Birdwatch October 2020

Cracking finch! Cracking cover! Cracking magazine!

This month’s Birdwatch is an excellent issue.

Rebecca Armstrong kicks off with mention of the Wild Justice (and RSPB and Hen Harrier Action) e-action. Rebecca hadn’t had a reply at the time of putting this issue to bed and if she still hasn’t, and if you haven’t, then you should nag your MP, MSP or whatever for that reply – they work for you!

Pages 6 and 7 have a beautiful image of a Red-flanked Bluetail – a super bird and one which I have self-found myself (at Spurn, almost four years ago) which resulted in it no longer being classed as a rarity because if Mark Avery can find one it can’t be a rare bird. I was interested to read that although there were 26 of them in 2016 there were only 10 in 2017 and 2018 combined. Apparently it’s been a good breeding season in Finland so look out for Robin-like birds with blue tails in your garden when the wind is from the east. It’s a gorgeous bird (just as a real Robin is).

I’m glad there is no visible thought bubble above my head as I flick through the pages otherwise you would see how high is the percentage of misidentifications! I’d better stick to birds with blue tails.

Great columns from Dominic Mitchell and Peter Alfrey and the usual great selection of rare bird photographs including that Eleonora’s Falcon in Norfolk.

An identification feature on Dusky and Radde’s Warblers and Chiffchaff and Siberian Chiffchaff. I reckon I can identify all of them but I’ve never seen a Radde’s – unless I once did and didn’t identify it!

And there is an excellent article on the Wolrld Land Trust current appeal to save Ecuadorian Choco Forest – a good read and Andy Langley’s fundraising page is the place to donate to quadruple your gift – click here.

Oh yes, and lots of Hawfinches! Cracking!

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