Your birding journal isn’t just a place for checklists and sightings—it’s a space to celebrate the beauty of the wild, feathered world around you. Adding simple doodles can be such a calming experience, whether you’re sketching beside a trail or reminiscing at your desk. In this post, we’ll explore three quick and charming pattern doodles—featuring birds and branches—that you can use to decorate your entries, and to add a touch of creativity to your observations. No art skills required—just a coloured pencil ✏️ , a pen 🖊 of your choice, a bit of curiosity, and a love for the little details in nature 🌳🪶🐦⬛.
1. Doodle 1
Start with a sketch of a branch with leaves 🍃 and outlines of a couple of birds sitting on the branches.
Then, start filling in the outlines with a coloured pencil of your choice.
Doodle 2
Sketch an outline of a bird sitting on a branch with a coloured pencil of your choice.
Once you’re happy with the outline, go over it in a ballpoint pen.
Then colour it in with a ballpoint pen. I used the cross-hatching technique to fill it in.
Doodle 3
Draw some lines as above with a coloured pencil.
Then some outlines of birds sitting on the lines.
Once you’re happy with the sketch, go over them with a ballpoint pen.
Colour them in with a coloured pencil of your choice.
You may also colour in the background with some coloured pencil crayons of your choice. I used coral pink, tan brown and dark gray colours and coloured them in using the cross-hatching method.
Conclusion
Doodling in your birding journal is a simple, joyful way to connect more deeply with what you observe. These three pattern doodles are just the beginning—once you start, you’ll find inspiration in every fluttering wing and twisting branch. Whether you use them to frame your notes, mark a special sighting, or just to relax with your pens, let your creativity take flight alongside the birds you love. Happy journalling—and even happier birdwatching!
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