tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post8997788951238310587..comments2024-03-27T13:34:10.184+00:00Comments on NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND: Not findingSteve Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-649228089624111012020-02-16T12:18:36.038+00:002020-02-16T12:18:36.038+00:00David - thanks for your thought provoking reply.
...David - thanks for your thought provoking reply.<br /><br />James - your day will come.Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-4825294275180100362020-02-16T01:37:44.668+00:002020-02-16T01:37:44.668+00:00I found two rarities in Portugal in December. Bre...I found two rarities in Portugal in December. Brent Goose and Fieldfare. Probably better than all my years in the UK.James Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09046432646363530908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-77100337462964651722020-02-15T12:06:38.026+00:002020-02-15T12:06:38.026+00:00All I know, Steve, is that pretty much all of my m...All I know, Steve, is that pretty much all of my modest collection of finds have been when I'm not trying, i.e. 'by accident' and NOT through diligent patch work. Three other realisations I've come to are:<br />A) This seems to be how most rarities are found nationally<br />B) These days at least, unless your patch is a true rarity hotspot, if rarity finding is your main concern, most of your time will be wasted <br />C) Fretting about covering ground or birding in a certain way to find rarities can ruin one's whole birding experience. I can easily fall into a truly blissful trance watching a Grey Plover or Collared Dove given the chance, and I enjoy working on, and developing my understanding of, breeding birds, common and localised; I don't want these experiences clouded by nagging thoughts that I could or should be spending that time digging out some rarity which in reality I'll probably never find through directed effort. Yes, finding a rarity is a massive thrill but I'll let them find me, as just about all of mine have done so far.<br /><br />As a quick example, my first year in Sussex saw me almost exclusively bird at Goring Gap and Ferring Rife. I went in with high expectations and was sorely disappointed: a flyover Rose-coloured Starling and an Iceland Gull. Last year I broke free of the single site focussed birding I've followed for years and ended up with American Golden Plover, Ring-necked Duck, Montagu's Harrier and Northern Treecreeper - still a modest haul but a big improvement and, much more importantly, I enjoyed my wider birding experience far more. <br /><br />Oh, and a final thought: abroad I've turned up mainland Portugal's first Red-billed Tropicbird and Thailand's seventh Kittiwake - the fresh eyes effect you allude to and/or something to do with observer density...?David Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03936919745022906765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-15357628454575173632020-02-15T09:53:08.729+00:002020-02-15T09:53:08.729+00:00Mitella ovalis along a watercourse in my local woo...Mitella ovalis along a watercourse in my local woods. It was in the BSBI mag coupla years back. Several other sites discovered (by others) since. It's only a garden escape, but I'll take that :) Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-63013073443980841072020-02-15T08:25:00.399+00:002020-02-15T08:25:00.399+00:00I’d say your list of finds is one to be proud of S...I’d say your list of finds is one to be proud of Seth. What was your new to Britain plant?Steve Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09459545933323958452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8802206289996500659.post-64337602012761167052020-02-14T21:17:47.776+00:002020-02-14T21:17:47.776+00:00Birdwise I've had some gooduns including Scops...Birdwise I've had some gooduns including Scops Owl, BB Albatross, DC Cormorant (not accepted but it bloody well was), Caspian Tern, WB Diver, RF Falcon, Wilson's Petrels, Citrine Wag, OBPipit, Subalp, Semi-p Sand, Bee-eater etc. Never self-found a UK shrike though. But if you get more into PSL the stakes raise substantially. I've self-found a new to Britain micromoth, new to Britain plant and new to Britain fungus. I've had several new to Scotland species ranging from terrestrial flatworms to flies and a bucketload of new to county stuff. Birds are brilliant, but very limiting. There's so much more out there to be discovered, noticed and recognised. But yeah ok - adult Great Black-headed Gull loafing on the shingle or a new to Britain Agromyzid - I know which I'd rather! Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.com