Our favourite birds to look out for this spring

Spring will soon be upon us, and as well as warmer temperatures and longer days we are looking forward to the waking of the natural world. One of our favourite things about spring is that it is a wonderful time of year to appreciate our native and migratory birds. Many start to become more active in the early spring as they go about building nests and raising chicks, and the pleasant, mild British springtime makes for much more enjoyable bird watching.

Whether you are a keen, committed bird watcher or simply want to try something new and learn a little more about our native wildlife, spending time in nature and observing our wonderful native species is a gratifying experience. You don’t necessarily have to head out into the middle of the countryside to enjoy a spot of bird watching, it can easily be done from your own back garden or even the city streets.

Some bird species are more closely associated with certain parts of the country than others so you won’t see every native or visiting bird in one place. Instead, we recommend you buy a guide book to native birds and use that to help identify which species are found locally. Here are some of our favourite species to look out for this spring.

Swallow

The swallow is a beautiful little bird that is a true icon of the spring and summer. They are migratory birds that arrive between March and April, travelling from their winter homes 6,000 miles away. Their distinctive forked tails and graceful, agile flight are a wonder to watch and they will stick around until the weather cools, around October.

Robin

You might associate these cheery red breasted birds with the winter but they are actually present in the UK all year round. Perhaps it is the bare branches and frosty backdrop of winter that make them stand out more. Whatever the season, robins are always a welcome sight and can be found in gardens, parks, woodlands and leafy urban streets all over the country.

Green woodpecker

Found throughout England and Wales, the green woodpecker is usually heard well before it is seen. Listen carefully in woodlands throughout the spring and summer for the drumming of their beaks and look carefully to spot these beautiful birds. The green woodpecker is the largest of the woodpeckers found in the UK, but there are two other species namely the greater spotted woodpecker and the lesser spotted woodpecker.

Cuckoo

The cuckoo is a real treat to spot in its natural habitat. Unfortunately they are a threatened species and finding them is becoming more difficult, but with conservation efforts these birds can still prosper in the UK. We pay homage to the cuckoo with our very own cuckoo bird call which perfectly recreates their haunting call.

Bird watching kit list

You don’t need a lot of expensive kit to have a go at bird watching but binoculars are highly recommended. Bird calls and bird whistles can help attract certain birds to you, making them easier to spot. Choose from our range of bird call whistles to add to your kit, with everything from duck calls, to crow calls to curlew calls providing faithful recreations of natural bird calls.

You should also pack a small notebook and pen or pencil to make notes of what you find and where, or to make sketches. Even though the weather improves throughout spring you still need to make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather and that means sensible shoes and warm, waterproof layers.