“If you want to see birds, you must have birds in your heart”; John Burroughs
The simple things in life can give the greatest pleasure; a walk in the woods, to sit aside a river or to explore our coastline. Happiness can indeed be derived from uncomplicated pastimes and is something that cannot be bought or equated with money.
In today’s technologically driven world, where pop stars can ride a rocket to space, where so called ‘leaders’ can sometimes struggle to live up to the word, where unease and anxiety can increasingly dominate our news, it seems to me there is an ever-growing need for feelings of awe, of inspiration; the need to be uplifted, spellbound, almost hypnotized, or simply to witness something that prompts a wry smile. Seemingly innocent, mundane things can give great contentment and at times, can be the bearers of wonderful surprises. Looking for the ‘extraordinary’ in the ‘ordinary’ around us can be such an enjoyable, invigorating process.
To spend time in the company of birds is to be immersed in live theatre, as their daily routines and rituals unfurl, captivate and fascinate. The need to feed (themselves, their partner and possibly their young ones), to proclaim and protect territory, to navigate, to warn others of danger, to rear their young, to adapt to weather conditions, to migrate, to adjust to man’s influence, to safeguard family and home, to ultimately survive and reproduce, these can all be woven into the trials and tribulations of many adult birds.
If one has an ever-observant eye, an ever-inquisitive mind and a willingness to be patient and still, then between the leaves and the light of a wood, on hills and mountains, down dales and valleys, in the hedgerow, in parkland, on moorland, on a river or along the shoreline, a journey of discovery and untold magic can be experienced.
The tiny wren, a little bird with a big voice
Delving deeper into the world of our avian neighbours is to turn the pages of a book. Through the changing seasons no two days are the same, each page turned more fascinating than the one before.
Expect the unexpected and there will be times when you are not disappointed. Appreciating birds for their character, their habits, their fragility and not just as an item on a list of observed species can be truly rewarding. A short timeobserving them can sooth a tired mind and provide a soft, restful escape. Add to the mix the occasional attempt to capture their images with a camera, then a world of potential wonder awaits.
Rewards can lie in the briefest of moments; a short-lived connection with the natural world; a fleeting interaction with an unpredictable creature, a creature that has no respect for the time you may have spent walking, watching or waiting for the opportunity to cross their path. A creature that is just as likely to not show up as they are to obligingly grace the scene with their presence.
“That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest”; Henry David Thoreau
The relationship between humans and birds reportedly dates back to the beginning of humanity. Birds and their eggs have long been a source of food. Stone age drawings and bones discovered in ancient settlements show evidence of birds and humans sharing the same space. Birds are present in mythology and literature and are entwined in our everydaylanguage with phrases such as ‘to rule the roost’, ‘as the crow flies’, ‘a nest egg’ and ‘bird brain’. Whilst we humans havedestroyed their habitats, collected their eggs and hunted them, birds can also pose threats to us via diseases.
Ornithology, the study of birds, began with Aristotle and continued through to the Victorians, when a Darwin-drivenresurgence in natural history included an interest in birds. Collecting them was deemed the best way to closely examine them. Birds would often be shot and preserved, neither of which was particularly easy in the early 1800s. An ever growing number of expeditions by British explorers saw them often return with drawings and specimens, both living and dead. Private collections were compiled but public museums were being created by the mid 1800s. Improvements in field glasses helped to increase the popularity of bird watching by the end of the century and from that time the pastime was transformed by increasingly easier travel and the sharing of knowledge.
These days, the routine and unexciting can frequently offer wonderment if we just have time to really see what is going on around us. A multitude of my own first-hand experiences reinforce the pleasure and joy awaiting anyone who combines observation with patience. To pause whilst strolling through a local wood and watch a tree creeper meticulously search every nook and cranny in the bark of an old oak. To marvel at a swallow’s ability to swoop down within a millimetre of the water’s surface to scoop up an insect, only to circle around and repeat the same impressively accurate process again and again. To admire the tenacious, territorial robin as it fends off a dunnock that has had the audacity to wander onto its patch. Robins may be symbolic of the festive season but they offer so much more than a Christmas card pose throughout the year and represent many gardeners’ first intimate contact with a wild bird.
A robin is not just for Christmas
To be absorbed by the grey wagtail summoning their inner gymnast as they acrobatically twist and turn in mid-air to catch a rising mayfly on the wing above a summer river, depriving the trout below of their desired next snack. To wonder at the communal nesting of the rook as they noisily chatter in their tree-top ‘village’. To stare at the astonishing agility of starlings in their mass murmurations. To watch a thrush expertly and repeatedly strike a snail’s shell against an ‘anvil’ stone, ultimately exposing its prized meal. To be amazed at the sheer volume of sound achieved by the tiny wren when listening to one perform at the top of its voice. To stare at a swan slowly take to the air from a lake or river, itsimmense wingspan helping its body weight to seemingly defy gravity and the unforgettable sound of its wing-beats in full flight. To be amused as the blackbird tilts its head to one side, looking and listening for any movement from their next worm or grub, whilst the heron will go further, not only tilting its head to help its view of ‘the target zone’ but will also crane its neck to prevent its shadow startling any likely prey.
A male blackbird, jet black, prominent yellow beak and the most confident of vocalists
The more we look, the more we see. Being in the right place at the right time can itself bring rich rewards but an understanding of habitats and behaviours helps to increase opportunities for memories to be made.
In the watching of nature, as in life itself, I believe that we make our own luck. (It was the renowned golfer Gary Player who once famously said, “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”) Although some‘spectacles’ are happening on a regular basis in the bird world, it can be very special to witness them first hand.
When fishing our local river in my younger days, I would often take a break from pursuing the trout to sit and watch the many dippers that called the river home. Doing exactly ‘what it says on the tin’, they would submerge themselves to dig out caddis and other larvae from the riverbed. (They have transparent eyelids that act as goggles when submerged). Underwater for twenty to thirty seconds at a time, each dipper would resurface to its same chosen rock to digest their bounty.
On another occasion I found myself driving alongside a pair of Canada geese for over a mile. They effortlessly and gracefully kept a consistent wing beat. They adjusted their altitude to avoid pylons and power cables within that mile and stayed alongside my vehicle, travelling in excess of 50 m.p.h.and, frankly, made it look easy. (Coincidentally, we were all travelling to the same lake).
Encounters in a garden, at the waterside or whilst travelling can be truly wonderful, but in comparison to our smaller avian companions, raptors have the potential to provide a whole new level of experience.
To have the privilege of seeing a sparrow hawk plunge into a tree where a flock of sparrows and finches believe themselves to be safe, only for one to become its next meal. The hovering kestrel, for all the world dangling on its own personal string, holding its head so perfectly still while its body is buffeted by gusting cross-winds. I was once prompted to look upwards by an audible ‘dull thud’, only to see a large raptor grappling with a pigeon about thirty metres above my house. It took just a few seconds to secure it in both talons before flying off purposefully toward a local pine forest. Too agile for a buzzard and too large for a sparrow hawk I concluded it was a goshawk. It is unlikely I will ever see such a remarkable drama ever again but once is enough to lock it in the memory forever and be grateful to have witnessed such an event.
The red kite’s recovery from close to extinction in the U.K. is a true success story. From a time when only single figures of breeding pairs remained in west Wales, their only stronghold in the U.K., they are now widespread and flourishing. In someareas they are now easily observed. Even in urban areas and alongside motorways, these majestic raptors can sometimes show themselves in significant numbers, where food is readily available.
A red kite’s uniquely forked tail and angular wings help to identify them.
It is not only the diet of hawks, falcons and harriers that involve feathered prey as a food source. No less traumatic for the victims is the taking by a magpie of young fledgling blackbirds from their nest. These are mere reminders that natural behaviour in the bird world can be cruel and often involve predation of other birds, be it on a quiet remote hillside or in a suburban garden.
Witnessing all these events has, over the years, helped me stitch together a rich tapestry of respect for birds but none of these experiences will make the headlines or warrant column inches in nature magazines or websites. Nevertheless, in their own way, they are all mesmerizing when witnessed close-up.
Whether taking a stroll in a local park, driving along a motorway, enjoying our own gardens or walking through a quiet woodland, there is a fair chance that we are sharing our space with birds.
The U.K. is blessed with over 600 resident species, with manymore species migrating to our shores each year. From resplendent eagles and graceful swans to colourful finches, the diminutive wren and the minuscule goldcrest, the variety of size, appearance and behaviour is indeed rich; from large imposing giants to tiny birds with big personalities. In our gardens alone, the 2025 RSPB survey reported over nine million birds witnessed by over 500,000 people. It’s true that many humans feel an affinity with our avian neighbours and do much to care for them.
A song thrush in full voice
The anatomy of birds is remarkable in itself, from the incredible tool that is the bill, the practicality of the claws, to the delicacy of individual feathers that collectively provide such protection and capability to fly, in some cases, for astonishingly vast distances.
Their adaptability can of course manifest itself in many ways, not all of which are seen as positive.
Pigeons are well known inhabitants of busy city centres and have learned to thrive in very large numbers amongst our buildings and traffic, their roosting and nesting sites creating a certain degree of mess for local authorities to deal with. However, our relationship with pigeons has many strings to its ancient bow. Originating from the rock dove, pigeons are said to have been domesticated as early as 10,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, primarily for their meat. Their role in human society though, swiftly expanded. Their extraordinary homing instincts allowed them to become astonishing messengers, at times delivering crucial communications across vast distances, including altering the course of battles during both World Wars. In certain cases, their contribution was so valuable that many were awarded medals for bravery. (University of London).
Of less historical relevance but nevertheless equally adaptable, seagulls too have learned to live alongside man, colonising urban retail parks that are many miles inland from the coast and as anglers we have all witnessed cormorants, a supposed sea bird, existing hundreds of miles from their original saltwater home and pillaging freshwater fish from inland still waters and rivers.
Whilst the scale of certain migrations is nothing short of astounding and behaviours of many birds have the power to fascinate, appearance alone for some can charm and take your breath away. They require no further attributes, their colours alone are sufficient. A male bullfinch exudes charm and confidence, its black cap, white rump and alluring pink-red breast demanding anyone close enough to ‘look at me’ !
Who would not be bewitched by the sheer beauty of a goldfinch picking at the heads of seeds? The dazzling colours of a kingfisher are reason enough to warrant wide-open eyes but of course it’s diving and fishing expertise add to its aura of stardom in the bird world.
The diversity of habitat in the U.K. provides a wonderful base for so many bird species. Today I sought the cool breeze of a coastal reserve. The waders kept their distance, methodically exploring the tide line where land gave way to water, prodding amongst the seaweed and pebbles, with sandpipers and oystercatchers benefitting from a fine ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffet.
The reeds and rushes were home to shy warblers, heard but not seen. The freshwater lagoons were alive with moorhens, coots and stalking herons. They all generally went about their business, some sung to their heart’s content but they all contributed to a memorable day.
My strolling, looking, wandering and pondering haveprompted me to compile this account and to share the first-hand experiences birds have so generously given me over the years. For many people, birds go unnoticed. Perhaps they’retoo small or just too far away to be appreciated. For the many who see and hear them however, they are a source of fascination. I would encourage everyone to spend some time in the company of birds and to look for the extraordinary in their ordinary.
Not only is it good for the soul but whilst we may never fully understand every aspect of their lives, the learning process is something to enjoy. I look forward to many more future encounters with both the everyday and the elusive of our bird world, in all their glory.
Writing & Images – Carl Hier, South Wales, Summer 2025
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