Hello to you all,
Over the past year, and more recently, I have discovered i have developed a habit of looking at a birding book to identify birds, and looking out for birds in general. I hope by joining this forum, i might find help to cope with this new habit of mine. I appreciate a cure is may be hard to come by, but any help coping with this new habit would be appreciated 
I was fortunate enough a few months ago to spot a long tailed Koel in my back yard in SE Qld, i think thats what did it.
I will soon be looking to invest in a pair of binoculars. Do any of you out there have any other suggestions as to the kit a birder might use/need ?
all the best
Goggles
Binoculars, especially a pair with good light gathering power that will enable you to focus on birds close up, a good bird field guide & clothing & footwear appropriate for the location & weather would seem to be prerequisites. You might consider taking a folding chair because just sitting quietly for a while can entice curious birds in some habitats to take a close gander (so to speak) at you.
If you're planning on being fastidious about identifying birds then a note book or smart phone to record detailed observations which can then be checked later with field guieds is handy. This implies that a field guide with a diagramme of the various parts of birds in the introduction is good to have. You'll then know more precisely what to observe about a bird's appearance.
There are many types of binoculars & I suggest you try out a lot before buying. Take them outside the store & focus on dark & light places near & far for some time. A relatively light pair is better because you don't want neck or shoulder strain carrying them around at length. Rugged binoculars are also better as a day in the bush is different from a day at the races. And don't forget to take your budget when you're binocular shopping.
Wko, thank you for your advice, it is much appreciated. Hit on a few things i did not consider.
Hi Googles ... welcome to the forum and i hope you will enjoy your new hobby. We are lucky to have such a variety of beautiful and fascinating birds in Australia that there is always something wonderful to look at.
The Morcombe, and the Pizzey&Knight field guides are also available as smartphone apps, so you can always have a field guide at hand, and they also include recordings of the bird calls of each species.
Hi Googles, I'm new around here but welcome non the less. I was going to suggest the app field guide, but have been beaten to it. Seems a more logical way than a book, but useres will know better.
Keep us all up to date with how you go with the Binoculars as I will eventually be in the market myself. I'm in the Ipi Shire as well so would be interesting to hear what you see in the hood.
Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks
Hi Jason welcome to the forum.
The people on here are very friendly and exceptionally helpful.
Getting a decent camera helps too, as some birds are hard to tell apart to the untrained eye at first glance. ie Collard Sparrowhawk and Brown Goshawk, Grey-Shrike Thrush and female Rufous Whistler as well as all those shore birds that look very similar! If you can get a photo and post it here, you normally get a response from our experts pretty quickly.
Plus if you really start to get into it, you may want to set up your place to attract birds rather than going out to find them. The guys here are only to happy to help with bird friendly gardening.
As for binoculars, check out this link www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/Binoculars
I'm in Samford so if you are ever up this way PM me and I'd be happy to show you a few spots.
Hope this helps
Devster
Whistling duck, Devster and Jason thank you for the welcome, thank you for the tip regarding the app, i like the idea of the app including bird calls, that would be very handy. At the moment i use a "Slater field guide".
My backyard isnt too bad for birds although not huge. My son and i built a bird box, stuck it on the roof apex of the kids cubby house. Recently we have discovered the round entrance hole blocked off with "tree debris", and cant see in. I figure something is hibernating in it, but i havnt a clue what "it" could be. I dont particularly want to disturb what ever it is.
anyone any ideas ?
I don't know that Australia has hibernating animals, unlike places where winters are freezing, snowy & icebound. So I don't think you'd be upsetting the apple cart if you unblocked the hole. If you live in a place infested with Common Mynas there's a good reason for ensuring that this feral pest isn't using your nest box. Have you heard anything scratching around inside?