"Birding For Beginners" (1 Viewer)

[Chewbaxter]

I spent some time watching the starlings eating the elderberries in my garden and really enjoyed that immensely. I'm not sure why people don't really like starlings, I think they are gorgeous birds and their chortling whistles are pretty cool too.

Cheers for the comments Fozzy. :t: Have to say, I'm a big Starling fan... love the sound they make, and the colours/plumage - like looking at a bright and clear starry night (let's not wax lyrical hear though, I'll break into song next)... there aren't any as far as I'm aware of in my near vicinity, yet at a retail park about 10 miles away there are absolutely LOADS roosting in the ornamental trees at the Asda Carpark there - I love seeing 'em!

To me, any bird is a joy to behold... from the humble Rock Dove (generally referred to with the horrible 'Feral Pigeon' title) to the Avocet (which I saw for the first time ever only a couple of months back).

My own garden too is a wonderland to me - today we had a visiting Coal Tit which pleased me no end... what with the Robin, House Sparrow, Blue & Great Tit, Woodpigeon etc. I'm pleased to see any bird, and the Coal Tit as I say is a wee bit of a 'rarity' on my own patch... hopefully the feeders and mealworms will see him back (a Great Tit took a mealworm today and flew off with it, so you never know).

Yep - it's 'Easy Birding' to use your own garden/yard with the binoculars, but that doesn't make it any less fun or exciting.

Neil

 

[Fozzybear]

I guess it depends on what you want to get out of it. Some will find it keeps their interest to have aims "I must see xxx today/this year", which is all well and good - there are birds I really wanted to see but it was because they were special to me, not because they were rare or a difficult 'tick'.

Seeing a bittern is wonderful, but it's a joy and excitement that is transitory and fades. Watching a blackbird hunting in the garden and singing from a tree however is a pleasure that can make you happy every day.

 

[Chewbaxter]

Watching a blackbird hunting in the garden and singing from a tree however is a pleasure that can make you happy every day.

Now that's true... and it's things like that that make this special I feel.

As I've said before, and am not ashamed to admit, I've not really taken much notice of birds until earlier this year (with the exception of feeding ducks/swans etc. on the canal and park pond), but now having 'noticed' them at last, I realise what I've been missing.

At first it was the fascination of a Grey Wagtail and indeed, seeing that wagging action... and then the more I looked, the more I noticed the endearing qualities of these creatures... the Blackbird having a bath in the gutter, the Robin sat boldly looking on, House Sparrows squabbling over food etc.

May sound daft this, but prior to this, birds to me were a bit like an 'incomplete jigsaw' - and now they're like one 'put together' - hard to explain, just to say that at long last, I'm really appreciating seeing what I am now seeing.

Of course, this causes some problems... out and about, every chirrup and twitter and I'm looking around... it's a pain in the backside for my missus too I reckon to see me gawp in the distance at a bird flying past whilst we're conversing (I'm teaching myself to have a 'sly look' instead now to get away with it).

As long as I don't do it whilst driving, then I'll be okay! :king:


Neil.

 

[Fozzybear]

Well I can relate to that as although I've always appreciated birds and nature I had no knowledge of them at all really until recently and wasn't 'really' observant. Over the last couple of years I started really going out on walks in the country and exploring the local area, but it's only this year with my holidays to Pembrokeshire and Norfolk that I've had a wildlife fuse lit under me. I certainly have a lot to learn and my observation an listening need loads of work but I certainly pay a lot more attention than I used to. I'm not sure I love wildlife much more than I used to, but I'm certainly much more aware of it in my everyday life instead of just on the tv.

I'm sure your missus would prefer you to watch feathered birds rather than human birds... might not be a good idea to say that to her though!!

 

[Chewbaxter]

I'm sure your missus would prefer you to watch feathered birds rather than human birds... might not be a good idea to say that to her though!!

:king:

Very true.

And she knows that when I'm out and about I'm not 'up to anything' - I mean let's face it... bins, scope, tripod, field guide etc. etc. is hardly 'pulling tackle' is it?

In fact, if I were to say: "Right love... I'm off out to debauch myself and have myself some fun with loose women" she'd probably retort:

"Don't tell your lies - you're off birdwatching!"

She can read me like a book - that book being: "The Predictability of the Chewbaxter"!

:t:


Neil.

 

[Fozzybear]

Depends if woman says "Corr...! Look at the size of his scope!" |;|

 

[Chewbaxter]

:king:

What started off as a 'Birding For Beginners' thread has now turned into saucy seventies-style farce - love it! :t:


"Carry On Birding"

Starring: Sid James as Sid Sandpiperer, Bernard Bresslaw as Jack Snipe, Charles Hawtrey as Jimmy the Chirrup, Barbara Windsor as Bluey Tits and Kenneth Williams as Professor Bunting.

:t:


Neil.

 

[Tero]

I found my first of our bluish white Kingfishers in a different state. I had good views of it and it was the only thing I saw that morning, so I spent some time with it. It also made a rattle that somehow seemed familiar. A light went off in my head. So that is what those blue woodpeckers were back home. I had seen plenty of them.

 

[Chewbaxter]

I found my first of our bluish white Kingfishers in a different state. I had good views of it and it was the only thing I saw that morning, so I spent some time with it. It also made a rattle that somehow seemed familiar. A light went off in my head. So that is what those blue woodpeckers were back home. I had seen plenty of them.

Cheers for the comment Tero - identifying/misidentifying birds is a problem of mine still at times, but I don't mind - as long as the bird 'looks nice' I say who cares what the heck it is?

It's nice to get the 'light bulb over the head' revelation though... I had that with a Ruff... at first I'd not got a clue, and then I made copious notes and consulted a field guide - and it was indeed a Ruff.

Now to someone who 'knows birds' things like this may be obvious, but it's great to actually learn and to keep learning - I'm 36 and am a Qualified Nurse, so I've learned quite a bit in my time, but that doesn't stop me wanting to learn more and more... plus with the 'Birding' comes IDing other wildlife... and then there's some of the plants/trees - you get to hear this when another Birder says: "Look just over there... near the Foxgloves and the Himalayan Balsam - there's a Green Sandpiper - if you don't know the plants initially you'll struggle to see the area where the other Birder is looking (unless they say something like "Straight ahead - 12 O'Clock").

I enjoy learning all aspects of this excellent hobby, including the Latin names and some of the colloquial terms (e.g. Lapwing also known as 'Peewit' and in Lancashire particularly, 'Chewit').

This thread is intended for me to share this wonder as a relative Newbie with anyone else who's fascinated by all this - and I hope that comes across.

Better still for me would be if someone said:
"Wow - you're post really struck a chord with me and really got me into Birding - many thanks" - if that were to happen then I'd be happy as Larry - I'm not a religious person, but if I could convert a non-Birder into 'Birdism' that would be excellent!

:t:

Neil.

 

[MLoyko]

Hey all,

I've only been birding since I joined the forum in January 2008! Not so much a newbie anymore but still relatively new.

I learned a lot basically teaching myself and logging onto the forum (even during classes). Spending loads of time reading the ID threads and listening to what the more experienced people on the say and the features of identification they suggest in the thread will really help any of the "newbie's" out, I know it did for me!

Even if you take a stab at one or two and find out you were wrong its ok...we all make mistakes, I still even screw up the easy ones!

My friends always joke around with me going, "Matt! what is that and what is that one over there" since they don't bird but know I do. I guess they are just stunned that I can now ID the stuff around me with glances since I been around it for awhile! All you need to do is find a spot that you like and go out and walk around in it, taking in everything, sounds, movement, every little thing helps. I find if you stand still in the woods and just watch, everything seems to some to you! Even take a friend who isn't in to birding and you will find both of you learning.

That's all I got, but good luck and good birding,
Matt

 

[Chewbaxter]

Even if you take a stab at one or two and find out you were wrong its ok...we all make mistakes, I still even screw up the easy ones!

Matt

Nice to meet you Matt :t:

The main thing for me re: this is to admit to making mistakes in order to learn... no point in bullsh*tting (pardon the phrase)... if you're wrong, then own up - I've been wrong about numerous things... the 'Songthrush' that trned out to be a Blackbird (female) - I only realised how completely different the two were when I saw a Songthrush soon after!

If someone asks me something and I don't know, then I'll admit it - always better to be honest eh?

To me, a good birder, is an honest one, no matter how experienced or inexperienced!

Cheers again for posting Matt - appreciated!


Neil.

 

[MLoyko]

No problem, just thought I'd give some advice I learned from the forum in my own experience.

And yes it is always better to be honest..I always repost when I'm wrong correcting myself!

Best,
Matt

 

[Chewbaxter]

No problem, just thought I'd give some advice I learned from the forum in my own experience.

Excellent stuff - and this is a great thread to do it in! :t:

I appreciate ANY input that's going to help new birders... that's what it's all about - any info. you have to share further, post away here, I'll look forward to seeing and discussing - same goes for anyone else.

:t:

Regards!

Neil.

 

[Tero]

On this side of the pond, beginning birders are always turning juvenile American Robins into wood thrushes and such. "It had spots."

 

[Chewbaxter]

On this side of the pond, beginning birders are always turning juvenile American Robins into wood thrushes and such. "It had spots."

That's nothing... anything from Dalmation Dogs to Xmas Puddings... if it's got spots I'll shout "Thrush" straight away until proven otherwise... makes it difficult to play dominoes too!


:t:

Neil.

 

[MLoyko]

Talking about confusion species, many a times I've been tricked into a raptor sighting by those dang Rock Pigeons. I don't know why but they have a habit of changing form mid-flight :-O

-Matt

 

[Chewbaxter]

Chapter Six - "T'Which I Explain About Twitching"

So... you're a Birder... you look at birds, and you like 'em (hopefully)... you've books on them AND you are able to go out with binoculars without feeling like a spy, a pervert or even worse - a NERD!

But now you want to try something else and you decide to try 'Extreme Birding' - no... that's not Birding whilst bungee jumping or parachuting (although it does sound like fun) - I am of course referring to 'Twitching'.

I decided to try this recently (today in fact - hey, how recent is that?)

I reckon I can now officially class myself as a 'Twitcher'... unless there are some 'Proper Twitchers' out there who say that I'm not, then I'm saying I am one - so there!



So What the hell's a 'Twitcher'?

Well, you might think it's someone who's had far too much coffee - I certainly twitch and find I can't keep still after about six or seven cups of the stuff - but that's not what I'm refering to... no, a 'Twitcher' is someone who'll travel miles to see a rare bird... he (or she - let's not be sexist here) is the Indiana Jones of the Birding world... although generally without bullwhip, fedora, sidekick, mysterious artefacts, being chased by Nazis...

Okay, NOTHING like Indiana Jones - but certainly an adventurer I reckon - to fire off to some distant location to see a bird that may very well have b*ggered off by the time they get there... well, that takes determination and a lot of petrol in my book - so it has to be applauded!

So where does the term 'Twitcher' come from?

Apparently, the term twitcher began in the 1950s and was used to used to describe the nervous behaviour of Howard Medhurst, a British birdwatcher - it's used to depict the physical symptoms displayed when one is excited... a bit like kids waiting for Santa I expect, although we don't refer to them as twitchers... we just tell them "go to sleep - or Santa won't come" - they then have to miss out on spotting the chap - which is completely opposite to what Birding and Twitching's all about!

Anyhow - I digress...

The term 'Twitcher' is often a name given to people who enjoy 'birdwatching', and it's often used incorrectly to describe a 'Birdwatcher' or a 'Birder' (the latter term sounds better doesn't it?) Not all Birders are Twitchers, but certainly all Twitchers are Birders - I don't think that you can 'Twitch' for any other species... if you can, let me know!

Anyhow... so I've been 'twitching' - how far did I travel and what did I see?

Well, not too far - in fact only a few miles away from where I live.

Wigan Flashes, and in particular 'Scotsman's Flash' - an area local to me (well, it saves on petrol for a start).

I'd found info. from an internet birdwatching forum that reported a Red-throated Diver which had been present for a few days - now that's a rare bird for this part of the country (Lancashire, England)!

So I got all my essential equipment ready... 'scope (telescope) and tripod, bins (binoculars), field guide and two dogs (the last bit hardly a 'Birding Essential' but they enjoy the walk, so I thought to take 'em).

When we got there, there were already a few folk looking at this bird, unfortunately I couldn't see it as it had gone across to the other side of the flash (lake)... plus the sunlight was shining (as sunlight often does) on the area where it had last been seen, so I decided to move to another location (as did other people - very wise).

A bit further on, one chap there with his 'scope (who I'd spoke with previously), so I asked him if he'd spotted it again - he pointed it out to me - and it was quite close to where we were - probably only about 10 metres away (which was very kind of it, as it meant 'finding it' with my 'scope was much easier).

Excellent stuff and a great feeling to have seen a rare bird - I'd never seen one before, and don't know if I'll see one again so I'm pretty chuffed with this!

When I carried on walking, I got chatting with one lady and her father, she enquired if there was a rare bird in the area as she'd seen a number of people out and about with all their birding paraphernalia - I told her as to what we'd all been looking at and showed her the bird in my field guide - she thanked me for telling her and showing her the book... I thought after as to how weird it must be to see an invasion of people with 'scopes and the like... in fact, I rarely take the 'scope there, but usually take my bins with me.

So there you have it... it may not sound all that exciting unless this is something you're 'into' - but it's not been a bad day for me I have to say... especially seeing that I'm coughing and sneezing and generally feeling sorry for myself - so it's brightened up my day!

As for my next Twitch?

Well, let's hope the next bird I hear about is also local - I've only half a tank of petrol left - so fingers crossed!





Neil.

 

[Justlearning]

This is a great post, I am just getting into birding and this will give me good start.

I will print it out so I can read it when I am away from the computer.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi Justlearning and a warm welcome to you from the entire staff here at BirdForum :t:

This is a very good thread and you'll learn much from BirdForum on the whole. Enjoy!

 

[joannec]

Nice cheerful thread, Neil.:t: