The United Kingdom is endowed with more than two hundred and fifty species of birds. You can see them everywhere. Take a walk in the park or even through central London and an abundance of our feathered friends will be there too. However, is it enough just to see them? Wouldn't it be more interesting if you knew their names and a bit about them.

Bird watching is a fun open-air activity intended for all ages in any place. Wherever you may be, whether alone or in a group, you can observe the beauty of birds. It is also a good chance to appreciate the marvels of nature and strengthen ties with family and friends.

There are loads of things that you can do to help you find out more about bird watching. One of these is to arm yourself with a good reference book. Together with your binoculars, a field guide type of book is a convenient and compact tool to take with you once you are ready to go birding.

Bird watching books are an excellent source of knowledge and there are many titles available, both for the beginner and the more experienced bird watcher. A visit to bird watching club websites will give you a short list of recommended titles or alternatively, you can just go straight to Amazon and browse their extensive range of bird watching books.

Some bird watching books like "Collins Field Guide Bird Songs and Calls" help you identify birds of Britain and Northern Europe by sight and sound. While books like, "Raptors of the World: A Field Guide" provide you with a broader knowledge of specific groups. There are also books that teach you bird watching techniques, how to recognise them, how to listen to their sounds and how to differentiate between them.

Are you from Scotland? If so, there are books available that will show you how to name the birds in your region. Are you are a resident of Wales? In that case, there are books that will help you learn how to tell apart the birds you can hear from your home.

Irrespective of where you live, there is a book that will assist you with bird watching from your locale. With the aid of these books you can memorise the bird species and the most effective birding spots in your area. Collins produces pocket-sized guides for some areas that you can also check out.

Because bird watching is for everyone, there are also books for young children. "Backyard Bird Watching for Kids" is one of the books that will encourage children to research and acquire an admiration of the avian life around them.

Bird watching gets you in touch with the outstanding pleasures of nature. It forces you to be more aware of the planet you live on. Waking up to the sound of birds singing is more gratifying if you can identify which bird is greeting you so cheerfully in the morning.