It's funny how people can so easily get categorised according to context and perception.
In my own case for example, I understand how I may only be perceived as a twitcher in a Greater Manchester context, but up here, I very much see myself as a local patcher with multiple local sites for which I have kept records for over 20 years.
Perhaps my favourite one is Low Barns, (about 7 miles from home) where I shall be on site in the morning at 5 a.m. until 12 noon, plodding round regardless of the weather. This will be my 8th such session in the last fortnight; - and do you know what? I still find it really exciting. On Monday out of the blue, a female Long-tailed Duck came most unexpectedly winging by me going like a bat out of hell without landing; - a Low Barns lifer and a very good record for this inland site.
In the past I've found 2 male and 1 female Ring- necked Ducks, the site's only Night Heron, 3 Bitterns, Hawfinch, all three Woodpeckers in a morning; - a very tough thing in the N E (this isn't Dunham Massey!) also several Smew, Hobby and Crossbills. Ospreys pass through annually, but not when I'm there.
I still dream of finding a goody in GM on one of my infrequent jaunts, and will always feel a deep attachment to my old favourite haunts - Pennington Flash and of course Elton Res.
Cheers,
Mike
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Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.
Yes, big ups to the Cheshire local Patchers also, we all need to work together, especially us Northerners
Perhaps there should be the Local Patcher Awards ? Like the Grammys, but a tad more glamorous
As the birding scene, and the birding industry, grows, and there are more Birding Awards and Local Patch competitions this might be a decent thought (but note I'm not yet putting my hand up for an organisation role)
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So you're only giving up respect to GM Local patchers, despite all the visits we get, lot from GM birders, to see birds we have found as local patchers in Cheshire
Only kidding of course, Local Patchers everywhere find so much & great to praise them
