BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Turner" data-source="post: 3525324" data-attributes="member: 64932">Back in 1990, although it may have arrived the year before, I finally had a reason to visit Hampshire and see the Dark-eyed Junco at Fleet. I wasn't sure exactly which garden and was standing around looking vague when I saw a young woman with her dog. Aha I thought, a local I'll ask her, and for some reason the best question that came to mind was "Do you come here often?" However, I dismissed this as a reason for being arrested, and asked a more reasonable "Have you seen lots of Birdwatchers here recently?"  (Phew!)  Fortunately she said "Yes they were looking in that garden there." About 20 metres away. So I peered carefully over the hedge and was soon rewarded with great views of it on the bird table. A short while later the lady of the house came out, with dog, and said " Ah another one, have you seen it yet?"  "Indeed, thank you" I said. She then related the day of it's discovery by the masses - which she discovered by throwing open her bedroom curtains, seeing dozens of lenses trained in her general direction, and almost as quickly closing them again. It was a useful lesson in what to do in the future.</blockquote>