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

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

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.

PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO, IDEAS TO TRY

The number of starlings in the UK begins to swell in November as more migrate from areas in Northern Europe such as Scandinavia to join our resident breeds for winter. This creates the opportunity to

Jays are secretive birds, at least by crow standards. They have a knack of slipping away among trees unseen, or we might glimpse their bright white rumps as they vanish into the leaves, shrieking as t