Guides

Birdwatching guides

Practical advice the reserve listings assume you already know — written for newcomers and families, and linked directly to the reserves where you can put it into practice.

Birdwatching for beginners: how to start in the UK

A practical beginner's guide to UK birdwatching: how hides work, what to bring, reserve etiquette, and the best beginner-friendly reserves to start at.

What to bring birdwatching: a complete packing list

The complete birdwatching packing list for UK reserves: binoculars, clothing, food, apps and the extras worth carrying for hides, coastal sites and winter trips.

UK bird migration calendar: what to see season by season

Month-by-month guide to UK bird migration: spring arrivals, summer seabird colonies, autumn passage and winter wildfowl spectacles, with the reserves to see each.