Birdwatch Magazine July 2023 Back Issue

IN THIS ISSUE

High summer is here and the July issue of Birdwatch profiles The Fens, a rich landscape in the lowlands of eastern England that is brimming with an array of rare and unusual wildlife at this season.
July is the perfect month in which to find an unusual tern on your patch and, as Josh Jones suggests, there are wealth of possibilities at this season, from national rarities to interesting plumages of commoner species – Caspian, Gull-billed and Roseate are among the species covered.
Off the coast of north-west Wales lies Bardsey Island: a place of legend, pilgrimage and exceptional beauty, as well as a haven for migrant birds. Steve and Emma Stansfield introduce the island and its diverse wildlife in the second instalment of our Observatory Profile series.
How important a role do local bird clubs and societies play in the contemporary British birding scene – and what impact did the COVID-19 pandemic have on them? We asked Keith Betton to conduct some research and he reports back on his findings in this edition.
Deforestation in the Brazilion Amazon has accelerated in recent years under a Bolsonaro-led government, but does the election of President Lula offer hope for the country’s devastated forests? Matt Eade reports back on a trip to the state of Rondônia, where he experienced the highs of connecting with Critically Endangered birds alongside the crushing lows of witnessing the destruction of the Amazon first-hand.
Also in this issue, Rebecca Armstrong introduces the concept of ‘slow birding’, which offers a more sustainable and climate-friendly way of travelling to see great wildlife, while there are accounts of the month’s rarest birds – including an unprecedented arrival of scoter in Fife and a Song Sparrow on Bardsey Island.
Our experts review an interesting new gadget from Canon and Hanwag walking boots, as well as offer top tips for your bird photography, wildlife gardening and patchbirding this month.