Having always been a nature and animal lover, I thought I had a fairly decent knowledge of common British birds. I thus embarked on my adventure with the RSPB this year, confident I would not look like a (bird-related) idiot. But it turns out knowing what something looks like in theory is one thing. It’s a whole different story when a visitor is desperately pointing at something that has already disappeared behind a bush, or is showing you a grainy, zoomed in photo that looks distinctly like a lesser-spotted grey blob.
Getting into a new hobby can be intimidating. Scary even. Working at the RSPB has been an amazing opportunity to learn about UK birds, and indeed wildlife in general. But birdwatching can be particularly off-putting to a newbie – especially when the dominant majority of its fans tend to be middle aged men laden with expert gear. As a young woman, it is easy to feel like you don’t ‘look the part’. There can be bit of an exclusive attitude to bird watching, too. Although many experienced birdwatchers are keen to help others, some have a bit more of an… antisocial attitude.
Sometimes, I have found a sense of solidarity with other wildlife enthusiasts as we unsuccessfully attempt to identify birds. One particularly funny conversation happened down at Shipstal beach when group of lovely women approached me, asking me to identify a bird on the shoreline. After unconvincingly squinting into the distance for an embarrassingly long stretch of time, the best I could offer was: “A goose?”
We all laughed. “Actually, you’ve made us feel a bit better about having no idea.”
Luckily, pigs are a bit easier to catch on camera than birds!
Embracing the process and asking questions is always the best way to learn something new. Not being discouraged by the incredible people who seem to be able to identify a bird by the mere flick of a wing or a solitary chirp is also part of the battle. Spotting things is about so much more than just knowing what a bird should look like. In real life you are so often just getting a glimpse of something. Experts become acutely attuned to the way different species move, behave and sound. Sometimes to an astonishing degree.
I had a rather relatable conversation with another volunteer about the almost miraculous way that some birdwatchers seem to identify a brown smudge on the horizon. “Sometimes,” she said. “I feel like these men just make it up. And if you say it confidently enough and with enough authority, everyone believes you!”
I have to admit the same thought had crossed my mind several times over the previous few weeks. And yet, despite starting at almost zero, I am beginning to realise that a few months of working at an RSPB reserve and being curious has caused me to pick up a huge amount of conscious and unconscious knowledge. Suddenly I am aware that that group of brown birds by the water are curlews, not because I can see their curved beaks or their speckled bodies, but because I can hear them. When did I even pick up what they sound like? Somehow, I already know the best places to spot Dartford warblers and spoonbills and marsh harriers. Something must be sinking in.
A robin in the snow.
Just a few days ago, I was watching oystercatchers bickering down at Shipstal beach when I had a lovely surprise – a kingfisher darting from tree to tree. That unmistakable flash of blue and orange, just a metre or so in front of me. I audibly gasped and came home to excitedly tell my flatmate (a far more knowledgeable birdwatcher and wildlife photographer than me). “I just saw a kingfisher for the first time!” I tell him, excitedly.
“A kingfisher?” He looks up, unimpressed. “For the first time? I see one practically every day.”
My excitement is, however, undeterred. There’s a first time for everything. Also, the pure wonder I felt has persuaded me. I’m finally asking for some decent binoculars for Christmas. Next stop: white-tailed sea eagle.
If any part of this blog post resonates with you, you might want to check out the new Birdwatching for Beginners courses running at both RSPB Arne and RSPB Weymouth Wetlands this New Year. Follow the links for more information:
https://events.rspb.org.uk/arne
https://events.rspb.org.uk/radipolelake