Today I dipped a toe into the deep pool of birding. Or maybe bird watching? Twitching? I’m not sure what to call it.

I’ve known for a while that a few close co-workers, who I also have the pleasure to call friends, have found pleasure in birding. Despite this, I’ve never taken more than a surface level interest. However, the powers that be recently pushed some adverts of Sean Bean exploring the world of birds on a podcast. Something about the Bean/bird combination captured me.

Perhaps birds sneak up on everyone at some point.

Question Time with Sean and M

So, having been forced a birding podcast advert by the internet, I found myself wanting the full monty. I had a number of chores to do that day, and in the background I chose to listen to season 4, episode 1 of Get Birding - Sean Bean’s maiden voyage in to hosting the podcast!

As he spoke about Sparrows, Starlings and Blackbirds, I couldn’t say I really knew what was happening. What came across loud and clear to me, was how incredibly calm he described himself as feeling - “as if all your troubles would just disappear”. I’m not a stranger to the outdoors, but am sometimes more guily than I’d like when it comes to being unable to be alone without much stimulation for too long.

While the various presenters and guests spoke about the technicalities of binoculars, I was zoned out, thinking about how one was meant to begin birding. I chose to speak to an aformentioned birding friend, M. His advice was sympathetic and simple:

You’re an observant fellow, a curious man in both senses of the word, and as a giant you are closer to the birds than many dare to dream.

I’d say the easiest way is to just… look up

Along with these invigorating words, I was also offered up recommendations for apps to help a newbies! eBird and Merlin Bird ID were my apps of choice! One for identifying, one for logging.