Do rare birds excite you?

[Mermaid]

I'm quite new to bird watching my BF got me into it as he loves it and now i do too. I like all birds, but like seeing the ones that you don't see everyday as well! To date a few that i have seen (of the birds that you don't see everyday) are: Sparrowhawk, jay, kingfisher, treecreeper, nuthatch, green woodpecker (being chased by the above sparrowhawk) heron, oyster catchers, turnstones, little grebe, cormorant, and i had a flash of the greater spotted woodpecker, but my BF saw it full on, now i'm wanting to see one too!

[Davy Crockett]

thinking from another angle "Do Rare Birds Exite You?"

any BIRD excites me

[jvh100]

Re: Do rare birds excite you?

NO. Not at all!

[flower_girl]

I'm really enjoying reading the posts on this conversation.

As with many people on this thread - when things turn up locally which I haven't seen then I'll pop along to have a look but I won't loose sleep over missing something.

I tried the list thing at the start of this year but although I enjoyed it for some months, I've now given up. Keeping a list changed things as I found myself looking for those 'not rare but not common' birds and it certainly improved my bird watching skills as I forced myself to focus on each bird I saw to ensure I identified it.

I do however subscribe to rarity alerts in my local area. I don't often go along but I do like to be nosey about what other people are finding.

I'm a typical girl when it comes to birdwatching - I like the pretty and interesting birds That excites me more than how rare it is. So I'd 'twitch' a bluethroat or hoopoe that was 50miles away but not a super rare warbler only 10 miles. (fickle I know!!)

[bobbarber]

Do rare birds excite you?

No, I prefer mine well done...Bob

[Davy Crockett]

Originally Posted by bobbarber

No, I prefer mine well done...Bob

Nice one Bob, though i was on my own

[dunlin]

Simple answer is yes. I dont chase around all over the country ticking lists but im always thrilled to bits when i see something out of the ordinary or something i havent seen for a few years.

[simon taylor]

Err yes and no if that makes any sense. I'm an avid patch watcher and i'd much rather find something i havent seen before at my local reservoir than drive somewhere for some-one elses find. I've seen all the resident species at my patch now but took great satisfaction on Sunday in finding my first Black Redstarts for the patch and the first ones there this year by anybody.

As it was a patch tick i probably had the same adrenalin rush as some-one twitching a rarity

Rarities on the patch - Yes
Rarites opposite end of the country - NO!!!!!!