Beginner's guide to birdwatching with children
Spend time together spotting feathered friends
Posted on 13-01-26, updated on 26-02-26By: Lauren M. | 3 minute read
Keeping eyes peeled for birds! Just a pair of binoculars and a bit of teamwork
Beginner's Guide to Birdwatching with Children
Early spring is the perfect time to grab your binoculars (or just your eyes) and head outside for a spot of birdwatching. You don’t need any fancy gear, just a bit of curiosity, a warm coat and a patch of nature. Whether you’re on a countryside break or exploring a local park, birdwatching is a brilliant way to slow down and connect with the world around you. If you’re really stuck, you can even watch the wings from your window!
Why birdwatching is brilliant for beginners
Birdwatching (or birding, if you want to sound like a pro!) isn’t just for twitchers with notebooks and telephoto lenses. It’s a peaceful, playful and surprisingly exciting way to spend time outdoors. Especially with children and grandparents.
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Family-friendly birdwatching: simple ideas to get started
You don’t need a guidebook or a garden hide. Just follow your ears (and eyes):
Start with your windowsill - Pop some birdseed or fat balls out and see who turns up. Robins, sparrows and starlings are frequent visitors in most gardens and green areas of the UK.
Keep it playful -Turn it into a game of 'Who can spot the first blue tit?' or 'How many blackbirds before breakfast?'
Make a DIY bird bingo - Draw pictures of common garden birds and tick them off as you see them.
Bring snacks and sketchbooks - If you're heading to a local nature reserve or park, pack a flask and some snacks, and let the kids draw what they see or hear.
One artist has been inspired by the parakeets in their local area! What might you be inspired to draw or paint in your sketchbook?
Where to go birdwatching on your next holiday
You don’t need to head for the hills, or somewhere really remote to start your birdwatching adventure, birds are everywhere! But if you fancy going a bit wilder than your usual neck of the woods, try these Hoseasons hotspots:
Lakeside lodges – Look out for swans, ducks, moorhens and the odd heron. A prime spot for a lakeside birdwatching haven could be the Lake District, with it's bounty of lakes and waterways.
Or, at this holiday park on a freshwater lake in Kent, who knows what interesting species you might encounter!
Forest holidays – Woodland spots are ideal for spotting robins, woodpeckers and treecreepers. Northumberland is a wonderfully wooded part of the UK, and the spot where you might catch of anything from a goshawk to a coal tit.
Or, this family-friendly resort in South Devon offers a fantastic tree-top perch for budding birdwatchers!
Coastal escapes – Puffins, oystercatchers and gulls galore. Make sure you don’t forget your windbreaker because where there's seabirds there's often interesting weather conditions! I’m heading to RSPB Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire Coast in May to see them up close and personal (from a safe distance to avoid disrupting their habitats, of course!)
This spot on the rocky shores of the Scottish Borders couldn't be more perfect for a birdwatching stay!
If you’re looking for holiday inspiration why not use this handy map of the RSPB reserves in the UK to decide where to stay? You could be just a few miles away from prime bird-spotting territory!
Pine forests are full of feathered life, the perfect place for a peaceful birdwatch.
Which birds should I look out for?
As the days get longer, birds get busier. They’re nesting, chirping and flitting about looking for food. You’ll start to notice things you’ve never paid attention to before like the flick of a robin’s tail, the puffed-up chest of a wood pigeon, the way blackbirds take turns hopping across the lawn. If you spot a bird you don’t recognise, try the Merlin Bird ID app. You can record a short snippet of birdsong and it’ll help you identify the species. It's perfect for tracking down those more elusive visitors!
Common birds to look out for:
Blue Tit
Small, agile, and often seen hanging upside down from feeders.
Robin
Friendly little red-breasted birds that are easy to spot and love hopping nearby. Usually the loudest bird!
Chaffinch
Colourful with pinkish cheeks and a loud, cheerful call.
Blackbird
Glossy black (males) or brown (females), often heard singing from trees and fences.
Wood Pigeon
Big and a bit clumsy, with a soft “coo-coo” call.
Wren
The smallest and most elusive of the garden birds. You can't miss their distinctive pointed tail feathers!
House Sparrow
What they lack in colour and size, they make up for in character! Don't mistake them for dunnocks.
Dunnock
Dunnocks can be mistaken for House Sparrows, but they have a grey face and chest, and tend to skulk alone on the ground rather than in groups.
Starling
These medium-sized birds wear shimmering feathers of black, purple and green.
Water’s where the birds are! Just add binoculars and curious kids.
Ready to give it a go?
Next time you’re out on a walk or relaxing at your lodge, try tuning in to the birdsong. It’s a gentle, joyful way to connect with the world, and a brilliant way for kids to learn about nature.
Book your Spring weekend escape today, or get ready for an Easter weekend break and see how many birds you can spot from your deck!
Inspiration for your next break
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