As birdwatching soars during lockdown, here’s everything you need to spot them in your garden
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Some people are born birdwatchers and others had birdwatching thrust upon them as a newfound hobby during lockdown.
Across the country, people have been watching the birds in their garden with renewed attention, relishing their colour and life, and possibly feeling rather envious of their freedom to travel.
In fact, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has reported a 69% increase in website users compared with the same period last year, and has recorded a tenfold increase in traffic for its guide to building a bird box.
Plus, the charity says that with 144 million birds already counted in the UK, there’s plenty of reasons to look to the skies in your local area (and no, Londoners, pigeons don’t really count).
Even people who don’t claim to be birdwatchers have commented on the birdsong that they can hear in urban areas now there’s less traffic noise.
Whether you use your daily walk as an opportunity to spot birds or do some from the comfort of your home or garden, there’s no denying that the mindful hobby can help give us the mental boost we all need during lockdown 3.0.
So, whether you’re a birdwatching newbie or want to step your hobby up a notch, here’s everything you need for your garden - whether it’s to encourage your neighbourhood birds towards your patch or to see them clearly when they arrive.
7 garden additions for budding birdwatchers
Collins BTO Guide to British Birds by Paul Serry and Paul Stancliffe | £13.99 (Was £19.99) from Amazon
This unique new identification guide features all of the birds that have been spotted five or more times in Britain and Ireland, including all species that breed regularly in the region.
Supa Fatball Feeder with Tray | £7.19 from Amazon
The tray on this bird feeder acts as supplementary feeding station and also stops debris from falling on to the floor, reducing the chances of attracting vermin.
Extra Select Seed Mix Wild Bird Food | £2.01 from Amazon
Attract the birds to your patch with this 1kg bag of wild bird food, consisting of a mixture of wheat, barley, red dari, yellow millet, kibbled peas, black sunflower and kibbled maize.
Nikon Aculon A30 Binoculars | £59 from John Lewis
Nikon’s Aculon A30 binoculars are so compact and lightweight you can take them anywhere, meaning you’ll be in doubt of which species are flapping about.
Honeyfields Large Wild Bird Feeder Pole Station | £22.99 from Amazon
The stylish way to organise your bird feeders is with this bird feeding station. This dainty feeder will look quaint in your garden as well as enticing birds to their feed.
Suet To Go Berry and Bugs Suet Block Wild Bird Treat | £13.25 from Amazon
This pack contains 10 highly nutritious suet blocks, which are made from a formula of high energy suet, real insects and berry flavour. They are less messy than some other bird feed and promise not to melt during the hot summer months.
Clam Shell Design Bird Bath | £22.99 from Amazon
This eye-catching clam shell bird bath will create a pretty focal point in your garden as well as encouraging birds to stay a while.
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