SITES FOR BRILLIANT BIRDWATCHING

OUTER HERBRIDES LOCH SANNDARAIGH • Corn Crakes, plus breeding waders and much more

LAMBERTON • Great birding either side of the Scottish border

SKIDDAW • Upland birds galore on an iconic Lakeland peak

GIBRALTAR...