Couldn't resist adding my threpney-bits worth here. I've twitched in the UK since I was 14 (1978- after a couple of years of local patch ground-work) and hitch-hiking all over the country, sleeping rough, from the age of 15 (as an Upstart) in search of new birds (in the days when what you knew, was through who you knew). These days, if I only entered the 'field' when a new species entered the UK, I probably wouldn't have to leave the flat, or more likely the pub, much more than twice a year. Though it's comforting when there's a mega-alert and you don't 'need' it, eg the recent Blue Rock Thrush (sorry Tom ). Once you get the 'bug', you're hooked. It doesn't stop in the UK, there's a whole world out there - so much to see, so little time!. I remember an old quote from the log in Nancy's cafe in Cley, 'UPSTARTS NEVER DIE, THEY JUST KEEP ON TWITCHING !'.
Seriously though, as Ian says, at least it gets you out and if you can relocate it and ID it yourself, all the better, you don't have to jump onto the next one because if you're at a migration hot-spot at the right time of year eg Spurn, spend as long as you can there because there's a fair chance they'll be something else interesting around.
Twitching is a buzz, but you can't beat birding -especially abroad.
PS to me, to find a Ring Ouzel on my local patch would give me more of a thrill than to see a flock in the hills somewhere.
PPS I've never had a pager
PPPS I remember applying to stay at the Spurn Obsv when I was a kid, but was rejected because I was too young (had to be 16 or over -unaccompanied I suppose!) so ended up staying at Portland Obsv in '78/'79 and Bardsey '79. Great experiences eg 5 Melodious Warblers, Dotterel and Wryneck etc - all in the hand.
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 21:55, 2007-04-21
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 22:11, 2007-04-21
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 22:23, 2007-04-21
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 01:29, 2007-04-22
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From what you say Geoff I dont think you need to 'come out' as it where. We've probably all done exactly what you are doing right now at some time or another. If you just stuck to your one 'patch' and nothing else you might find the odd really good bird but boy would it get a bit boring and, you'd never see half the resident british species, let alone migrants and vagrants.
I have to say I'm not anti twitcher, just not one (yet!!). Besides, like Ian and Dean have said theres nothing wrong with twitching, and if you take time to really look at the bird you've gone to see it can really help you gain experience. Having worked in an area where 'twitches' have taken place I've seen the "turn up, see it, tick it and off to the next" type and those who've turned up watched the bird and other stuff thats around as well. Whatever floats your boat.
One of the best bits of advice I've been given when looking at any bird you see that you havent seen before is make sure you look at it closely enough that you can say you agree with the identification (if its not a bird you found) and you would be happy identifying it yourself if you found it yourself.
One of the best times of the year coming up. Hope your list rockets.
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ok i,ll come out before i,m 'outed' i think i might fall into the twitcher section cos recently i,ve not been with the one,s i love but lovin some one else,s.i been kept very busy of late with blackneck grb,sanderling,glacuos gull,ouzels,etc all lifers cos i,m new to this birdin thing and me list,s are improving. nothing wrong with twichin if you a'vnt seen one before(been chasing a nuthatch round buile hill park for two weeks hoping it would morph into lsw)why not go for a look and a tick cos when it does turn up on your patch you can i.d. it.but trying to find a patch of land that is,nt watched is proving very difficult.
p s off to horrocks in the morning just cos i love em
Interesting to hear peoples views on the 'finding your own' vs 'twitching.
I suppose technically speaking I do twitch - I've been at Marbury in Cheshire 4-5 times now this spring trying to get LSW for the year, and whenever you go to another birding site with something in mind, Leighton for Bittern/Bearded Tit or a Seawatch at Leasowe you're effectively twitching. And I have to say if something good turned up at Pennington that I havent seen there before I'd be there like dooda off a shovel.
It does get frustrating though trying to find your own stuff, thats why I try and get to the east coast two or three times a year for a week or so at a time. Because of the way birding is these days, a week at Spurn can see you almost on your own with the masses turning up when a good bird is found or at weekend if the weather is promising.
If anyone out there hasnt been and stayed at a bird observatory before I cant recommend it enough, but bear in mind that if the weather is wrong it can be purgatory unless like me you're into dragonflies/moths etc.
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Agree Ian, can't be done with twitch and go I spent all afternoon yesterday watching the Ring ouzels and i learned enough about their calls and general behavour to identify them again. I also discovered a fantastic area right on my doorstep which i hadn't visited before that has lots of great birds Once the Ouzels have moved on i will be back to Burnt edge for sure.
I'm afraid I too fall into the same catagory as Craig, rather avoiding twitching in almost all cases. A lot of this came about from over-doing twitching in the early 90's especially, which burned me out slightly but as I've become more involved with my British self-found list, watching a bird someone else has already found just makes me rather envious and I'd rather be somewhere else trying to find something of my own. Hence, I haven't been up to Burnt Edge/Horwich since the Ouzel Infux first started, prefering instead to get out somewhere no one else has covered, which can pay dividends.
There's nothing wrong with twitching though, county or national and we all do it whatever our views on the subject, fact is, as Dean rightly says, twitching can increase the species you see (and atleast gets you out into the 'field') and as long as you study the birds (rather than just the old 'tick- right on to the next one' ), this should lead to an increase in your birding skills- everybody's happy
Hi Craig. Yep, if you hadn't been so busy twitching other people birds you'd probably have seen a Red Grouse Seriously i saw one in the very spot Ian Woosey states last sunday. There's nothing wrong with going seeing birds that someone else has found. It's great to find something yourself but you'll see far fewer birds if you ignore everything else. Plus, if you do find something the first thing to do is post it on here and we're like flies round s***
Red Grouse are quite simple - from Holdens Plantation just follow the path up to Mast Road and keep scanning / listening on your left ; This is Smithills Moor (well, part of it !)
Anybody who knows me (and 99% of you reading this probably wont), knows I rarely twitch. Recently however Ive been looking at my life list and thinking it needed improving. So rather than jumping in full tilt with a pager and charging round the country, I decided Id ease myself in by trying to improve my county list (which while not as large as many is fairly reasonable).
Even so, bringing myself to twitch wasnt easy. For a few days now Ive been watching the Ouzel reports and thinking how I really should go and see them. But thats like twitching and I dont twitch. But youre going to have to if you want to get youre life list up, and this is a county bird for you. I know but I dont like it chasing around after other peoples birds. So the conversation in my head goes, and Im only on about a Ring Ouzel. Its not like its a mega or anything is it. Well it is if its not on youre county list cause youve never bothered going for one before."But I'd rather find one myself on my Local Patch. Well you'll have to beat messers Hulme and Lyon then and get to the flash about 3.30am and find one using night vision gear."
So tonight at 6pm I set of with Mr McKerchars directions firmly implanted on my brain. Find the car parking area. Yep. Start walking. Now I seriously think Mr McKerchar has been climbing ladders for too long, cause hes all mixed up about what climbing slightly means. Three years ago that slight climb would have nearly killed me!!! Usually the highest I climb is to the top of Horrocks hide ramp. Theres a reason why Spurn is my favourite place on earth you know -its FLAT. Anyway I followed the path came out at the bottom of Burnt Edge and first thing I see was a gaggle of birders at the top. Ah! Should I have gone up there with the scope like I was thinking, saved all this walking mullarkey ? Uh oh theyr off. B***er, does that mean theyve seen em, or have they given up. God I hate chasing other peoples birds.
So I carry on walking and just as Ian and other posters have said there they were following the stream up towards Holden plantation. Tops. Its alright his county bird twitching thing.
Now, can anyone tell me the best place in the county for Red Grouse. Preferably not in the east of the county if you please.
Ta Much.
By the way, if Tom McKinney is reading this, Tom I spent about 2 hours on your website last night and this morning my sides were still sore. Best Website Ive seen in ages. Very XXXX rated.
-- Edited by Craig H at 21:45, 2007-04-20
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
). Once you get the 'bug', you're hooked. It doesn't stop in the UK, there's a whole world out there - so much to see, so little time!. I remember an old quote from the log in Nancy's cafe in Cley, 'UPSTARTS NEVER DIE, THEY JUST KEEP ON TWITCHING !'. 
. 
. 
unless like me you're into dragonflies/moths etc.
I spent all afternoon yesterday watching the Ring ouzels and i learned enough about their calls and general behavour to identify them again. I also discovered a fantastic area right on my doorstep which i hadn't visited before that has lots of great birds
. Theres a reason why Spurn is my favourite place on earth you know -its FLAT. Anyway I followed the path came out at the bottom of Burnt Edge and first thing I see was a gaggle of birders at the top. Ah! Should I have gone up there with the scope like I was thinking, saved all this walking mullarkey ? Uh oh theyr off. B***er, does that mean theyve seen em, or have they given up. God I hate chasing other peoples birds.