This seems like the crowd to ask: how does one onboard into birding?
The day before yesterday I saw a red-winged blackbird and yesterday I saw a big honkin' owl, just an absolute unit
I got a couple blurry photos.
@Annalee Ooh I bet @dentalflossbay has ideas.
@aredridel @Annalee There's some regional specialties that are well worth it and fun: in New England, find a warbler hot spot in the first two weeks of May: Central Park, Plum Island or Mt Auburn Cemetery.
Anywhere in the Woodcock range, get the dusk "Peent!" mating flight display over a swamp or meadow in spring.
Go look for snowy owls (various known spots) mid winter in an irruption year.
All of these require only minimal technical skill, and the internet (ebird, etc) can help you plan exact time and place to just show up and see something fun.
