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I can walk in the park and not see any birds

Malcolm Leigh gives some hints.

Sitting in our conservatory watching the birds on the feeders and bird table, I saw 13 species in all. The thought came to me that they all came from Caldy Nature Park but people still come to me and say 'We never see as much as you do'. Well its not that difficult and there's no secret to it but here are my tips.

What you do want is a good field guide e.g. Pocket Guide to Birds of Britain and Ireland by Larousse (about £2.99). Keep it simple - you do not need a book covering European birds. It helps to have a pair of binoculars. A cheap pair will do to start with and 8x40 is recommended for birding.

Take a notebook and pen when you go out for a walk and if you are not sure of the bird, write down all about it - its size, colour, type of beak, describe its tail, is it hopping or walking and what is it doing. Then go through the field guide at home with a cup of tea.

It can take me 3 hours to walk a mile when I'm looking for birds. Stop quite still, sit on a bench for 20 minutes and let the birds come to you. Stand up against a tree and try to blend into it.

I think the noise that your anorak makes matters more than having subdued colours. Wear a cotton jacket if you don't want to rustle.

I usually hear birds first

I usually hear birds first and this tells me which direction to look in. You can develop a sixth sense as a birdwatcher; practise keeping your eyes open and alert so that you notice movement. Don't forget to look up - you may see a raven from the Cathedral flying overhead or lapwing, herons, curlew and jackdaws.

You can identify some birds from their pattern of flight or their behaviour. Dunnocks are ground feeders so look down to see them. Bluetits bob around in a very nervous twitchy way. A nuthatch is the only British bird that will climb up and down a tree but a treecreeper can only climb up. Watch it spiral up, get to the top and then fly down and start at the bottom of another tree.

Pick up a bird, follow it until it stops then get your binoculars on to it. Or focus on a promising area like the far side of the pond where you may see tits and reed bunting feeding on the beds of phragmites.

Wellfield with its thick undergrowth and ample supply of water is especially good for bird watching . Tawny owls are often heard here at night and it can be tough on those trying to sleep in Lucerne, Gleggs and Tushingham Closes.

I walked down the valley this month and all the leaves have gone off the trees, the birds have finished their summer moult and are in pristine condition. You may see a brightly coloured exotic bird but it will probably be a British one; for example, the Jay is beautifully coloured with its whites, pinks, blues and black. Right now there are Fieldfare and Redwings from Scandinavia feeding on the berries, and Siskin on alder . On a quiet day, stand still and look for ripples on the brook; you may see a Water Rail or Water Vole.

Has anyone seen a Kingfisher lately?

Birds will come to your garden too if you put out seeds, nuts, sliced apples, dried fruit, cheese, bread, biscuits. And make sure the water does not freeze over.

Is there someone who walks regularly in the valley who would be prepared to put out food for the birds in Wellfield? The Friends provide the nuts and seeds. Please get in touch.

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