In winter, London welcomes visitors with some of the most exquisite plumage in the avian world. However, their gorgeous feathery ensembles make seeing these superbly camouflaged birds tricky – but…

October here is an unpredictable month. Birds are returning southwards from their breeding grounds which might be in northern Britain, Scandinavia, or Iceland. Whether they pass over us unseen at…

What seems to have been the first Hen Harrier for at least 25 years and first Hawfinches for seven were the highlights of an exceptional October. The month also saw a Yellow-browed Warbler caught…

The second ever yellow-browed warbler - four years after the first - was the highlight of September which also saw the long overdue appearance of great egrets this year. Cattle egret, tree Pipit…

September often turns out to be the best birding month of the year here. Although we say goodbye to many of our breeding birds, winter birds are returning throughout the month, and passage…

August is a month where the emphasis here is on migration. Birds which are only here for the breeding season are starting to depart, and birds which just spend the winter here are starting to…

All-too-brief visits by ruddy shelduck - perhaps the first record for 20 years - and cattle egrets were the highlights of an otherwise disappointing month. While a good range of waders moved…

The return appearance of little owls, the first ruff for seven years and a one night visit by a probable night heron were the highlights of another good month. July also saw garden warbler…

Typical features of July here are the tail-end of the breeding season, the return of some of our winter resident birds, and increasing hope of passage migrants as the month goes on.

June is a month which is all about breeding. Towards the end of the month thoughts start to turn towards early autumn migrants, and although some interesting birds do turn up in London every year…