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 • Which bird is your 'herald of spring'

YOUR BIRDING MONTH • FEBRUARY

FIVE BIRDS TO FIND • February is short and cold. But in the UK, it is not as cold as the continent. So, February is also rich in wintering birds, which will (with luck) hang around at least until March, before moving on. Here are five beauties that will be available to feast your eyes on, this month.

Beyond Birdwatching • Discover February's other wildlife, with James Lowen…

Weedon's World • Just in case you were wondering how Mike ended 2024 and started 2025, here is a whistlestop update

Ringing the changes • What do you do when you spot a bird with a readable ring? Jon Carter has the answers…

Sharing the science

Grumpy Old Birder • Recent storms were a welcome trip back in time, according to Bo Beolens

Sign up to #My200BirdYear • It might not feel like it in terms of temperatures and weather more generally, but February is spring where birds are concerned. Bearing that in mind, you can add plenty of new species to your list…

Sounds amazing… • Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the milkman… Thirty-minute birder, Amanda Tuke, gears up for some nocturnal eavesdropping

A passion for recording • Amanda talks to Simon Gillings of www.nocmig.com about his passion for sound recording

Birth of a new kind of birding • Stanislas Wroza tells Amanda the story behind his book, Identifying Migratory Birds by Sound in Britain and Europe…

Drumroll, PLEASE… • There are sounds of spring in our woodlands already, but they might not be exactly what you expect, writes Ian Parsons

Bowled out for a duck • In a newly restored landscape on the East Devon coast, waterfowl and waders now thrive where once a cricket pitch stood, as Simone Stanbrook-Byrne discovers

High altitude hummingbird • Way up in the Andes, Ruth Miller discovers Colombia has some amazing bird life to enjoy

IDChallenge • This month's challenge is all about the identification of birds in snow

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 winter 'finches'

GO BIRDING • 10 great sites for brilliant birdwatching

CASTLETOWN • Sand dune scrub, beach and woodland habitats

BRORA • Unusual gulls, waders and divers among the attractions

CASTLE KENNEDY • Wetland birds and more in a beautiful setting

ESKMEALS • Waders and wildfowl are main targets at this coastal site

HESLINGTON EAST • Wetland and woodland birds on the university campus

SPINNIES • Waders and wildfowl on a sheltered estuary

WOLSELEY BRIDGE • Flood meadows and a small reserve with varied habitat

SWITHLAND WOOD • Ancient woodland with plenty of birds to find

CLIFFE MARSHES • A wealth of waders and wildfowl on the Thames Estuary

KENNARDINGTON • Spring migrants where Wealden hills meet the marshes

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

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