This is obviously subjective; a person that doesn’t enjoy the outdoors will most likely not enjoy walking for miles in the rain for an opportunity to see a bird. So in that case, yes, birdwatching can be boring.
That said, you might not know until you give it a try. You will not know if you enjoy it until you have an experience like seeing a red kite up close.
Bird of prey experiences can be a good way of finding out whether you enjoy birdwatching. You can get a bird of prey experience by going to visit a bird of prey center like the Falconry and Owl Trust in Oxton, Cambridgeshire, or The Raptor Study Centre in Bedfordshire.
You can buy a bird of prey experience for about £40 for an hour or visit a bird of prey center for an entry fee of less than £10 to see some of the most amazing birds.
Bird of prey centers have a wide range of birds of prey and can include birds from all over the world. The now closed Barry Hawking Center was always an amazing place to go.
This is most likely closed due to COVID economic issues, which is a shame because it was a great place to learn and enjoy birds of prey.
What is the best way to enjoy bird watching?
Firstly, giving yourself challenges can help you enjoy bird watching. Looking for easy birds to spot and setting goals can help you release endorphines. When you finish a challenging activity, your brain releases a chemical that gives you a “natural high.”
Here is a list of 10 birds to get you started:
- Eurasian jackdaw
- Common Starling
- Common Blackbird
- Common Wood Pidgeon
- Coal Tit
- Blue Tit
- Chaffinch
- Great Tit
- Mallard Duck
- Common Buzzard
Once you have spotted the 10 species on the list, you may have already come across some of the rarer species. You are going to want to keep a note of the birds you have seen. Amazon has some great notebooks for birdwatching that will help you document your journey.
The British Bird Checklist
The list above should be achievable within a few days. If you want to complete the list above, go and find the nearest public walk, grab a pair of binoculars, and just relax near the tree line. You will be able to find Buzzards out in the fields.
