Bill Oddie’s How to Watch Wildlife

Bill Oddie’s

Bill Oddie, Stephen Moss and Fiona Pitcher

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If you have bought or been given this book, and watched the television series that accompanies it, the chances are you already have an interest in wildlife. You may feed birds in your garden or notice the local fox as you come home late at night. You may enjoy country walks or take the children to the seaside and explore rock pools on the beach. You may even be knowledgeable about one particular group – such as birds, butterflies or wild flowers.

Or you may be a complete beginner, feeling completely out of your depth when faced with field guides, optical equipment and mysterious terms such as ‘fieldcraft’ or ‘jizz’. Like learning to cook or becoming a gardener, finding out about wildlife can seem quite daunting – perhaps even impossible! But just as novices become great cooks, or discover that they have green fingers, after a bit of practice you will soon realise that you know a lot more than you think about the world of wildlife.

If you still need convincing, then here are a few reasons why watching wildlife will improve your life …

As hobbies go, it is cheap as all you really need are a halfway decent pair of binoculars, a notebook and one or two field guides.

Wildlife is everywhere – in towns and cities as much as the countryside. So you can travel to the farthest-flung island or gaze out of your back window and there will always be something to see.

Even though Britain may not be able to boast lions or tigers, elephants or bears, there are still plenty of creatures to watch; enough to fill several lifetimes! The fact that it is ‘our’ wildlife – part of our natural heritage – makes it all the more special.

You can spend as much or as little time as you want; unlike some hobbies, which require a more regular and dedicated commitment.

You can become an expert in one particular area, such as birds, frogs or small mammals; or you can just enjoy what you see, learning a little bit more each time you go out.

Unlike many aspects of modern life, wildlife is not something we can control. We have to get used to its own rhythms, its comings and goings and, above all, the ways in which it can surprise and delight us.

So hopefully you’re now convinced that it’s worth making a bit of an effort to find out more and enjoy the rewards this will bring. That’s where this book comes in. How to Watch Wildlife is packed with advice, practical information, hints and tips – everything you need to know.

Part 1 – Getting Started deals with the basic things you need to know when you begin to take an interest in wildlife. This includes what equipment you will need; where and when to go; how to track down different creatures; how to identify what you see; and how to get the best possible views without disturbing the wildlife.

Part 2 – The Wildlife Year is a monthly guide to the very best of Britain’s wildlife. There are sections on what is happening at each particular time of year; places to visit around the country; how to see a particular wild creature, from badgers to golden eagles, otters to orchids, and red squirrels to kingfishers; and things to do each month.

Part 3 – Branching Out covers more advanced aspects of wildlife watching, including equipment such as telescopes; how to get involved with other enthusiasts through clubs and wildlife holidays; and more specialised pursuits, such as wildlife photography.

The aim of this book is to take the mystery out of the whole business of watching wildlife. As the old saying goes, it’s not rocket science. So take a look through the following pages; then go out and have a go yourself. You really will enjoy it!

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Part 1:

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Because it is … (tick whichever of the following words apply): enjoyable, relaxing, therapeutic, calming, exciting, challenging, fascinating, mystifying, satisfying, solitary, sociable, amusing, dramatic, important …

Hang on. I could argue that all the above adjectives apply but … important? Is it really? This is the kind of question I’m frequently asked, especially when I’m attending a wildlife event. Inevitably, I will be interviewed by the ‘media’ – newspapers, radio, TV – and almost as inevitably the reporter will ask me: ‘So, Mr Oddie, why is (whatever the thing is) important?’ This may seem like a harmless and, indeed, supportive enquiry, but all too often it is said with a rather challenging inflexion, implying: ‘Come now, with all the problems in the world today, surely wildlife doesn’t really matter?’