Watch your back!

[Colin]

I used to work with the military (trained killers) and picked up some tips from them. While it is impractical to go birding and have your mate walking backwards behind you!!, it makes sense to check around behind you at regular intervals. For example, some years ago, I, along with a lot of other people were scoping a lake at Chew Valley in SW England for an American Teal which had been reported among several hundred Common Teal. At this spot there is a lake on either side of the road and all of the Teal were on one lake thus all the attention was on this one. At some point I looked behind me at the smaller lake and there were only two birds on there, a Mallard swimming on the water and a Cattle Egret wading in the shallows. The latter is a very rare bird in England.

Secondly but in the same vein, when out birding and walking around, stop every 10 mins or so and have a good, slow, 360 degree look at the sky and overhead of course. There are all sort so things in the sky, aeroplanes, gliders, kids balloons and lots of birds. Keep looking up and watch your back!!!


:t:
Colin

[El Annie]

And along the same lines it pays to keep an eye on what's behind you so that you can avoid the unexpected bog!! One step back can be all it takes to get an absolute soaking!!

El Annie3:-)

[El Annie]

:-O

El Annie

[Goatnose]

I agree. Thanks Colin. For the last few months I have been searching for the Ivory Billed here in USA Arkansas. During that time, while paddleing in my Pirogue, I have noticed that there is activity behind me. It is as if the birds [birds in general]will hold fast until I have moved past then they spring for it. Please read the many notes of the Cornell scientist who actually identified the Ivory Billed, they were in a boat following quite behind another boat. The boat ahead did not spot the bird the boat behind did. Watch your back!

[snowyowl]

When I use to hunt moose, it seemed that evertime we went to walk out of the woods we would find moose tracks on top of our in bound tracks. It looked like they were following us down the trails.

[Tammie]

When I use to hunt moose, it seemed that evertime we went to walk out of the woods we would find moose tracks on top of our in bound tracks. It looked like they were following us down the trails.


Yup, they do. My father in law also had this happen recently with a large bear.

[Colin]

Goatnose, Snowyowl and Tammie,
Glad you agree with this tip. This was one of the really early threads just a couple of months after the creation of Birdforum. Watching your back is a very useful tip as you all agree. It is useful in the world of natural history, whatever the animal and in this day and age of terrorism, it has sadly become even more important. Anyway, let's continue to enjoy the birds and other wildlife. Take your time, look all around frequently and of course, watch your back!!

Goatnose,
Good luck with the IBWP. I assume you were not on the party that found it. If not, and you are successful in your quest, that will be one of the most satisfying pieces of fieldwork that you will ever have done I should think.

[Geoff Pain]

Went to see the Black-faced Bunting at Pennington Flash some years ago.When we got there everybody had their scopes trained on the feeding area where the bird had been last seen,We had a look around and where was the bird? yep in the hedge behind the birders doing a bit of twitching itself.

[Jos Stratford]

When I use to hunt moose, it seemed that evertime we went to walk out of the woods we would find moose tracks on top of our in bound tracks. It looked like they were following us down the trails.

Had similar with tigers at Ranthambhore in India - was birding in an area with hiigh tiger density and was following a track with quite a few tiger pugs. Not very unusual, but adds quite a spice to the birding. Doubling back, came across the tiger tracks again, plus mine footprints plus new tiger prints on top of mine! Certainly added a tinkle to your back - saw the Tiger at this very spot the next day

[Hanno]

In Kenya a few years ago, didn't watch my back, and promptly got pounced by two muggers (cost me some very expensive Zeiss bins).

[Gerry Hooper]

Very good advice Colin,
When we're looking for Harriers on Dartmoor my wife and I take it in turns to walk backwards up the hill, the other checks for disused mine shafts on the way up!!!
.....She was here a second ago......

[StuartReeves]

On a birdrace a few years back my team stopped for lunch and to scan the hillside opposite for raptors. A little while later a rival team arrived and we kept them talking in order to distract them from the male Hen Harrier that was doing its sky-dancing display flight against the hillside behind them ! They didn't get Hen Harrier that year...

Stuart

[Jos Stratford]

On a birdrace a few years back my team stopped for lunch and to scan the hillside opposite for raptors. A little while later a rival team arrived and we kept them talking in order to distract them from the male Hen Harrier that was doing its sky-dancing display flight against the hillside behind them ! They didn't get Hen Harrier that year...

Stuart

That is plain skullduggery! I'll remember not to spend too much time talking to you if we get to meet! ;)

[Jos Stratford]

In Kenya a few years ago, didn't watch my back, and promptly got pounced by two muggers (cost me some very expensive Zeiss bins).

No difference - they jump from the front too ...they got my Zeiss in a full-frontal attack :)

[jurek]

In Kenya a few years ago, didn't watch my back, and promptly got pounced by two muggers (cost me some very expensive Zeiss bins).

What about it? In India I spotlighted two very big red eyes. I approached... and when really close noticed it was 1,5 long mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris.

It was not interested in my bins. But I very quickly doubled back!!! :-O

[Hanno]

Also walked into a pride of Lions in Kenya (looking at the top of the tree, and not checking the ground below it), but the muggers scared me more!!!!

[Dimitris]

Oh and never forget:listen...listen...listen.Birds,animals and muggers are oftened revealed from the noise they make...

Dimitris

[Colin]

Dimitris,
Agreed, that famous or infamous species, Homo sapiens is one of the most noisy creatures that moves on this planet. |<| |>|

[egret3]

Good evening:

:((:(Thanks for posting this.. good advice indeed
and sometimes we do forget :(


Althought, O/T.. I am in Metro Toronto right
now. and with all the .. gun shootings..
am more aware in the city .. for sure.

Also, I never sit with my back .. to the entrance of a
room.. always facing.


Egret

Enjoy safe birding.

[MBS]

My best bird catching (optically speaking) is always while I am nearly anywhere but always absolutly still (since at last five to ten minutes).

If I need to move my head I do it very very slowly and if possible I only move my eyes.

Same method with binocular and arms (always moved in a sluggish motion).

And when I walk, I can do it with nearly any noise, even on twigs an dry leaves (this needs some hours of training before to be effective and you are obliged to look at the ground at each future step before it).

Other important facts: first, it is necessary to use "silent" clothes, made of natural fibre (cotton) or artificial fibre (polar flleece is very silent).

Second, hands and face of caucasian people are very white patchs beeing visible from very far away (against all green and brown backgrounds, specially in forests and other dark areas), and birds get a rather good viewing capacity, doesn't they ? So to wore gloves and "balaclava" can help too.

A last advice, to scan thoroughly (with eyes and binocular) all the area in the direction you are moving in, before to do it.

In few word to emulate and adapt military technics (deep patrolling, ranger, and lrrp ones) could be the solution.

[pstraughan]

Sometimes I feel like those pilots in old WWII films. I've noticed that my eyes are constantly quartering the sky but I'm looking for birds, not enemy fighters. Not ideal when you are driving or speaking face to face with people!

[Dr Manjeet Singh]

Guys -look up ,look left ,look right ,look back and in tropical forest DONT FORGET TO LOOK DOWN-SNAKES I was in the army in 1983 at the Thai border and we were on a racky and i was also bird watching with my old bins and this soldier stepped on king cobra-was bitten on the knee being a doctor -assinged to them i brought him out alive dont aske me how- had to use-anti- venom from thai-species(Malaysian king cobra is slightly different) but i guess it worked.(i think it was Thai-species) he was bitten multi-ply times because the snake was molting and almost blind due to the eyes being covered by shading skin.So now i always look down .. B (:

[matt green]

Guys -look up ,look left ,look right ,look back and in tropical forest DONT FORGET TO LOOK DOWN-SNAKES I was in the army in 1983 at the Thai border and we were on a racky and i was also bird watching with my old bins and this soldier stepped on king cobra-was bitten on the knee being a doctor -assinged to them i brought him out alive dont aske me how- had to use-anti- venom from thai-species(Malaysian king cobra is slightly different) but i guess it worked.(i think it was Thai-species) he was bitten multi-ply times because the snake was molting and almost blind due to the eyes being covered by shading skin.So now i always look down .. B (:
thats really exciting stuff manjeet,the worst thing that you can possibly stand on in the uk is another birdwatchers feet!
it's a dangerous world out there

[Dr Manjeet Singh]

thats really exciting stuff manjeet,the worst thing that you can possibly stand on in the uk is another birdwatchers feet!
it's a dangerous world out there
YOU call it exciting but i was shivring with fear and had nightmares for months but may be EXCITING now when you think of it 3:-) B (: If you step on my feet -you will be in I.C.U due to the PONG (smell) from my feet. 3:-)