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

Editor’s Note

Every little helps

Riverbank rare! • Dedicated patchwork paid off for Ed Sames in stunning fashion when he enjoyed a fleeting but exhilarating encounter with an ultra-rare crake.

Garden junco is a social-media surprise • This rare American vagrant attracted a steady stream of twitchers after the record came to light on Facebook.

Spring sandpiper stars in Hampshire • A Marsh Sandpiper giving great views on the south coast was one of the biggest crowd-pullers of April.

A mixed month • April 2024 had a bit of everything, from warm southerly winds to chilly, wet days in the last couple of weeks. A variety of goodies were found as a result, as Ed Stubbs reports.

African explorers • Rarities from the south was a major theme throughout the month, including a second for Europe in Spain and a run of goodies in Italy.

Every Birdwatch at your fingertips • BirdGuides’ new Ultimate PLUS membership gives you digital access to 32 years’ worth of Britain’s best birding magazine.

If you go down to the woods this spring • Spring passage normally means coastal or wetland birding for our columnist. But this year, keeping under the canopy provided him with many memorable moments.

Landlocked birding • Our columnist reflects on the birding scene in his home county, Northamptonshire, and assesses its pros and cons.

Nest knowledge • How birds build nests has long fascinated humans, with their shapes, sizes, constructions and locations varying greatly. Experts Nick Williams and Peter Castell offer an insight into this largely unseen world.

The far north • At the very top of mainland Britain lies Caithness, a windswept yet beautiful land that offers superb birding opportunities throughout the year. Nina O’Hanlon profiles this remote county and its birdlife.

Eleanor’s royal falcon • A run of recent British records has put Eleonora’s Falcon in the spotlight. Sam Jones, who has spent time studying the raptor in the Mediterranean, discusses the captivating life cycle of this impressive predator.

European Honey Buzzard • Still a scarcity in these isles, there’s something about the spectacular, elusive, mainly insectivorous European Honey Buzzard that makes every encounter special. Jamie Partridge examines this remarkable bird of prey, offering tips on identification and how to find and watch it.

Trust the process • Conservation measures are necessary to save European Turtle Dove from being lost as a British bird. To help stem the decline, one organisation is now rearing and releasing birds each year. Josh Jones sat down with the team behind the Turtle Dove Trust to learn more.

Springtime birding in southern Türkiye • Always high on the list of destinations to visit for the Western Palearctic birder, Türkiye offers the chance to connect with a wealth of tricky regional species. Ed Stubbs reflects on a visit last May.

A weight off the shoulders • Hot off the production line, 3 Legged Thing’s new lightweight tripod head looks set to be a boon for travel-scope users – and for many birders in general, says Mike Alibone.

Updated Irish guide

China done properly

Great loss

Osprey omnibus

The sound of summer

Southern Africa covered

Birds in habitat

Razorbill

Let it bloom June!

Summer searching

Sign waves

Hatch match

Landmark study gives major shake-up to evolutionary history

Senegal

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