worst case scenario

[matt green]

:storm: arrrrrrrrrr,i need to rant? went to my local patch this afternoon for some 'silence therapy'[peace and quiet] or so i thought.this little area of mixed wood,scrub and small reedy area attracts lots of tits finches and warblers but nothing rare yet.the area is not seen from the road and is only accessable via the footpath that runs straight through it.imagine my horror as i turned around the corner to find about eleven kids on scrambling bikes and quad bikes acompanied by two podgy assed blokes,also on kids bikes tearing around a circuit on the ajoining field.i still went birding despite the noise and jearing.i also got some long protracted looks from the adults,as if it is the strangest thing in the world for someone to want to look at wild animals in the countryside.i did not say any unkind words to anyone as they were on private land and undoubtedly had the farmers concent but i am not a mild mannared individual and this stuff tries my tolerance.one of my other patches also has a couple of children use the area for 'motorised recreation'.although on this site the once breeding barn owl has not been seen for almost two years.rant over,sympathies welcomed,goodnight.

[lvn600]

I hear what you're saying. i put a post up complaining about quads and atv's today.

[Bluetail]

Sympathy? You've got it. I know exactly how you feel.

[Gill Osborne]

You've certainly got sympathy from me!!! Can't stand those blasted bikes...far too noisy!!! :storm: Restrict them to the towns I say!!! ;)

But isn't it sad that a lot of folk think there is something 'wrong' with those of us who like to get out and about to watch wildlife? Over the years I've had so many folk laughing and pointing or speaking to me as if I'm a bit 'slow.'

But if only they realised that, in actual fact, it is THEY who are the ones who are losing out by being so obsessed in their own litttle world of soaps, materialism and the other trappings of 'civilised' life these days.....or perhaps they mock us birders/naturalists because they're jealous at our satisfaction with life. ;)

At this moment in time I see my young Robins feeding in the garden ( they've learnt to feed themselves in the past two days instead of relying on their parents) and I get SUCH a thrill watching MY birds growing up....it's ridiculous just how good it makes me feel.....and it ain't costing me a penny!!! ;) *well, apart from tubs of dry mealworms and sacks of food...but it's still cheaper than having pets!!!*

Let's hope your next birding trip isn't ruined by these vandals! :-C

Gill

[Mickymouse]

You have my sympathy too, it happens to me quite often and makes my blood boil, we have a similar thing when we go to the beach, only then it's jetskiis.

Mick

[Woundsinger]

Sympathy in abundance from this corner my friend..
My local patch is a public golf course..It does me fine ...I can put up with the golf balls,the cyclist zooming past me ..the dogs(and their mess!!) but those horrible bikes..
Whats worse is some of the local yobs nick motorcycles and ride them round the woodland...Its only a matter of time until someone gets seriously hurt ..The police and local rangers do there best to stop this but they are fighting a losing battle..

And at the moment we have the school break...Yesterday I had to lead some fireman to an area that is used for burning (e.g branches from the woodland etc) .Some little (mustn't swear..lol) erm immature juveniles had set a couple of fires. God only knows what birds and mammals etc suffered because of these idiots actions..

[Al Downie]

I do sympathise, but...

Sadly, society has now been conditioned to be suspicious of any single male hanging around a place where 'kids' are playing, even kids old enough to be on motorbikes. I suspect that, to the parents/guardians of such a group (most likely tabloid readers), a bloke with binoculars next to their kids' playground is something to get worked up about, and you're lucky to get away with a bit of jeering and a few funny looks.

Al

[florall]

Sadly, society has now been conditioned to be suspicious of any single male hanging around a place where 'kids' are playing, even kids old enough to be on motorbikes. I suspect that, to the parents/guardians of such a group (most likely tabloid readers), a bloke with binoculars next to their kids' playground is something to get worked up about, and you're lucky to get away with a bit of jeering and a few funny looks.Al

This is something I worry about too, and it's not just single males who need to worry but any adult of either sex. I'm sure we've all read or heard of people being arrested for taking perfectly innocent photos of children who just might happen to be in a view they want for their holiday albums.

Where we park the car for my local patch there are two children's nurseries. Last winter, I realised that in the trees and scrub between me and the nursery was a GSWoodpecker plus quite a few other birds. I saw the GS but abandoned looking for the other birds because if one of the nurses had seen me, it would have looked as though I had my binoculars trained on the children who were out playing in the garden, which was just beyond this area of trees (no leaves on the trees, I could see the children quite clearly). I'm sure I missed quite a few goodies on that occasion, but I just felt I didn't dare risk looking in the children's direction.

I'm sure I'm going to sound paranoid, but I've heard too many stories of people being arrested when they were sure that was they were doing could only be construed as innocent.

[florall]

But isn't it sad that a lot of folk think there is something 'wrong' with those of us who like to get out and about to watch wildlife? Over the years I've had so many folk laughing and pointing or speaking to me as if I'm a bit 'slow.'

But if only they realised that, in actual fact, it is THEY who are the ones who are losing out by being so obsessed in their own litttle world of soaps, materialism and the other trappings of 'civilised' life these days Gill

I quite agree, Gill. How many times has someone asked what you did at the weekend, and you say, birdwatching, only to be greeted with a deathly silence. It's just so totally out of their experience that they can find nothing to say about it. Happened to me at the hairdressers yesterday. How very sad it is for them, when you think about it.

[LSB]

My local patch is always full of people/cars/dogs. So noise is always a problem so you get my FULL SYMPATHY. Worst of all tho is people keep climbing onto the Wetland(even tho it says NO entry all over the place). Why they do it when there are 7 view points from which to look onto wetland is beyond me. Just yesterday I stopped someone half way up the embankment,......... :storm:

[buckskin hawk]

Add to ATVs - muscle boats. You know the oversized type that would pull an army of water skiers.

Give me a good horse, sail boat and good healthy legs.

My local patch is scheduled to be bulldozed and turned into baseball fields and soccer fields. These are necessary for our children but the town owned nature trail was removed this year too.

[gw4aurora]

My worst case scenario was yesterday afternoon. I went to one of my local patches and got behind the bushes by the reed bed and thought its quiet no sounds from Reed,Sedge or Grasshopper Warblers. I went round the corner and found out why some yobs had set the reeds on fire so losing about 25% of the bed and all the birds had cleared off.
It was intact on monday I just hope more is not set on fire and the rest grows over time. Any nesting birds had deserted of course.

Chris.

[Tero]

You have run across typical specimens of our species. Some 90% of them are only interested in themselves, and people in general. We do not appear to be a part of the fauna of the planet to them.

[songbird6666]

Where I am living I have the same scenario. In my village, behind the council estate, there is a large patch of scrubland, alongside of which is deciduous woodland and then farm fields. I don't know who owns the land, it is not fenced, and is just known locally as "the Council fields" so could be the Council I guess! Until this time last year, it was a haven for all sorts of birds and insects, with lots of pretty wild flowers, brambles with blackberries, and just a circular path round where dog walkers (including me) used to go. Same through the woodie bit, just a path through. I'm not too good with sizes, but I guess something like two acres in total. Then some bright sparks decided to make it into a motor cross track. They have flattened every single bit, there is not a blade of grass left nor a flower. They have even made lots of other paths through the woods. Apart from the noise, which I can hear through double-glazed windows, about half a mile away, the area is now devoid of anything other than a horrible muddy mess, can't walk the dog there anymore, unless it's been dry for about a month, and let's face it, in Wales, that would be a miracle. How the people who's gardens actually back onto it put up with it, I really don't know. There are a lot of old people's bungalows on that bit of the estate. Poor people.

At the other end of the village, there is a boy who does motorcross as a hobby, and he has his own land to practice on with a couple of mates (I know his dad) and we can hear that too sometimes, but when it's on their own land and only for an hour at a time, what can you do?

[leghorn]

Hi everyone
What a brilliant thread this is eh, let off steam and have a right good moan. Mind you after reading through it i've almost lost the will to live. No matter, I'm going to chuck in my tuppence worth.

My worst case scenario happend after finding a Long Tail Tits nest, I was so pleased with my self, I thought great i'll watch this nest and hopefully see the young fledge. Well you can imagine my shock, on my next visit to see the bushes holding the nest had been set alight and burnt.Unbelievably, though scorched the nest had survived.I was brought near to tears when I looked at the nest, and saw the small face looking out at me through the hole in the nest.Needless to say the nest was totally destroyed a few days later. Very sad.
I also take Gills point, I can just imagine the response in the works tea room, should I start to enthuse over some bird or other, I had saw the other day.
I'm afraid if your not into football, golf, or the bookies, then your not in the coversation. No matter you only have to come in to this site, to find all the enthusiasm you want.
Could it be as we are the minority, we could be the odd ones? what you think.
By the way it's not all bad,in the same woods as the L.T.T. i'm watching a pair of Buzzards with chick, also the coming and going of nesting Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
So keep your pecker up and stay happy.

[Keith Reeder]

Oh, I've been known (more than once) to lob rocks at illegal off-roaders in my neck of the woods.

And I'd do it again (and again) whenever the opportunity arises.

I've also taken to taking photos of the f***ers and emailing them to the council and the Boys In Blue...

And - just once - I had the extremely satisfying opportunity to drag one of them off his bike as he rode by.

I'm not by the remotest stretch of the imagination a violent person, but these barstewards bring the very worst out of me.

[Mickymouse]

I had a new one today, a hovercraft at least it's different I suppose and probable not illegal as it was down at Pegwell bay which used to be the hoverport, damned annoying though.

Mick

PS Feel better for posting a pic!

[Lark Ascending]

I'm afraid if your not into football, golf, or the bookies, then your not in the coversation. No matter you only have to come in to this site, to find all the enthusiasm you want.
Could it be as we are the minority, we could be the odd ones? what you think. Yes. I think that could be a true representation of modern society. I have no interest in team sports and it could be to do with the introvert that I am. After years of disliking the way I was, I am now beginning to find the positive side. Just being a part of this community and knowing that I belong to the type of people who can look at the confident, but small-minded louts with contempt is something to be proud about |=)|

[Gill Osborne]

Good on yer Keith :clap:

Bet the little monsters avoid you LOL ;)

[salty]

Oh, I've been known (more than once) to lob rocks at illegal off-roaders in my neck of the woods.

And I'd do it again (and again) whenever the opportunity arises.

I've also taken to taking photos of the f***ers and emailing them to the council and the Boys In Blue...

And - just once - I had the extremely satisfying opportunity to drag one of them off his bike as he rode by.

I'm not by the remotest stretch of the imagination a violent person, but these barstewards bring the very worst out of me.

lol! - i like your methods Keith. i find the old 'knee capping trick' stops them from coming back........... ;)