As part of a regular series that shines a spotlight on inspirational birders, the Happy Beaks team was delighted to catch up with Ellie, also known as @ellieinthewoodlands. A lifelong animal lover, Ellie discovered a deeper passion for birds when she had a garden of her own. What began as an appreciation for the wildlife on her doorstep soon grew into a love of capturing birds on camera and sharing her sightings with others.
How did you first get interested in bird watching?
As a child, I always loved animals and was fond of family trips and holidays involving farmyard animals. Now, I have a special interest in birds and love to watch them wherever I am in the world! I’d say that my love of birdwatching grew when we bought a house with a garden. During the pandemic when restrictions were in place, I loved spending time in the garden watching the birds.
It was during this time that I bought my trusty Panasonic Lumix bridge camera. In the midst of this new photography hobby, my loving sister said, (in jest), that my family didn’t want me bombarding them with bird photos on their socials, and so @ellieinthewoodlands was born!
I’m a project manager for a housing association, which doesn’t offer any opportunity for bird watching (more’s the pity!), but outside of work I try and get myself out in the local countryside as much as possible. My career path (so far) hasn’t gone down a wildlife route but I hope that one day my skills can be transferred to one of the organisations I’m passionate about.
What’s your favourite bird?
I find it really hard to pick a favourite bird; I think it changes based on seasons and special moments. There are a couple of species that I find tricky to spot or photograph, like the Wren. It’s a delight to have a prolonged encounter watching one sing its heart out, and it’s definitely up there as one of my favourites. Similarly, a Robin that’s super friendly and brings to mind memories of loved ones always makes me smile.
Seeing a Great Spotted Woodpecker is always so exciting, and I’ve had a few really wonderful days spotting young and seeing the parents feed. However, my most memorable moment was probably with a Short-Eared Owl over two years ago. I was with a lovely woman who I met via a mutual love of birds and we happened upon this special sighting together. It was heart-in-mouth kind of stuff!
I love bird watching on holiday. Seeing a new species is always thrilling and my honeymoon a few years ago certainly offered me some incredible birds for the ‘lifer’ list.
What are your top tips for successful birding?
My top tip for successful birding is patience! Sometimes you just have to wait until you think your nose might fall off your face from the cold. Patience and persistence really are key if you want to tick off more ‘lifers’ or get the photograph you really want. Embrace a long walk in the fresh air and nature, even if you don’t always see anything new or you don’t get the photo you were after.
I also think building a good network of like-minded souls happy to share their knowledge and wisdom is really helpful. I find the birding community a supportive bunch so join a local club or see what nature groups you can tap into on Facebook to help you explore your surrounding areas with purpose.
It helps to follow reputable advice and guidance on feeding birds throughout the seasons. By keeping feeders clean and providing fresh water regularly, you can encourage more and more feathered friends to visit while helping them stay safe.
How has birdwatching changed your life?
My life is really busy with work, family and friends. Those who know me will always say I take on too much and am the planner in every aspect of my life! This means that when I get time to go off on my own for a few hours or jump in the car and go up to one of my favourite reserves, like Leighton Moss, for the day, I cherish the solitude and the peace I find in that time alone doing something I love. The absolute joy of a special sighting is right up there with my favourite things in the world, and one of the best days to encapsulate this was earlier this year with a Tawny Owl and Owlets at a site really local to me where I used to hang out as a child!
Tell us more about your role in the Wirral Bird Club
My Wirral Bird Club meetings are in a shared calendar, so I can always try to prioritise them over social plans, and this year I was asked to join the committee, taking on the joint-lead role of Field Trip Sub-Committee. (We’re still trying to think of a more catchy title!). But I’m really excited to play a bigger part in the club I’ve been a member of for five years. I really do get to learn from very skilled birders and photographers by being in that group.
I’ve had a crazy busy summer with weddings and babies galore, so I’m really looking forward to finding more time to get out in nature as the seasons change. I have just returned from a trip to New York with my best friend and managed to spend an exciting few hours in Central Park discovering some new species for my list.
A new addition to our ‘Featured Bird Watcher’ series, follow @ellieinthewoodlands for beautiful bird photography and memorable sightings from her local patch and her travels further afield. If you’ve been inspired to start birdwatching at home, explore our guide to attracting birds to your garden with specialist seed mixes and feeders.
Lead Image courtesy of Ellie Thomas-Feeney
 turned garden birdwatching into a love of wildlife photography, plus her top birding tips.){kind=link}