Bluethroat, Willow Tree Fen LWT, Lincolnshire, March

FOR A Midlander like me, it’s a thrill to see any seabirds at all, but huge breeding colonies on dramatic clifftops and stacks are something else again, and now’s the time to visit them. They are, above all, a multi-sensory experience, and starting on page 26, we take a close look at Britain’s best seabird cities. Go to one this summer, enjoy the sights, sounds and smells (!), and you’ll never forget it, quite apart from the many additions you’ll make to your #My200birdyear list. As I write this, spring migration is beginning to hit full stride, but one summer visitor that often turns up a little later is the Hobby. On page 70, Ian Parsons explains how this once-rare raptor is thriving in the UK, and certainly any late spring visit to a wetland in these parts is graced by their presence. Wherever you go, and whatever you look for, May tends to be a month of birding surprises, so keep a sharp lookout, and enjoy what comes your way.