As birders, the term 'Big Year' has a particular meaning, but I've always wondered whether any of us set out in January not to have a 'big year' but a 'good year?' To identify what it is they want from their birding, and to set out to achieve it.
For listers, it may be to accumulate ticks at a prodigious rate, fly about the country for a fleeting glimpse of a rarity. For patch workers, it may be for something of good quality to turn up and put their place on the map.
I've never been a twitcher, and luckily I don't see the attraction of it- lucky because my family circumstances wouldn't allow it, and I'd end up having to choose.
I'm very much of the 'local patch' end of the scale, I love connecting with birds and nature, and just revel in the wonder of them. However, due to my very modest life total, I am always on the look- out for 'lifer' ticks.
So far this year, my year list is at 65, including one lifer, and 2 out of the ordinary year ticks. Not a bad total, for me anyway, but whats is better is that every day out, I've loved every second of it. EVery second has been a success, even if its just the old faithful species on my patch. I've been standing out under leaden, rainy skies, usually along, just immersing myself in nature.
I may not end up with a dozen lifers this year, or end up 'beating' last year's total, but already in this brief, rainy month of January I've had so much birding life. It may not end up a Big Year in terms of species, but it will be a Big Year in terms of what I can gain from it.
For listers, it may be to accumulate ticks at a prodigious rate, fly about the country for a fleeting glimpse of a rarity. For patch workers, it may be for something of good quality to turn up and put their place on the map.
I've never been a twitcher, and luckily I don't see the attraction of it- lucky because my family circumstances wouldn't allow it, and I'd end up having to choose.
I'm very much of the 'local patch' end of the scale, I love connecting with birds and nature, and just revel in the wonder of them. However, due to my very modest life total, I am always on the look- out for 'lifer' ticks.
So far this year, my year list is at 65, including one lifer, and 2 out of the ordinary year ticks. Not a bad total, for me anyway, but whats is better is that every day out, I've loved every second of it. EVery second has been a success, even if its just the old faithful species on my patch. I've been standing out under leaden, rainy skies, usually along, just immersing myself in nature.
I may not end up with a dozen lifers this year, or end up 'beating' last year's total, but already in this brief, rainy month of January I've had so much birding life. It may not end up a Big Year in terms of species, but it will be a Big Year in terms of what I can gain from it.
