A Pole in Dorset and a moan


Just back from a short break in Dorset, and although the optics and camera came along, they played second fiddle to everything else... highlights were up to three Mediterranean Gulls on Charmouth beach, including this adult (above) sporting a red plastic ring (PER3) which suggests that it was ringed as part of a Polish study. Also seen were at least two Dippers (at Lyme Regis (below) and Charmouth).


There has been a bit on social media recently about some people's dislike of the shortening of bird's names into an attempt at creating a 'cool birding patois'. I couldn't agree more - you can stick your Spot Shank, Pink Stink, Grot Finch, Yank Start and Spot Flit up your...

People also still seem to be congratulating each other on having the ability to spend lots of money, drive hundreds of miles and look at other birder's finds; they still refer to seeing said bird as 'scoring', 'bagging' and 'nailing'; also continue to take selfies with insects (mainly moths) placed on their nose; you could say it's harmless and that I'm just a miserable old git, in which case you may have a point. It could also be argued that it's just not cool or clever and I could possibly point out that moths are not toys. Here endeth my holier than thou moan.

Comments

Derek Faulkner said…
You forgot Barwit and Blackwit. The comment that's always mystified me is "I got a record shot of it" when photographing a bird. What's a "record shot".
12 September 2017 at 05:55
Steve Gale said…
Derek, a record shot used to refer to a poor photograph of a bird that was used to prove that it really did exist! Nowadays anything that is not feather sharp seems to be lumped in as well!
12 September 2017 at 12:51
Gibster said…
I remember being somewhat mystified by RBFlicker during my first visit to Scilly. In retaliation I tried to start the phrase Whybee Warb (Yellow-browed Warbler) but it never did seem to catch on. Strange that...
13 September 2017 at 00:50
Steve Gale said…
Good try Seth, better luck with the next one
13 September 2017 at 18:17
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