Gear
Binoculars without the headache or the price tag
How to choose magnification, set the dioptre, and stop losing the bird the moment you look up.
05/03/2024 · 6 min read
Field Notes · Blog
Field notes
What we learn by watching birds: gear that actually gets used, migration routes, good seasons to start out, and how to watch without disturbing.
- Gear
- Migration
- Parks
- Wetlands
- Raptors
- Songs
- City
- Method
- Ethics
Guide · Featured
Birdwatching for beginners
What to bring, where to go, what time to head out, and how to identify your first birds without getting frustrated in five minutes.
12/03/2024 · 12 min read
Read the noteAll notes
Migration
Why some birds cross half the planet
The stories of five travellers: Arctic tern, swallow, stork, crane and bar-tailed godwit.
27/02/2024 · 6 min read
Songs
Listen before you raise the binoculars
Identifying by ear: rhythm, pitch and repetition before plumage.
20/02/2024 · 6 min read
Parks
Five parks, five ways of looking at Europe
Ebro Delta, Doñana, Picos de Europa, the Camargue and Gran Paradiso.
13/02/2024 · 8 min read
Migration II
Five more travellers: from bee-eater to greylag goose
Routes over the Sahara, ocean crossings and northern flyways.
06/02/2024 · 7 min read
Parks II
Tides, ancient forest and tundra
The Wadden Sea, Plitvice, Białowieża, the Lake District and Jotunheimen.
30/01/2024 · 8 min read
Wetlands
Winter is the best season to get started
Less vegetation, more concentrated birds and quiet hides.
23/01/2024 · 7 min read
Raptors
Identifying raptors when all you see is a silhouette
Wings, tail and gliding style: four clues before colour.
16/01/2024 · 7 min read
City
Your neighbourhood is a birding spot
Rooftops, hedges and fountains: making the most of twenty minutes near home.
09/01/2024 · 6 min read
Method
The notebook that makes you a better observer
What to write down so your notes are still useful a year from now.
19/12/2023 · 6 min read
Gear
Clothing that doesn't give you away
Quiet fabrics, muted tones and layers that don't rustle when you raise your arm.
12/12/2023 · 6 min read
Ethics
The photo isn't worth more than the bird
Distances, breeding season and calls: when it's best to lower the camera.
05/12/2023 · 6 min read
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