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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DunnoKev" data-source="post: 1481327" data-attributes="member: 38448">Hmm, and most 'birders' I know who have been doing it for decades would disagree they could only call themselves a birder if they were actively seeking out rare or unusual birds, so I'm glad to hear the act of watching birds doesn't lose you your status as a 'birder' and this strange behaviour of mine is not actually inexplicable to you, but please at least try to understand this; nowhere did I say British birds are 'better'. I said for me the act of simply seeing a species for a short period is not enough. And I certainly didn't say a Blackbird's behaviour is more interesting than a Sunbird's either.Try this as an alternative. I've been out once this morning to map some territories (just back for breakfast) and now off to get some counts and a short viz-mig at my small coastal patch before strolling in the office for an hour then heading out for a co-ordinated breeding duck count. After lunch back at my desk I'll be spending some time with a contractor discussing works planned for later in the year at my new netting site (nice spot, first real holding habitat after a sea wall, should be good this autumn). When I get back home, as I'm lucky enough to actually live on my main farm patch where we're looking to increase farmland bird populations, I'll be out checking on 'my' blackbirds et al, with an eye for the odd migrant (farm's a mile and a half inland, so pretty good). Come early evening I'll be sitting in the garden with a cuppa watching the locally roosting birds commuting (in a nice valley, great flight-lines, can be particularly good for the local Egret roost) and seeing what's coming in late to my feeders, then come dark I'll be doing an hour or so on the paperwork I brought back from the office. (That way I get more time in the field this way though it means sacrificing the pub for birds, have one for me). And there's a post-it on my screen reminding me I really must sort out the n-e Thai phyllosc photos and send 'em to a work colleague out there by Saturday, so I'll make that the last act of the day. I think you'll agree I'll be doing several bird-oriented, variously titled pursuits today. And I enjoy that sort of day so much I'll do it all again the next day.Now if that paragraph tired you out reading it, can I seek your permission to sum it up by saying I'm lucky enough to spend my days 'birding'. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />When you bird. you're a birder.</blockquote>

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