Absolute Beginners Kit

[nightshade]

As people join WAB and their knowledge increases (there are lots of really clever people on here) they seem to lose sight of a real beginners needs.
Cameras are often suggested that cost megabucks, Books that are a must for people who already have a good knowledge but not for someone with
little cash.

How about we suggest a general beginners kit along the lines of a good general book and a pair of binos;

1/Readers Digest, Wildlife Plants and Flowers
2/Lidl, Bresser Binoculars

[badgerwatcher]

The Reader's Digest book is one I use every day, so I heartily agree on that one, Nightshade.

[big bill]

I agree entirely with you Nightshade I was lucky to have camera kit but my 300mm lens I found inadequet so went to the auction site and got my big lens and the books family are always asking what I want for Birthday/christmas so I make a list of books I would like and leave it up to them as the price of starting of can spiral out of control.
Finding a pair of bins was hard as even checking the posts I was in the dark but again got a really good set of the site at a cheap price and they do the job very well.
Its a mine-field trying to start out on a new hobby and newbies need all the help

[badgerwatcher]

My binoculars are a cheap pair I got on line from eyetx.com. They were £14.99, small enough to keep in my coat pocket, in a case, and good enough to use when I spot something on walks. I'd recommend them as a good starter pair.

[Cheryl]

Nightshade, what a good idea

I've got a basic knowledge but could do with some good books but hate the idea of spending a lot of money on something which isn't actually that good at the end of the day.

I have the Larousse Pocket Guide of Birds of Britain and Ireland and another one of theirs of wild flowers they cost £5.99 but I picked both of them up at one of those bookend type of shops for £2.99 - they're quite straightforward and are small enough to carry around and fit in the glove compartment of the car quite nicely too. Another book I have is the Collins Complete British Wildlife Photoguide which I got from one of those book sellers that sell really cheaply through schools and offices etc - nice real-life pictures

I'd really like a recommendation of a good bird book that's not too expensive

[Goatboy]

I'd really like a recommendation of a good bird book that's not too expensive

Hi Cheryl

It's tricky to answer because different people have different ideas of what expensive is. I guess the definitive bird book is the Collins Bird Guide. You can get it for as little as £9 on Amazon.

I also like the RSPB Handbook of British Birds which you can get for free by joining the RSPB. The pictures are nowhere near as expansive as in the Collins, but I thought it was a good book for beginners. The text is very readable and it's a good place to start.

[big bill]

Hello Cheryl
Like Goatby the books I use a lot are the RSPB Birds of Britain £16.99 from Borders and Collins |Complete British Birds 15.99 again from Collins ands my grand kids got me Collins Complete British Wildlife the Collins books Mushrooms and Toadstools Wild Guide again kids got that for me ,they all great books with great picture in them

[seamusagleann]

i get all of my books from charity shops ,really inexspensive ,plus it helps out the charity. it is a bit of hit and miss though ,but why can't we pass on our old kit to others? i've a couple of british bird books i would gladly give to someone starting out

[Cheryl]

Thanks Goatboy and Big Bill - I shall look out for those Seamus, Most of my cookery books have come from charity shops along with my general reading stuff

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by nightshade

As people join WAB and their knowledge increases (there are lots of really clever people on here) they seem to lose sight of a real beginners needs.

i hear what you are saying nightshade but imo a lot of cheap kit is a false economy - with optics you tend to get what you pay for (up to a point)and a good pair are with you for life.

so i'd tend to advise beginers not to buy their bins at lidl but to go to a propper shop or reserves optics day and invest in their hobby - and yes i realise than not everyone has much cash but even for the paupers among us it is better to save up and buy a good pair , may be s/h , rather than paying for cheap kit you will have to replace shortly

simliarly with cameras - if you want a digital camera to record your finds it is worth buying one from a good brand - those ones you see for 30 quid in tescos etc have shockingly poor image quality and shoddy build and probably wont last a year.

I agree that the beginer doesnt need a lot - in fact at the most basic you dont need anything - just go for a walk and appreciate the environment with a mod 1 eyeball - but when you do spend your hard earned pennys i'd say spend them cannily on quality things that will last well.

[Susie]

I absolutely understand what you are saying, Eeyore, and it makes sense, but I agree with what Nightshade suggests too. Sometimes people don't want to spend a lot of people on a new hobby if they don't know if they are going to enjoy it much and may possibly give it up. In that respect cheap equipment which is adequate is a god send.

However, once you have been bitten by the bug it is better to invest in the best you can possibly afford as buying cheap can be false economy in the long run.

My recommendation would be for the Collins gem pocket books too. I have butteflies, insects, birds, mushrooms & toadstools to name just a few. Cheap and easy to pop in a bag or pocket when going out in the field.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

I must agree with nightshade with the Lidl bins. I got some as I wanted some cheap 10X50's for astronomy and a lot of the astronomy and birding forums give each other the nod when they are due to sell them.
I was very suprized with them , they're actually very clear! So for a beginer they're not a bad starter pair.

neil

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by nightshade

As people join WAB and their knowledge increases (there are lots of really clever people on here) they seem to lose sight of a real beginners needs.
Cameras are often suggested that cost megabucks, Books that are a must for people who already have a good knowledge but not for someone with
little cash.

How about we suggest a general beginners kit along the lines of a good general book and a pair of binos;

1/Readers Digest, Wildlife Plants and Flowers
2/Lidl, Bresser Binoculars

I certainly can't fault your choice of the Readers Digest field guides, they are excellent, I have almost the complete set, however as for being cheap, I think not. I am trying to get the butterflies and moths edition and even second hand on the internets favouirite auction site, it is comanding a price of almost thirty pounds, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Keith

[coasty]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I agree that the beginer doesnt need a lot - in fact at the most basic you dont need anything - just go for a walk and appreciate the environment with a mod 1 eyeball - but when you do spend your hard earned pennys i'd say spend them cannily on quality things that will last well.

Wise words... Lets be honest all you need is your eyes and ears...
For General nature watching get some bins,,,,There are so many threads on here and other places on the net that no need to elaborate. Get a Birding field guide . For me I like the Collins field guide mine is now 40 yrs old,, But its still helping my daughter to learn,, Apart from that I dont think you need anything...

As for telescopes and cameras I dont think there is a cheap alternative... But as your enthusiasm increases you will decide what else you want to invest in...

However something that is rarely mentioned but was pushed at me at an early age was... Bird song recognition every one gos on about fancy optical stuff,,, But surprisingly few Birders can identify even the commonist birds from their call,,,You can buy the collins CD from amazon for £20 and I guarantee that it will be the best money you ever spend on equipment You hear far more birds than you see........

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by coasty

You can buy the collins CD from amazon for £20 and I guarantee that it will be the best money you ever spend on equipment You hear far more birds than you see........

good point - you can also find a suprising number of bird calls etc as .wav files on tinterweb, available for free.

[Jez]

Shame WAB doesn't come with bird calls

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Jez

Shame WAB doesn't come with bird calls

I think (tho i could be wrong) that there is a section in the gallery for .wav files -there certainly used to be- so if you want to go out and record some...

[Jez]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I think (tho i could be wrong) that there is a section in the gallery for .wav files -there certainly used to be- so if you want to go out and record some...

whats the beginners kit guide to recording equipment for bird calls (besides the answering machine)?

[Mercadante]

As for cheap cameras: the very cheapest ones are completely useless and cause nothing but frustration, in my experience, but I am quite happy with my Canon Powershot, which cost about £120. The ability to focus on the centre spot makes all the difference.