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.

Welcome

Bird Watching • What's your favourite white (or mostly white) bird?

YOUR BIRDING MONTH • JANUARY

FIVE BIRDS TO FIND IN JANUARY • Happy New Year. A time of resolutions and restarts, and also a time when birdwatching is one of the best activities you can do (but when isn't it?). If you are a year lister (it is not compulsory), it is a time to bag a few great birds nice and early. How about these five crackers for the last days of Christmas, and beyond?

RARITY PREDICTOR

DABBLING DUCKS UK WINTERING NUMBERS OF OUR REGULAR DABBLING DUCKS

Herons in flight • The Grey Heron, the three egrets and the Bittern all have distinctive flight profiles and colours in flight. Check out these five special birds.

UK TIDES JANUARY • The times below are for high tide, when waders and wildfowl will be pushed closer to dry land…

Beyond Birdwatching • James Lowen shares some other wildlife highlights for the New Year

Weedon's World • Please forgive Mike, as he once more lists his personal highlights from a fine year birding close to his home

Having a lark out on the heath • Take part in the BTO's latest survey to help species that use a unique habitat

Survey continues to shed light on heronries

Grumpy Old Birder • Where there's muck… there's wildlife, too, writes Bo Beolens

Sign up to #My200BirdYear • In the first days of 2025 there are many ways to give your year-list an instant boost, setting you off on the right foot to seeing 200 species in this calendar year. Here are some of BW‘s top tips for getting off to a flying start…

Noisy neighbours • Last summer, 30-minute birder Amanda Tuke welcomed some new residents to her south London neighbourhood…

Family sagas

Restless BRILLIANCE • Want to know what inspired a classic of nature writing? Head for Chelmsford, writes Matt Merritt

Go visit

Snow white and OTHERWISE • Many of our migrant and resident birds have white plumage, including some of our most charismatic winter visitors. David Callahan explores what makes them white and why…

Going for 200 • Need inspiration for 2025's #My200BirdYear challenge? Ruth Miller helped some birders hit 2024's target…

IDChallenge • This month's challenge is all about the identification of swans and their ilk

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 swans

GO BIRDING • 10 great sites for brilliant birdwatching

DORNOCH

ABBEY ST BATHANS

COOMBS WOOD

TYNE DERWENT WAY

GREATHAM CREEK

RATBY BURROUGHS

WAKERLEY GREAT WOOD

BRIGHTLINGSEA

ARUNDEL PARK

FLEET

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

Reader Shots

PICS FROM OUR FACEBOOK GROUP

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

Odd b/w thrush

Bird Watching

Crane • They're bold, they're brassy, and they're back. Dominic Couzens looks at the resurgence of the Crane in the UK

READER...