I like birding by Merlin, go for a walk, have Merlin on in your pocket, concentrate on the looking and spotting as you walk, then when you finish you get a surprise long eared owl notification.

True! There was a time my father would get home from work and just listen to bird songs CDs. Just seeing his joy and enjoying hearing nature myself made me consider field recording too

The trees filled out way too early this year. It’s already to the point where most of my birding is done by ear. Silver lining is that there’s insects to look down at now while listening.