Phil Carter
Well-known member
As a young tyro birder back in the early 80's I was always in awe of the "experts".You could easily identify them by the beards,Barbours and Optolyth scopes.Although I've always been a cynical git, I would accept any bird ID from a man with a beard.Indeed,for a couple of years I had Cory's Shearwater ticked off on the strength a bird past Cley that a whole line of Barbours proclaimed to be that species!I myself was convinced it was an imm.Gannet but as I was too young for a beard and had no waxed jacket,well,what did I know? It wasn't until I sprouted my own first facial-hair that I felt strong enough to scrub it from my list.
Later in the 80's,a blue fishermans smock was de rigueur for the serious birder,although a very short-lived fad.
Mid-90's saw several of the top boys(especially around Norfolk)wearing a strange,tassled,middle-eastern type large scarves.I'm not sure whether these were supposed to denote a certain expertise or just a lack of dress-sense.
So what I'd like to know,as someone just getting back into the scene,is what todays Twitcher-about-Town should be wearing to impress the "amateurs" and to cover up my alarming lack of fieldcraft and IDing skills.I've been working on a loud voice and overgrown sense of my own importance.
Any help appreciated.
Phil
Later in the 80's,a blue fishermans smock was de rigueur for the serious birder,although a very short-lived fad.
Mid-90's saw several of the top boys(especially around Norfolk)wearing a strange,tassled,middle-eastern type large scarves.I'm not sure whether these were supposed to denote a certain expertise or just a lack of dress-sense.
So what I'd like to know,as someone just getting back into the scene,is what todays Twitcher-about-Town should be wearing to impress the "amateurs" and to cover up my alarming lack of fieldcraft and IDing skills.I've been working on a loud voice and overgrown sense of my own importance.
Any help appreciated.
Phil
