What do you need?

[Mathew]

Hi there folks,
I am reasonably new to this stuff, and I am really intrested in bird watching this year. What would you call a decent kit for a starter bird watcher, and where from? (e.g: Bird Book (Give title if you could) - £5 from amazon.co.uk).

[Nutcracker]

Hi Mathew,

Binoculars - I'd go for something like 8x40 size; assuming you want something reasonably priced try the Bushnell Natureview

Telescope and tripod - Kowa scopes are always good

Books - the Collins Bird Guide (Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom & Grant) is by far the best on the market.

[Mickymouse]

Depends on your budget, if it's low the WHSmiths Pocket book of birds at $4.99 is pretty good for the price and almost any bins are better than no bins, as for a scope leave it until you know if the hobby is for you or not, there will almost always be a kindly birder about who will let you look through theirs, in my experience anyway.

Mick

[Mathew]

Ok thanks both!

[alan_rymer]

Hi there folks,
I am reasonably new to this stuff, and I am really intrested in bird watching this year. What would you call a decent kit for a starter bird watcher, and where from? (e.g: Bird Book (Give title if you could) - £5 from amazon.co.uk).The 10X42 Bins £16.99 from 7DayShop are amazing value for money. They are really good!.
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/normal_search_result.php?PHPSESSID=&keywords=10X42

[Keith Dickinson]

Hi Mathew,
Collins bird guide by K. Mullarney et al universally agreed as best book, shop around as i have seen this in remaindered shops at only £10.00. Binoculars try the second hand section in camera shops, there are bargains to be had. Scopes not needed until you know you want to be seriously involved, then save up and get the best, cheap 'scopes are generally not optically very good (anything less than £100 brand new is suspect). when you want to get one try and visit a specialist dealer/ field day so that you can compare different makes, angled/straight etc. Join the local RSPB group or other birding group as these can really help beginners with id problems and you can compare bins and scopes with real people.
Hope this helps, most of all enjoy watching the birds.
regards
Keith dickinson

[Al livsey]

Hello Matthew.
I would also recommend the Collins field guide, and also, attend a 'try before you buy' field day if possible, with a local dealer. Birdwatching magazine also contains a lot of useful information on equipment, reviews, birdwatching walks etc... Alternatively have a look on the forums- it's all here!

Al.

[salty]

once you have your field guide and bins, try to vary the places that you visit: one week sea watching, woods, farmland etc etc to get a better knowledge and a bit of a change in scenery/species. also try sitting still near feeders or in a hide for example, and see what different species come and go over a space of time. and above all - ask questions. thats what sites like BF are for - sharing information.

[Quacker]

Yes, the best advice I got a year or so ago was "Just get out into the field" - it's very easy to hang around this forum reading everything :eek!:

However, I now have a new hobby of collecting fieldguides, digital camera, and binoculars.

Try and i.d. everything - even the commoner birds, keep logs and records for future reference etc. Attend local meetings, joing local clubs, RSPB etc as mentioned.

I get bogged down worrying what learning material to buy, where to find, bird calls, i.d. books etc - but get out when I can and travel up and down country etc. However, as i'm sure many will agree, do not forget the importance of your local patch.

Above all, have fun - i think?

Steve

[Keith Dickinson]

Absolutely right Steve,
Fun is what it is all about, also totally agree about keeping records. I am just completing the task of inputting my records to a computer database and I am ashamed at the quality of my early records. Just species, place and date, if that. Later records have behaviour notes etc and are much more rewarding to look back over.
Keith Dickinson

[dampflippers]

Hmmmm, bird table, seed, peanut and niger feeders, water dish, seed, hole nest box and open fronted box, and window cleaner! (and binoculars)

[cuddy]

Hi Mathew, can i also suggest a small notebook and pencil bit low tech but you can write down what and where you see stuff and look it up later as its not always easy to id stuff in the field but trying to remember details later after a busy day out can be difficult notes will help.

Regards Cuddy

[Tim Allwood]

best pair of bins you can afford

a notebook and pencil

Collins Guide

enjoy

Tim

[andy2]

and every one has forgoten the most important bit of kit





a full flask

[Tim Allwood]

Hi Mathew, can i also suggest a small notebook and pencil bit low tech but you can write down what and where you see stuff and look it up later as its not always easy to id stuff in the field but trying to remember details later after a busy day out can be difficult notes will help.

Regards Cuddy

don't know about lo-tech Cuddy... just about indispensible i reckon. Along with bins it's ALL you really need....

Tim

[ChrisSearle]

[QUOTE=Keith Dickinson]Hi Mathew,
Collins bird guide by K. Mullarney et al universally agreed as best book,


One field guide is not enough! In my experience there will always be times when you need to cross reference at least two sources of ID info. I'd suggest Birds of Europe - Lars Jonsson and the standard RSPB guide. The combination of these three is pretty unbeatable.

[Mathew]

Hey
In the end I bought a Bird Watchers Starters Kit made by the AA at the local book shop, for £10.
It conatains a note book, all lined out and with colums to say where you saw the bird, the weather, Male/female and obviasly, the species. Also contains a 'The birds of britain and europe' book with over 530 species with over 1,250 colour pictures (approx 410 pages). Also with a CD Rom for CD Player/PC containing over 500 different bird songs, and a pear of bins.

Thanks all any way.

[Tero]

Hold off on the scope. You will see some out there, ask to look thru a few before buying or shopping.

[cuddy]

Have fun Mathew.


Regards Cuddy

[luke]

and every one has forgoten the most important bit of kit





a full flask


definatly

[Gill Osborne]

Hope this becomes a lifelong obsession for you Matthew....nothing more rewarding than an interest in birds/nature!

When I started out in 1983 all I had was...

8X30 bins #19.99 from mum's catalogue LOL
small hardback notebook
pencil & sharpener
basic field guide (I'll look up which one it was)

Didn't get my first scope until about three years ago...most birders are really friendly and will let you look through theirs...DON'T be shy of asking!

I also joined local Wildlife Trust...various indoor meetings and outdoor field trips organised by them.
Local RSPB Group/local Bird Club....you'll get tons of friendly advice, field trips, indoor meetings,bulletins & newsletters etc from these.
Also magazines never come in wrong.....BirdWatching is best...then Birdwatch,British Birds(subscription only but well worth the cost), and if you are interested in art/photography, Birds Illustrated.

And the Collins field guide....FREE with a subscription with BirdWatching! That's #16.99 saved straight away LOL

GILL

[Roger S.]

Hi there folks,
I am reasonably new to this stuff, and I am really intrested in bird watching this year. What would you call a decent kit for a starter bird watcher, and where from? (e.g: Bird Book (Give title if you could) - £5 from amazon.co.uk).

Hi Mathew,
A lot of book shops do half price field guilds ,I have seen some of the one mentioned above of between £5 to £10. Go for a basic one the shows bird in summer and winter because they look different at different time of year etc.

A note on field day binocular sales. Some I hear are good but the 2 I have been to were more like rugby scrums and they were so busy that advise was blunt and quick.Next time I will travel to a specialist that have a viewing room .

You can get a good pair of opticran binoculars for £90 to £100 8x42.
And a Collins field guild by peter Holden £4.99 to carry around .Don't bother with telescope un-till you know if you are hooked.

Good luck
Roger

[John o'Sullivan]

I aqree with Gill. Join the local society. The Gwent Ornithological Society. Go on organised trips with them. Ask questions, meet people, be introduced to local sites. Look up their website it will give you ideas as to where to go and what you might see. Have fun. John O'

[Alan M.]

Hi there folks,
I am reasonably new to this stuff, and I am really intrested in bird watching this year. What would you call a decent kit for a starter bird watcher, and where from? (e.g: Bird Book (Give title if you could) - £5 from amazon.co.uk).

You do not indicate how much you are willing to spend for the binoculars. Ths, of course, depends on your commitment to birding. I started with Pentax WPs and within a year realized that I was not happy with them and went on to far more expensive binoculars. If you indicate what your maximum budget is, it might help some of us.

As far as bird books are concerned, no one is sufficient since no one is best in illustrations, text, etc. I would just get a list from here, go to a bookstore, and choose that which appeals. I would not buy without looking first. And that goes for binoculars in particular.

[egret3]

Hello everyone:

I am new here as well and from Canada..

Now.. if I may... a few questions:

I note your comments re binos.. and can not afford
the best.. right now.. so will get.. something a bit
less expensive..
also, you say a notebook and pencil
I do have a problem with my right arm, so
can not carry anything to heavy. Want light
binos.

My question is this: I like to go out in May
because you see the birds.. no leaves..
no heat either..
after .. when leaves are out.. how can one
quickly identify the birds.. hard to see them.
is it mainly by sound.. you people see them?

Also, what, in your estimation is the most
important characteristic of a good birdwatcher
Is it .. putting a lid on it. .in other words..
being quiet... when out.. or a passion??

Question: we have a group that goes out,
but apparently there are about 40.. is that
too large a group? What time is the best time??

Tks in advance. This looks like a fine forum
and great group of people.


Egret ;)

[Mickymouse]

If weights a problem do like I do and get yourself a jacket with loads of pockets, like the fishermen have, mine has got my reading glasses in one pocket, field guide in another, notebook and several pens in another, camera, spare batteries, dead batteries for recharging, sunglasses all in different pockets.
I would have thought a party of 40 was way to big, can't you split up into much smaller groups of say 3 or 4.

Mick

[egret3]

Hi Mick:

Tks for these tips.. They sound good.. I have never
seen a fisherman's jacket LOL.. but will look..

With regards to the group.. yes.. perhaps they do split up
but this is one.. that I think .. might pass on. There are
other groups smaller to be found.

Egret3 ;)