Birder's cup of tea code
As birders, we all like a nice cup of tea, don't we. Warming after a hard day's graft in the field, or a social imbibing in a cafe on a birding trip. But we all like our tea in differing ways, none more so than its strength or how much milk we take. This can be problematical and lead to disappointment. My recent Dungeness visit introduced me to a foolproof way for birders to get the perfect cup of tea to suit themselves - especially if it is to be made by another birder. This was devised by Ray Turley and refined by Mark Hollingworth. Simply put, when asked how you would like your tea, you answer by selecting a warbler on the British list, whose upperpart plumage matches the colour of your perfect cuppa. So, a weak milky tea will be knowns as 'A Desert Warbler', whilst a strong cuppa could be called a 'Cetti's'. I personally go for a 'Reed Warbler'. It has been known for shit-hot birders to order a 'Syke's' only to send it back be...