Birdwatch

Birdwatch magazine is the UK’s number one bird watching magazine for keen birders, featuring the latest rarity reports, ID guides, optics reviews and birding holidays, plus features and news from across the world.

Birdwatch

Editorial

What’s in the digital edition?

SYMBOL OF PATAGONIA

Double find beyond wildest dreams • When Toby Phelps found Britain’s third Magnolia Warbler on a Pembrokeshire headland, bedlam ensued. In a staggering turn of events, he then went one better only three days later, discovering the country’s first Canada Warbler a few kilometres away.

Island gold • Assistant warden Alys Perry recounts the thrilling discovery of Britain’s second Bay-breasted Warbler on Ramsey Island.

Rum-believable! • A Red Deer survey on the Isle of Rum was the unlikely setting for Sean Morris’s mega find of an Ovenbird.

Cape May to Mayo • Micheál O’Briain’s long-term efforts on an underwatched Irish island spectacularly produced a national first.

Philly thriller • The frustrations of rarity finding swiftly turned to elation for Ian Ricketts when he found a second for Britain on Barra.

The great American autumn • One of the most extraordinary months in British and Irish birding history came to pass as an unprecedented arrival of Nearctic landbirds took place, while mega waders and seabirds also made headlines. Sam Viles reports.

Corvo castaways • North American species arrived en masse in the Azores during what proved to be an incredible month for Nearctic species in the region. Sam Viles reports on a highly entertaining start to autumn.

Birding far from the shore • Work led our columnist to Northumberland’s uplands this year, where he reconnected with several iconic species.

Positive approach • There are far too many miserable birders on social media, says Matt Phelps, who feels that people should try and be more positive to help encourage future naturalists.

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Europe’s exotic arrivals • Non-native species polarise opinion among birders – yet whether we like them or not, many are here to stay. Sam Viles provides a comprehensive summary of the current state of play regarding tickable introduced birds across the Western Palearctic.

The evolution of a birder’s kit • How well equipped is the modern-day birder? Mike Alibone looks at how improving technology has changed the face of birding over the last 50 years.

Tackling the Med massacre • Although the wholesale slaughter of migrating birds around the shores of the Mediterranean has been ongoing for decades, Lloyd Scott outlines the important work of CABS in sowing the seeds of change.

Plover flocks • Large congregations of Northern Lapwing and European Golden Plover not only provide a real spectacle, but also afford the opportunity to search for unusual congeners among them. Josh Jones offers advice on some of the rarer species to look out for as well as other useful field tips.

Poole of plenty • Situated in a prime position and with a fantastic mosaic of habitats, Poole Harbour acts as a magnet for both birds and birders. Local expert Paul Morton offers insight and inspiration for visitors seeking waders, terns, Ospreys, eagles and much more besides.

Bird names and the beautiful game • Football is Britain’s – and indeed the world’s – most popular sport. And among the thousands of football clubs across the planet, birds have inspired nicknames for decades. Ed Stubbs explores some of the avian monikers that have made it into ‘the beautiful game’.

Identifying North American...