How to get started with bird wacthing?

If you are really interested in bird watching, here is how to get started. You need the following:

1. A good binoculars (I recommend 8 x 40) You will need a binocular to see the features of the bird and details about its plumage up-close.
2. A good field guide (Salim Ali's Birds of India or Birds of the Indian subcontinent by Carol Inskipp, Richard Grimmett, Tin Inskipp) This will help you in identifying the birds you are seeing by name.
3. A notebook and pen (to record your observation and make notes about the sightings)

For the initial few times, I suggest that you go with a group of birdwatchers. Their experience in birding is invaluable and can save you a lot of time and frustration in identifying birds and even in identifying birding hotspots where you have chances of spotting a lot of birds in a limited time frame. I suggest that you go bird watching in the early hours of the day (from 6-9) when it is cool and the birds are out to get the first meal of the day or to get a their first sip or dip for the day. In the afternoon hours, birds are usually resting and the activity is very low and birds can become quite difficult to spot. (This is not to mention the discomfort of the birdwatcher being out in the sun for long)