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’s Notes

Bonus digital content!

Buru’s lost lorikeet

Fly like an Egyptian • A pale-looking nightjar that landed in front of Roger Riddington near his Shetland home proceeded to cause one of the biggest shocks in British birding history.

Sooty wins sweepstake • Richard Cope shares the story behind his discovery of a mega tern on Coquet Island and the confusion caused by conflicting reports elsewhere in Northumberland.

Port of difficult call • News of a New World warbler never previously recorded in Britain raised questions about the treatment of ship-assisted records.

Barrier-breaking harriers • The future suddenly looks brighter for Montagu’s Harrier in Britain, with Britain’s only breeding male producing six young with two females this summer. Kayla Cohen and Mark Thomas share their thoughts and experiences from this year’s monitoring work.

Late summer delights • August proved that the remarkable summer of 2026 had plenty left in the tank, with oceanic rarities, American waders and autumn migrants arriving in force, reports Sam Viles.

Lively in the Low Countries • August proved to be an exceptionally eventful month across the Western Palearctic, with national firsts, major rarities and several records raising intriguing questions, reports Ed Stubbs.

New place to nest • This year, our columnist made a first attempt at building a platform for his local Common Terns. But would the birds take to their new home?

Far from plain in Spain • Incidental birding while in Spain to witness the solar eclipse prompted our columnist to wonder why the UK countryside is no match in terms of avian abundance.

Spurn of the moment • With the biggest species list of any British bird observatory and a remarkable variety of avian spectacles, Spurn is one of Britain’s premier birding sites. Tim Jones explores the history, geography and birding hot-spots of this dynamic peninsula, home to one of Europe’s top migration festivals.

Birding’s newest generation • When she started birding as a child, Mya Bambrick felt alone in her interest. As the hobby becomes much more popular among young people, she reflects on how far the community has come and what still needs to change.

‘Vis-mig’ finches • Autumn finch passage is a great birding spectacle that can be enjoyed anywhere, but the fast-paced action can be hard to keep up with. Arjun Dutta explains how to master eight flyover favourites by flight style, plumage and call.

A county recorder’s guide to the 21st century • A network of dedicated volunteers are the custodians of Britain’s bird records, but technology has changed the job beyond recognition. Former Nottinghamshire recorder Andy Hall looks back on the changes and challenges during his tenure.

Westward march of the steppe wanderer • Once considered one of Britain’s more unlikely vagrants, Isabelline Wheatear is appearing more often as its breeding range expands steadily across Europe. Ed Stubbs examines the species’ ecology, changing distribution and what its future may hold.

Feast from the east: remembering autumn 2016 • Birding history was made a decade ago, when the autumn exceeded the promise of the weather charts to deliver a vintage series of eastern vagrants, recalls James Hanlon.

Lesvos revisited • Sixteen years after what he expected to be his final visit, Richard Brooks returned to the Greek island that had long captivated him. Much has changed in the meantime, but a lively spring season proved that Lesvos still has the power to cast its spell.

Slimming down...