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

THROUGHOUT

What’s in the digital edition?

ON THE FOREST FLOOR

Less is more • Scilly’s spring stylishly erupted into life when Bob Flood found a mega falcon on St Mary’s.

Alpines all over! • An extraordinary influx of Alpine Swifts in late March saw hundreds of birds reach Britain and Ireland, including small flocks.

Mega in the Med • The Western Palearctic’s fifth Diederik Cuckoo made headline news in Cyprus.

A March of two halves • After a chilly start to the month, migrant floodgates opened in the final weeks – with plenty of southern overshoots to boot.

Club Tropicana • Rare visitors from warmer climes were a theme throughout March, including a regional mega in Cyprus, a bumper spell of passage in Israel and a popular tropicbird in the Canary Islands.

Different ways of learning • While it may be tempting to point someone asking an ID question in the direction of a field guide, it’s worth remembering that studying birds isn’t for everyone.

Public engagement • Some non-birders may have no interest in what we’re watching, but others are more intrigued – and that’s why we should engage with passers-by when we’re in the field.

Crossbill crossroads • Britain’s only endemic bird species is a mysterious denizen of Scotland’s pine forests. Ron Summers profiles the enigmatic Scottish Crossbill, revealing exactly what we know about it and whether it deserves full species status.

To tick or not to tick? • For many of us, keeping lists is an integral part of birding. But while it might seem straightforward in principle, there are many points of contention which generate passionate debate about what is right or wrong when it comes to ticking a bird. Richard Bonser outlines some of the issues.

Spring female Curruca warblers • Although male warblers in the genus Curruca are generally distinctive in spring, female plumages can be more challenging. Andy Stoddart offers advice on recognising several similar species.

Moult matters: applications for birders in the field • In the second part of their mini-series on moult, James Kennerley and Sam Jones dig deeper into the mire, introducing its influences on avian behaviour, relevance for species identification and how it can transform the value of data that birders collect in the field.

Water for waders • Are water-table restoration works on a blanket bog in the Peak District delivering resilience against climate change-induced drought for breeding Dunlin? And how do we progress from here to support wider biodiversity? The RSPB’s Kate Hanley explains.

Animal affairs • A fascinating new exhibition, which explores the long history of how humans have studied and recorded wildlife over millennia, opens at the British Library in late April. Curators Cam Sharp Jones and Cheryl Tipp give a flavour of what to expect.

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

Impressive sharpness • Zoom lenses are popular choices among field birders. Josh Jones tested a recent addition to Canon’s RF lens range, built to complement its mirrorless cameras.

Rick Young Basic Ultra-light Bino Harness

Bird names explained

Intense nature prose

A conservation success story

Archipelago fully covered

EXPERT ADVICE • The best tips, advice and more www.birdguides.com

Sloping water and horizons

Dipper

Great Crested Grebe

Container gardening

May magic

Stealing the show

A wing and a...