Wildlife Identification Course

By Eliane Barton-Baird

Taking part in the Wildlife ID course has completely changed the way I look at wildlife in the Cairngorms. Living here, it’s been really special to get to know the incredible variety of wildlife in the area more closely - not just the obvious highlights but also appreciating the everyday species that are often overlooked. 

The course is designed to take you through a full year of wildlife, from learning birdsong in spring to getting to grips with coastal species in winter. By the end, you’ve built up a solid understanding of what birds you’re likely to see in different habitats at different times of year. That base knowledge makes a big difference - if you know the possibilities, it’s much easier to narrow things down. 

The process of identifying birds is really interesting. It’s not something that’s easy to explain, and I’m sure not easy to teach either! Even experienced birders often seem to struggle to describe exactly how they’ve reached an identification, often simply saying ‘I just knew that’s what it was!’ which can make learning feel very challenging! Having the process broken down by Roy and Duncan into something logical and practical has been incredibly useful and has made a real difference to how I approach ID in the field - learning to pay attention to not just plumage but also movement, shape, behaviour, and even character. 

Wood Warbler (Roy Atkins)

Wildlife ID Course

Another highlight for me was learning how to identify songs and calls. At first, the dawn chorus felt overwhelming, but over time I started to pick out more and more individual songs and calls. That shift, from general birdsong to actually identifying species, was one of the most exciting parts of the course. 

I know I’ve made more progress in the last twelve months than I could have done in years of learning from books on my own. Finishing the course doesn’t feel like the end of learning, but more like the point where things really start to come together. I’m really looking forward to putting everything into practice, spending more time in the field, and continuing to build on what I’ve learned. And who knows, maybe a future career change is on the cards! 

If you wish to join one of our wildlife identification courses for your own enjoyment or to progress your career. Our ‘masterclasses’ are designed for those who wish to gain more knowledge on particular families of birds.