Bird notes
Watching a blue tit work through a tree
The most revealing view may be a bird searching the underside of a leaf rather than facing the camera.
BIRDS · GARDENS · EVERYDAY OBSERVATIONSA little closer
A little closer
to the wild.
Get to know the birds outside your window, and make a little room for them.
FIELD NOTE / THE ROBIN Look a little longer ↗A PLACE TO BEGINRoom for a nest.
Room for a nest.
Time for a look.
NEST BOXES
Choosing your first nest box
Start with the birds and the place, then look at the box. A decorative roof is a long way down the list.
Open the note ↗0124 notes ↗0226 notes ↗0323 notes ↗0417 notes ↗0516 notes ↗
Nest boxes
Homes, placement and the work between nesting seasons
Bird notes
Recognising the birds that share our gardens
The living garden
Plants, water and a little room left for wildlife
Feeding & care
Seasonal choices and keeping shared places clean
Watching birds
Slower observation, notes and equipment
The living garden
The overlooked value of mature ivy
Mature ivy has a different role from a few young trailing shoots.
Feeding & care
The seasonal approach to feeding garden birds
The 2026 guidance changes the calendar for seed and peanuts. The aim is to reduce sustained crowding and disease transmission.
Watching birds
Choosing binoculars for a garden view
Begin with the distance to your nearest useful perch and the view you can hold comfortably.
The living garden
Leaving seed heads standing
A border can remain useful after the flowers have finished.
Nest boxes
Finding a sheltered position for a nest box
A compass direction is only part of the decision. Follow the shade, rain and everyday traffic around the proposed site.