birdwatcher

bird +‎ watcher

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɜː(ɹ)dˌwɒtʃ.ə(ɹ)/

birdwatcher (plural birdwatchers)

1. (birdwatching) A person who observes or identifies wild birds in their natural environment.
   • 1959, Muriel Spark, chapter 5, in Memento Mori, London: Macmillan:

     Alec Warner was gazing like a bird-watcher at Charmian, who plucked at the rug round her knees, waiting to tell her own story.

2. (slang) A person who enjoys watching rocket launches.
   • 1957, Skyline, volumes 15-18, page 7:

     In fact, on this night, the birdwatching is over for everyone, for the firing is cancelled. Nobody notifies birdwatchers officially, of course, so the exodus is scattered and gradual.

   • 1961, Canadian Motorist, page 15:

     […] particularly those carrying astronauts, are the area's major drawing power, and each "advertised" shoot brings thousands of space age "birdwatchers".

• bird watcher

• birder

• twitcher