Countryside living. Getting on a bit. It was only a matter of time before I gave into certain impulses: I’m curious about birdlife. It’s a curiosity that’s at risk of developing into outright ...

Heard a chirp or spotted a flutter? These free apps identify backyard birds by sight or sound — no binoculars or in-depth bird knowledge required.

Immediately Merlin waves his magic baton and the app begins to display the singing species one after another. Most species I have already detected through the open window. Others I need to be outside ...