Steve mentioned two names, what about the others DUDES!

And I am sure people use more, there is an excellent quiz in Bill Oddies Little Black bird Book at the end of Chapter 3, lets you know what you are!

I was stopped at Audenshaw the other day, and asked " owt about " the standard term for I cannot be arsed looking, can you tell me what you have seen.
Now I was just about to reply to said fellow, when I noticed the following.

1. He had no bins
2. He had a pink umbrella
3, He said he was thinking of taking up birdwatching?
Was I wrong in thinking..........................................no your not mate.


keep birding.

Hi Mark,

You're quite right; I should make an effort for a Co. Durham Marsh Warbler, - absolutely no excuse, especially as there are now 2 singing birds available this afternoon.
Unfortunately I was seduced (like you) into steaming off westwards on an abortive Royal Tern quest, throwing in the towel at Charnock Richard services at 16.00.

I at least gained some brownie points on my return (painting window frames).
Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike

travelling from the North East to Astley for a Barn Owl is Twitching

Refusing to go for a Marsh Warbler on your doorstep is down right lazy

I suppose it is confusing to the public how we have 2 names for essentially the same group of people

It cannot have gone unnoticed these last few years how the media, trying to be "trendy," have got it hopelessly wrong; - as is often the case. The BBC in particular thinks that the term "twitcher" has superceded "birdwatcher" (or "birder"), and that these words in terms of meaning, are interchangeable. Unfortunately the misunderstanding has now filtered down into ever more general usage. While strolling to the local paper shop across the fields a couple of weeks ago, and with my bins around my neck, I met a dog walker coming the other way who asked if "I was doing a bit of twitching." Trying not to cringe too much (but deliberately just a little, in order to send a subliminal message her way), I replied that she had obviously been misled by the media, and explained that no, I was simply doing a bit of casual birding. I explained that all twitchers are generally birders, but that in percentage terms probably most birders aren't twitchers, (and might even take umbrage at being described as such). I explained that a twitch is a special journey undertaken to see an individual (normally rare) species. I explained that I was an occasional twitcher when the mood took me, and that it didn't depend on whether or not there might be a full moon, more the quality of the target bird. I said no more, not because her eyes had started to glaze over, (- they had); but because I was anxious to move away, as her dog was by now peeing against my trouser leg. The other irritation, (in fact to me a greater one), is when a newspaper reports the appearance of a rarity, and twitchers are converging to see a rare "breed," at some place. What the hell is a "rare breed?" It sounds like something man made, like some escaped oddity or freak. Have these people never heard of the word "species?" P.S. -I've applied to appear on "Grumpy Old Men," but the media turned me down. Regards to all, Mike P