Why 40plus is bests for birders

Barn Owls
Although they are mainly nocturnal and can be extremely unobtrusive, the pale, almost ghostly, form of a Barn Owl floating silently over a meadow in the soft light of dusk or dawn can hardly fail to excite the birdwatcher.

---

Bird Migration
Where do Swallows go in winter? Just over two hundred years ago, this was the subject of lively debate between those who believed they migrated and those who believed they hibernated. In his Natural History of Selborne Gilbert White includes his correspondence about this; although some of his correspondents were clearly watching the migration of birds through Gibraltar...

---

Partnerships prove key to Red Kite recovery   by: Peter Wilkinson.
There can be few more elegant sights in the bird world than a Red Kite gliding effortlessly across the sky on slightly bent wings, the two halves of its long forked tail seemingly moving independently of each other, and its red tints - from which it gets its name - glinting in the sunshine.

---

How To Photograph Wild Birds   by: Janet Winter.
Late fall is a perfect time to photograph wild birds. Leaves are falling off the trees, opening the view and birds are eager to feed. And if you're participating in one of the several organized bird counts taking place between now and mid-February, a photographic record can be invaluable in identifying the counted birds.

---

On choosing binoculars and telescopes
It is easy to feel daunted by the wide variety of choice available when looking for a pair of binoculars for birdwatching or other activities that benefit from being able to view things more closely. With prices for top of the range binoculars now nudging £1000 and for telescopes quite well over that figure, these are not insubstantial purchases for most budgets. Your binoculars have to suit your eyes and your hands as well as your pocket. Fortunately, there are a number of simple rules to help to guide you to the right pair for you...

---