So what have you missed??

bob.phillips · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 12:53 AM

I live in Milton Keynes ( well somebody has to ) and I heard of a Great Northern Diver at one of our local lakes. Went straight down and walked the entire lake and saw nothing. Met a few birders and they told me exactly where they had seen it. Went on another tour of the lake and again saw nothing. Next day I went to Gt Linford Lakes and was told there was a Great White Egret to be seen at one of the hides. Rushed up there and scanned the area. Loads of Little Egrets ( about 20 ) but not the one I was seeking. A birder in the hide told me it had left about 5 minutes before.

This is the story of my life. Never quite in the right place at the right time. ( A girl told me that once but I didn't understand what she meant ).

Anyone else suffers like me?? ( not the girl bit )

Bob

Deb London · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 05:58 AM

1. I have been looking for a reported Med Gull in North London. Not because I care about seeing scarcer birds as such (being of the opinion that if you care enough, you will simply travel to a bird's homeland). But to hone my Gull ID skills (various people have described its difference to the Black-headed Gull as marginal through to obvious, so I'm curious to test myself).

I've watched for about two hours now, mainly concentrating on the chairs that it likes to sit around on (I kid you not). Other birders seem to have no trouble and I reckon it's me. Though I have been in the hide with people who have seen one and they reckon it's not been there at the time, so maybe I was genuinely unlucky.

2. Had a gut feeing to go to Rye Meads and had a great day, but missed the Osprey!!! There was something different soaring in the distance. I'll never know.

3. Came out of Rainham Marshes quite early only to bump into someone I knew. "Did you see the Ring Ouzel? Did you see the Bearded Tits?". Well, whaddya reckon?

LOL

On the other side of the coin, I was leaving a garden open day a few years ago and a crowd had gathered outside with bins, scopes etc. My only ever viewing of a Hawfinch. I'll swap anyone all of the rest for the Hawfinch. I consider myself extremely lucky (must plant a Hornbeam in memory of them

).

faz · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 06:10 AM

i think we have all been there bob mine was a hoopoe only a mile from my house in devon missed it went looking with wife in tow but it had flown on

htcdude · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 09:00 AM

2 days ago went for a Great Grey Shrike less than 2 miles away..it had gone.

Today went for some Common Scoter up the road, they too had gone

Welcome to the world of birding!

Nige

Tursiops2 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 09:10 AM

Been there, done that

This autumn, I managed to miss no less than five separate Yellow-browed Warblers at Landguard

T2

david156 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 09:40 AM

Last year I went to Minsmere where a small flock of Penduline Tits had been seen on a number of days. I left early and stopped for petrol on the way which wasn't urgent. I could have got it on the way home but thought i'd fill up just in case the pager went and a bit of a twitch kicked off and that would save me having to stop then.
Got to Minsmere at about half seven in the morning and heading straight to the Island mere hide without stopping to look at anything else. On arrival I was greeted by smiling faces and was told the small flock had been showing well for about ten minutes and had flown off less than a minute ago. If only I hadn't stopped for petrol, or if I had driven that bit quicker, or even just ran to the hide!

And I didn't even need the petrol as no twitch kicked off. I left at lunchtime and went straight home and have now learnt to fill the car up the night before.

I'm not even going to start thinking about what i've missed this year. I can think of about twenty fairly common species I could have seen without too much work.

David

aeshna5 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 03:39 PM

I've had a lot of good luck over the years but had dips like everyone else.

One species that has continually eluded me in the UK is Penduline Tit- found my own in Europe but I've been to many places where they showed the day before brilliantly or even earlier but not in my presence.

Missed them several times at Rainham, ditto Dungeness, missed them at Titchwell + also on Tresco.

My time will come- it will, won't it?

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 03:40 PM

My worst one to date was a Brown Shrike at Flamborough.

Jersali · #9 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 05:32 PM

Just this week, I've missed 3 good Bittern-in-flight showings whilst traversing different hides (in a bid to see it) at Grove/Stodmarsh
STILL haven't seen one - ever

Naturenutz · #10 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 05:57 PM

I had never seen a bittern either, then i saw 4 different ones the same morning at ham wall somerset.But the worst was late summer this year when a wryneck turned up about 15 miles away and was said to be showing well on most days ,i missed it on 5 seperate accasions.First time looked in the wrong place by about 50yards after getting there before anyone else early am.Next 4 times was in right location but never saw it despite 2 people seeing it in a small thicket.the thicket was only about 20yards square and completely surrounded by people for 2 hours.eventually i gave up and heard it was seen an hour later.Still never seen a wryneck and when i hear people say good views i take it with a pinch of salt.