Do rare birds excite you?

AlphaZeroOne · #1 (**permalink**) 23-10-2009, 11:15 PM

I was lucky enough to live in the Shetlands for 18 months some years back. Every now and again, because of the prevailing winds etc, we would often be visited briefly by exotic and rare birds ( for the British Isles at least). I never ceased to be amazed by how quickly the word got out and within a day or two, the tick box birders would arrive. They would stay around for a few days before leaving again, no doubt chasing the latest report of a rare sighting, never even pausing to take in the local resident birds.

Whilst I have no issues with this, I just feel that sitting for a few hours on a cliff top or in a wood, watching and listening to build up a sense of the local bird communities around, is far more rewarding than chasing around the country. I still get a great deal of pleasure just sitting and watching the bustle of the local sparrow colony or the Gold Finches quarreling with each other for the best place on the feeders in my garden.

My one of the most memorable moments came one day some years back when I was sitting quietly in a local wooded area. I was wearing my cam jacket and clearly I had blended into the background because a Tree Creeper actually landed on my leg and climbed all the way up to my shoulder before flying off in it's own time. Thankfully, it didn't find any bugs on me. There is so much pleasure to be had with our local residential birds!

FUDGEY · #2 (**permalink**) 23-10-2009, 11:49 PM

Great post, I don't get the type of birders you describe to me they are the teainspotting type, but each to their own and they do no harm (except stereotype us normal birders

)

pliers · #3 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 01:46 AM

With a first for Britain just down the road (Eastern Crowned warbler) cant say Ive not been tempted. But i made a decision a while ago that twitching goes against my belief, that its environmentally wrong to waste resources just for a tick.
Also these days, ive found behaviour at these rare bird sightings to be annoying, as the welfare of the bird takes second place to people getting a view / photograph.

If i had found it on my patch, i would have kept it a secret as ive seen my local site trampled into the ground twice two years running when Blyths Reed warblers were found and the news was put out. It took ages for the habitat to recover.

Its always nice to see a new species, and yes i do find seeing rare birds exciting. But i cant see them all so, i get a bigger thrill from recording my local patch, and enjoying my sightings without causing distress to the very thing i love seeing.

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 05:51 AM

I enjoy whatever I'm looking at at the time, but I always get a thrill when I see something unexpected such as when I found 3 Red Kites + 2 Buzzards together over 1 of our local woods.

Not driving I don't often twitch these days, though did regularly for a couple of years with friends about a decade or more back, but did go to see the fairly local Staines Brown Shrike last weekend. I'm glad I went as it's a stunning bird, all the birders were well behaved staying on the opposite side of the Colne + plenty of other birds to enjoy too from 100+ Wigeon flying over, small groups of Ring-necked Parakeets, Stonechat + others have seen Barn + Short-eared Owl, Red Kite, Dartford Warbler, etc.

If I lived closer I'd like to have seen the Eastern Crowned Warbler as it's a lovely bird that I've not yet encountered in my travels.

david156 · #5 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 09:35 AM

hi.

I went to see the Black Winged Pratincole at Thornham earlier in the year. Yep, it was nice to see and a good tick but the part of the trip I rememder the most was feeding the Robin out of my hand at the Titchwell car park!

I do like to see a good rarity but I don't know if I would chase around the country. To be honest I don't think I could get that much time of work! I suppose thats one advantage of living in north Norfolk, in so much as you get some good birds not to far away!!

Cheers David.

Jason Claxton · #6 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 09:54 AM

Yes and no for me on this one,I used to do a lot of twitching around the country but found that going after birds that other people had found got a bit dull,if I find a rare bird on my patch, that is still definitely exciting for me

,although birds like the Nuthatch can excite me if they are in my garden as well.

Tringa · #7 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 11:50 AM

I agree with the general view here.

Have to admit if there was a rarity close I would probably go and see it, but it would have to very close.

Heard a story years ago of a few birders from southern England who planned a trip to the Western Isles. The day after arriving in the Isles they heard a rarity had been spotted close to their home location, so they abandoned the trip and headed home.

As has been said, everyone to their own, but I can't understand doing something like that. To me any wildlife watching is about absorbing the whole experience eg landscape, weather, not just ticking off a new species.

Dave

pammosley · #8 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 12:26 PM

I enjoy whatever I`m watching. I get alot of pleasure watching everyday birds on the feeders etc. Early this year we went to a local site, it was obvious something was going on as there were loads of birders hanging around the carpark gazing around. We took no notice, apart from saying I wonder what they are looking for, & had a great day watching the wildfowl & local birds. It turns out they were there for the Waxwings, that apparently didn`t show that day. If we are around & about & something special appears that`s great, but I wouldn`t go chasing around after anything. Tomorrow we are off to Martin Mere, hope to see Tree Sparrow & Marsh Harrier, both would be great to see

ChrisR · #9 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 01:04 PM

Like a few people here, it would be exciting to see something unusual but I don't think I would travel far to see it and I certainly wouldn't stand in a queue or join a ruck of twitchers just to see it.

Birds are OK ... but they're not like the real thing ... now, a rare fly under the microscope ... *that's* exciting!

Davy Crockett · #10 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 01:33 PM

Yes is my answer

I’ve been birding for at least 50 years and find it not as important on my agenda as it used to be. Although I’m still very active in conservation, bird protection and promoting birding. I would, turn out for a rarity these days were as in the past I wouldn't.

My horizons have broadened over the last few years to wildflowers, fungi and insects. The main stimulation being other WABers who post some terrific pics and are willing to advise and share their knowledge. Thanks to all,

especially PGM, Gracie and many others.

Goatboy · #11 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 02:51 PM

I do get a thrill from seeing a bird I've never seen before, but don't particularly care how rare it is.

On the few occasions I have been to look at a 'twitchable' bird, TBH I've always found the pressure and desperate clamour to spot/ photograph the bird completely off putting.

One of my favourite wildlife sites is seeing a field full of Wigeon grazing away on grass shoots. I can watch that for hours. Sometimes I will go out on the park and watch Starlings go about there business. They have so much character. There are an awful lot of birders out their who don't actually seem to watch birds. Nothing against that, if ticking off lists is your thing then fine, good luck to you. But not really for me.

Jason Green · #12 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 10:59 PM

Hi Fudgey,

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Like a few people here, it would be exciting to see something unusual but I don't think I would travel far to see it and I certainly wouldn't stand in a queue or join a ruck of twitchers just to see it.

Birds are OK ... but they're not like the real thing ... now, a rare fly under the microscope ... *that's* exciting!

...have to agree with that

I'm maybe an insect twitcher, to a small degree. Starting with a tip from Lori (Loripo) I recently headed down to Battersea Park to see NHM's mystery bug - successfully too I might add. I also had the intention of catching a glimpse of the rapidly dissapearing alien, the Southern Green Shieldbug there too, but it wasn't to be. See related thread here: Trip Report: Battersea Park I wouldn't travel out of London for a rarity though as it wouldn't seem as relevant to me. I felt that for enhancing my site and general curiosity it was warranted - and seeing the sole intention of my trip in front of me and knowing I had now located one, felt great.

I equally enjoy seeing common insects/birds too - especially if I haven't been out in the field for a few days!

Take care,

Jason

James M · #13 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Hi Fudgey,

...have to agree with that

.................

Take care,

Jason

I agree with that too, I find it quite exciting seeing unusual insects/inverterbrates even if they're just new too me, they have the added bonus of being much easier to see and get close to than birds you see

Tormentil · #14 (**permalink**) 25-10-2009, 08:14 AM

Veritably, yes.

Ragtime · #15 (**permalink**) 26-10-2009, 12:05 PM

As a bird watcher of only 17 months I still have sufficient 'common' birds to see, never mind rarities.
I was with a group a few weeks back standing around a bush waiting for a Barred Warbler to appear (not particularly rare, but certainly uncommon). I wasn't too bothered as I have plenty of common warblers to tick off yet.

Also, I was driving out of Northumberland when the radio announced the Eastern Crowned Warbler. I looked at my wife, smiled and just drove on South.

Vincent86 · #16 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 09:12 AM

I don't see much of birds..so rare birds tend to excite me a lot.

dickybird · #17 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 05:25 PM

yes----but the crowds put me off--and then i start worrying about the survival chances of the bird........

but i always feel priviliged to see any birds to be honest

dickybird

david156 · #18 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 09:00 PM

I don't get put off by the crowds so much. Sometimes its a good thing especially if its a rare distant wader that you've only seen in a book and its in amongst 100's of other waders. The id help is always handy and you often pick up tips on what to look out for. The thing that does get me is when you get a right wally (had to keep that clean!) who wants to get as close as he can and ends up spooking the bird. AND then tries to get close again and spooks it again.

rangersarah2 · #19 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

Great post, I don't get the type of birders you describe to me they are the teainspotting type, but each to their own and they do no harm (except stereotype us normal birders

)

Sadly, some twitchers do a lot of harm. They damage habitats, and some travel such a distance that they use excessive amounts of fuel and other resources to get to the sites and there was a case locally where they scared the flippin' bird to death.

That said, a lot of you would travel small distances, which I don't have a problem with at all. I get a thrill when I see any bird of prey, so it was great when three ospreys visited the reserve last year.

We have an ornithologist who does reports for us. I have only seen him smile twice - once with the ospreys, and once with a flock of waxwings. Give me a good old robin any day!

david156 · #20 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 04:23 PM

I went on a small twitch recently to see the pied wheatear at Horsey Gap.

It wasn't really anything spectacular and the only reason I went was I was 2 miles away at hickling broad in a hide just sitting peacefully and dreaming! If I hadn't been there at that moment I wouldn't have driven to see it before dark and work would have stopped me the following day. I wouldn't have lost sleep over not seeing it!!!

epops · #21 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 06:45 PM

A few years ago i used to go all over the place to see rare birds but now i have to say they dont really do it for me id much rather stick to my own little patch with the local birds and wildlife if summat special turns up its good if not still good.

Sherlock · #22 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 08:01 PM

Great to see most birds though I am not a bird of prey fan.

I enjoy seeing a Dunnock or a House Sparrow up close more than a rarer bird (for me) in the distance.

FUDGEY · #23 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 08:12 PM

Sherlock you are the first birder I've ever known not to be a fan of BOP. Is it because they kill other birds?

FUDGEY · #24 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 08:14 PM

Btw I seen that the Warbler made the BBC national news.

ChrisJB · #25 (**permalink**) 24-10-2009, 09:59 PM

Most birds I like, but some I don't. Wildfowl I find rather dull for instance. Where I view birds is very important to me. It might sound daft, but a good surrounding landscape makes them so much better. I do twitch sometimes, but mainly only if I can get a lift as I don't enjoy driving. I once went down to Devon from Lancs for a sora and also did Inverness from Lancs for an ivory gull (we missed out on this one, but I saw one later at Aldeburgh in Suffolk in Dec' 1999). The 'owd mon' is off to South Shields in the morning for the eastern crowned warbler and I think I'm going to join him for that one. But if I don't see it, it certainly won't be the end of the world. After all, it's a day out.

Regards, Chris