Calling all "birders"

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by mh68

Yep Andy seen all that myself,exactly what I was getting at with my previous post.....what with these names for birds,abbreviations and codenames for locations etc I often wonder whether such people would be better off joining the CIA not the RSPB

Mark H

footnote - I meant those elitist types , not necessarily anyone whos posted here, just so`s I dont start receiving hate mail

I know what you mean mark - while its fair to say that most birders (and hopefully most wab members) are a freindly bunch , there are those who dont welcome newcomers and like to show off by using "in" talk - these are the same folk who decribe those who know less than they do as "dudes" or "robin strokers" etc

mind you its true of every occupation - not that long ago a member of the local photography club told me that "propper photographers use leica" - he wasnt best pleased when i suggested he might like to tell that to andy rouse, joe cornish, neil benvie...

[buteo_buteo]

Originally Posted by tufftie

Really Buteo - buteo - guess you wont mind if i call you a buzzard then?!!!

You can call me whatever you like!

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by buteo_buteo

You can call me whatever you like!

... so long as you smile when you say it

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

... so long as you smile when you say it

Oh, well in that case....!.

[coasty]

mind you its true of every occupation - not that long ago a member of the local photography club told me that "propper photographers use leica" - he wasnt best pleased when i suggested he might like to tell that to andy rouse, joe cornish, neil benvie... :rolleyes

yep totally agree photography birding you see the same,,, Same with Fly fishing,,, We affectionatly call such people,, tackle tarts...

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I know what you mean mark - while its fair to say that most birders (and hopefully most wab members) are a freindly bunch , there are those who dont welcome newcomers and like to show off by using "in" talk - these are the same folk who decribe those who know less than they do as "dudes" or "robin strokers" etc

mind you its true of every occupation - not that long ago a member of the local photography club told me that "propper photographers use leica" - he wasnt best pleased when i suggested he might like to tell that to andy rouse, joe cornish, neil benvie...

I asked a twitcher a few weeks ago what a 'dude' was and he told me it was someone with an abundance of 'top notch' gear, but lacking in knowledge. He also told me, that a classic 'dude' diagnostic feature, is someone who walks about with their 'scope on their shoulder, with all the tripod legs fully extended!

If only I had the 'top - notch' gear, I could become one.

Regards, Chris

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I asked a twitcher a few weeks ago what a 'dude' was and he told me it was someone with an abundance of 'top notch' gear, but lacking in knowledge. He also told me, that a classic 'dude' diagnostic feature, is someone who walks about with their 'scope on their shoulder, with all the tripod legs fully extended!

If only I had the 'top - notch' gear, I could become one.

Regards, Chris

Hey I walk about with my scope like that and I'm no 'dude'!! Clearly they need to re-visit their own id skills!!

I remember someone I worked with who considered himself to be a top notch birder come out with 'rubbish bins = rubbish birder' (and he used a stronger word that 'rubbish')which I thought was outragous - my bins weren't as good as his but I was / am a far better birder than him!

[ChrisJB]

I have to say, I rapidly, de-extended (does such a word exist?) my tripod legs upon hearing such unpalatable news.

Regards, Chris

[mh68]

Snobbery like that happens all the time up here Gill, often if you havent got the latest gear youre looked down at by the so-called experts,if you`re interested in other wildlife with no real interest in birds they treat you as though you have no right to be there
One of the local society committee members, when it was suggested that unemployed people got discounted memberships,was said to comment "but wont they poach the deer?!!".....unbelievable

Mark H

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

........ a classic 'dude' diagnostic feature, is someone who walks about with their 'scope on their shoulder, with all the tripod legs fully extended!

He probably misses most birds whilst he fiddles with his tripod legs.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I asked a twitcher a few weeks ago what a 'dude' was and he told me it was someone with an abundance of 'top notch' gear, but lacking in knowledge. He also told me, that a classic 'dude' diagnostic feature, is someone who walks about with their 'scope on their shoulder, with all the tripod legs fully extended!

He probably misses a lot whilst fiddling with his tripod. What a wally.

[coasty]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Hey I walk about with my scope like that and I'm no 'dude'!! Clearly they need to re-visit their own id skills!!

I remember someone I worked with who considered himself to be a top notch birder come out with 'rubbish bins = rubbish birder' (and he used a stronger word that 'rubbish')which I thought was outragous - my bins weren't as good as his but I was / am a far better birder than him!

You get them in every hobby... Golf , fishing they are always a group of people that will assume that expensive kit is a shortcut to competence .

[mh68]

Originally Posted by coasty

You get them in every hobby... Golf , fishing they are always a group of people that will assume that expensive kit is a shortcut to competence .

Very common in fishing - "all the gear and no idea" describes them pretty aptly

Mark H

[coasty]

An old guy in my fly fishing clubs stood with me the other year and watched a new member with about a grands worth of kit, He said look at him hardy waders hardy rod hardy reel and hardly an idea,,,,

[mh68]

Originally Posted by coasty

An old guy in my fly fishing clubs stood with me the other year and watched a new member with about a grands worth of kit, He said look at him hardy waders hardy rod hardy reel and hardly an idea,,,,

Quality!!

Mark H

[coasty]

hehehe it made me laugh at the time to

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by mh68

Snobbery like that happens all the time up here Gill, often if you havent got the latest gear youre looked down at by the so-called experts,if you`re interested in other wildlife with no real interest in birds they treat you as though you have no right to be there
One of the local society committee members, when it was suggested that unemployed people got discounted memberships,was said to comment "but wont they poach the deer?!!".....unbelievable

Mark H

Silly really I looked at the posh bins when I was looking for my compact pair but decided that although they were better they weren't £100 better so that's common sense over vanity it seems to me!

I think it happens alll over - its part of the reason I don't want to join a local group which in a way is a shame because I'd probably learn quite a lot but I wouldn't be able to cope with the 'politics' and competitiveness

As for the deer I hope people- unemployed or not- do poach the deer - more people should poach deer if you ask me!! (well roast or braise is probably better really ).

(I just read an article about some lord in Scotland complaining that because of the deer culling on National Trust Land- there weren't enough deer and you actually have to go and look for the deer now shock horror! Wildlife that isn't visible from the car well that's awful.... lets abandon the caledonian re-forestation and make a deer safari park instead.....)

[Hobjob]

When you've nearly run over half a dozen guineafowl that decide to
reverse direction and run under your wheels for no apparent reason
I have several times heard them called guineafools

A thoroughly apt name, but I'll probably get flamed as they are not
on the UK list I think

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Silly really I looked at the posh bins when I was looking for my compact pair but decided that although they were better they weren't £100 better so that's common sense over vanity it seems to me!

I think it happens alll over - its part of the reason I don't want to join a local group which in a way is a shame because I'd probably learn quite a lot but I wouldn't be able to cope with the 'politics' and competitiveness

As for the deer I hope people- unemployed or not- do poach the deer - more people should poach deer if you ask me!! (well roast or braise is probably better really ).

(I just read an article about some lord in Scotland complaining that because of the deer culling on National Trust Land- there weren't enough deer and you actually have to go and look for the deer now shock horror! Wildlife that isn't visible from the car well that's awful.... lets abandon the caledonian re-forestation and make a deer safari park instead.....)

I only joined that club to get access to their reserve.Youre absolutely right about clubs in general though, I ran a local branch of a national angling club and when I finally packed it in I was glad to see the back of it.Now i`m pretty much anti-club (and antisocial come to think of it )....
Shame about the poor Lord up there in Scotland, having to actually get out the car and walk.....whats the world coming to eh?!!

Mark H

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

He also told me, that a classic 'dude' diagnostic feature, is someone who walks about with their 'scope on their shoulder, with all the tripod legs fully extended!

The best two birders we know walk around like this - and they couldn't be more helpful and willing to encourage comparative newcomers like us.

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I think it happens alll over - its part of the reason I don't want to join a local group which in a way is a shame because I'd probably learn quite a lot but I wouldn't be able to cope with the 'politics' and competitiveness

Have you tried going out with your local RSPB group? My above reply applies to them too.

[ChrisJB]

Of course, you are all absolutely right about the silly tripod leg thing. But when the chap told me, I have to confess to being highly amused by such information. It is all rather daft.

Regards, Chris

[coasty]

The telescope I have used for the last 25 years is a draw tube type,,, You dont need a tripod,,, knees , fence posts or anything yu can lean on does just as well,,,,Trouble is these modern birders have no sense of humour,,,, I usually give them my version of" I see no ships" well I think its funny mainly just to wind them up...