Not only do we have the most advanced field guides at any point since the emergence of ornithology as a science, and indeed hobby, but with the advent of digital technology the number of sound recordings and DVDs designed to broaden our knowledge has also increased.

Binoculars, telescopes and photographic equipment too have improved enormously as has the range of outdoor clothing.

But one of the most remarkable resources is the relatively recent growth in websites providing all manner of info to all manner of bird lovers.

From advice on feeding the birds in our gardens to planning exhaustive trips to some of the world's more remote regions there really is a startling array of sites designed to cater for our every need.

If you're keen to find out which birds are causing the UK's twitchers to throw unscheduled 'sickies' there are constantly updated sightings sites monitoring the presence of major rarities.

Two of the most popular of these are Birdguides and Rare Bird Alert both of which constantly publish news of the

whereabouts of the nation's scarcities as well a wide range of fascinating articles and reviews.

On a more local level, there are a number of websites that have been created to inform the interested birdwatcher of what's going on on their own doorstep.

In our area there is the Lancaster & District Birdwatching Society's website which is user-generated, meaning that anyone can log on and submit their sightings, as well as keeping up to date with some of the more interesting birds in the neighbourhood.

A lively discussion section also aims to encourage and educate visitors to the site.

Other sites serving our immediate area are the Fylde Bird Club and Cumbria Bird Club, both of which also provide sightings and photographs of some of the fascinating goings-on in their locale.

Recently a number of birdwatchers have taken to creating bird-themed blogs which may focus on an individual's experiences in the field or more commonly on the activity at preferred local patches.

One of the most detailed of these is the Heysham observatory blog which records the birds, mammals and insects to occur around the nature reserve and bird observatory near Heysham Harbour.

Similarly, I even have my own blog dedicated to an area of the Lune estuary that I cover regularly entitled Birding Aldcliffe.

And if you're thinking of travelling further afield in search of birds there are sites for just about every corner of Britain and beyond.

An exhaustive selection of foreign bird trips can be found at Birdtours, a Morecambe-based website recognised internationally as one of the best online resources for birding overseas.

So, next time the weather's looking a little too unsettled for a spot of real birdwatching why not check out some of these sites and
discover the world of birding on the world wide web.