Cost of going off Birding.these days. (1 Viewer)

Val & Rex · Feb 2, 2011

Ashley beolens said:
Sorry if I offended you but as I said I am cynical and saw what looked like an advert and said so (I'm not the only one that thought this!). I think maybe it is because you do not talk about a specific product or design but a company (tents, cool boxes, mattresses). When you were being given advice to help you choose your optical gear, did people say, buy slik tripods, and leave it at that or give you specific details about the product they are using?

Either way, I do feel you are advocating the most expensive gear over just as adequate less expensive stuff. You talk about self inflating mattressess, what is wrong with a good old fashioned bed roll? Or for more comfort a campbed? I have a few campbeds that cost under £10 each and have lasted for at least 7 years, and are comfortable to sleep on. Do you really need to use a popup or inflateable tent? They cost more than a standard one that you insert the poles with, yes they take longer to put up and take down, but surely that is part of the fun of camping. And many tents will survive strong winds if put up correctly and bum into the wind.

I agree that camping is a wonderful way to stay when birding (in some cases, not all, I hate camping on the Isles of Scilly as you have to carry your gear around in the evenings, no where safe to leave it.) and does allow you to wake up to the birds.

Not sure why you feel sorry for me though?

Hi again Ashley.
No problems this way.over the years giving advice I have found it better to pass on were to get specialised equipment, as google these days is totally committed to the retail trade and to find some items can be very frustrating and often calls for forum members to ask were to find the product.But your comment is fair and not the first time I have Been accused of advertising

or even in parnership :-O
Best regards Ashley,
Rex.

pshute · Feb 2, 2011

Val & Rex said:
Hi
If weight and transport room is not a problem. IE the use of a camping trailer But the warmest most comfortable camp beds made.we have used similar in the past http://www.fishingwarehouseshop.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/6_1075/products_id/4386
trouble is you get what you pay for:smoke:
You can now save £100 on Ebay on this bed and the 2011 is now 99CM

Looks like what my $70 camp bed would look like with a thin foam mattress on it.

Val & Rex · Feb 4, 2011

pshute said:
Looks like what my $70 camp bed would look like with a thin foam mattress on it.

Hi pshute
You fellas down there eat two much meat,we had some australian special forces attached to us in Jehor Malaya in 1962's and they were paid extra as we did not feed them with enough meat :-O The camp beds that I linked to are designed for carp anglers who spend long winter hours day and night fishing for carp,were in the UK they are looked upon as superior fish,I believe you look at them in a different light down there

Regards
Rex.

Fozzybear · Feb 4, 2011

My brother and I stay in cottages when we go on trips, usually about £300 for a week so about £20-25 each per night. Depends how often you go though I guess but having tried camping I won't be upset to never ever do it again. Plus I'd not exactly feel very comfortable camping with thousands of pounds of optical/camera gear in a tent... not the most secure of places!

Val & Rex · Feb 4, 2011

Fozzybear said:
My brother and I stay in cottages when we go on trips, usually about £300 for a week so about £20-25 each per night. Depends how often you go though I guess but having tried camping I won't be upset to never ever do it again. Plus I'd not exactly feel very comfortable camping with thousands of pounds of optical/camera gear in a tent... not the most secure of places!

Hi Paul
Small sites without clubhouses etc. that are not near cities are very safe,campers look out for campers,and thieving is very rare, but as you say you lock away valuables in your car, when out of your site. backpackers always have their gear with them,I did back in the old days.
But as I say, you must be a certain type of person to become a camper, but its benefits to the birding fraternity can be very good.
Regards
Rex.

Fozzybear · Feb 4, 2011

Fine if you have a car! That would make camping a much more expensive proposition!

pshute · Feb 4, 2011

Val & Rex said:
Hi pshute
You fellas down there eat two much meat,we had some australian special forces attached to us in Jehor Malaya in 1962's and they were paid extra as we did not feed them with enough meat :-O The camp beds that I linked to are designed for carp anglers who spend long winter hours day and night fishing for carp,were in the UK they are looked upon as superior fish,I believe you look at them in a different light down there

You know us very well, then. If ours are the same kind of carp as the ones you're talking about then I think most Australians would be very surprised that anyone would deliberately go fishing for them, and simply wouldn't believe that you could buy a carp fishing bed!

Here, as you probably know, we aren't allowed to throw them back. Almost nobody will eat them, so they get left on the river bank.

Those Australian soldiers you mentioned, did you ever happen to check what they spent their extra meat money on? I'd bet it wasn't meat.

Larry Sweetland · Feb 5, 2011

Or get a van, stick a bed and cooker in it, (and a bucket for when you're in built up areas), and then you can park up close to just about anywhere. More comfy than camping, with more options of where you can pitch up for free. Fuel costs are higher than a car of course, but overall it normally works out cheaper.

pshute · Feb 6, 2011

Have any of you tried one of these?
http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/onli...tdoor-Camping-Cot.aspx?pid=262035#Description

I've attached a picture downloaded from that site, in case they change the URL. Just in case the scale isn't obvious, this is a one man tent.

I've always wanted to try one of these, it should only take seconds to put up and take down, and should be heavy enough not to blow away. The main disadvantage is that getting dressed in there might require some gymnastics.

Steve Babbs · Feb 7, 2011

I almost never stay in the UK anywhere else than a campsite and it's actually more fun than a hotel with kids. Also I've done a lot of camping in southern Africa and Canada, which was fine. I've also tried it quite a bit in the tropics - hell on earth, hot sweaty nights and tents just don't go..

As to putting up the tent, I have a variety of tents. Once you've done it a few times a reasonable tent (I mean a couple of hundred quids worth not costing silly money) should take 10 - 20 minutes to erect. Having left my last wild country tent (costing about £400, maybe a bit more, and not actually lasted that long - although it did get very heavy use - I've just gone for a £50 one in a Blacks sale. It'll be interesting to see how that does.

Steve Babbs · Feb 7, 2011

Larry Wheatland said:
Or get a van, stick a bed and cooker in it, (and a bucket for when you're in built up areas), and then you can park up close to just about anywhere. More comfy than camping, with more options of where you can pitch up for free. Fuel costs are higher than a car of course, but overall it normally works out cheaper.

With no kids, I'd be tempted to convert a people carrier.

benm · Feb 7, 2011

It's all wilder than Scotland here in the Great Basin of the US, but if I found me self in London pining to bird I would get a Leica and go street birding. You know, digiscope some pigeons eating chips in Trafalgar Square but change my sensor out for some Tri-X for that gritty urban Auduboner look.

Mysticete · Feb 7, 2011

If you really want to save money (and at least some time), you can just sleep in your car. I did this for about 4 or 5 nights in South Texas last March. Granted Not the best idea if you are tall, but I did find it quite efficient, as I didn't have to waste valuable birding time unpacking/packing tents, or waiting for them to dry if they got wet.

pshute · Feb 8, 2011

Mysticete said:
If you really want to save money (and at least some time), you can just sleep in your car. I did this for about 4 or 5 nights in South Texas last March. Granted Not the best idea if you are tall, but I did find it quite efficient, as I didn't have to waste valuable birding time unpacking/packing tents, or waiting for them to dry if they got wet.

Yes, surely the most efficient solution. On the seat, or in the back? We've got a station wagon, but it has a very sensible wire cargo barrier that stops me putting the seats down to sleep.

I've slept across the back seat of a car once, never again, way too cramped. I've never tried sleeping in a front seat. Surely it would be uncomfortable with your legs hanging off the seat.

And anyone who hasn't tried sleeping in a car should be warned that it can get really cold, with all that glass letting the heat radiate away.

Steve Babbs · Feb 8, 2011

Mysticete said:
If you really want to save money (and at least some time), you can just sleep in your car. I did this for about 4 or 5 nights in South Texas last March. Granted Not the best idea if you are tall, but I did find it quite efficient, as I didn't have to waste valuable birding time unpacking/packing tents, or waiting for them to dry if they got wet.

The problem in crowded southern England is that you're likely to get moved on - most carparks stipulate no overnight parking - and/or find yourself at a local 'dogging' site. (I'm not sure if that's a term used in the US). I suppose you could pay for a campsite and sleep in the car.

Tiger1 · Jul 5, 2011

I have camped in winter in the Highlands while on Mountain Rescue Service in the 1960s-miserable. Camped every night for nearly three months en-route to Aussie. Camped in 45*c in the outback.
Now as an old wrinkly, I use an off road camper trailer-luxury. Also spent my hard earned bawbees on good Bins, Scope, Tripod etc. Coming to UK in September will be using B&B--super luxury.
If you have it, why not spend it. As my Granny used to say 'There are no pockets in a shroud"

Tiger1

Pedalman · Oct 11, 2011

A small camper van could also be the answer( VW T4 2.5 TDI ) with a sleeper awning. They do 40+ mpg without the awning attached !?! mmm? You can pick an older one up for the price of a pair of Swarovski EL 8x42 bins. Campsites charge same price as a tent average £15 with electric hook up .If you go on your own or maximum of two people ( or if its raining )you dont have to put the awning up, it has fridge, small two ring cooker, sink, fold out bed .....all in all a very convenient alternative to a tent, just drive in and put the kettle on.
I also have a small Argos electric oil heater in mine, its left on through the night and its never cold and you dont get condensation dripping on you .

YuShan · Nov 29, 2011

Last summer I spent almost two months doing a grand tour of England, Scotland and Wales. It was not exclusively about birding, but that was a big part of it (the other part being mainly hiking - these two combine very well of course).

Total cost of this wonderful trip was £1064, including everything (camping, food, petrol, etc).

I was sleeping in a Vango Tempest 300 tent (£115, not included in the total since I can keep using it for years) and cooked my own food. I drove 3300 miles in total, so fuel is a major part of the cost (273 liter of petrol to be precise).

So I think it was an epic but relatively inexpensive trip and a great birding experience. I think I'll do a similar trip next year.

wolfbirder · Jan 5, 2012

Due to the cost of petrol, when in the UK & if unable to do a day trip, I tend to sleep overnight in the back of my Fiat Punto. And its a 1.1 not a family saloon either! And I am 6 foot tall.

But I take my little travel kit in my car boot, that includes sleeping bag/pillow, warm puffed up coat and hat for insulation, change of clothes, toiletries (yes I know its too much information but using baby wipes you can freshen up in the morning and feel ready for the off). The thought doesnt bare thinking about I know, but its better being clean than dirty! I even have a pee bottle I bought from Argos. I also take hot flask of coffee and pre-prepared breakfast includng cereal/milk carton, toast and jam wrapped in foil, and have tupperware plates, cup, bowl, cutlery etc. Plastic bags to put rubbish in, goes back in the car boot.

Its all about preperation!

Ok I may not have the best nights sleep, I can't stretch my legs and I sleep in a crouched up position, so its not the best sleep ever. I also have an eye mask to wear at night so car headlights do not overly bother me. Sometimes I only get 2-4 hours sleep. But then there is Red Bull !! I don't sleep well in a B & B anyway.

Only dilemma and cost issue here is that I have to drive by myself, meaning I dont split the petrol cost, there is no way two people could sleep in a Punto (well actually they could with both front seats folded back).

Where possible I do day trips anyway, I even did a day trip to Scilly from Wolverhampton this year, leaving at 2am to catch 8.15am Scillonian (just having a couple hours sleep), and arriving back home just before midnight.

Cost of going off Birding.these days. (1 Viewer)

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter

Well-known member

Ich bin ein Vogelbeobachter

Well-known member

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread