Birdwatching

The different seasons bring with them different birds. Spring and autumn might bring rare migrants to the area as they travel to and from their breeding grounds. Early summer is an ideal time to catch up with breeding birds, from little warblers to ospreys, and everything in between. Spring is great for birdsong. Winter is ideal for watching garden birds as they make the most of our feeders, as well as catching up with wildfowl on wetlands and owls quartering over fields and meadows. Know what you're looking out for before you head out. Our nature reserve guide will help you to identify top sites.

If you want to get serious, a pair of binoculars and a notepad are essential for seeing birds in detail - and then remembering what you've seen. Make a note of the date, as well as any key features you notice on the bird. This can include behaviour, structure, habitat and plumage. You could even make little sketches. You can get a good pair of binoculars from around £100, and Birdfair (every August) is a great chance to try different optics. Lyndon Visitor Centre also sells binoculars and telescopes, which you can test out first.

Different birds like different habitats, and Leicestershire and Rutland have some beautiful places to discover. From ancient woodlands (home to warblers, woodpeckers, corvids and finches) to wonderful wetlands (for grebes, divers, waders, wildfowl and more), from marvellous marshes (for raptor roosts) to arable fields (for farmland birds, buntings, partridges and birds of prey), we have a range of nature reserves for you to discover and practice your skills. 

A top tip when birdwatching - trying to identify a bird by plumage alone, is like trying to identify your friends purely by their clothes. You need to be looking at their behaviour, the way they move, the impression you get from them, their size and shape, where they're living, how they're flying and, of course, how they're calling. All of this can be a little tricky when you first start out, but don't worry - you'll get your eye in. If you'd like to connect with different species and have some expert help at the same time, we have loads of events that you can attend and pick up some more top tips!

Be careful if you go down this rabbit hole - before you know it you'll be birdwatching all the time! On the train, in the car, in your garden, on the way to work, at school, wherever and whenever - but that's fine, because practice makes perfect. Get to know your local birds first and then test your skills on more species as you become more confident. Good luck!