BBC Twitching Documentary (1 Viewer)

[Lee Evans]

Mud Hen - at least have the decency to identify yourself. I think that the fact that I have been in full time birding since 1985 proves the fact that I am successful in what I do and although you do not think that I should have any place in British Birding Society, I think there are a few more than one that think I should have. Presumably, you are saying that if I joined any National birding committee such as the BBRC or BOURC then all support for said committees would diminish.

The facts are that the UK400 Club (or I as you accuse it) takes its directives from a panel of Advisors who are second to none in their field, both in taxonomic and identification matters. The Panel of Advisors (which are listed on the public page of the website) include who I consider to be masters of the trade and are frequently consulted on contentious matters. It is a falacy that decisions made are purely my own.

 

[djprest]

lee are you really going to ireland this weekend to sort out that pesky man from cork???

 

[HH75]

lee are you really going to ireland this weekend to sort out that pesky man from cork???

Without taking anyone's side, let me just put one thing to rest: the birder to whom you refer may live in Cork, but he is not from Cork.

Unless, of course, you are referring to me, and my apparent slight of the master's apprentice on Inishbofin? Clever editing can do a lot...

 

[Adam W]

I dont think Gary Bagnell came off that badly. The only negative really was him sitting in the pub in Ireland and not searching for the Waxwing...or indeed just enjoying birding at a presumably new site.

So you dont the fact that his reaction to his own daughter complaning that he is never there for his family was to laugh it off and set off on another twitch is at all a bad reflection of him?

 

[djprest]

Without taking anyone's side, let me just put one thing to rest: the birder to whom you refer may live in Cork, but he is not from Cork.

Unless, of course, you are referring to me, and my apparent slight of the master's apprentice on Inishbofin? Clever editing can do a lot...

was that you who gave baggers the cold hard shoulder

 

[Cortonbirds]

So..we get all these "bird" programmes, that are clearly for the general public and not birders, such as this one and Baileys one. If it were for birders they would have got their BBC cameras on the birds themselves and not show some extremely poor shots clearly shot thru someones scope.

It is about time birders got a tv show, what with all the minor channels round nowadays surely there is space. I would suggest a monthly (or even weekly) magazine type show, similar to the old "Birding Plus" videos. You could have footage of the weeks rarities, site guides, ID features, news and forums. Presented by an actual birder. Yes it is time to show birding in a good way.

 

[Lee Evans]

DJ Prest

No, the reason for my visit is to hopefully see the very educational second confirmed record of North American Hen Harrier in Britain and Ireland - at Tacumshin in County Wexford. I have not seen one on this side of the Atlantic since the juvenile on Scilly in October 1982 which Chris Heard went to great lengths to convince me of the identification and enhanced my knowledge of the little-known form at that time. It is an identification I find very difficult and I would like the opportunity to study this bird and note down the differences from the 5 Hen Harriers it is choosing to roost with. Listening to Killian Mullarney, this birds seems very different and I would like the opportunity to see it for myself and come to terms with the subtle differences in underwing patterning.

Owen Foley is constantly undermining me on his website and has also antagonised quite a few Irish birders with his activities. Nowhere have I seen any positivity from him and his comments appear most unhelpful. I do have sympathy though regarding his personal bird records and I can understand why he feels so aggrieved. He has proven beyond doubt that he is a very good field observer and does have much to offer the wider community but having these bitter feuds with individuals is not rectifying the situation. The same can be said for PC Paul Freestone and his bitter feud with the CBWPS Committee members, of which I appear to have got drawn into during this past week.

 

[naturistbird]

I agree with much of what has been said about the delightful Craig family.
At least they were all together , doing things together as a family(rather a rare occurance in many households now) and OK obviously it must have been boring for all (the tremendous travelling) but the little girl came out of it with knowledge and enthusiasm.

Obviously, as the mother put it, they couldn't carry on doing this with Maya for ever as she would rebel at some stage but it did give her a snapshot of birding life for a short time.

Had there been more children at home then obviously this way of life would have been much harder to follow.

What about families who remove their children from school and travel for a year, say?
At least this birding was being followed only at weekends.

With regard to the other principal players...obviously it is exciting to be asked to appear in a documentary on TV!...but you must always remember that by appearing you are putting yourself at the mercy and whims of the producer who can make you appear just as she wishes.And I'm sure all felt that some of their statements were taken out of context/too negative/biassed etc.

I wonder how many of the players would repeat the experiment?

 

[Veracocha]

Never heard of or seen any of those people on the programme and I have to say, great TV, the producers did their job. At work there is much talk about the people but oddly not a word about the birds. The main character ( I believe is Lee?) the important question apparantly is what's with the white socks?

 

[dafi]

I thought the program was interesting and amusing insight into the extreme and obsessive end of the hobby, I for one am not bothered as to how the good old uninitiated British public sees us as they are always going to see a scope or bins and think twitcher! Its likely that no amount of explaining will ever change that narrow perception.

As for all the criticisms of the family taking their daughter off twitching during the migration season, well so what at least she was part of a family activity and not plonked down in front of ccbb’s or a play station.!!

The real looser was Evans who came across as a right dick, fancy being able to tell four birders that they hadn’t seen the bird they were looking at whilst miles away….the ego has landed…with a large enough footprint to squash all opposition for miles around…he would have been the funniest bit of the night if it wasn’t so sad.

Never mind though the program is on again three more times so if you missed it you will have another chance.

Thu 4 Nov 2010 22:30 BBC Four
Mon 8 Nov 2010 19:30 BBC Four
Tue 9 Nov 2010 02:00 BBC Four
I for one will give it another go, it will help fill time till Birds Britannia is aired!
Daf.

 

[Farnboro John]

Mud Hen - at least have the decency to identify yourself. I think that the fact that I have been in full time birding since 1985 proves the fact that I am successful in what I do and although you do not think that I should have any place in British Birding Society, I think there are a few more than one that think I should have. Presumably, you are saying that if I joined any National birding committee such as the BBRC or BOURC then all support for said committees would diminish.

The facts are that the UK400 Club (or I as you accuse it) takes its directives from a panel of Advisors who are second to none in their field, both in taxonomic and identification matters. The Panel of Advisors (which are listed on the public page of the website) include who I consider to be masters of the trade and are frequently consulted on contentious matters. It is a falacy that decisions made are purely my own.

Lee, you have provided all of us with assistance with twitch management, your opinions, and above all an enormous amount of entertainment for many years, but you must know, having been in full time birding since 1985 that you don't join BBRC or BOURC - you have to be invited. The composition of each and their self-sustaining character means that the very best are selected. It is surprising that with your experience you have been overlooked to this point, perhaps a facebook campaign or getting Simon Cowell to manage you would tip the balance.

In the meantime don't stop enjoying your birding - I'm not going to either.

John

 

[HH75]

My abiding memory of the programme: while I knew there to be a thriving Red Kite population in Oxfordshire...indeed, my first ever Red Kites were in the Chilterns...I was pleasantly surprised to see some in the air at all times when they showed the rubbish tip which the 'Azorean atlantis' was frequenting, especially with the industrial backdrop.

 

[djprest]

DJ Prest

No, the reason for my visit is to hopefully see the very educational second confirmed record of North American Hen Harrier in Britain and Ireland - at Tacumshin in County Wexford. I have not seen one on this side of the Atlantic since the juvenile on Scilly in October 1982 which Chris Heard went to great lengths to convince me of the identification and enhanced my knowledge of the little-known form at that time. It is an identification I find very difficult and I would like the opportunity to study this bird and note down the differences from the 5 Hen Harriers it is choosing to roost with. Listening to Killian Mullarney, this birds seems very different and I would like the opportunity to see it for myself and come to terms with the subtle differences in underwing patterning.

Owen Foley is constantly undermining me on his website and has also antagonised quite a few Irish birders with his activities. Nowhere have I seen any positivity from him and his comments appear most unhelpful. I do have sympathy though regarding his personal bird records and I can understand why he feels so aggrieved. He has proven beyond doubt that he is a very good field observer and does have much to offer the wider community but having these bitter feuds with individuals is not rectifying the situation. The same can be said for PC Paul Freestone and his bitter feud with the CBWPS Committee members, of which I appear to have got drawn into during this past week.

my misunderstanding then.

good luck with the harrier,it does look very interesting

all the best

d

 

[davidearlgray]

The real looser was Evans who came across as a right dick, fancy being able to tell four birders that they hadn’t seen the bird they were looking at whilst miles away….the ego has landed…with a large enough footprint to squash all opposition for miles around…he would have been the funniest bit of the night if it wasn’t so sad.


Watching the programme last night,"Delusion of grandeur" came to mind and I work in the Psychiatric field of nursing!!

 

[scienceandsanity]

Even though the guys in this show are at the top end, even I identified strongly with the need to see a bird and the relief once you get it. It captured that well.

No-one needs to see a bird. They just think they do. When did anyone die from not seeing a bird (except perhaps Cavemen).

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

The programme didn't actually say, but I believe it was a Cedar Waxwing.

Graham

I have a suspicion that some editorialising might actually have been involved there and that 'the bird' was actually two birds: the Cedar Waxwing and the Northern Rough-winged Swallow. There was some mention that Lee had told Garry that it was only seen coming in off the sea and then for a few minutes before disappearing. This fits with the NRWS on 13th October. Then the Cedar Waxwing turned up on Inishbofin and Garry 'diverted' to that (unsuccessfully as it turned out). I might be wrong though.

This bit of the programme did involve one of my favourite moments: the bloke in the bar sitting next to Garry shooting off as soon as Garry tried talking to him on camera.

 

[username]

Well i enjoyed the program...most amusing...!

Any feelings towards individuals i will keep for 'pub talk' as stuff gets far too personal on tinternet...especially when things get out of hand...[blimey...it's only birding]...:eek!:

ps...Lee....do you ever wish that you could turn the clock back re twitching....?

Best o luck with the harrier..i remember the 82 Scilly bird....crackin looking thing...!

Best wishes....L3

 

[davpen]

No-one needs to see a bird. They just think they do. When did anyone die from not seeing a bird (except perhaps Cavemen).

That's just shorthand though, innit? In order to be able to add a species to their lists they do indeed need to see it.

Still a bit mad though, I agree.

 

[scienceandsanity]

Life would be very sad and boring if we didn't have extreme personalities in the various walks/fields of life out there.

I quite agree although the more aggressive, narcissistic types are a pain in the back end, going to extreme lengths to try and have you believe in their Greatness (and convince themselves of their superiority in the process).

As someone with a considerable interest in psychology and human personality in particular this programme is absolutely priceless.

I wonder what proportion of hardcore twitchers enjoy birds, sunsets, the sound of Geese flying overhead?

 

[Pie Face]

I haven't read any of the previous posts because I can't be arsed! However after listening to the whole programme I have pulled all Lee's classic quotes and posted them here

Thank you Lee for providing us with the funniest hours TV in a long time.

Mark