part-time birder..?

[StevieEvans]

What about a list of birds seen while not birding........?

........Sounds impossible ?

I mean which birds have you seen while you were n't specifically birdwatching, (ie No Binoculars)

On the way to the shop ?

Coming out of the pub ?

Traveling to work?

Sunbathing in the back garden ?

Whilst at work ?

The last ones a good bet if you work outdoors, i can include the following flyovers:- Red Kite, Whooper Swans, Ring necked Parakeet...etc

OR, do you think that your allways potentially biirding, regardless of whether or not you're carrying Bins ?..

Stevie

;)

[Charles Harper]

It's hard to stop once you've started. I've got a bench press list.

[KCFoggin]

I've pretty much got my eyes peeled every waking moment for anything that is flying. I think it's hard once you are hooked not to do otherwise.

[John N]

I dont think you ever really stop looking for birds.

[Tannin]

I look for birds obsessively. In the city, it isn't stopping to look for birds that's the problem, it's remembering not to stop looking out for other pedestrians, lampposts, rubbish bins ....

I'm forever walking into things because I've got my head screwed around backwards watching two sparrows squabbling over a crust, or a raven strutting up and down along the footpath.

[Michael Frankis]

I may not always have bins or scope with me, but I do have my ears and eyes with me everywhere I go - and with them, birding is always on the menu

Michael

[pduxon]

I sat in a meeting the other day and to say "sorry didn't catch that was watching the Mistle thrush!"

[StevieEvans]

Mmmmm....

Yes, i'm the same, looking &/or listening for them at all times.

But, which are the most un-expected ones that you've turned up when 'You weren't carrying Bins'.... ?

Stevie

[Alastair Rae]

Birders are like police officers - they're never really off duty.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stevie,

Alpine Swift, low over the house while having dinner outdoors on an exceptionally warm early evening (13 June 1994). No bins, but it was barely over rooftop height so easily identifiable.

Michael

[StevieEvans]

Thats gonna take some beating Michael...

The Gauntlet has been flung down now.......!

I've got Barn Owl from last month!
Was hanging out the bedroom window on a sticky night to get some air, it just glided by.

I've only been living here 4 months...

AND THEY' RE OFF !!

A good start & Alpine Swift is currently in the lead.....closely followed by....

[Gerry Hooper]

Peregrine Falcon in my wheelbarrow after lunch break one afternoon. I don't konw who got the biggest shock!

[StevieEvans]

... and hurtling into 2nd place.............. like a bullet from a gun..............

(was it waiting for the start of a certain race....?).....

Stevie:t:

[Charles Harper]

TONIGHT, three hours ago, at dusk this evening I was teaching a student in my upstairs classroom, when there was a sudden bang on the window behind me and the student gasped. I turned around to see a juvenile Northern Sparrowhawk drop away from the windowpane and swoop down and away, hotly pursued by a screaming pair of Brown-eared Bulbuls. Just the way I like to add species to the garden list!

[StevieEvans]

.......and out of no-where from the other side of the race track.......arrives a three-in-one special........they're neck & neck with the quickening swift......

[phyllosc]

When I house ticked Little Egret a few days ago, I was sitting on the patio with a glass of red wine in my hand - a lively little cote du Rhone I recall!

Dave

[jay1964]

Saw a sparrowhawk eating another bird in my back garden. Not bad for the middle of London.

[jay1964]

O yes and my wife saw 20 long tail tits fly through our garden

[pduxon]

Originally posted by phyllosc
When I house ticked Little Egret a few days ago, I was sitting on the patio with a glass of red wine in my hand - a lively little cote du Rhone I recall!

Dave

Don't you just hate some people...................

[Charles Harper]

Yes, Cote du Rhone is a little presumptuous for my palate...

[Michael Frankis]

No problems with the Côte du Rhone - it's the pretentious language used to describe it that's yukky!

Michael

[Harry Hussey]

Hi Stevie,
Well,I HAD bins with me when I found my 5 Alpine Swifts,but was on my way home from a day's birding when I found them!
Otherwise,best would prob.be Ring-billeds,Meds etc.
Harry H

[StevieEvans]

.........any more.........

we aren't going to let Mr F win that easily are we......?

S

[John Marshall]

Stevie,

Many years ago whilst sitting in the dentists chair waiting for my injection to freeze for a filling, Ispotted through the window a skein of Pinkfooted geese flying over towards the Wash. Quite exciting it made the filling much more bearable!!!!

[MikeMules]

Hi Stevie,

White-bellied Sea-Eagle while in the middle of a lifesaving club committee meeting. The meeting stopped for 5 minutes as I went to the observation tower to grab some binoculars. It was the first in the area for over 10 years.

Also, Nankeen Night Heron flying over Lygon St, Carlton when I was having dinner at an outside restaurant.

Often, on the way to and from work, Darter and Australian Hobby.

The best though, was in 1988, when we were travelling between Mackay and Glenden (N. Queensland), and a Bustard flew over the car.