If you're in the Bay Area in California, you're in one of the best spots in the world for birding. Grab some decent binoculars -- https://birdwatchinghq.com/bes

If you're in the Bay Area in California, you're in one of the best spots in the world for birding. Grab some decent binoculars -- https://birdwatchinghq.com/best-binoculars-for-watching-birds/ https://birdwatchinghq.com/best-binoculars-for-watching-bird... has a list and I'd add in these Athlon Midas 8x42 for a tad under $200 if that's your budget https://www.walmart.com/ip/Midas-8x42-UHD-Binocular/53653462 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Midas-8x42-UHD-Binocular/53653462 -- and get out there. https://www.kqed.org/news/11804822/a-beginners-guide-to-birding-in-the-bay-area https://www.kqed.org/news/11804822/a-beginners-guide-to-bird... has a list of spots, as does https://www.sidewalksafari.com/2023/01/bird-watching-bay-area.html https://www.sidewalksafari.com/2023/01/bird-watching-bay-are... . Birding is what got me into field recording, which is another fun hobby among the far-too-many that I don't have enough time for. I'll save you some trouble: get a Zoom F3 or Sound Devices MixPre-3 II and a Sennheiser MKE 600 plus something like a Rode Blimp with the big fuzzy "dead cat" for wind noise...or two DPA 4060 -- get the DPA KIT-4060-OC-SMK stereo kit from StudioCare or Thomann because those XLR to MicroDot adapters are expensive and the knock-offs aren't as good...not a worthwhile compromise if you're looking at spending this much -- and put those on a DIY Jecklin disk for ambient recording or a parabolic for highly directional sound + another on the handle for ambient. https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/resources/audio-recording-gear/microphones/ https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/resources/audio-recording-ge... has more info on microphones and parabolics if you're looking to get into this, but do go out and spend a few dozen hours in the field first before dropping a ton of money on your new hobby.