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’ Notes

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Blocker finally falls

Savannah sensation at the top of Britain! • David Cooper produced arguably the bird of the spring while out and about on his Unst stomping ground in mid-May.

Barra excitement as Bonelli’s proves Eastern • Persistence at the island’s Northbay Plantation paid off for Bruce Taylor, who discovered a first-ever record for the Outer Hebrides.

Wild Wood Duck out west? • John Bowler was left shocked when a potentially mega North American duck appeared during his patch rounds on Tiree.

Super shorebird spring • Waders made waves during May, with a selection of mega species on offer, as well as a Red-footed Falcon influx and multiple Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers. Sam Viles reports.

There’s still time to make 2025 your best birding year yet!

Hirundine supernova in the desert • A Kuwaiti oasis produced an incredible regional first, while there were plenty of other taking points from elsewhere, as Sam Viles reports.

DAVID CAMPBELL Wonderful waders • Our columnist discusses his favourite family of birds, recalling memorable encounters old and new.

MARK AVERY Wrong to roam? • Our columnist considers the Right to Roam campaign and asks if more public access to the countryside is a good thing for our wildlife.

Wonder of the West Country • Famed for its breeding seabirds, thrilling migration and long list of extreme rarities, Lundy Island is undoubtedly one of south-west England’s top birding locations, as Head Warden Joe Parker explains.

Bringing back the butcher bird • Red-backed Shrike is not only a dashing bird but a good indicator of ecosystem health. David Campbell looks back at the species’ loss from Britain and ponders its potential return.

Out of the woods • A regular passage migrant in the UK, Wood Sandpiper is also one of our rarest breeding birds. This small population is faring well, as Bozena Kalejta-Summers discusses.

Field ID notes Roseate Tern • Whether an elegant pink-flushed adult near a breeding colony or a scaly juvenile in a tern roost, Roseate Tern can provide the highlight of a day’s birding in late summer. Mark Newsome shares insights on how to identify this much sought-after species, along with hints on when and where to look.

Ebro encounters • With a wide range of amazing species crammed into a diversity of habitats, Rafael Armada and Alejandra Rendón explain why the Ebro Delta in eastern Spain deserves its reputation as one of the Mediterranean’s greatest wetlands.

Boiling point • In the second part of an occasional series, David Callahan explores the lives of birds in extreme environments – this time, the harsh conditions of the world’s deserts.

Swift-filled skies • A chance sighting during the COVID-19 lockdown has led to a Manchester community turning out in their droves to support their locally breeding Common Swifts, as the RSPB’s Helen Moffat reports.

Soaring to a higher level • The RSPB’s newly launched Buzzard ED 80 now takes pride of place at the top of the wildlife charity’s telescope range. Mike Alibone checks out its potential.

Nature’s jazz

Winging it

An extraordinary man

Cuban guide updated

Summer sunshine

Good light conditions

Common Swift

No-fly zone

Ants romance

Remembering … July

China

your letters &photos

In the next issue August

LUCY MCROBERT Outdoor irritants...