Do these 4 threads spread over 5 years represent Somerset birding on birdforum??? (1 Viewer)

[shoshone]

Well,

The county I live in doesn't seem to have many birds, or could that be people interested in birds? Well at least on BirdForum that is the way it appears.

Could someone please offer some links that I could explore to enhance my local birding experience??

Jamie

 

[devon.birder]

The Somerset Ornithological Society has it's own Message Board for sightings in the County
http://pub13.bravenet.com/forum/1065729998
Roger

 

[shoshone]

The Somerset Ornithological Society has it's own Message Board for sightings in the County
http://pub13.bravenet.com/forum/1065729998
Roger

Roger,

Many thanks for that link it will be put to good use from now on...:t:

Out of curiosity any idea why Somerset is so under represented on BirdForum?

Jamie

 

[christineredgate]

Good question,Jamie.Are there any more members from your area on BF?.
When you meet people out and about birding in your area,do you give BF a mention?.
Why not start your own blog/website, and mention BF ,inc your gallery link(if you have one,ie).

 

[delia todd]

Hi Jamie

I'm not sure how many members are from Somerset, but you could try starting a thread in the Local Patch sub-forum and see who joins in

This forum is actually for Information Wanted, which perhaps explains why there aren't a great number of threads in it.

D

 

[markgrubb]

Well,

The county I live in doesn't seem to have many birds, or could that be people interested in birds? Well at least on BirdForum that is the way it appears.

Could someone please offer some links that I could explore to enhance my local birding experience??

Jamie

Jamie

Start a Somerset birding thread. One year ago I started a Lothian birding thread as a relatively inexperienced birder-slow going at first but it's grown momentum and through it I have met some fine people in the field-and it's been good fun.250 posts and gradually more people are contributing

Go for it:t:

 

[shoshone]

Hi Jamie

I'm not sure how many members are from Somerset, but you could try starting a thread in the Local Patch sub-forum and see who joins in

This forum is actually for Information Wanted, which perhaps explains why there aren't a great number of threads in it.

D

'D', I honestly thought I had clicked on /counties/somerset....rather than information wanted ?

As for setting up a sub-forum, I thought I was subscribing to one cf. above?

I hardly think that someone who had trouble last week at Salthouse in Norfolk distinguishing (albeit a fleeting glimpse) a Linnet from a Twite would be the best person to start a county forum! A very nice helpful local guy explained that a) It was too early to expect a Twite, and b) there were probably 500 Linnets to every Twite one might see...learning from Collins Bird Guide isn't the be-all-and-end-all I thought it might be especially as the notes do consider the differences between a Linnet and a Twite in some detail so it isn't immediately obvious to a relative beginner.

I can't traipse to Norfolk all the time I can make Devon and Dorset and find 'Backwater Birding in Seaton' for example very rewarding (or Mull..last year or Skye..next year), , however, there is clearly a group of avid birders in Somerset as shown by Roger's helpful post, it's a bit dissappointing that the site's associated 'General' link referenced (not the 'sightings' link) is hosted via a service (BraveNet) which is full of ads and within a few clicks I was offered a link to 'Hot Porn'...first impression not good....and surely more activity within /county/somerset on BirdForum would for me (and I guess for lots of intending visitors to Somerset) be a great thing.

Hopefully I'm not treading on local toes here, the last thing I want is to stir up any historical politics that I am not aware of. It's just that my county isn't (or doesn't appear to be) really interested in contributing to Birdforum.

Now if it was cricket Somerset would be up there (I presume) :eat:

Jamie

 

[delia todd]

Oh dear Jamie, you really have the wrong impression of me:-O I'm by no means an experienced birder but it didn't stop me starting the Tayside Birding thread - not the busiest on the forum but there's not that many of us! I talked to myself on that one for some weeks!

So as Mark says "go for it". Report what you see when you're out and about, it doesn't have to be rarities.

I honestly thought I had clicked on /counties/somerset....rather than information wanted ?

The forum this thread is in is Information Wanted. It is then divided up into various countries/counties/states giving each their own sub-forum.

er... hope that is a bit clearer?

D

 

[shoshone]

Hi Jamie

I'm not sure how many members are from Somerset, but you could try starting a thread in the Local Patch sub-forum and see who joins in

This forum is actually for Information Wanted, which perhaps explains why there aren't a great number of threads in it.

D

D,

I checked again and indeed I posted in a 'Somerset' sub forum of 'information wanted'....Would it help if I tried to make this a more general but 'specific to Somerset' question?

Thanks
Jamie

 

[dantheman]

Think people are suggesting you should start a thread here, like the Norfolk, Tayside ones etc etc . . . .

Here--- Your Local Patch

I noticed there's no Kent one (where I am at the moment), and the Essex one has only just started . . . . so go for it

Somerset- not the most reknowned county for birds!!!!!!!! Overshadowed a bit by its alledgedly 'better' neighbours Devon and Dorset, I used to live in Wincanton in the east, there's definitely active birders there now, even though that is not necesssarily the best known part of the county. I along with others would be sure to contribute I'm sure.

Dan

 

[devon.birder]

Whilst no longer officially in Somerset (proper Somerset that is) Chew Valley Lake has a web site http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/logbook/2008november.html
You will need to update the month from the Log Book Index on the Home page each month. Jeff Hazel's blog is always worth a read, good photos too: http://www.freewebs.com/levels-birder/
I didn't realise Somerset was unrepresented on BF, I live in Devon though.
Roger

 

[shoshone]

Think people are suggesting you should start a thread here, like the Norfolk, Tayside ones etc etc . . . .

Here--- Your Local Patch

I noticed there's no Kent one (where I am at the moment), and the Essex one has only just started . . . . so go for it

Somerset- not the most reknowned county for birds!!!!!!!! Overshadowed a bit by its alledgedly 'better' neighbours Devon and Dorset, I used to live in Wincanton in the east, there's definitely active birders there now, even though that is not necesssarily the best known part of the county. I along with others would be sure to contribute I'm sure.

Dan

Dan,

Thanks for that, and since Delia and Mark and now you have emphasised that a post in your local patch is the right place, it has been done!

I loved your statement I highlighted in red above

Hmmn several hundred thousand Starlings in the Levels say otherwise eh? :-O

Jamie

 

[shoshone]

Whilst no longer officially in Somerset (proper Somerset that is) Chew Valley Lake has a web site http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/logbook/2008november.html
You will need to update the month from the Log Book Index on the Home page each month. Jeff Hazel's blog is always worth a read, good photos too: http://www.freewebs.com/levels-birder/
I didn't realise Somerset was unrepresented on BF, I live in Devon though.
Roger

Roger, Many thanks for being so helpful, as a Devon birder, informing me so much about Somerset birding, you have already been mentioned in despatches!

I lived in Devon (in Sidbury) until 6 years ago when we moved to Somerset.

Jamie

 

[devon.birder]

Roger, Many thanks for being so helpful, as a Devon birder, informing me so much about Somerset birding, you have already been mentioned in despatches!

I lived in Devon (in Sidbury) until 6 years ago when we moved to Somerset.

Jamie

Hi Jamie. I see you used to live in Sidbury, that is near the new Devon hotbed of bird sightings ie Seaton isn't it?
I lived in Somerset at Martock from 1973-1978 so I know your new area fairly well. I much prefer birding in Somerset around the Levels, Steart and Chew Valley Lake (it was in Somerset back in the 1970s).
Since I lived there Somerset has lost Cirl Bunting and Corn Bunting as breeding birds but it has gained Cattle Egret this year and there is a very reliable site now for Tree Sparrow a bird that still eludes me in Devon.
Roger

 

[kato1]

Somerset levels

Well,

The county I live in doesn't seem to have many birds, or could that be people interested in birds? Well at least on BirdForum that is the way it appears.

Could someone please offer some links that I could explore to enhance my local birding experience??

Jamie

The Somerset levels ie Ham Wall, Shapwick Heath, West Hay etc are a fantastic place for birding. If you go there in the spring it's probably one of the best places in the country to see large numbers of Hobbys. The Somerset Ornithological society website is a good place to visit to pick up details of daily sightings but during the breeding season a lot of sightings are withheld. Shapwick Heath is also one of the best places to see Otters too !!

 

[Keith Dickinson]

I'd second the call to start a County thread, Hotspur started the Yorkshire thread in June 06 so it's less than 4 years old and it's now up to just short of 10,000 posts and we've had some great meets in that period. All it takes is 1 post to get the ball rolling, and you never know where it will lead.

 

[dantheman]

NB I think this thread was started a year ago, there is now a Somerset thread (albeit still not anywhere near approaching 10,000 posts lol...)

And wrt my earlier statement (from a year or so ago), yep the levels have certainly put the place more on the map than it has been previously. Other good sites too of course.

 

[MSA]

I remember my last family holiday as a youngster, before "lad's holidays" to the Costas etc took over, was to Porlock one August. The marshes were my local patch for the week, and were full of waders; I also "life-ticked" Red Grouse on a long walk over the moors. Does anyone cover Porlock marshes/weir? Seemed like an area with great potential. I also recall seeing my first Cattle Egret at East Coker on the coldest day you could imagine - to open my car doors I had to pour water over the rubber seals, and the catches in the door froze, so I drove the whole way there with rubber bungees wrapped around the door handles and the handbrake to stop the doors flying open!

 

[StarainBoy]

I also recall seeing my first Cattle Egret

Funnily I've just written about my first Somerset Little Egret at Clevedon.