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

What’s in the digital edition?

THE COBALT-BLUE COTINGA

GPS tag reveals British first • Satellite-tracking data showed that a tagged Band-rumped Storm Petrel reached British waters in November, becoming a national first in the process. Marcel Gil Velasco and Sam Vilesdiscuss the species and this exciting record.

Orcadian mega! • News of Orkney’s first modern record of Ptarmigan came as a shock in early February.

A survey surprise • Shetland’s 16th Brünnich’s Guillemot was discovered during a survey in waters off Yell – and the bird proved to be one of the showiest to reach Britain in recent times.

Winter bites back • A couple of High Arctic visitors gave the month a wintry feel, writes Sam Viles, with early migrants unsurprisingly thin on the ground.

Gallic gold rush • France enjoyed a blockbuster February with the Western Palearctic’s seventh Grey-tailed Tattler being one of several rarities to appear in the country. Sam Viles reports.

Days at the races • Spring provides plenty of opportunities to get stuck into identifying different subspecies of common birds – a challenge that our columnist says should be embraced.

Sir Scott, I presume? • Following some near misses in his teenage years, Bill finally caught up with his idol Sir Peter Scott on a number of occasions in later life, including one memorable encounter which included a rarity and an unexpected confession.

PHOTO OF THE YEAR 2022

The transient grebe • A variety of factors need to align for Black-necked Grebe to nest, including habitat, lack of disturbance and nearby breeding gulls or terns. Dan Owen is lucky enough to have this truly exquisite bird breeding on his Cheshire patch and here he profiles the species.

First port of call • Despite its comparatively recent birth as a bird observatory, Portland has quickly established a reputation as one of the premier outposts to observe and study migration. Martin Cade profiles the Dorset hot-spot, including its history and seasonal highlights.

Black Kite • Black Kite is an increasingly recorded scarce migrant to Britain, but it can be difficult to catch up with and is routinely misidentified. Andy Stoddart takes a close look at the species, summarises its taxonomy, status and distribution, and addresses some of the identification issues.

Anticipating new additions • Birders often look to North America or Siberia for potential national firsts. But, as Sam Viles writes, there are plenty of possibilities found across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East that have yet to occur – as well as some thrilling Afrotropical options.

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Moult matters: a primer for birders • For decades, the topic of moult has largely been resigned to bird ringers and a handful of scientists. In the first of a two-part series, Sam Jones and James Kennerley highlight the importance and relevance of moult to birders. First, they delve into its patterns and drivers, and how this translates to watching birds in the field.

Tanager in trouble • Not seen for half a century, Cherry-throated Tanager was once feared lost forever, its survival jeopardised by widespread deforestation in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Now, following its rediscovery in 1998, World Land Trust is providing support to bring this beautiful bird back from the edge of extinction.

EXPERT REVIEWS • Your trusted guide to what’s new in birding: www.birdguides.com/reviews

Blue sky binocular • Mike Alibone takes a look...