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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Friendly advice required for a real beginner (1 Viewer)

Jim1

Member
Hi
I have joined the website to try and learn something from all the postings. I do have a question, though. I have booked myself a few days in Padstow, Cornwall, in mid october to go Beer drinking and bird-watching ( first holiday on my own and first attempt at bris-watching ) Does anyone have any advice? Any particular birds I should look for? I believe the Camel Estuary is well known for watching wading birds. I would love to hear from anyone, as I am about to go and buy my first pair of Binoculars and am getting very excited at the prospect of "twitching" I blame Bill Oddie!
 
Hello Jim and welcome to Birdforum.net

Someone will be along soon to answer your question. If not, why don't you post the same question in the forum called "Information Wanted" (or words to that affect) you may well receive more replies. Good luck!

Regards
 
Hi Jim! On behalf of those of us on staff here at BirdForum, a warm welcome to you.

You might want to check out our optics forum before you buy your binoculars.;)
 
Hi Jim.

I always find combining beer with birding improves the quality of the birds and often doubles the numbers involved ;)

On the bins the number one bit of advice is to try before you buy. Go somewhere that has a large number of different models where you can use them in field conditions. Focus Optics near Coventry isn't too far from you and should have everything you need to make a good choice. This is just a recommendation from a satisfied customer who has used them many times and always found them very helpful and friendly.
http://www.focusoptics.co.uk/

I wouldn't worry too much about twitching. There will be plenty of common birds about in Cornwall to keep you busy for a few days.
 
Jim, you can often support a bird conservation effort with your binocular purchase as many organizations have affiliate programs with binocular companies. One such example is Eagle Optics, who support Optics for the Tropics, an organization that provides optical equipment to scientists in the Caribbean and latin America. Enjoy ~ B :)

Jim1 said:
Hi
I have joined the website to try and learn something from all the postings. I do have a question, though. I have booked myself a few days in Padstow, Cornwall, in mid october to go Beer drinking and bird-watching ( first holiday on my own and first attempt at bris-watching ) Does anyone have any advice? Any particular birds I should look for? I believe the Camel Estuary is well known for watching wading birds. I would love to hear from anyone, as I am about to go and buy my first pair of Binoculars and am getting very excited at the prospect of "twitching" I blame Bill Oddie!
 
I'm still a newbie, but my advice is get out there, spot a bird, look it up in your field guide.

Have a good 'un.

Dave
 
Hi Jim, Try a visit to KERNOW OPTIC'S in Wadebridge for up to date information on any birds in the area. I have always found them to be extremely helpfull when I visit the place while on holiday.
Enjoy your trip.
Ron
 
Jim1 said:
Thanks to everyone for their advice, no doubt once I get back from my trip I shall have many more questions.

Hi Jim,

I am off to Anglesey next week fior a well-earned autumn break and I am looking forward to a bit of wader watching. Although it is nice to get rarities, I hope I don't see anything problematic like the Minsmere curlew. A good bird to lookfor in Cornwall would be the little egret. They are not rare now but you stand a good chance of seeing one on just about any estuary in the south (if not the rest of the country in winter). There are usually a few birds further west on the Hayle estuary.
 
Hi Jim,

Padstow? - Turnstones on boats and around the benches in the harbour when I was there a couple of winters ago - seemed to be taking the place of Starlings and pigeons, cleaning up the crumbs dropped from pasties! Enjoy the ales (good food too - though you may have to dig deep for the best!).

Cheers,

Andy.
 
Hi Jim1. Its good to hear you want to become involved in Bird watching/ornithology/twitching. I would recoment buying a good field guide with birds common to the whole of UK. If u take a note book too and are usure of a bird do a little sketch or just jot down some notes. Not all the birds you see will be native to the UK the odd one or two come over from Europe.
Cya and have fun :)
 
Hi! Jim and welcome.
The best way to start is exactly what you've been doing. On this site will be lots of advice...your getting some now (ie above) best thing is enjoy whatever you see....and happy drinking..Cornwall is a great place for a holiday. If you have time to visit the scillies...theres good birding there too...but depends how long your staying.
Eagle
 
Lucky you to be off to Cornwall...one place I have always wanted to visit!
As Dave said...don't worry about spotting rarities just yet, get out and enjoy seeing the common birds first. Make a few notes of what you see then look them up in a field guide...it's amazing how quickly you learn!
As to binoculars...perhaps pop along and speak to a proper binocular specialist or often your local Wildlife Trust will have days at their reserves where you can try out various makes, and see which makes you are comfortable with - Northumberland Wildlife Trust often has optic days at Hauxley and Washington Wildfowl Trust.

But, most of all, ENJOY!!!! You will soon become as addicted as the rest of us and, as I've already said, it's amazing just how quickly you do pick up the various species...just wait till the spring and you have to sort out all the various songs LOL Now that is fun!!!

GILL
 
Thanks to everyone for their advice. I have yet another question, I have been looking at Field Guides, and cannot seem to find any that seem that good. Do all field guides only have coloured drawings?, or can you get one with proper photographs?
By the way, I've now bought my bins and am very pleased with them, however I have noticed that as soon as I bought them I have not seen any birds at all, they've all gone to ground for the moment
 
There are a few photographic guides but most people prefer Illustrations.

A photoguide you could check out is "Complete British Birds: A photo Guide" by Paul Sterry. Got to say I prefer an illustrated guide myself.
 
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