HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BIRDING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY - even in your garden.

There's a lot of stuff about mindfulness ATM - but here's a way to shift your bird finding up another gear.

MINDSET- just imagine as soon as you arrive at your destination, grab your bins and clear the car and ...

IMAGINE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE-

Pretend you're in another Reserve or country - It's your first morning out of the hotel- double check everything- EVEN the swifts flying over the car park,

Take nothing for granted- check that likely looking corner of the car park- maybe nobody else has TODAY!

Check that bird that just flew into that bush- it might just be a Robin - but it might be chasing a Yellow Browed Warbler.

Scope that corner of the reed bed, go through all the gulls- most people DON'T.

Give a little extra time with familiar species- make them more familiar- there might be something else with them.

Take your time - check and move on- try to get into a smooth rhythm and find the birds without rushing.

If there is a good bird about and no one sees it- you won't even know you missed it anyway.

Bird at YOUR pace- not other peoples- you'll be more relaxed and see more birds.

Trust me- this works

Seymouraves - I'm not Martin Shaw and I'm not on a horse!***

*** BTO podcast / advert for aftershave I can't remember the name of :)

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box

Very well said.

I always treat a place as new, and if things aren't there that I'd expect, I'm more then happy to seek deeper.

There's always something going on in nature, sometimes, you just have to look a little deeper and harder.

Mike

Flickr Peak Rambler

In reply to Mike B:

Slightly older thread. but still very interesting

Edit: Yes, I agree that each birding experience is a new experience. The favourite reserves Dave and I have visited over the years are in Norfolk. Titchwell and Cley are the favourite of all. An early start for us not our strongest forte because we are not early risers.

Best sightings was at Titchwell has got to be Spoonbills a few years ago - they stood out due to their white colour. Caused a lot of people to stop in their tracks to have a good look. A crowd of people is a giveaway that something interesting is about every single time

When Dave and I have visited Southern Spain over the years, a fresh look in the early morning is the best time to see more unusual birds. Listening is another important thing to do. I go out with binos and camera around my own neck in preparation for a good look at any wildlife. Dave works at his own pace.

On our birding trips we have always been taken out in a large van and the driver is at our mercy stopping and starting to suit our birding needs. The Northern Wheatear I have posted on my other thread is taken out of a van window sometimes moving at the same time. There is also very limited time to prepare for any events along sitting beside other people who are in our way at times.

Preparation, optics in order, binos around neck and a bird note book so the photos that are taken are in order on return. I find taking land photos so it gives perspective as to what photos we have in order if a bird report is written at the end of the day

Downloading photos need to be done straight away other things start to fade out fast. Fresh mind leads to better results

So much to add here but how long is a bit of string

Regards

Kathy and Dave

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