SPOTTING GUIDE
Find and observe British wildlife
Practical tips for getting outside and seeing more
???? Best times to go
- Dawn (1hr after sunrise) — Birdsong at its peak, deer grazing, otters returning to their holts
- Dusk (1hr before sunset) — Bats emerging, foxes and badgers leaving setts
- Full moon nights — Excellent for owls and nightjars
- After rainfall — Hedgehogs, frogs, and worms appear on paths
- Overcast days — Better for butterflies resting on vegetation
???? Essential kit
- Binoculars — 8×42 is the ideal all-around choice
- Field guides — Collins Bird Guide, FSC fold-out charts
- Notebook and pencil — Sketch what you see, pencil works in the rain
- Neutral clothing — Greens and browns, avoid bright colours
- Wellies or walking boots — Essential for wetland sites
- Camera — Long zoom or bridge camera for wildlife
???? Fieldcraft tips
- Move slowly and stop frequently — patience is your greatest tool
- Walk into the wind so your scent isn’t carried ahead
- Use natural cover such as hedgerows, trees, and river bends
- Learn animal tracks and signs — species are often heard before seen
- Sit still for 20 minutes or more and let wildlife come to you
- Stay low when approaching open ground or water
???? Seasonal calendar
- Jan to Feb — Wintering wildfowl, hares boxing, snowdrops emerging
- Mar to Apr — Dawn chorus, bluebell woods, frogs and newts
- May to Jun — Puffins, orchids, dragonflies, deer fawns
- Jul to Aug — Butterflies, dragonflies, seal pups on beaches
- Sep to Oct — Red deer rut, fungi season, swallow migration south
- Nov to Dec — Starling murmurations, redwings, and fieldfares arrive
???? Useful apps
- iRecord — Submit sightings to the national database
- Merlin Bird ID — AI bird identifier and sound recognition by Cornell Lab
- iNaturalist — Photo identification for plants, insects, and fungi
- BTO BirdTrack — Log your bird lists and contribute to science
- What3Words — Share exact locations of rare sightings safely
- ObsIdentify — Real-time species identification using your camera
♻️ The countryside code
- Leave no trace — take all litter home with you
- Keep dogs on leads near livestock and nesting birds
- Never disturb nesting birds or den sites
- Close all gates behind you on farmland
- Never pick wildflowers or disturb protected species
- Stick to public footpaths when crossing farmland
New to nature spotting?
Start simple — pick one local green space, visit it at dawn once a week, and keep a notebook. You’ll be amazed what you find on your doorstep within a month.