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

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Stained-glass sparrow

Christmas cracker • A routine walk around his local patch on Christmas Eve culminated in the find of a lifetime for Glenn Honey.

And a scops owl in a park tree! • Brian Short was in for a shock festive present when he and his son pinned down a mega owl in their local park on Christmas Eve.

Lapwing surprise • Careful scanning of Northern Lapwings produced a magnificent discovery for Greg Potter while birding in Northumberland in early December.

Festive feast! • Though usually one of the quietest months in the birding calendar, December 2024 threw up plenty of surprises, with some Christmas megas to boot. Sam Viles reports.

Bountiful borderlands • Southern Algeria provided some thrilling midwinter surprises, including a regional first, while the Azores continued its good form. Sam Viles reports.

Make 2025 your best birding year with BIRD GUIDES FIRST FOR BIRD NEWS

Teenage kicks • Our columnist reflects on his early twitching days, from telling his parents white lies to squeezing into the back of a window-cleaning van.

Taiga safari • Our columnist recounts a recent visit to Scotland’s Slamannan Plateau in search of Britain’s most localised wintering goose species.

THE WINNERS

Britain and Ireland: 2024 in review • Another year of extreme rarities from all points of the compass came to pass, with 2024 also producing some fascinating influxes – not least involving huge numbers of seabirds. Sam Viles looks back at an action-packed 12 months.

American Herring Gull • This rare but probably under-recorded vagrant from North America poses an identification challenge in Europe. Josh Jones focuses on first-winter plumage.

New world order • With the recent news that a unified global bird taxonomy is planned, several significant splits and lumps have been confirmed. Alex Berryman takes a look at the new taxonomic future and what changes birders can expect in the months and years ahead.

What’s going on at the RSPB? • Recent revelations that the RSPB is to cut spending through the closure of some reserve facilities came as a surprise to many. Lucy McRobert investigates the latest situation at the UK’s leading bird-conservation charity.

Stronsay: the underwatched isle • Jake Gearty reflects on an autumn birding adventure to one of Orkney’s least-visited islands and discusses its history and future potential as a rarity hot-spot.

Shorebird lost forever • Three decades on from the last documented sighting, Slender-billed Curlew has been declared extinct. Arnoud van den Berg reflects on his experiences with this iconic bird at its final known winter refuge.

Another step forward • An upgrade to Canon’s popular full-frame mirrorless camera line has recently been released. After testing it out, Kit Day was left thoroughly impressed.

Poised to take over? • Dubbed a new ‘all-rounder’ in the field of premium optics, ZEISS has announced the launch of its Conquest HDX range. Mike Alibone takes a look at the model most likely to become a popular choice with birders.

Flummoxed by flycatchers

Cypriot avifauna in depth

Great all-rounder

An artistic delight

The best of the Caucasus

Pocket book of art

Thank you, Tina

Birds in flight

Goosander

Slow awakening

Remembering … February

Up with the lark

Steady vision

Study reveals insight into Siberian leaf-warbler vagrancy

Eastern...