Lothian Birding (4 Viewers)

[markhammonds]

This is not the first instance lately of this behaviour occurring in Lothian, I hear the Crane was also flushed at the weekend.

Is the Crane still around? I was thinking of going for a (distant) look tomorrow...

 

[Morg]

Reported as being present today but elusive on twitter

From some of the pics posted it looks like the best hide to use for the crane would be tractor!

 

[Esk Watcher]

Solitary snow bunting on the Aberlady beach by the dunes this afternoon.

 

[markhammonds]

Reported as being present today but elusive on twitter. From some of the pics posted it looks like the best hide to use for the crane would be tractor!

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I didn't get chance to look for the Crane on Sunday. Hope the bird avoided disturbance this weekend.

 

[Birdspotter]

I hear that the flushers who masquerade as photographers have been at it again, this time at the Cammo Spot Red & Green Sand.
You can read about my birds in the relevant Lothian Bird Report then I guess!

 

[Big Den]

I hear that the flushers who masquerade as photographers have been at it again, this time at the Cammo Spot Red & Green Sand.
You can read about my birds in the relevant Lothian Bird Report then I guess!

I spent about 45 minutes over at Cammo on Friday afternoon and had great views of the Green Sand from the comfort of my car. There's no need to get out of your car here, a bit of common sense should prevail. That is until some auld codger turned up that I've never clapped eyes on before, stumbled out the car with a big lens that he couldn't work, and flushed the bird. He was that clueless that he still stood there looking for it. He was given some moderate abuse, moderate being down to his age. Had he been a few years younger then I would have went to town on him.

Too many fuds knocking around these days that contribute nothing, turn up at bird's and and ruin it time and time again and imo, shouldn't get get the chance to see them. On the other hand to that, it would be a shame to hold things back for the good guys out there who put there news out and know how to conduct themselves in the field. Its a catch 22 :smoke:

 

[Birdspotter]

I spent about 45 minutes over at Cammo on Friday afternoon and had great views of the Green Sand from the comfort of my car. There's no need to get out of your car here, a bit of common sense should prevail. That is until some auld codger turned up that I've never clapped eyes on before, stumbled out the car with a big lens that he couldn't work, and flushed the bird. He was that clueless that he still stood there looking for it. He was given some moderate abuse, moderate being down to his age. Had he been a few years younger then I would have went to town on him.

Too many fuds knocking around these days that contribute nothing, turn up at bird's and and ruin it time and time again and imo, shouldn't get get the chance to see them. On the other hand to that, it would be a shame to hold things back for the good guys out there who put there news out and know how to conduct themselves in the field. Its a catch 22 :smoke:

Yep I agree Den m8 it is a shame for the good guys, however as you say too many clowns have infiltrated the birding scene who are not birders but are however just photographers intent on a good shot whatever the price. I dont want to be a part of that but dont worry you will hear about the good stuff

 

[Big Den]

Yep I agree Den m8 it is a shame for the good guys, however as you say too many clowns have infiltrated the birding scene who are not birders but are however just photographers intent on a good shot whatever the price. I dont want to be a part of that but dont worry you will hear about the good stuff

Glad to hear it mate and vice versa. There will be a pint of best sat on the bar for you at Winstons if its a biggie B

 

[Big Den]

I was quite saddened today whilst walking from Thorntonloch to Barns Ness, to find so many corpses washed up. 27 Puffins, 26 Guillemots (including 1 smart Bridled) 5 Razorbills, 1 Shag (adult), 1 Kittiwake (adult) 1 Gannet ( adult ) and a juv Herring Gull. I also had a Harbour Porpoise and 2 Common Seals ( 1 pup freshly dead) what a bloody shame.

I also had small numbers on Monday including a Little Auk. Lets save the easterlies for the autumn and give these birds a chance.

 

[8xMagnify]

I'm from West Lothian and am 26, just wondering if any others are around my age?

Don't mind getting to know anyone whatever age you may be but just wondering if a younger crowd exist on here? 26 isn't young though lol

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

 

[david kelly]

I'm from West Lothian and am 26, just wondering if any others are around my age?

Don't mind getting to know anyone whatever age you may be but just wondering if a younger crowd exist on here? 26 isn't young though lol

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

Hello

Not sure about the answer to your question but try joining the Lothian Bird News e mail group which also has a twitter feed @LTNBirdNews and a Facebook page. All of these tend to be a bit more active than this forum. Another useful website is birding lothian run by Kris Gibb who posts here too.

On the Bird front, anyone seen any migrants?

David

 

[Birdspotter]

I'm from West Lothian and am 26, just wondering if any others are around my age?

Don't mind getting to know anyone whatever age you may be but just wondering if a younger crowd exist on here? 26 isn't young though lol

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

Sounds like you are looking for a dating agency

As far a meeting other birders just get out regular at some of the well known spots and you will meet a few through time. Dave has pointed you in the right direction for what's happening bird wise in Lothian, but hopefully you will soon make your own news.:t: And yes I am quite young, touching 50...but NOT looking for a date!

 

[8xMagnify]

Not quite. |:d|

It's just like any new hobby you might be interested in, you initially seek people of a similar age to feel more comfortable with. :t:

 

[Big Den]

I hear that the flushers who masquerade as photographers have been at it again, this time at the Cammo Spot Red & Green Sand.
You can read about my birds in the relevant Lothian Bird Report then I guess!

Well, I've found out who the flushers are now and I wont be posting any more sightings or photo's until the birds have gone. Pretty sad really that it has to come down to this but, the welfare of the birds come first. All the reliable birders (you know who you are) will still hear of reports but I wont be broadcasting it to these fuds.

Yet more outrageous behaviour yesterday at Linlithgow, this time with the Slav. They weren't happy enough with the already crippling views that it was giving so they got into the loch with waders and camo gear on, up to their chests just to get what they wanted. All done very early to avoid detection but not early enough for my source to give me the heads up. All they were doing was chasing and harassing the thing away but it showed no signs of flying.

PM if you want any more details

 

[markgrubb]

......so they got into the loch with waders and camo gear on, up to their chests just to get what they wanted.......

For goodness sake, absolutely unbelievable!!

 

[gus guthrie]

this really spoils it for the birders like myself who like to see birds outside their immediate areas and rely on reports on the internet to see them.
I can;t blame people for not putting sightings up now, i;ve seen some really disgraceful behaviour this last year or so when we;ve gone to see some birds.

 

[Birdspotter]

Well, I've found out who the flushers are now and I wont be posting any more sightings or photo's until the birds have gone. Pretty sad really that it has to come down to this but, the welfare of the birds come first. All the reliable birders (you know who you are) will still hear of reports but I wont be broadcasting it to these fuds.

Yet more outrageous behaviour yesterday at Linlithgow, this time with the Slav. They weren't happy enough with the already crippling views that it was giving so they got into the loch with waders and camo gear on, up to their chests just to get what they wanted. All done very early to avoid detection but not early enough for my source to give me the heads up. All they were doing was chasing and harassing the thing away but it showed no signs of flying.

PM if you want any more details

Yep a lot of decently behaved birders are going to miss the opportunity to see some good birds in Lothian thanks to these fuds. However as Dennis has said these people will go to extreme length's for a shot.
Perhaps certain websites should refrain from using their shots also?!

Dennis can you please PM me their names just in case I run into them as I would hate to become a part of their game if I were to give out some news non the wiser.

 

[Kris Gibb]

Yep a lot of decently behaved birders are going to miss the opportunity to see some good birds in Lothian thanks to these fuds. However as Dennis has said these people will go to extreme length's for a shot.
Perhaps certain websites should refrain from using their shots also?!
Dennis can you please PM me their names just in case I run into them as I would hate to become a part of their game if I were to give out some news non the wiser.

Out of interest Calum, on which website(s) have you seen pictures from these people?

The incident mentioned above really annoyed me, not just the harrasment of the Slav but the total unconcern for potential breeding birds such as Great Crested Grebes in that immediate area which would have undoubtedly been disturbed.

The decisions taken on whether or not to include pictures sent in of the Slav on Birding Lothian (www.birdinglothian.co.uk) were made after consulting with the birder who witnessed this incident. Only those contributors which I was assured DID NOT enter the water were given the right to display their images.
Anyone sending in pictures to this website known to have caused disturbance will / has been told their images are not welcome.

Kris

 

[Birdspotter]

Out of interest Calum, on which website(s) have you seen pictures from these people?

The incident mentioned above really annoyed me, not just the harrasment of the Slav but the total unconcern for potential breeding birds such as Great Crested Grebes in that immediate area which would have undoubtedly been disturbed.

The decisions taken on whether or not to include pictures sent in of the Slav on Birding Lothian (www.birdinglothian.co.uk) were made after consulting with the birder who witnessed this incident. Only those contributors which I was assured DID NOT enter the water were given the right to display their images.
Anyone sending in pictures to this website known to have caused disturbance will / has been told their images are not welcome.

Kris

Kris,

As i dont know the people's names for certain involved in this farce (until Dennis gives me the heads up) then I don't know if their photo's have been used in any of the birding websites. I used the wording "certain websites" which I meant to mean general British birding one's inc in which was Birding Lothian so my remark was not a slight on BL itself, but apologies if it came across as such.
Good to see that you have taken a tough stance on this shocking behaviour, lets hope other websites & birding mags take a similar path with similar instances throughout Britain.

I was recently in Italy and you have no idea how photographers act there. I had the misfortune to come across two of them who proceeded to walk straight across the small grass lawn I was staking out and then sit some 20 yards in front of me, even though they knew I was watching/photographing a Tawny Pipit, several Whinchat & Redstart in that area!! Result was they all flushed and I was left raging. For their own safety I declined to make a comment!!! Besides it was rather too hot to make a fuss. lol

 

[Kris Gibb]

Kris,

As i dont know the people's names for certain involved in this farce (until Dennis gives me the heads up) then I don't know if their photo's have been used in any of the birding websites. I used the wording "certain websites" which I meant to mean general British birding one's inc in which was Birding Lothian so my remark was not a slight on BL itself, but apologies if it came across as such.
Good to see that you have taken a tough stance on this shocking behaviour, lets hope other websites & birding mags take a similar path with similar instances throughout Britain.

I was recently in Italy and you have no idea how photographers act there. I had the misfortune to come across two of them who proceeded to walk straight across the small grass lawn I was staking out and then sit some 20 yards in front of me, even though they knew I was watching/photographing a Tawny Pipit, several Whinchat & Redstart in that area!! Result was they all flushed and I was left raging. For their own safety I declined to make a comment!!! Besides it was rather too hot to make a fuss. lol

Hi Calum,

really no need for any apologies, I was just interested to hear whether or not images from these guys were being posted online. It seems they prefer to have them on their own personal facebook / twitter pages.

I'm really pleased with the galleries on Birding Lothian, I would hate for them to be spoiled with pictures which have a negative reaction from those viewing them. The disturbance of birds for images, particularly at this time of the year, is a huge negative. If there are concerns from anyone viewing images, perhaps from someone who has witnessed the 'photographer' behaving in a way which is concerning, please bring it to someones attention. If this happens to be on Birding Lothian an e-mail to [email protected] would be appreciated.

Hope your holiday was an enjoyable one Calum, despite the near punch-up! People say birdwatching isn't exactly a magnet for fanny, although we seem to bump into them all the time

On a much happier note! Some nice birds to see down the coast today, and apparently lots of common migrants. Would liked to have been out today. http://www.birdinglothian.co.uk/#/recent-sightings/4537581602

Kris