Birdwatching Equipment

Essentially, when you are just starting out in the birdwatching, you
really don't need to buy any special equipment. This is especially true
if you go to a bird hide or learn the essential tricks of camouflage
and just wait patiently for birds to come close to you. However, if you
are interested in finding out a lot more about birds then there a whole
host of items that can make learning a lot more enjoyable.

 

Clothing

Soon
or later you'll probably want to start venturing out in search of the
more hidden species of birds that can be found in Britain's meadows,
shoreline and forests. Depending on where you are going, you'll
obviously need to be suitably dressed in preparation for inclement
weather. Remember that whilst it may fairly mild as you're walking
about, it can soon get really cold when you're standing still for long
periods. Layers of warm clothing, gloves, thick socks, a woolly hat and
a scarf will all be appreciated if the weather gets a bit nasty.

Camouflage 

When
your looking out for birds, they're often looking out for you as well.
However, whilst you'll be wanting them to come closer so you can get a
better look at them, they'll be wanting to keep their distance. To help
you get the upper hand, try to wear clothing that will help you to
blend in with your surroundings. You needn't dress like Rambo, but it
would certainly help to avoid bright colours and shiny fabrics, and
also keep any sparkling buckles or zips well hidden. 

Sound is
another factor you should consider when you're trying to blend in with
your surroundings. Walking in waterproof trousers can sound like you're
munching your way through giant packets of crisps and buckles will
usually tinkle like reindeer bells, warning all the birds in the
neighbourhood that you're on your way.

Notepad and Pen

A
notepad and pen are simple but essential tools for recording your
observations. If possible, try and get a waterproof pad and pencil so
as to avoid a soggy notebook when the heavens open.

Guide Book

There
are many good guidebooks on the market, ranging in price from just a
few pounds to more than £50. Obviously, if you're looking for a book
that you can take out into the field then you'll probably need
something that is relatively compact and lightweight. It should also
provide clearly annotated pictures or illustrations of British birds,
ideally from several angles. To this end, you may want to avoid books
that have 'Europe' in their title, as these are often filled with
illustrations and information on many birds that you are unlikely to
see in the British Isles.

Illustrations are extremely
useful but it is often the text in the guidebooks that can provide a
more clear confirmation as to the identity of birds. Descriptions will
provide you with the all-important information on patterns of
behaviour, habitat and subtle markings that help to distinguish between
similar species.

In addition to guidebooks, the Internet
has numerous resources for birding that can prove invaluable if you
want to find out more about birds.

Binoculars

Whilst
the naked eye will serve you well on many occasions, a good pair of
binoculars will open up a whole new world of things to see in bird
spotting. Take a look at our Buying Guide to find out more about
purchasing your first pair of binoculars.

Camera

If
your ability to sketch birds tends to produce robins that look more
like chickens then you may want to consider purchasing a camera. There
is a huge amount of choice available, but essentially you will probably
want a camera that is compact, lightweight and with an optical
zoom of at least 4x magnification. Digital cameras can be especially
useful for this purpose as you can take large numbers of photographs
without worrying about the added cost of buying film or developing your
pictures.

Sound Recording

As you'll no-doubt
soon discover, it can be very difficult trying to describe the sound of
birdsong by using only words. As a result, many birders use sound
recording equipment to record audio tracks that can be played back at a
later date.