Birdwatch Magazine | February 2026
2025 in review
Sam Viles reflects on a bumper year that delivered thrilling firsts, mega grip-backs, surprise breeding records and big influxes.
Shore thing
Simon Papps takes a look at the delightful Purple Sandpiper, and in particular at its status in Britain.
Field ID notes: winter swans
Josh Jones offers tips on how to find and identify two seasonal specialities: the widespread Whooper Swan and the increasingly scarce Bewick’s Swan.
Greenland White-front on the edge
Tony Fox examines the rollercoaster fortunes of this migratory goose and asks whether its current decline can be halted.
Mass appeal
Lucy McRobert introduces 10 locations to witness impressive birding spectacles on offer around Europe.
Scotland’s wildfowl hub
Acting as a magnet for thousands of waterbirds and other species in eastern Scotland, Loch Leven is a crucial birding site, as Dan Owen explains.
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Articles in this issue
Below is a selection of articles in Birdwatch Magazine February 2026.