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"If a child hasn’t ever got their hands dirty looking for...
How to watch birds abroad
Do take bins and scopes, but try not to stand out too much when you are bird watching abroad.
So, you’ve learned the basics about British birds and know where your local patch is, how to use your binoculars and the correct birding lingo. But now you want to spread your wings and go birding overseas.
Cheap air travel has been a brilliant development for birders, and while none of us can ignore the issue of climate change, there is also the argument that wildlife tourism can give rare birds and their habitats an economic value.
This month: Birding abroad
My first adventures abroad were with my family as a teenager or with mates on holidays where the birds took second place. It might be that you are planning a trip with friends or relatives who are less interested in birding, but you should still take your bins.
My advice is to plan the odd excursion, but also establish a local patch close to your hotel that you can visit each morning, even if it’s in a city. Often there will be little information available on the species that you are likely to encounter, and you truly become a pioneer.
Don’t forget to do your research, of course, or you may miss the most amazing oases. If you’re in a hot or tropical climate, remember that birding in the middle of the day may be uncomfortable and will probably be pointless.
On a dedicated birding trip, you could find yourself racing around the country ‘ticking’ species by the bucket-load. This may not be to everyone’s taste – personally, I’d rather have a slower pace and a bit of culture thrown in, too.
If you do decide to go ‘solo’, take extra care when you do your research. It’s all too easy to be travelling in a relatively safe region and accidentally cross an invisible border into bandit country or a conflict zone. This is when it pays to have a local guide.
One time in Jamaica, I was in a taxi when I saw a wader by the roadside. I got out for a look and it turned out to be a solitary sandpiper, a lifer for me at the time. Thrilled, I started to wander into the forest, only to be warned by my driver that it wasn’t safe.
So, always hang out with someone who knows the areas you’re visiting, or only go to nature reserves or botanical gardens. Don’t wield expensive kit in inappropriate areas and respect the locals. Have a good holiday!
David’s top tip
Visit lesser-known birding hotspots to try to find unexpected species. You may even discover hitherto-unknown populations.
To read more of David's great birding tips, click here.
To find your nearest nature reserve, click here. To find your nearest Wildlife Trust, click here. To find your nearest wetland centre, click here.
There is definitely so much
There is definitely so much that goes into bird watching. You really have to put your work into this. It will pay off if you do.
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