jason its simple really, you go for whatever you can whenever you can, if you can afford it, and if you have the time.
I started twitching in 1986, and as they say have been to the four corners of Britain, had some cracking days out, day trip to the lizard for little bustard, harlequin ducks, barrows goldeneye, belted kingfisher 17 beeaters oxford, american robin and oriole on same day etc. if you can go then just go. pechora pipit on your list you should be proud of yourself mate i should have gone.
What bird would have you guys rushing off ? A mainland Pechora Pipit is as an absolute mega, as i am sure you know ... so i am intrigued.
cheers jason
I was well choughed connecting with the Pechora at Filey on 9th Oct '94, a one-day-wonder ! Although the folk that arrived late and dipped had a Lancy in the same patch the next morning - which I still need
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Aww least he never went and dipped. The vegi-mobile gets him around Bolton and thats all that matters!
Sorry Ian didnt mean to put Pipits down or anything as ive seen some cracking Pipits like the Skegness Olive Backed in a back garden and the Blyths Pipit on Scilly recently was rather nice, I just prefer birds with abit more character something like a Long Billed Murrelet, phwooar.
to twitch or not to twitch,as you know i will attend a 'twitch' firecrest,manc warbler,whoopers their all worthy of a look if you,ve got the time and means to get there,but like ian say,s a self found bird is bliss,so for me it,s the back of beyond and the nooks and crannies of wigan flashes (100 yards no dog poo=back of beyond)untill i get fedup of looking for that ****green pecker.
As I've said before I've twitched further distances for lesser birds in years gone by and I've certainly nothing negative to say about those that do twitch (we all do anyway in one way or another), infact given the current state of the transport congestion and petrol prices I wholly admire the determination and perseverance of twitchers (still hate that word!) nowadays. For me, the fact is that combined with burning myself out twitching in the mid 80's to mid-90's I've just lost the urge completely. I almost always avoid crowds (last twitch Pacific Diver 'cos I'd never seen one and thought I could learn something from it) and now concentrate on attempting (usually unsuccessfully) on improving my self-found list which has only made the feeling of watching someone else's rarity less appealing.
A mainland Pechora is indeed a mega and so are one's in the northern isles as far as I'm concerned, I'd like to find one any day and the photos of the Pembrokes bird clearly illustrate what a cracker it is, so not sure I agree about the 'only a pipit' Warfy, they happen to be favourites of mine , but I've seen several before and there's little I could take home from this bird, especially considering I no longer keep a British List.
As for what would have me rushing off? Seeing some decent looking weather conditions on the BBC weather website would have me looking where to go next in that vain attempt to find myself a mega or a nice fall of migrants, like the recent Yellow-broweds had me rushing off to a few county locations to find one for myself, although of course, that never happened
Thats not birding surely, although a dozen years ago i'd have been there in a flash but how times change! Anyway get across to china, place is flippin full of 'em (well almost!).
Yeah i know how you feel, kinda glad its not been seen anyway,
a - cant be bothered with the journey b- too expensive c- was only considering it because my dad has never seen one, i dont need it! d - its only a pipit e - id probably get more of a buzz from seeing a Bittern at wigan flashes at the moment.
I wonder if Phil went today? Hope he never went in the vegi-mobile
Thats not birding surely, although a dozen years ago i'd have been there in a flash but how times change! Anyway get across to china, place is flippin full of 'em (well almost!).
maybe I am getting old I dont know but i just cannot be bothered rushing down to pembrokes, much rather find a bittern on the cold frosty wigan marshes or a first for manchester yes as they say I NEED IT. but i will catch up with one another day.
Rumworth bore, sorry birder, Phil Rhodes is looking for a lift to the Pechora Pipit in Pembrokes tommorrow if anyone is venturing down there late tonight or early tomorrow morning. Phil lives in Westleigh (which according to Phil is still in Bolton, infact so is Pembrokes probably) but can probably travel to meet, please contact Phil on 07514 288843 if anyone can help him out.
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Although the folk that arrived late and dipped had a Lancy in the same patch the next morning - which I still need 
