Farnboro John
Well-known member
Welcome to all the above youngsters, I didn't get into birding till I was 18 but found it led me into all the UK's best wildernesses and eventually broadened my interest in nature to include mammals, butterflies, moths and dragonflies as well.
There's no need to get into twitching early, the best thing is to learn common birds thoroughly first, then you will get more from a rare bird sighting. I advise keeping a notebook from day one and write down as much as you can without getting fed up with it: in twenty years time it will prompt your memories as well as settling arguments in the pub. I have not missed a day's entry in the last five years so I have an even chance of an alibi in any encounter with the Law as well!
Good birding
John
507 British Isles (503 strict BOU) not year-listing this year, garden list 96 (mostly fly-overs)
There's no need to get into twitching early, the best thing is to learn common birds thoroughly first, then you will get more from a rare bird sighting. I advise keeping a notebook from day one and write down as much as you can without getting fed up with it: in twenty years time it will prompt your memories as well as settling arguments in the pub. I have not missed a day's entry in the last five years so I have an even chance of an alibi in any encounter with the Law as well!
Good birding
John
507 British Isles (503 strict BOU) not year-listing this year, garden list 96 (mostly fly-overs)