Why my super 'cheep' hobby is worth singing about

I credit my passion for birdwatching to lockdown. Without it, and the subsequent slowing down of life, I don't think I would have given birdwatching a second thought. But since then I've not looked back...

A cost-to-benefit ratio you’ll struggle to beat

The only real financial cost to me of birdwatching over the past four-ish years has been what I initially paid for a pair of binoculars. Beyond that, I believe it's possible to avoid spending another penny (or very little) on birdwatching, yet you'll still be able to reap the full array of benefits. I've found birdwatching can:

• Help with physical health and step count.

• Promote mental wellbeing.

• Stimulate your mind and intellect (with birds there is a treasure trove of information waiting to be discovered).

• Introduce you to new people (equally birdwatching can be a solitary occupation if you prefer).

If you've not already got a pair, there are many types of binoculars available, meaning you can spend as little or as much on a pair as you feel comfortable. I bought a pair that were advertised for about £50 but got the price down using my Nectar points.

A kestrel in South Norwood Country Park. Picture courtesy of Jon Shaub.

You can keep costs down by staying local

Birdwatching doesn’t have to mean journeying to faraway places that incur travel costs, or even going remotely out your way for that matter. It's perfectly possible to birdwatch locally wherever you live – including if you live in an urban area (some species of birds prefer built-up places).

For instance, I live in London and can easily spot 20ish species of bird during my lunch break alone. If I've got more time, this could be nearer to 50.

Struggling or don't want to leave the house? You can birdwatch from the comfort of your own garden, conservatory, living room, etc. In fact, each January 100,000s of people record the types of bird they've spotted in their garden as part of the Great Garden Birdwatch– something that's completely free to join in with.

A kingfisher in South Norwood Country Park. Picture courtesy of Jon Shaub.

Join free birdwatching groups (or make friends with other local birders)

Birdwatching can be as solitary or as social as you like. I tend to be the former, but sometimes the latter – in fact, I've made new friends through birdwatching who I sometimes head out with.

There are many birdwatching groups across the UK – often free to join – that are a good way of meeting other people and exploring your local area. See the RSPB's 'find a local group' page to see what's on offer near you.

Many of these groups organise outings. Again, these are often free to take part in, though there might be a nominal entry fee (and you may have to factor in travel costs if going further afield). I joined a local group for a trip to the Isle of Sheppey in Kent in October 2024 that was well worth the £8 entry fee.

If you'd rather connect with people online, there are free Facebook groups worth following. For example, the Birding London Facebook page is a good way to get an idea of the kind of birds people are spotting in the capital.

A long-tailed tit in South Norwood Country Park. Picture courtesy of Jon Shaub.

What's that bird? There are plenty of free bird-identifying resources online

More than 600 species of bird have been spotted in the wild across Britain. Each of these has its own unique sound(s), appearance and type of behaviour. What's more, males and females of the same species often look different, while some species of bird change the colour of their plumage (feathers) depending on the season…

It’s a lot to take on board and can feel quite overwhelming when you're new to birding. If it's any consolation, even the most experienced birders often have sizeable gaps in their knowledge.

Identifying birds can be tricky. But thankfully there are plenty of free resources online to help:

• Want to learn the basics about a particular species? The RSPB website is the go-to place, providing a simple description of each species' appearance, sound, behaviour and where they can be found. See the RSPB's page on the Robin Red Breast to get a flavour.

• Looking to compare what you’ve heard to other sound recordings? The Xeno-Canto website is a free hub for people to post their sound recordings of wildlife (including birds). Look up a particular species of bird on Xeno-Canto and you’ll be able to listen to recent sound recordings of that species, something that can help with identification. See the Xeno-Canto entry on the Skylark, for example.

• Need the help of a bird identifier app while on the move? Available on iPhone and Android, the Merlin Bird ID app is free and designed to help while you're out and about. Either write in a description of what you can see and the app will suggest the species of bird it thinks you've encountered, or the app's 'sound ID' function can listen to the noises around you and show real-time suggestions of which bird is singing.

A female and male teal duck in South Norwood Country Park. Picture courtesy of Jon Shaub.

Keep records of your sightings for free

Once you've made a start, it can feel helpful and rewarding to keep records of which birds you've encountered. You might want to keep a tab on the total number of species you've come across, or simply have data, figures and timescales to refer back to.

If so, an efficient – and free – way to do this is via BirdTrack. Available online or via an app, I find BirdTrack useful because:

• You can keep comprehensive records of your own sightings on BirdTrack. It'll store all the important details, including what you've seen, where and when you made the sightings.

• You can see other birdwatcher's records too. This can be helpful if there are other birdwatchers in your area using BirdTrack, as you can get an idea for the types of birds you can expect to see locally.

• You're helping scientific research. Your records will be of use to the British Trust of Ornithology.

Let us know how you get on via the MSE Forum.

A waxwing in Balham. Picture courtesy of Jon Shaub.