Chasing the Birds

I started showing an interest in birds (oo'err missus) probably about a year or so ago. I don't think it was linked to Lockdown, as most new activities seem to be, but it could have been I suppose.

I just became aware that there were quite a few different ones about. Up until then birds, to me, were just a backdrop to the rest of life. They were nature's Muzak and only really registered with me in the bit on 'Springwatch' before the 'Mindful Minute' (the start of which was the signal to go and put the kettle on). 

Birds, up to that point, had fallen into one of two categories :- 

Sparrow and Not Sparrow. 

These came into existence after 'Springwatch' advised me that there were actually two different types of Sparrow. 

Faced with this highly unlikely and fanciful piece of information, I had a look in the back garden to check...... and it was true!

Little brown bird with grey chest and head = House Sparrow. 

Little brown bird with red head & black cheeks = Tree Sparrow.

Everything else = Not Sparrow.

(A little brown bird with no red or grey head turned out to be a Dunnock and not a Not Sparrow after all but is still classified as such to save confusion).

It soon became apparent that there are actually loads of different birds out there. More than my two categories could reasonably be expected to cope with.

I download an app or two to help me identify what they were likely to be (either from a recording of the song or from my own description. eg:- ... "Hey Google, what's a small brown bird" answer "a Not Sparrow" = Result!!).

Of course, with people there are only two types. 

Male & Female. 

And these are easily distinguished, (Well, mostly easily distinguished, there are one or two unfortunate females around and then there's Roger Taylor in the 'I Want To Break Free' video by Queen). But, by and large, identification is relatively straightforward. 

But with birds there's loads. 

Which is where I entered the Birda World. Given that I was now a Pro Level Bird Spotter, (I'd even worked out that a Jackdaw was not simply an middle-aged Crow 'going a bit grey'), I needed somewhere to log all that I'd seen. 

A bit like a train spotting log, although that would be much easier as they are massive, appear (more or less) when expected and have giant numbers on them. 

I bought some guides to bird identification (as what I see doesn't always match the artistic drawings) and together with referring to what everyone else spots on Birda, (particularly the photos), this has helped me to identify and look out for lots of birds I knew nothing about. 

I ask anyone who is around and looks like they might know. Surprisingly, a lot do and they don't think I'm crackers for asking. 

A few months ago there was a crowd of people on the clifftop near Flamborough, all intently staring at a bush with several more hurrying towards the scene bearing cameras with lenses as long as your arm. 

"wow, what's going on?" I asked one guy (who looked like he wanted to tell someone anyway). 

A 'Green Warble' he replied excitedly, 'in the bush'. 

'Really?!' I said, 'there's one of them here?!'

'yes! yes!'

'oh! Is that rare then?' 

'Never before seen, ever! Would you like a look?' 

Not going to pass up the opportunity to see something that no one else has seen (apart from everyone on the clifftop that day) I had a peep through his scope which was set up and zoned in on the Warble. 

I was looking at a small bird sitting in amongst the branches. 

'Ahh' I thought to myself, 'he means a Not Sparrow'. 

Later that day, I came across another group who, almost as excitedly, told me about an Albatross flying about just off the coast. 

'oh! Is that rare then?' I asked. 

'yes!' came the reply. 'Not another one in the whole of the Northern Hemisphere'. 

I was told to look for a very large white bird with black wings flying about just off the coast. 

A bit further along (and, it has to be said, a few hours later) there was, indeed such a bird that seemed to fit the description, but not really close enough to photograph properly with my phone. 

Two super rare birds in one day, and I instantly levelled up from Pro to God Tier Bird Spotter. 

Since then, I have tooled up with my own pocket monocular thing and a cheap camera from eBay. 

I just have to remember to take them, and not to feel too inadequate amongst all the 6ft zoom lenses when I do. 

Walks take a lot longer nowadays too......