Birdwatch - September 2022

Description to be used on the website and also digital edition to promote what is inside the latest issue.    Have you ever heard a Spotted Crake? In the September issue of Birdwatch, on sale from 25 August, Oliver Metcalf details the secret life of this rare but likely under-recorded British breeder, while also offering tips to find your own next spring.

Britain’s ecosystems are broken, argues Benedict Macdonald, but they can be fixed – reintroducing ‘cornerstone’ species, including predators such as lynx, gives us the opportunity to fix many of the problems seen in our countryside.

With September almost upon us, Ed Stubbs offers advice on how to locate and sift through mixed-species foraging flocks in your local area over the coming weeks, which could result in a surprise find or two.

Meanwhile, local experts Pete Roseveare and Bob Bosisto recommend taking a gamble at some neglected North Cornwall sites with great potential to see if you can find a rarity this autumn.

Also in this issue, Richard Patient shares his exclusive finder’s account of Britain’s first Cape Gull, which generated one of the biggest twitches of recent years when it appeared in early August.

Just how easy is it to take the train, bus or other public means to your favourite birding sites? Hampshire birder Amy Robjohns shares her experiences, outlining the positives and the shortcomings.

Cunningly unassuming, House Sparrow is perhaps the most widespread bird on Earth. Harry Munt details the origins and rise to prominence of this familiar garden bird.

Plus: topical comment from columnists Lucy McRobert and Dominic Mitchell, the team at BirdGuides provides round-ups of July’s birding highlights from Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic, news, views and reviews, advice on building your birding skills and knowledge and our expert panel answers your questions.