Hi I'm Howdie a retired Public Health Doctor. I've been a keen amateur birdwatcher for more than 60 years. I joined the New Zealand Forest & Bird Society back in the 1950's as a school child and was fortunate during the period I lived in New Zealand to go to off-shore Islands, Kapiti, Poor Knights and Codfish (Whenua Hou) designated as sanctuaries where I encountered many rare and unusual species and had the benefit of trained professional ornithologists. I have now lived in West Sussex for more than 30 years but have spent a lot of time in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.