tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post7976837384837185646..comments2024-03-27T13:34:10.184+00:00Comments on NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND: Is UK birding really pants?Steve Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-14351368409264549282014-01-16T20:12:14.229+00:002014-01-16T20:12:14.229+00:00Better described as the 'Poor Man's Fair I...Better described as the 'Poor Man's Fair Isle' it's a very different place to hunt migrants; much, much more in the way of habitat to hide in and many times fewer folk looking so not really comparable like for like. A ridiculous amount of unnecessary competitiveness too between the two Observatories and their followers. But yes, NR has done very well over the years<br />unclefishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15585289006226561932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-6172759382521390482014-01-16T17:38:12.340+00:002014-01-16T17:38:12.340+00:00I thought North Ronaldsay was the new Fair Isle......I thought North Ronaldsay was the new Fair Isle... you had them for a little while though, didn't you.Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-6042185840152304632014-01-15T20:48:50.671+00:002014-01-15T20:48:50.671+00:00Try birding 25 years on North Ronaldsay and gazing...Try birding 25 years on North Ronaldsay and gazing across the Fair Isle Channel at the fabled Isle and its annual burden of Lancey's, Pechora's, Yellow-breasted Buntings and PG Tips. We flogged and better flogged our flat little island but it took many years of no joy to finally break their staggering monopoly.unclefishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15585289006226561932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-78273043268530025902014-01-14T16:11:46.503+00:002014-01-14T16:11:46.503+00:00If I lived as close to the gateway to France as yo...If I lived as close to the gateway to France as you Paul, I'd go over very often indeed.Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-71106726168882013272014-01-14T07:20:22.808+00:002014-01-14T07:20:22.808+00:00What amazes me when we go over is that their woods...What amazes me when we go over is that their woods are still full of birds we`ve lost or never had, so black-capped tits, Hawfinch, Crested Tit, woodpeckers etc, and the farmland still holds plenty of Turtle Dove, Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting despite extensive hunting. South-east England is buggered for sure, and way over populated,while Frenchland still has acres of human emptiness and fewer alien species. La Manche also thwarts many species from getting here. If it wasn't for our coastal nature reserves birding here would be a joke. I love England, it`s just a shame its being ruined by us lot. Looking forward to going over to Black Woody Land next week...Paul Troddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03532050770282573211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-75673070445624541282014-01-13T19:22:02.756+00:002014-01-13T19:22:02.756+00:00There's an idea... but as you know Seth, the N...There's an idea... but as you know Seth, the North Downs isn't about birds, is it.Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-73822140309079977442014-01-13T19:21:15.762+00:002014-01-13T19:21:15.762+00:00True Stewart, there are pockets of ornithological ...True Stewart, there are pockets of ornithological greatness in our fair country still, but they are few...Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-26742638987875502122014-01-13T19:14:15.895+00:002014-01-13T19:14:15.895+00:00So you gonna rebrand as North Sea and Beyond? So you gonna rebrand as North Sea and Beyond? Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-86528693312262670032014-01-13T19:01:21.237+00:002014-01-13T19:01:21.237+00:00I bet those frenchies would like our Northumberlan...I bet those frenchies would like our Northumberland seabirds though. Thousands of terns, puffins, guillemots etc overflown by fishing gannet frenzies...but you're right, our day to day farmland is shagged.Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985665182124985194noreply@blogger.com