Here's an "unusual" sort of Birdingbook. Here's a bloke who lives in a little village. He doesn't go whizzing off to distant dips. ( And nor do I anymore.. well... hardly ever) (Been there done that.) He does a circuit round the village most days. He keeps detailed lists of all the birds he sees, and where, and what they're doing. He describes his Daily Wander through the top spotting-spots in the village, then he goes home and writes it all up. Chapter two lists his TEN RULES FOR WATCHING BIRDS. Here's an abbreviated version of said list ........ 1. Anticipate what you may expect to see. 2. Do not neglect the commonplace... and do not spend your time looking for rarities. 3. Have access to the right places. 4. Go alone. The person who can be relied upon to walk without talking is very rare indeed. 5. Learn to stand still. 6. Go early in the morning. 7. Learn how to identify birds by their plumage. 8. Learn how to identify birds by their silhouettes 9. Learn to identify birds by their calls. 10. Don't cheat. There is a temptation to take some of the common birds for granted. ( I've written about that).......(somewhere in all of this ... ). Then he has a detailed chapter for each month, each one with a summary at the end. Seeing as it is November, let's have a look at HIS November in 1980 .. Species seen on 26 days ..(he has his own way of doing it) ..... Wood Pigeon, Starling, Magpie, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch. Seen on 20-25 days ... Collared Dove, Wren, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch. 15-19 days.... Black-headed Gull, Fieldfare, Stock Dove. 10-14 days... Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Moorhen, Herring Gull, Goldcrest 5-9 Days... Dabchick, Lapwing, Pied Wagtail, Hedge-Sparrow, Coal Tit. 2-4 days .... Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Tree- creeper, Bullfinch, Goldfinch. One Day Only .... Mallard, Sparrow-Hawk, Yellow-hammer, Little Owl, Reed Bunting, Teal, Blackcap, March Tit. Well.. I've never seen that done like that. I might give it a go in December....
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AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
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