You’ve started on your journey of being a birdwatcher. You’re ready to start the car and drive someplace where the birds are. Hold up. What do you need to take with you? It may seem like a simple question, but depending on where you live or what season it is, you’ll want to keep in mind some items that will make your birding trip much nicer and allow you to actually focus on identifying some birds - instead of mosquitoes!
Birding Essentials
Before you step out the door we want to make sure you have the essentials of what you are going to need. My first essential would be a pair of binoculars. If you haven’t gotten a pair of binoculars yet, I would refer you to my blog posts on the matter of choosing and using them. The way I look at it, if you can’t see the bird and maybe identify some of the distinguishing field marks, then the other items listed in this blog-post really won’t matter. You can always look up a bird later. Now, of course you should have a field guide with you at all times when you are out birding. Hopefully you have chosen one at this point, if not check out the most important post here and check out my review video if you have not done so yet. Check the bottom of this post for info on the video. Those are the two critical items you need to take, but you probably will want to take a notebook and pencil with you, too. That could be for anything like jotting down field marks, directions to another site, contact info of another birdwatcher, or documenting what you saw on the trip.
My personal essentials on a summer day.
Now we get into the other essentials, but not associated with birdwatching itself. You’ll want to have some water or other beverage no matter what the weather. Right along side that will be some snacks. The last thing you want to do is to have to leave a great birding trip behind because you need to hydrate and refuel after a long walk or grueling hike.
Clothing and Accessories
Clothing for birdwatching is not just putting on regular clothes to go outside. I will discuss thing to consider from top of head to tip of toes. Some of these things may be seasonal, but I am mentioning them all the same. If possible, you are trying to blend in somewhat with your environment. This does not mean you have to wear all camouflage, but the scarlet red jacket might want to stay home. Muted earth colors are good and you probably have them already. Make sure you layer your clothing if that would be appropriate at that point in time.
For winter months, you’ll want to bring a hat and gloves. A lot of your time birdwatching will be standing in the open where the wind can whip around and the full effect of windchill will be upon you. Which brings up what to do for your feet. Please go out with a pair of quality boots, whether winter or not; you don’t want to have wet or cold feet, nor do you want blisters forming from ill-fitting boots. If you expect to be in snow, you may want to invest in a pair of gaiters.
Nothing like having the snow stay on the OUTSIDE of your boots!
For summer months, a hat with a full brim is very helpful, both for blocking out the sun in front and avoiding sunburn on your neck in back. A pair of shorts may be necessary if you are in extreme hot areas, but you also may need to take into consideration the threat of ticks in your area. This threat may force you to wear a pair of lightweight pants to avoid any bites.
For spring and fall, fully consider the layering of clothes, it is warm during daytime viewing but can be very cool in the early morning or evening hours. A quality rain jacket will help out with short showers while walking in the woods or elsewhere.
Packing Your Gear
After reading about all the above essentials, a new question arises - where to put all this stuff? Depending on what season it is and what it is that you are carrying, you have a few category choices. If you are just on a quick bird walk and will not be out more than an hour or two, you can get away with a field bag to hold your guide, water and snacks. These can be worn on the hip, waist (whether in front or back is up to you), or leg. I have traditionally worn a waist pack worn in the back, but have recently been wearing a leg field bag. This frees up space to wear a backpack if needed and makes all the materials you are carrying a little more accessible.
My current favorite bag for carrying birding supplies,
For those going out for longer ventures, you will probably want to invest in a good day pack. Look for features such as water bottle storage and several pockets (so everything is not just mixed up in one section). A day pack will allow you to carry extra clothing as the weather changes, more food and water, and first aid items (see next section). Definitely try on the pack before buying. They all look nice, but the fit is crucial here. Make sure to get a pack with padded straps. A weighted bag over hours will start to feel uncomfortable quickly. If you live in an area where frequent rain showers occur, consider how water repellent the material is.
Carrying some of the essentials here - backpack, hat and map.
First Aid
Although not everything here is first aid, there are several things to consider carrying with you, just in case. I always have bandaids, moleskin (to prevent blisters from hotspots) and a tick remover with me. If I have sufficient room, I will add antibacterial cream and some over-the-counter pain reducers. When in the summer season, sunscreen is a must. When in the winter months, one or two hand-warmer packs can make an unpleasant walk at least bearable. Other safety measures could include a compass if you will be in a larger area or going off trails along with a map. Always have a phone with you and a charged battery pack for any emergencies
Next Steps
Start thinking about what you personally need to take with you on a birding trip - or any hiking / walking excursion. The items mentioned above really should be with you any time you venture outsides. Consider putting the non-birding essentials in a smaller bag so that it can be pre-packed for both birding and general use. Below, I highlight some of the products that I use for birding from Amazon. NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.