Bird Watching

Bird Watching is Britain’s best-selling birdwatching magazine. Each issue is packed with expert advice on when, where and how to see more birds, from common garden visitors to the most elusive rarities. There are features from some of British birdwatching’s best-known names, superbly illustrated by the work of the world’s best bird photographers, plus comprehensive coverage of all the latest sightings, guides to the best birdwatching sites, ID masterclasses, news and reviews of all the latest gear.

Bird Watching

Welcome

YOUR BIRDING MONTH • DECEMBER

FIVE TO FIND IN DECEMBER

RARITY PREDICTOR

Iceland Gull

CHECK WINTER SEWAGE FARMS

REDWINGS AT NIGHT

WINTERING WARBLERS IN NUMBERS

Winter grebes

Beyond Birdwatching • There’s plenty of wildlife to find as winter arrives, writes James Lowen

Weedon's World • With Mike’s #My200BirdYear coming to an end, there is still a tiny sliver of hope that 2024 will deliver a new record total

Out for the count • Do you want to make a difference to our birds? Becoming a BTO volunteer could be the key, writes Jon Carter

Abnormal plumage survey

Grumpy Old Birder • Some mundane magic close to home is keeping Bo Beolens busy…

Sign up to #My200BirdYear • So, we’ve reached the end of the road – as of the start of December, you have just 31 days left to reach that magical figure of 200 species seen in 2024. But if you’re still short, don’t worry, there’s still time left to put things right…

Amazing Aberdeen! • Amanda Tuke, the 30-minute Birder, explores the potential of Scotland’s most north-easterly city

Corvid care • Amanda chats to Aberdeen-based nature writer, Esther Woolfson.

Sites to find • Roddy’s route for visiting birding sites within 30 mins on foot or by public transport from Aberdeen rail station…

Irruptive INVADERS • If a complex variety of factors align, the UK can get sudden influxes of colourful, charismatic species, writes Ian Parsons

Pushing the boundaries of ID • The new ID Handbook of European Birds could change our birding, both past and present

Lapping up a summer wonderland • Lapland isn’t just about Santa – visit in summer and you’ll see some superb birdlife, writes Ruth Miller

IDChallenge • This month’s challenge is all about the identification of sea ducks

Answers & solutions • Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among these…

ID Tips & tricks • Here are a few extra tips to help you identify flying scoters

GO BIRDING • 10 great sites for brilliant birdwatching

ARGYLL FIDDEN • Year-round interest at varied passage site

NORTHUMBERLAND FENHAM-LE-MOOR • Vast extent of mudflats, saltmarsh and hedgerows

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY CARLINGWARK LOCH • Mixed habitats and birding in a wider SSSI

CUMBRIA WINDERMERE • Find great birds on and around England’s biggest lake

DERBYSHIRE NEWTON SOLNEY • Look for winter wildfowl alongside the Trent

BEDFORDSHIRE WOBURN • Winter walk in the abbey deer park

ESSEX BRADWELL-ON-SEA • Seawatching and estuary birds at an historic site

HERTFORDSHIRE BRAMFIELD • A quiet spot with mixed species and an irruptive speciality

KENT BEWL WATER • Winter wildfowl on the High Weald

DORSET CHILFROME • A birding walk in Thomas Hardy country

YOURVIEW • PHOTOS, LETTERS, TWEETS, QUESTIONS – HAVE YOUR SAY

Reader Shots

PICS FROM OUR FACEBOOK GROUP

Rejection dejection

Your Questions • Send all your birding questions to birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk and our experts will...