Andrew Whitelee, 43, from Nottinghamshire has been interested in nature ever since he started feeding the birds in his garden as a child. Now owner of wildlife tour company Verdant Wildlife, he teaches beginner and intermediate birdwatchers the tricks of the trade.

Although he describes himself as ‘strictly an amateur photographer’, below he’s shared some photos of the beautiful birds he’s seen over the years taken with his Canon EOS 400 DSLR and Sigma 70-300mm lens.beginner and intermediate birdwatchers the tricks of the trade.

Birdwatching, also known as ‘birding’ and ‘twitching’, is a much more difficult activity than you may imagine. Here Andrew offers some expert tips.

Try Before You Buy

Before buying all the equipment and heading into the wilderness with your binoculars, scope and field guide in hand, Andrew advises getting to know a bit about birdwatching first.

“If you’re completely new to birdwatching, you can do

a beginners’ course or join your local RSPB group to gain some confidence. You may also want to go on a guided walk at a Wildlife Trusts site.

“Start feeding the birds in your garden and get used to watching them. Just spend time getting to know the subject before buying your equipment,” he says.

Andrew believes our fascination with birdwatching stems from people wanting to connect with nature.

“People have that need to feel connected to the land and nature. Birdwatching is different every day. You never know what you’re going to see. The beauty of birds is that they fly – anything could turn up, so no two days are the same.

“It gets you outside and in the fresh air. Birds are all around us and are usually fairly easy to spot, much more so than mammals for example.”

Find Your Perfect Patch

A lot of birdwatchers like to return to the same place, where they’re sure to spot plenty of birds. This area is called their patch, which they get to know inside out.

“Some people get a lot of pleasure from going to the same place and getting to know what they can expect to see at what time of year,” says Andrew.

But it’s good to experience different locations too.

“I tend to do patch birding as well as going to different locations on my trips and courses. It’s nice to get that variety. There’s places I know like the back of my hand, but I like to go further afield as well.

“I love going to North Norfolk in spring or the Yorkshire coast in summer. Being someone who lives inland in Nottinghamshire, I like going to the seaside,” says Andrew.

Luckily, there are hundreds of birdwatching locations in the UK, so anyone can try the activity.

“There’s an area on everyone’s doorstep, even in urban areas, so it’s really accessible here in Britain,” he says.

“Another great thing about birding is that you can do it all year round. There’s always something happening.”

Andrew says that because birds often change their plumage, there is always something new to see.

“Some birds migrate so we get different species in different seasons. Others stay put but change their plumage, so there is always something to see.”

Enhance the Experience

Having the right tools can make birdwatching a better experience, says Andrew.

“Binoculars can definitely enhance the experience. It does help to have a pair, you can see so much more. Not just birds but wildlife in general.

Scopes can also be useful in birdwatching, particularly in coastal areas and marshes where birds are further away.“I use a pair of Nikon binoculars. To choose your ideal pair I’d advise getting some expert advice first. If you’re a beginner, start off with some basic binoculars until you build your knowledge. You don’t want to be that person in the bird hide with all the gear but no idea.”

“I have an Opticron scope which I bring along on my trips for people to look through. I tend to use scopes in areas like salt marshes or large lakes, where the higher magnification is definitely an advantage. They don’t work as well in woodlands where you’ve not got that distance between you and the wildlife.

“I’d definitely say get used to your binoculars before you go and buy a scope. I use binoculars every time I’m out birdwatching. With scopes it really depends on the habitats. Also, make sure you’ve got a good field guide so you know what you’re looking at.”

Be Patient and Observe Carefully

To be a successful birder, Andrews says it’s important to have patience and good attention to detail.

“Make sure you don’t get frustrated. If you don’t know what something is, just make some notes and look it up later. I think patience and attention to detail is definitely key in birdwatching. It’s not like Springwatch – you won’t see everything the first time you go out.”

Even with so many years of experience, Andrew is still learning new tricks of the trade.

“You’ll find that once you get to know a few species like the ones in your garden, when you see other birds you’ll know it’s not that and can then build on your knowledge. With birdwatching you’re always learning, I’m still learning things now.”

Don’t Forget Traditional Techniques

Andrew says technology has made birdwatching easier, but it’s important to continue incorporating traditional methods.

“Mobiles mean you can keep up-to-date with where birds are instantly.Cameras have also got better and cheaper, giving more people the opportunity to get a decent photo.

“I think the Internet and social media now plays a big part in the activity as well. People tweet when they find a rare bird and then everyone knows where to find it.”

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words but for Andrew, good observation and note-taking is the key to birdwatching. Photography simply enhances the experience.

“Personally I’m still a fan of taking field notes, sometimes you get a photo back and it doesn’t always tell the full story. It doesn’t explain how the bird was moving or what it was doing at the time – you’ve just got that one snapshot. It’s always good to observe as well.”

Be Laid-Back About Birdwatching

Andrew believes the best way to enjoy birdwatching is to relax and have fun.

“On our trips we like to have fun, relax and not take things too seriously. We keep our groups to six participants max, and always find time for tea and cake.”

He points out that with wildlife there are never any guarantees, so being laid-back about birdwatching is best.

“You can never assume you’ll see what you’re looking for. I personally think it’s a relaxing activity, but I’m sure some twitchers who drive halfway across the country to see a rare bird would disagree with me. But the way we approach it is relaxing.

“It can be an enjoyable activity even on days where you don’t see much. If you can’t get outside, you can often see birds from your window even in the most urban of settings.”

Andrew encourages everyone to give birdwatching a go.

“Experiencing the great outdoors and filling your lungs with air has got to be good for you. I always encourage people to get out and enjoy nature.”