This was a charming and light introduction to being an observant human being, which is perhaps a necessary reminder from time to time. My reading experience suffered from having recently read [book:Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide|28696605] which is also written by a British man interested in wildlife, but takes a more in-depth approach to narrating both the human experience of watching wildlife and hard information about the species.
All the same, this book was very conversationally written without being too self-centered; an effortless balance, I am beginning to believe, which belongs more to UK nonfiction writers than those in the states. The first half of the book was consumed with more general conversational musing on the value of birds' existence and observance, poetic to be sure but also responsible for this book's slight lack of substantial content. In sum, enjoyable, but too quick, and I ended the book wishing for more. ( )

This is truly a wonderful book. I've always been interested in watching birds, although that interest waxes and wanes as I go off on other tangents. This book gives me permission to do just that! It basically says that I don't have to be a "twitcher", a term used in England for an avid birdwatcher or one who obsessively check off birds on a "life list". Simon Barnes writes, "In fact, the notion of common birds and rare birds begins to look like nothing more than a kind of snobbery."

Simon Barnes talks about a bird's place in nature and how to appreciate all kinds of birds by simply noting their presence, listening to their sounds and using all opportunities to learn more about them. He writes, "In fact, the notion of common birds and rare birds begins to look like nothing more than a kind of snobbery." I love this attitude of laying down the life list and simply being mindful in the presence of birds. ( )

I need my own copy! It's really good! ( )

Thoroughly enjoyable view on birding. I'm a "bad birdwatcher" too and was engrossed by Barnes' tales of birdwatching in Asia, Africa, and his home England. An excellent reminder of why many of us enjoy watching and sharing birds.

Bookcrossing: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5395208/ ( )

I like watching birds and keep track of those I have seen by ticking off a list. I am not fanatical about it though, I watch them where I happen to be but don’t go on watching trips very often, or travel across the country to see a rare bird. Bird watching is a cheap hobby (unless you are fanatical and willing to cross the country at the drop of a hat) and very rewarding, because even if today you only see a bird you have seen a hundred times before – it is a thrill – they are stunning little critters.

Simon Barnes is slightly more enthusiastic than me but as he is not a fanatical twitcher (a person who would cross the country to see a rare bird) he calls himself a bad birdwatcher. He says that the art of watching birds starts by simply looking and then goes on to say that every one is a covert birdwatcher because he defies that anyone not be able to name at least five different birds without even batting an eyelid. Bad Birdwatchers go one step further they start to remember the names of even more birds and look up pictures of birds they come across and don’t recognise in order to learn what their names are. They put bird feeders up in the back garden, then venture out to nearby parks. Bad birdwatchers never pretend to be experts on the birds they see as they know it is a constant learning experience. Barnes writes that no matter where you live, whether it is city, country or ocean there are birds going about their daily business and we humans can watch them, and enjoy them.