Notebooks

[cjay]

Always take a notebook with you when birding. Write down everything you see including numbers sexes & plumages. Include what the bird is doing eating etc. It is all very valuable when you take your notes home & write them up properly in a big book.

CJ

[burhinus]

Could not agree more CJ.

I bet more dont than do!

burhinus

[peter hayes]

I agree with you two. I can't possibly remember things without writing them down. I'm amazed that most people don't seem to have a notebook with them in hides. Perhaps they do it from memory once they get home.

[Doug]

But the next big question is... what brand of notebook to use? Which ones cope with bad weather? Should we use a pencil or a pen? Mark Cocker in his book 'Birders - Tales of a Tribe' (Essential reading for all birders) suggests Alwych notebooks are best. What do you use?

[cjay]

"Blackn Red" A6 no: C66655. A black hardbound book witha red spine. A pen is mor permanant. I use BTO codes for my birds. I also write notes about the weather & bird behaviour, These books are by far the best.

When I get home all my notes are copied into "The Bird Log"
& my Nature Diaries. Then they are put onto my bird database.
Ona good day it takes over five hours. I enjoy my recording work as much as my day's out in the field.

CJ

[peter hayes]

Doug

Birders - Tales of a Tribe: what's it all about?

[T0ny]

Twitchers, mainly, but it does contain some amusing anecdotes about birders in general. I believe it's now out in paperback.

Tony

[Gaye Horn]

We have more notebooks then I actually know what to do with and invertitably we do not write things down when we are actually in the field.. when we are again in the car we do write down what we see, the GPS location and what weather and etc .
I usually have so much stuff with me, as I do not move without my camera binos and stuff.
Once back home I make notes in my Nat Graph Life List book and then do notations in my big bird info book that only myself could ever read...I enjoy recounting past experiences and find it informative to have some actual data from that particular day moment and type of day!
We like a hard cover smallish book with ring spine and non lined pages.. I use a pencil as it is easier to make some small pictoral things with that... (Lee is the artist not me)

[peter hayes]

Thanks for that T0ny.

Now we've sorted out which notebook and which pen/pencil to use, what about the problem of keeping everything dry? How do people get round the vagueries of the British weather?

[Doug]

Jacobi & Jayne do a birders notebook that not only has stiff plastic covers but the paper is also waterproof. The sell a pen to go with it and you can write in the pouring rain with no problem - no smudges or running and the paper does not tear when wet. They do 2 sizes too and the covers have generic bird diagrams noting the anatomy. Perfect

[Doug]

Peter - Mark Crockers book is the story of his life as a Birder from his youth up but also describes what we are like as a 'tribe'. The differences between twitchers and birders. It talks about many twitching trips and also stories about Cley, R A Richardson and so on. Required reading, I think, for all birders.

[peter hayes]

Doug

Thank you on both counts. I'll get on to it.

[MikePearson]

Hi Doug,

that sounds like just the book for me. I'm not familier with the maker, is it mail order?

Mike

[Doug]

HI Mike. If you fill in the form on this page http://birdcare.com/bin/jjccat_form then they send you their brochure - you can order the notebooks from that. I have tried the small one and the pen and can recommend both highly. The bird food they sell is top quality but way overpriced I feel. Happy shopping.

[cjay]

I have a copy of Birders by Cocker I can lend out if anyone wants to read it.

CJ

[paj]

I also have a copy of 'Birders'. If anyone going to Slimbash wants to borrow then feel free.

The BTO also do a waterproof notebook (cover and pages) but the only drawback is it's yellow. They sell them in 2 sizes and a journal size as well.

paj

[peter hayes]

CJ/Paj

I'd love to borrow a copy of Birders. See you at Slimbridge.

Thanks a lot.

[paj]

It's yours Peter

paj

[MikePearson]

Tanks Doug,

Form duly filled in. Mentioned where I heard about them of course Steve!

Cheers,

Mike

[Andrew]

Like Mr Oddie, I use the policeman's notebooks (a dawn raid on the nearest cop shop!) with a pencil down the sides and they are great cos they slip into your pockets no matter what you're wearing. Can be tricky to write at the bottom few lines in the field though however they are never too big for any shelf in hides. When I get home I type up my birding diary then print them out on large A5 address labels and stick them in a 'Black n Red' book with whatever pictures are necessary.

[Ashley beolens]

WHsmiths do a nice note book it has a plastic cover and a little elastic strip to keep it shut and it has enough room down the metal ringbinders to keep a sturdy pencil (I use a metal one woth retratable leads) its also A5 size so fits neatly into a pocket.

[wizard]

last season i had a nice little plastic covered note book, so it was sort of water proof as long as you didnt drop in in a puddle. that cost 99p. then i had some reporters note books cheap, they were good but Santa brought me a dictaphone so now there is no stopping me. ok, so i cant draw with it but i didnt anway so no lose there. GPS is very handy too and i mark all my sights on mapsource (check out kazaa). i still carry a note book as a standby and put all the data into the PC when i get home or when i have time.
the main thing is to enjoy your day/night out, these little things just help a little.

[OregonJunco]

I guess this will give away my ignorance, but what is a "twitcher"?(Geez, I do hope I'm NOT one.....can't wait to find out!)

[Beverlybaynes]

I found a great piece of gear a few years ago that I have carried constantly with me since.

I think it's made by a company called Panjaro (but don't quote me on that, please): it's a field guide carrier and cover.

The cover is heavyduty cardboard covered in ripstop nylon. My National Geographic guide fits inside completely. There's a divider, then, and on the other side I can put a small (9x5?) legal pad. There's a pen/pencil holder along the spine on the inside, next to the notepad. The inside of section of the divider has a pocket where I stick whatever: used pages, brochures, map, etc.

It's held closed with a heavy velcro tab/strap (which is unfortunately a bit noisy being opened).

The spine has a nice heavy strap for carrying by hand, plus there's a long adjustable strap clipped to the top and bottom of the spine. The strap can be adjusted to carry over the shoulder, or lengthened to go over the head and across the chest (which is how I carry it, being pathetically slope-shouldered).

I've used it for several years now and just love it: between it and the shoulder harness I use for my binos, I'm quite strapped up when I'm out.

While mine is sized for a National Geographic guide (and thereby a little large for a Kaufman, Peterson or Golden), they have also come out with a larger version for those who insist on carrying a Sibley.

I find the Sibley too bulky for carrying in the field, but it's always in the car for reference, kept in an oversized waterproof paperback book cover made of ripstop nylon that zips closed.

I know you can find these covers (or you could in the past) in the catalog section at the back of the Bird Watcher's Digest. I think I paid about 30USD for mine, and it's been worth every penny. One initial purchase for the guide, then cheapo pens and pencils and cheapo legal pads as needed.

Works for me!

[Surreybirder]

I use a cheap A5 notebook from Woolies with a plastic cover--good value at 99p!
As I do a lot of my birding around my home I have numbered all the fields so if I see a turtle dove, say, I can write down that it was displaying in F17 or whatever.
Another advantage of carrying a notebook is to make notes when you find something unusual--either something you cannot identify or a bird that needs to be vetted by a rarities committee. I once found a Cetti's warbler near my home (a rarity in Surrey) and had to write a description on a small stub of paper because I'd forgotten my notebook--not ideal!

[Andrew]

Anyone got a source of flip over Policeman's Notebooks with pencils down the side. I found some but no slip for pencils. I have enclosed a picture but you all probably know what I am referring to. I am desperate as I have only got one left, I used to get them for 99p at Bastins but they stopped doing them.

[Karl J]

Dunno what they're called but closest thing I've seen is the flipover notebook with elastic round it from WH smiths, no space for the pencil however. But given a bit of masking tape ......

[Andrew]

Kevin. Thanks for the directions to the two websites. I am going to look at them now. They sound just the job for when I am birding in my neon yellow shell suit! LOL

[Euan Buchan]

I take a little black notebook with me its like a policeman's notebook and Ive used it since February last year

[simondix]

I use a waterproof notebook from


Hawkins & Manwaring
PO Box 50, Newark,
Notts, NG23 5GY

Tel 01949 843917
Fax 01949 844051

It is not a hard back and not cheap. Comes with a plastic cover and pencil and you can order refills. It is very waterproof.

[Andrew]

Euan, is it like the one in my picture? If so where did you get them?

[Euan Buchan]

Yes it is but mine dosn't hold a pencil like that its ringed baned so i stuff my pencil at the top. My Mum bought it for me n I think she got it in WH Smith

[Andrew]

Thanks for clearing that up, Euan. I will need to keep looking.

[Karl J]

Just a thought Andrew ... have you tried the local Army + Navy or Army surplus store ?

[Andrew]

Gone right off the local one after the shop owner and I disagreed over a faulty item! I looked at Kevins links and found nothing. There was one but it seemed to be a large pad, I want an A6 type pad that slips in my pockets and easily taken out when I spot a birdy.

I will simply tape some leather or summat round the top of the ones without pencil holders.

[RonClark28]

All very interesting Collin ... and yes I do take a notebook with me when I go birding. But as for making notes on all the items you mentioned, I'm sorry but I have far too much to do as it without taking on all that too. And in any case, knowing what I'm like, it would be very unlikely that I would look back and read the comments in a fully writen up book or diary. ;)

[Andrew]

Thanks for the link Kevin, these are the exact ones I bought in Office World and have no pencil holder. I have emailed them for help in finding some.

[kingfisher]

I have been using notebooks since i started birding in the mid 70's a very vital part of the birders equipment, on a recent birdwatching trip there was a guy in the hide using a pocket tape recorder and recording everything he saw, when i quizzed him, he just said i cannot be bothered with writing things down...........

[cjay]

When using a notebook I write down species, sex number & what if anything they are doing. Always include a grid reference.

Records that just say "Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal etc are fo no use to anyone but Mute swan three adults & seven cygnets feeding on Duckweed TM 501266.

Mallard. Seven Males in eclipse two females nearby sitting against reed bed.

Teal One Male feeding on turf.

It reads much better & it is of use to you in years to come
& the County recorder can use those details much better.

Tape machines are not like the written word. I used a machine once but they did not convey the same feeling as reading my old notebooks.

CJ

[Charles Harper]

Don't feel bad, OJ, I had to look it up too, I thought twitchers were the same as tickers, but they're more so-- they go after rarities, no matter how far, no matter how hard, no matter how expensive. And if they miss, they've 'dipped'.

Unfortunately, the Jacobi Jayne catalogue is not yet sent outside of Europe. Pity. My curiousity was piqued.

Oops! Looks like I responded to the last posting on the FIRST page-- is my face red!

[Woundsinger]

Having recently just started actively birding again I have just recently got my 'little 'pad for in the field. I would be interested on what you all do for Log books..Is there a specific program/database purchasable or even freeware available in this day and age...All my old hand written logbooks are okay and yes I will continue to use them but for the basis of data retrieval the p.c cannot be beaten...

[Ashley beolens]

Woundsinger, Computer wise I use a simple Excel spreadsheet with all the accepted british birds on it, then year lists are simple, you just put a 1 in the column and it will add it all up at the bottom.

I'm afraid I don't bother writing up most of my notes, I see very little point, as the note book will last just as well, with the exception of my patch which I write everything up on (incase I want quick access to add something to my website), and Scillies, for which I have a seperate book, just for the hell of it.

Colin J wrote
Records that just say "Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal etc are fo no use to anyone

Thats your oppinion! In my oppinion it is fine to just list what you saw, why put exactly what a very common bird is doing, if you visit anywhere regularly you only need to make detailed notes about less common (in the area) or new birds, writing mute swan feeding on duck weed would do nothing to enhance my records, I know swans feed on duckweed, I know they live in the area, the only part of that I might put is the young, as it helps with breeding bird surveys etc. The term notes generally means a short version of what happened, not indepth details!:hippy:

[simondix]

Originally posted by Woundsinger
Having recently just started actively birding again I have just recently got my 'little 'pad for in the field. I would be interested on what you all do for Log books..Is there a specific program/database purchasable or even freeware available in this day and age...All my old hand written logbooks are okay and yes I will continue to use them but for the basis of data retrieval the p.c cannot be beaten...


I use the Bird Recorder 32 package from Wildlife Computing.

It has all the World Birds and Mammals.

British and European Butterflies

British Macro Moths and Dragonflies.

It is not cheap but I think it's worth it.

I am not getting commission but wouldn't that be nice.

[cjay]

Horses for Courses Ashley. I tend to put as much detail into my sightings as possible.

Writing up my notes is just as enjoyable as being out in the field.
Everyone is different & so will the notes. As long as the county recorder gets the records that is the main thing.
CJ

[walwyn]

Currently I'm building a web based notebook/database using PHP and MySQL.

It is a sort of item/observation system where each item (bird, plant, insect, etc) can be given a text description, audio, and image. Its also possibly to associate relevant external web links to each item.

Observations are items associated with a date and location (which I term a trip). A location can have a description, image, and links to external websites. A trip has a description and associated observations.

Pages are generated dynamically from the database.

I've generated a couple of static pages and uploaded them to http://mywebpage.netscape.com/phizzcat/nature/birds.html, and http://mywebpage.netscape.com/phizzcat/nature/avocet.html, but basically each page is created and formatted on demand just as this forum is.

NOTE: None of the links on the example pages will work because I've only copied the generated pages, the php scripts and database are on my home computer.

I've also put example location (http://mywebpage.netscape.com/phizzcat/nature/location.html) and trip (http://mywebpage.netscape.com/phizzcat/nature/trip.html) there too.

Colin - I liked your recommendation of adding notes to each observation, I don't usually do that myself but can see how that could be useful (for example noting that the Great Crested Grebe chicks had hatched at Brandon Marsh) and will probably add that feature when I next change the code.