Beyond birdwatching

Peak autumn has a treasure trove of non-feathered riches to discover, says James Lowen

Karen Youngs encounters squabbling herons and glimpses an elusive predator on a waterside walk

October is many birders’ favourite time of the year. The potential is massive! Anything can and will turn up. However, here are five birds which will certainly be about and should be ‘gettable’ (with a bit of luck and skill) this month.

SET A TARGET OF SEEING 200 BIRDS IN ONE YEAR!

30-minute birder Amanda Tuke sees the benefits of being distracted by birds at home, and on the coast

An early-morning dog walk through the woods sees John Lewis-Stempel coming face to face–or skin to spider silk–with the industrious magic of a September dawn