'The Big Year' by Mark Obmascik. (1 Viewer)

[James Lowther]

If you read the book you will see they didn't go that far! Lighten up man!:hippy:

I thought we'd put out a moratorium on the use of 'lighten up' . Anyway, Andrew, I was really only making the point that actively pursuing vagrants, (some of which you would probably have seen thousands of times in Britain) in another country seems to be a spectacular waste of money, and could lead people to suggest you 'get a life' . Wouldn't you rather spend it having a go at phoebe snetsinger's record world list?
Anyway, this is getting off-topic somewhat, but that's my fault i suppose.

 

[Andrew]

I thought we'd put out a moratorium on the use of 'lighten up' . Anyway, Andrew, I was really only making the point that actively pursuing vagrants, (some of which you would probably have seen thousands of times in Britain) in another country seems to be a spectacular waste of money, and could lead people to suggest you 'get a life' . Wouldn't you rather spend it having a go at phoebe snetsinger's record world list?
Anyway, this is getting off-topic somewhat, but that's my fault i suppose.

No worries James. Indeed and it is not even a starter as there is more chance of me beating Pheobe's record on my meagre funds than winning the Lotto!

Back to the thread.

 

[Andy Ledger]

Storage or funding problem?

Funding - having recently just blown £900 on new optics. Although storage will also be a problem as I read a lot, not just about birding.

Stuff the funding and storage - I've just found a pristine copy of 'The Big Year' in a secondhand bookshop for a fiver!!! :bounce:

 

[Bluetail]

My next one is a British book, 'Best Days with British Birds' and it is a collection of stories from birders recurring their exciting sessions/days/twitches. Hope it lives up to my expectations.

Hmm... Don't think it will...

 

[Andy Ledger]

I started reading The Big Year last night and so far I'm very impressed with it. Reading it with a North American field guide to hand is a fun way of getting a vicarious thrill!

 

[pigsonthewing]

Just out of interest, Is there an equivalent of this based on British Birding?

There's Bill Oddie's 'Big Bird Race', about a 24-hour competitive birdwatch.'

 

[Andrew]

Hmm... Don't think it will...

Read it and only fifty percent of the stories were thrilling with the rest being mediocre and one even being so technical that I skipped it when my eyes were starting to drop. I must admit that I was glad to read the exciting bits.

When I finished it I was stuck for a book. Browsing the flat's (on Scilly) bookshelf I found 'The Confessions of a Scilly Birdman' about David Hunt and sped through it like a hot knife through butter. It was that good!

 

[Quacker]

Just to bring this one up to date, the book is now available from those pureyors of cheap books - The Book People for £2.50 + p&p or part of a 5 books for £10 special

I got it for easter from my beloved, as well as chocolate!

Good in parts, obnoxious in parts, I routed for Mr Miller, as he was skint to begin with, became skinter, and did a big year whilst working weekdays! - his total was tremendous.

I just wish I'd heard of half of the birds so as to relate to them, I must admit I chuckled smugly when the Mega Wood Sandpiper turned up (among other brit/european regulars).

Surely someone out there will do the UK big year equivalent? - not an out of print diary or memoir, but a serious concentrated effort. After all the area to cover is tiny in comparison. - Before anyone asks, I'd do it myself but can't imagine the clamour for a copy of "How I hit 100 in a year"

Anyway if in doubt - get the Big Year from the Bookpeople (join online)

Steve

 

[Dave B Smith]

I got the book as a Christmas present and finished it before New Years. Loved it. I did my own version of a big year last year and came up with 494. Sounds like a lot, but between working in Mexico, a few months in the States and then finishing up in Venezuela, I really had lots to choose from.

But after reading the book and seeing the extremes these folks went to along with the planning they put into it, I realized the effort that it took to do a real "Big Year". I thought it was brilliant.

 

[marek_walford]

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...9213/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_10_2/202-6013333-5007838 for a new book by a UK year lister.

Read the Big Year this weekend and it's an excellent read. I particularly liked reading about hiring a chopper to see Snowcocks on top of a mountain. The previous day I'd hiked 12 miles to 2500 feet for Ptarmigan in Scotland!

 

[Quacker]

Well sorry Marek, but that makes you the better birder imho, not only that but the rest are bird-buyers lol.

Saved you a few bob too;-)

 

[Karl J]

Just finished this one .... hmmm, what to say ? ...glad it read it & i thought it was ok in a 7 out of 10 way, but glad it was from the library and not something i paid for as i'm not likely to read it again. Funny in places, the canoe trip especially so. Fascinating in places, alaska especially so. But (and this is proabably as i don't go chasing birds myself) i couldn't really relate to the characters or the story itself.