Whats a Birder supposed to do??

[michaelmacey]

When their stuck indoors with no car, a 4 year old to look after, nothing more than a starling in the garden, rain on the horizon and about as much chance of getting out as Peter sutcliffe. Where do we get our wildlife fix???????

Man im bored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Lister]

Catch up on your birding reading?
Sort out your photos?
Get your records up to date?
Planning for birding trips?
Even read through BF threads!

I welcome a bit of time indoors to do any of these.

Steve

[Mary]

Draw pictures with 4 year old,just main id points; 'I spy' out of the window; any bird/wildlife jigsaws?

[Allen S. Moore]

When their stuck indoors with no car, a 4 year old to look after, nothing more than a starling in the garden, rain on the horizon and about as much chance of getting out as Peter sutcliffe. Where do we get our wildlife fix???????


Can you hop on a bus or walk to visit any local parks or beaches? Children usually like going to such places, and you just might see something. I've never been to Kent, but I'm sure that rain there won't be like a monsoon!
Allen

[naturistbird]

I agree. Take out the 4 year old and find something of interest to show/do ie feed ducks on local pond, visit to local shop, push in pushchair, if you still have one. 4 year olds LOVE being shown things and talked to....also they adore little trips/walks. Think of some questions to ask as you go, such as I Spy, tell me 3 things you can see that are green, red, yellow, black and so on. Read a book to him/her before you go or make up a little story as you go along. Once you have caught his/her imagination the afternoon will just FLY by!!! Also what about a singsong of well-known songs???
Let us know how you get on!!

[naturistbird]

Also, if it is raining, then both dress up in waterproofs and enjoy the rain...splash in puddles. Try to show enthusiasm for your interest in a way that inspires others ie count number of birds you see, show me red, blue, silver cars etc.It is lovely once children really begin to enjoy themselves! I agree with Mary...puzzles, books etc. You can't go wrong!
Good luck!

[skink1978]

Four year old? I'd say thats old enough to start learning the ID of the more common European Warbler species or the Latin names of the British list. Start 'em young. If that doesn't work for both of you I'd go with feeding the ducks.

[Sancho]

RSPB Wildlife Explorer Bins (6x17) are great for kids, although the IPD is a little wide for my 4 year old. Another strategy I sometimes use (I have 3, aged 1 to 8) is to go to bed at their bedtime, and then get up at 4am to go out for a solo patch session before wife and kids have breakfast.

[michaelmacey]

Draw pictures with 4 year old,just main id points; 'I spy' out of the window; any bird/wildlife jigsaws?


Funny you should say that, weve been doing the alphabet and sums today, my head hurts now.

[michaelmacey]

Also, if it is raining, then both dress up in waterproofs and enjoy the rain...splash in puddles. Try to show enthusiasm for your interest in a way that inspires others ie count number of birds you see, show me red, blue, silver cars etc.It is lovely once children really begin to enjoy themselves! I agree with Mary...puzzles, books etc. You can't go wrong!
Good luck!


All good ideas, after we exhausted the abc and 123 we drew a few pictures. The suns coming out, so we are off for a quick look at the beach.

[Sancho]

All good ideas, after we exhausted the abc and 123 we drew a few pictures. The suns coming out, so we are off for a quick look at the beach.

Mind you, "Dora the Explorer" is always good for a half-hour or so....;)

[Mickymouse]

Mick, if it's raining get dressed up and take her out anyway, she might find you a Water Pippet ;)

Mick

[michaelmacey]

Mick, if it's raining get dressed up and take her out anyway, she might find you a Water Pippet ;)

Mick

She's still looking. Its the opening of Fowlmead today, and its lashing down. I hope David Bellamy has a brolly! Im going to find out opening times etc mick, and perhaps we can have a wonder round sometime in the next couple of weeks. When i know when its open il send you the times and try and organise an evening. Although im told it isnt going to be open very late in the evenings, which will be a shame, i was hoping to use it after work during the week. Anyway, be in touch soon and hopefully meet you up there. At least its nice and close to us. Mick:brains:

[Henstooth]

Deal is a short hop from Dungeness. When it was lashing down last week, I still took the drive from Dartford. It was a great day. There were few other people in the hides so I had all the space to myself. This would be ideal for the 4 yr old as you wouldn't mind them speaking out (which some old fuddy duddies huff and puff at). You'd have shelter and the great view. It would be an adventure walk for them too.
Henstooth
(father of three and have had to keep them entertained...and will have to this half term!!! Woodland walks here we come)

[michaelmacey]

Mind you, "Dora the Explorer" is always good for a half-hour or so....;)

Its the Back yardigans 24 hours a day,,,

With a little bit of Tweenie time thrown in

[michaelmacey]

Deal is a short hop from Dungeness. When it was lashing down last week, I still took the drive from Dartford. It was a great day. There were few other people in the hides so I had all the space to myself. This would be ideal for the 4 yr old as you wouldn't mind them speaking out (which some old fuddy duddies huff and puff at). You'd have shelter and the great view. It would be an adventure walk for them too.
Henstooth
(father of three and have had to keep them entertained...and will have to this half term!!! Woodland walks here we come)

I took her and the wife and me mum last Sunday, had a good day and the weather was pretty good while we were there. A couple we chatted to were more than helpful and pointed out a cuckoo at close quarters flying by, we had a good day there, well worth the visit. The hides are very good and clean too. I know what you mean about a few birders when kids are about. I always thought the idea was to teach them about our great out doors to avoid too much playstation time, much healthier. I shall still take her, most people dont mind though. Mick

[Henstooth]

My grandad was the one that introduced me to birdwatching and the general outdoor life. He visited from Ireland and when over would take me out and about. He had patience with me as I got fed up quite quickly (like most young kids) and I just couldn't understand the basic "fieldcraft" he was teaching me. As I got older (early teens) I took myself off to the local flooded chalk pit and stared to employ what he taught me. The basics were there and I will never forget him for all the stuff he taught me. What my point is...it was his formative input at my tender age that placed the foundations to my passion to watch birds. I still tap the fork on the scaps plate (like Gdad did) as I throw out the food for the birds. They recognise the sound and come down...Hang in there with your younger ones (as I am with my three). I have seen in my youngest (age 8 now) a budding birdwatcher who has eyes on my spotting scope! like I had eyes on grandads binos...Every day presents oportunities to "get out there"..Keep us posted on developments..(heh! idea...make a star chart for the birds that are spotted, and have a sweet reward for results)
Henstooth

[michaelmacey]

Good idea, il get on a spread sheet now and make a list of the Birds she's likely to see first. Mick

[Mickymouse]

Mick have you ever been to Oare marsh? I went there today for the first time ever just to find it for a better day, the thing is the road to the car park goes right through the reserve and there are lay byes on the way, the upshot is you can do some good birding from the car, had my best ever views of Avocets today from sitting in the car.

Mick

[Henstooth]

Mickymouse.....I was there only last Wednesday for the 1st time myself...It was FAB..saw Spoonbill and got a great shot of a Sedge Warbler showing off only 4 meters in front of me. You are right that some of it can be seen by car BUT the walk following the path to the right on the sea wall is less that a mile and would be great for a kiddy.
Henstooth

[Mickymouse]

Mickymouse.....I was there only last Wednesday for the 1st time myself...It was FAB..saw Spoonbill and got a great shot of a Sedge Warbler showing off only 4 meters in front of me. You are right that some of it can be seen by car BUT the walk following the path to the right on the sea wall is less that a mile and would be great for a kiddy.
Henstooth


True it looks great for a walk, I can't wait for some better weather and getting the time, I shall be off there like a shot. We did actually do a bit of that walk in the drizzle as far as the first hide but the worsening rain made us dash back to the car, it was worth it though because as we got close to the car park we had stunning views of a Sparrowhawk being harassed by Starlings.

Mick

[michaelmacey]

Hi ya Mick/Henstooth,

I had my first trip to Oare about 5 weeks ago, Me and paige walked about half of it, until the whinging started, we didnt see any Avocets but we had a good day over all. Cant wait for a really nice day, i want to walk the whole of it along the sea wall bit. Apparently you get to see seals as well. Just looking out the window at it brightening up a bit, wondering weather to go fishing this evening of Birding, i reckon Birdings going to win hands down, less Kit to carry. Pity about the weekend being such a washout. I suppose it will be 75 degrees tomorrow, when wer'e all back at work. Mick

[colonelboris]

Button Moon - it's like child tranquilisers. Lottie's only 17 months and she runs in, holding the Button Moon DVD and saying 'mooooon, moooooooooon!'
She's quite into birds already. I'll make a video of her bird impressions this evening!

[Henstooth]

Took my own advice yesterday. It was such a gloomy day with that nasty fine rain. The kids were doing my nut in so I got them on their bikes and I walked with them. We did 7 miles in total, up through some woods, then out onto dartford Heath. Found a GSWoody nest and waited for the parent to return with food. I saw a beautiful Willow Warbler singing his head off. Also saw a Green Woody, Wren, Blackbird, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Chiffchaf, Robin, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit and the bruteish Rose Ringed Parakeet. One of the kids got a flat tyre so we had a slow return. Had a great idea and called the wife to bring the van to A PUB! en-route. 2 pints of the black stuff and I was ready to walk the rest of the way home. Kids knackered, got a nice open fire going, burgers and beer.....good sleep all round!
Henstooth

[michaelmacey]

Nice 1. Good day, i saw a few birds in the truck today, Swifts and swallows feeding above growing wheat at the edge of the road. Flying along side the truck window. I saw what may have been a sparrowhawk along the sandwich by-pass, it certainly wasnt a Kestrel. And at the end of the by-pass i saw 2 jays, 1 of which was having a scrap with a wood pigeon. Never seen that before. I saw 4 jays in the end, all close to the road side.

Message to Mick: I passed Fowlmead entrance today and saw a very large permement sign that read, 'Open every weekend 9.00am - 6.00pm' so it looks like weekday evenings are out, bit dissapointing that,, never mind. If you fancy a look 1 evening give us a shout. Mick

[Mickymouse]

Will do Mick, did the sign say the whole site is closed in the week or is it possible that it is only the visitor centre?

Mick

[michaelmacey]

No, im pretty sure the whole site, a m8 at work had trouble getting through the back entrance(southwall rd) at the weekend, but thats the best way in for us, its a short bike ride from my house. I think il have a look saturday morning before i go fishing. If the weather is good il take a few snaps although the Mercury has a good pull-out section in last thursdays edition. Mick