Id challenge

Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among these...

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

Grey Phalarope, Pelagic (Scilly), 31 August RICHARD STONIER ...

When you’re watching waders, you need to make sure the conditions are just right, writes Ruth Miller