[matt green]

Just wondering how many of you walk quite considerable distances when birding and what your typical milage is on a typical birdy walk? Not being a driver most of my birding is now on foot,I used to cycle everywhere but got cheesed off with moron boy racers and motorcyclists using our quiet country lanes as their summer ''playground''.

Fortunately living in the country there are some good birding opportunities within walking distance,particularly along a local minor river valley.I am intending to do alot more miles this spring and summer,some of the best birding spots are about 3/5 miles distant from my home so this is going to call for an extra effort on my part-and the exercise is much needed

Any keen walkers with advice on how a podging thirty year old (with a gammy knee!) can safely double his current walking limit of about 6/7 miles?

Matt

[joannec]

Hi Matt

I can sympathise, I fall into the gammy knees (both in my case) category too. My walking distance limit is less than yours so I'm not much help, I'm afraid. I admit to driving to birding locations, then birding really slowly, to the point of annoying people I'm with sometimes.

Joanne

[dafi]

Hi Mat Thats a dificult question. I travel by motor bike to my destination as my patch is quite spread out. As for the mileage its more dominated by whats to see. but in an average three hours i may do two to four miles. Once a month i have a bird watching class with an expert tutor [Tim Dean] and he likes to walk us a bit. We start nine thirty and finnish about four thirty and we may cover six to twelve miles but boy can he pack some spotting in. Is your knee good enough to cycle. Its briliant exersise and quite a stelthy way to cover ground. A lot of lads in north kent would use push bikes.Scopes fastened on carriers. realy usefull if you want to cover any distance

[level seven]

Would one of those elasticated knee supports help at all? I find one very useful when jogging.

Unless you walk a lot faster than me though I can't help thinking that if you're going to double that 6 to 7 miles in a day to 12 or 14 it's not going to allow much time for lingering for birds as well. Can you combine local transport with your current more leisurely mileage to visit new places?

[Vectis Birder]

I'm in the gammy knees and dodgy back camp, too. However, I enjoy walking and can cover a lot of distance if my joints behave themselves!
I invested in a bicycle last year, although have not done a lot of riding due to being a bit lazy about it (and due to getting very sore lower regions!).

[matt green]

Originally Posted by level seven

Would one of those elasticated knee supports help at all? I find one very useful when jogging.

Probably,I've been meaning to try one for months but never got round to buying one.The problem with the knee is an old ligament strain? caused some years ago by jumping off a stile while carrying a bicycle over my back!!

Regarding public transport,the buses don't run anywhere near the destinations that I'm interested in.What I really want to achieve is to build on my walking abilities so I can cover a distance of at least ten miles.This will get me to a site thats guaranteed for spring wheatears and a very good possiblilty of black redstart etc in the spring,getting there is easy enough
but then theres the 4/5 mile slog back

Matt

[Al livsey]

Hello Matt.
I too do a lot of walking as i'm also without a car. A walk round my patch today was probably 3-4 miles, luckily, i dont have bad joints so it's not too bad, but i'm a bit reluctant to take my scope and tripod due to the extra weight.
I managed to see some G.S. woodpeckers drumming, magpies nesting, Goldcrests,Buzzards, and a little Egret fishing.
When i'm going further afield i use public transport, not as convenient as a car but a lot cheaper!

Al.

[Jane Turner]

I find the best way to walk long distances is to find a major fall of birds. I once clocked up a good 15 miles, with a small child on my back, as well as 1500 Willow Warblers and plenty of other interesting migrants.

[JTweedie]

Originally Posted by matt green

Just wondering how many of you walk quite considerable distances when birding and what your typical milage is on a typical birdy walk?

Any keen walkers with advice on how a podging thirty year old (with a gammy knee!) can safely double his current walking limit of about 6/7 miles?

Matt

I normally do about 3-4 miles, but it depends where I am. If I'm in a new location then I might walk further so I can explore the area well. If I'm walking any further, it's because I'm there for the walk itself - but I'll still keep my eye out for birds.

I can easily spend 2-3 hours over a 2 mile stretch though - any little flutter catches my eye and I NEED to know what it is!

[JTweedie]

Just to add - the best way to build up strength for longer walks is to gradually build up the distances you walk regularly. Take plenty of fluids so you don't get dehydrated and food to give you energy. Getting regular breaks/seats during your walk would be useful too, especially if you're carrying heavy bags.

[John Eaton]

Hi Matt,

Gammy knees and podgy don't go together.
Had a similar problem a few years ago lost 2 stone in weight, got fit and now I can go for miles.

[matt green]

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

I find the best way to walk long distances is to find a major fall of birds. I once clocked up a good 15 miles, with a small child on my back, as well as 1500 Willow Warblers and plenty of other interesting migrants.

In my dreams, this is south norfolk not north!!

But yeah,the spring passage is going to be a major incentive,last year I was lazy and hardly saw any quality migrants at all.

I was anticipating the guy with all the kit to proclaim 20 miles an easy day,
15 miles with a kiddy strapped to your back is just as good I'd say,you have
my admiration LOL

Matt

[Hanno]

The distance would be easy enough I guess (I run 50k a week, that is about 30 miles), but I would be hard-pressed to get birding and photography in. Mind you, I walked 20+ Miles one day whilst bird watching. The plan was to walk 10 Miles and then take the bus back, but arriving at the end of the walk, I found out that there were no buses that day:-( Birding here in the Vietnamese rainforests i very much doubt that I cover more than 3-4 Miles a day.

[joannec]

Originally Posted by matt green

Probably,I've been meaning to try one for months but never got round to buying one.
Matt

I find these knee supports are really helpful and rarely am I without them.

Joanne

[robert burgess]

i walk to my local patch which is 3 miles down the river near us.I will probably walk another 3-4 miles round the reserve and then walk back.If it is late i will get a bus back as it is pretty scary down the river after dark.
If i go anywhere else i drive as we are on the edge of london here and anywhere decent to bird will be away from london therefore out of walking distance.

[Farnboro John]

If you're going to use public transport one way then vary which way if you're doing a regular route - that way you will check different bits at different times and maybe see more (or less if you are unlucky.)

If you have a dodgy knee (I used to have but my fitness level is now much higher and the knee has gone away with that) then don't load yourself down with scope and stuff, just take bins, notebook, drink and some food. If podge is a problem take less food each week.

John

[trooper]

Because my patch is very spread I tend to move from point to point in a car then walk short distances in the winter months, in the summer I use a bike and wear a neoprene knee brace because of a dodgy knee which tends to help, I also have a big dog which needs long runs every day which helps keep down the weight and keeps me walking fit. The best bet to get yourself fit is to gradualy build up your distances and only carry what you actually need, every day a little bit more and one day you will be covering long distances with little effort.

[blakey999]

Hi Matt.
Most important is to wear good walking gear, because you wont be able to walk very far in a coat that is more designed for `standing or sitting in a hide`.
And proper Walking Boots rather than a pair of wellies.
And, a rucksack for your lunch cos walkin dont arf make you hungry.
As for your knee, walking is far better for it than sitting around! And I found out VERY quickly that knee supports are more of a hinderence than a help.
Enjoy your walks.

[matt green]

Cheers for the tips all..

Regarding the podge, fortunately we're not talking man-breasts and muffin tops (yet),though losing a few ounces will do the knee no end of good and that is my main priority.Those few ounces seemed to have snuck up on me since giving up the ciggies four years ago!!

Glad to hear others birders enjoying their walking,after all it is (as far as I'm concerned) a complementary leisure pursuit in itself that intergrates perfectly with birding.

Matt