Is it worth Going Bird Watching in the Rain (1 Viewer)

[Nikon Kid]

Is it worth Going Bird Watching in the Rain
I was going to take my grandson to Rockingham
in the hide there to do some Bird Watching
on Saturday but the Weather is Saying Rain Rain

 

[postcardcv]

It can definitely be worth birding in the rain, you often get to see different aspects of behaviour, though some birds are a lot less active in the rain. Whether it's worth taking you grandson out in the rain is a different matter, if this is his introduction to birding it might be better to wait for a day when he can stay dry! If he gets wet and fed up it could put him off coming out again.

 

[ColinD]

Is it worth Going Bird Watching in the Rain
I was going to take my grandson to Rockingham
in the hide there to do some Bird Watching
on Saturday but the Weather is Saying Rain Rain

I wouldn't recommend hides for kids at any time, horrible places. However, birding in the rain can be excellent. Migrants which would otherwise fly straight over are forced down, Swifts and hirundines feed low over the water. At the right time of year and at the right place, rain can make for very exciting birding.

Within reason, the rain tends to effect us more than the birds. If you can stick birding in depressing wet conditions, you'll see birds, if you can't then you won't, but that's more to do with you than the birds.

Depends how old your grandson is, and how hardy he is. I know kids who go birding who wouldn't flinch at conditions that might make you think twice about going out, but if it's his first experience of birding, you might put him off forever.

 

[Nikon Kid]

He's nearly 12 as he would tell me hes been a couple
of times with me before and hes OK I looked at it
this way maybe a lot of birders and walkers would
give it a miss in the Rain and we would have the hide
almost to our selfs for the day think I will give it a try
weather forecasters here in UK are fairly useless when
it come to pinpointing where the weather is let say
they only get right 1 out of 10 sorry weather forecasters

 

[stronzo]

I agree that hide watching is not the best way of starting someone off birdwatching, especially in the rain. The thought of sitting in a hide with a bunch of gently steaming fellow birders, with maybe the slight sent of a damp, crushed cheese and tomato sarnie sends me into waves of nostalgia. But my new to birding wife can not see the point of sitting in a dark hut when the birds are all outside

 

[ColinD]

He's nearly 12 as he would tell me hes been a couple
of times with me before and hes OK I looked at it
this way maybe a lot of birders and walkers would
give it a miss in the Rain and we would have the hide
almost to our selfs for the day think I will give it a try
weather forecasters here in UK are fairly useless when
it come to pinpointing where the weather is let say
they only get right 1 out of 10 sorry weather forecasters

Agreed. I went camping to Northumberland at the last Bank Holiday, despite dire warnings from the weather forecasters, and had the most wonderful time in good weather. If you listened to the weather forecast, you'd never go out, yet you would miss many lovely days.

 

[stronzo]

think I will give it a try

And at least if it does rain, a bird that you would see for a split second on a sunny day. Will sit there looking miserable while you id it.||

Have a good day