Bird Watching and Identifying in the UK, Singapore, New Zealand and Worldwide

Photo of bird on the balcony by Angela Lansbury. Photo taken by mobile from a distance and enlarged.

UK bird watching. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

UK Bird Watching
In the UK we have the bird watch in early spring. The R.S.P.B. organizes it. go to their website and you will see much more scientific and detailed descriptions than the ones I have given. They send a list of birds for you to identify, with the names and matching pictures.

The first year I received a leaflet by post. I left it by the window. Then I moved it to the dining table to read before and after meals. Then I moved the leaflet back beside the window to identify birds which flew into the garden.

Later, the leaflet was online. I downloaded it and printed it, despite the fact that it used up precious colour. I think it is handy to get a printed guide when one is available. Later the printed version may be discontinued.

I also had several books on identifying birds and birdsong. I had bought them at National Trust bookshops and countryside stately homes and gardens and park. I put them in a pile beside the window. Most of the books were very detailed. They included lots of wading birds, lakeside birds and seaside birds which were not relevant.

By the time I found the page the bird had flown away. it became essential to photograph birds in order to identify birds later.



Photo of the same bird in the first picture above, on the balcony in Singapore. Taken with a proper camera by Trevor Sharot. I used my mobile to grab this picture he posted to Facebook.

Singapore Bird Watching
In Singapore they have another bird watching exercise based on the big Botanical Gardens.

New Zealand Kias
Kias look so cute and friendly. They are keen to be fed. They hang around car parks in ski resorts. At first they are a delight.

You wish they would tell you who were the vandals who destroyed the rubber on the edge of your hired car windows. And the windscreen wipers.

Then you come back. You catch the vandals. The vandals are not humans. The vandals are the car-eating Kias!

You can go off a bird awfully fast.

Kias cause aggro. Kias cost you money.

When we first arrived for ski holidays in New Zealand we were keen to catch sight of kias to take photos. Now we are keen to catch sight and scare them away from our car.

Back to Europe. What else can we look out for?

Stalking Storks
The white stork is the national bird of Lithuania. It may not bring babies. But it is a blessing for photographers.

Useful Websites
UK
R.S.P.B.
rspbshop.co.uk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society_for_the_Protection_of_Birds
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/birdwatching/
https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/
SINGAPORE
https://singaporebirds.com/
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature-initiative/nparks-garden-bird-watch
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/mygreenspace/issue-41-vol-2-2019/lifestyle/recreation-and-activities/identifying-the-sunbirds-of-singapore
USA
https://feederwatch.org/
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-birds-hit-windows-and-how-you-can-help-prevent-it/
WORLDWIDE
http://www.birdwideweb.com/

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.