Steve Babbs
Well-known member
As you can tell I'm not really into football. I used to be, but sadly I support Ipswich.
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BBC Twitching Documentary (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Garry Bagnell
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As you can tell I'm not really into football. I used to be, but sadly I support Ipswich.
scary-canary
Canaries forever... and i'm not always scary, some
chris23565
Well-known member
I don't believe in 'telling tales' on mates....
ps...if you interested i did a little something on the twitching program on me blog...http://username-beast.blogspot.com/
pps...some pix of Dipper on there too...[still as nicely nuts as usual]...
Just had a look at your blog mate, what a nice mad mix of pix, music and birding, an surley that ain't the 'Dipper' from the Scillies scene in the early 80's, seem to remember him an Steve Cale having there tea with my family in Garrison House all those years ago!
Too late, of course: https://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.cgi?A2=ind1011&L=ebnnl&D=1&O=D&P=499
The Dutch twitchers definitely have their own Garry, maybe even their own Craigs, but no Lee. There are a few types who would excel in a documentary though...
There's only one 'dipper' Chris....[real name Keith Lyons]... a fine mad birder from the 'old days'...he's still as enthusiastic as ever...[but he do need a new scope]....chuckle....!
All the best to you....:t:
Stephen Dunstan
Registered User
There was a Dutch birder who was extensively mocked on here some time ago due to some optimistic claims on his website. Every country will have their birding 'characters', and in every case there is a time to call off the dogs in terms of ridiculing them.
Agreed. going back too many years now, at Spurn Lee got his scope on the immature Yellow-breasted Bunting that had proved elusive all morning. Viewing was difficult with only a few able to view from a higher position. He had only been on it for a couple of seconds when I asked if I could look through his scope as it was a new bird for me. He immediately obliged and I saw what remains my only record of this species in Yorkshire and Britain. I was about to pass his scope back to him, when the bird dropped again back into cover. To his own detriment he had let me view the bird.
Lee enjoys sharing birds with other birders, and getting other people on to birds. Some of those having a pop might be better placed directing their comments at the newbies squabbling in a hide in Cornwall, who could learn a thing or two.
A few years ago there was a ridiculous comment going round that Lee had "planted" a Lady A, so he could make money out of taking birders to the site. I met Lee on my pre-arranged visit with him - he was on time at the agreed meeting point. He drove me up to the site. He was in a bit of a rush so I stayed on after he'd gone. The bird hadn't shown by the time Lee left - no charge. Again, my one and only sighting of this rarity. I sent him on the agreed "fee" to cover petrol etc., not that Lee was chasing.
All you can do is speak as you find.
I do agree however that adherence to a BOURC list should be the norm. We all have to be aiming at the same sized goals.
Watched this last night.........Sure i spotted the beard & green hat Julian!
Nick Elliston
Well-known member
Or in my case more like Norfolk Sunday League Division 4 (and nearer bottom than top).
devon.birder
Well-known member
I hope John Woodland from Exeter wasn't watching this program because if he was he may have got a nasty shock. According to the Life List shown towards the start he is number 267 with 493 birds seen but he is also marked as having died in March 2009. Wrong John Woodland. Roger
Birdmanofgunton
New member
Ryman Premier too! Lowestoft FC all the way, look forward to visiting AFC Hornchurch
I saw the programme and people who know me whats coming next... I blame the programme makers/journalists for their fixation with stereotypes. No birder or twitcher will be portayed as 'normal', just simply persuing a hobby/personal interest.
I subscribe to surfbirds emails and receive LGRE's about ruddy duck culls, farmland birds etc.. which are always very enlightening and informative.
I quite believe and sadly not suprised the programme makers chose to leave out what Lee said about non twitching stuff like that, as it would have gone against their agenda to portray birders as strange people, rather than people with brains, who care about wildlife and have an understanding of the natural world. Indeed there maybe a number who dont but it would have been good to have had the chance to move away from that image. I long to see the day when the media fairly portay birding in general but it seems they are just set in their own ways socially and politically. Ecven Autumnwatch is just cringeworthy, all about the same old stuff each year.
DunnoKev
Guest
Some of the people at work watched the repeat last night, and again the reaction of those outside our sphere was incredulity. One raised the question of 'why do people hold Lee in awe just because he's a good birdwatcher?', which is a reasonable thing to ask. Often we are able to overlook idiosyncratic behaviour if there are benefits for ourselves. When you start trying to explain this to those outside the sphere they just can't comprehend the level of acceptance we give flawed characters. (Especially if you tell them there's supposedly a.n.other birder who once carried a stun gun..)
So, I suppose it comes round to how much you can forgive someone for the benefits they bring to you in return. It's the old 'aw he/she's an annoying %$£* but they're a ruddy good birder'. Or perhaps 'we'll let 'x' off swiping another person with a tripod because they know their way around old greater coverts'
Which brought me back to Stuart's 'genius' chapter. When I first read the book, I could go along with the argument, but I'm now looking at the strict definition of genius as being 'having an extraordinary capacity of intellect, creativity and original work' and doubting it. People will have their opinions on each element of the strict defininiton (and let's ignore the easy jibes for the moment) but outside of our birding sphere, could the argument for the 'genius' tag hold for the common man to agree? Genius among birders, possibly, genius, no. Ruddy good birder for whom some of us are able to overlook his flaws for what he brings to our own birding worlds might be more like it. What I liked on second watching was how much Lee was willing to admit to his own shortcomings. And I think he's mellowing in his middle years.
So that's enough let me let him off not answering my e-ms for a third time after making the offer on here for people to write to him (!) And ask Stewart if he'll use the phrase 'flawed genius' for the second edition instead.
So, I suppose it comes round to how much you can forgive someone for the benefits they bring to you in return. It's the old 'aw he/she's an annoying %$£* but they're a ruddy good birder'. Or perhaps 'we'll let 'x' off swiping another person with a tripod because they know their way around old greater coverts'
Which brought me back to Stuart's 'genius' chapter. When I first read the book, I could go along with the argument, but I'm now looking at the strict definition of genius as being 'having an extraordinary capacity of intellect, creativity and original work' and doubting it. People will have their opinions on each element of the strict defininiton (and let's ignore the easy jibes for the moment) but outside of our birding sphere, could the argument for the 'genius' tag hold for the common man to agree? Genius among birders, possibly, genius, no. Ruddy good birder for whom some of us are able to overlook his flaws for what he brings to our own birding worlds might be more like it. What I liked on second watching was how much Lee was willing to admit to his own shortcomings. And I think he's mellowing in his middle years.
So that's enough let me let him off not answering my e-ms for a third time after making the offer on here for people to write to him (!) And ask Stewart if he'll use the phrase 'flawed genius' for the second edition instead.
The sniper
Well-known member
Ryman Premier too! Lowestoft FC all the way, look forward to visiting AFC Hornchurch
Hopefully we will play better than we did when we visited you in august
Mike Cross
Well-known member
I watched it again last night and puicked up some more things I missed first time, probably because I was still rolling around and in tears of laughter at the George Michael comment the first time.
Anyone notice how Gary when on the phone to Lee whilst standing by the car door said "I'm sitting in my car now Lee" then immediately (as if realising he wasn't telling the great man the 100% truth") got in and sat down to continue the conversation. Obviously felt that if he was caught on camera not being truthful about his standing/sitting situation then clearly there would be doubts cast on being able to identify a sub-species of gull.
Also pretty telling that when all the others were watching the gull intently when re-found, he was just hanging about looking around and couldn't wait to go (with tick safely in the bag) but body language also suggested that he felt he couldn't
rokermartin
Well-known member
I bet the Dutch birders are glad they haven't got someone like Lee.
Although curiously I think it's a shame we don't have someone like Norman van Swelm in the UK. Maybe we could do a swap.
edenwatcher
Well-known member
I thought that there were signs of a budding Norman in Essex claiming nutcrackers and the like...
Rob
Rob
That shows promise, but I don't know if he's the real deal.
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John Fordham
Well-known member
Ryman Premier too! Lowestoft FC all the way, look forward to visiting AFC Hornchurch
Blimey, we might need to start a Ryman sub-forum.
We are the Hendon and we are the best, we are the Hendon and f**k all the rest. Off to Chelmsford tomorrow for First round of Cup:t:
Don't mention last weekend's trophy results - I drove all thew way down from Cley to Sudbury, missing an afternoon's birding, to see our wirst display for many a year.:-C
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