Blogs (11 Viewers)

Birding. Over the years it has given so much peace, pleasure, discovery. So much naked attention given in the woods, on the beach and marsh, etc. Always training the mind to see smaller and smaller differences and to remember details and past sights for comparison. Why do I bird? There are alot of answers. But in total honesty, one of the unconscious motives is the need to escape. I wonder how many have felt the same motive? Unemployment? A difficult marriage or childhood home? stressful job? When we head out dressed for the weather of the day, we find a new sense of self in the hunt for birds. The life problems fade away for the time. I improved my birding alot whilst unemployed. Eventually, I was good enough to work a...

6 buzzards played over a slagheap, and an adult male manderin showed well on the dee, not bad for a days non-birding.

You cant start a birding blog with a post saying you've done no birding today can you? I am. I'm sat on my fat backside after work and i can't be bothered to move. In all fairness to myself yesterday I spent the afternoon at Titchwell Safari Park and tomorrow I am going to start my escapades in ringing at flamborough head. Hard core I ain't Down at Titchwell I had a pleasant afternoon gaining a few crap year ticks:-Knot, R-t Diver and Gypo Goose. I know they are all lame and I really should have gone to see the Gypo goose at Tophill Low earlier this year for my Yorkshire list but frankly they are feral cack. Did get some nice close views of Dunlin & Ruff in all shapes and sizes on the freshmarsh (one sec-The Klaxons just came on MTV2...

Well, we didn't win. 13 teams participated and we are on fourth place with our 98 species. With 125 species a team from western Switzerland won, obviously with better weather conditions. At least we were better than the other team we met (by just 3 species). The race was also to raise money for a project to protect Middle-spotted Woodpeckers in Switzerland, our second rarest woodpecker which is in rapid decline. Looking forward to next year's race!

So Birdforum has a new blog...I've thought about it, and I've decided that I really like the idea. I already have one formal photo blog (which can be found at http://gillianm.livejournal.com/) but now that more and more people from the birding community are starting to read it I feel the need to keep it formal and professional. :scribe: However this one doesn't need to be as formal, can be more relaxed, and I'm not going to worry about posting photos. For that I will use my livejournal blog. So....welcome to Gillian's blog on BirdForum! :t:

Took Jamie down to Beddington. Beautiful view of a lesser Whitethroat, very tame, probably a juvenile. A few House Martins around still. There were 10+ Black-tailed Godwits on the lake by the golf course, first I have seen there this autumn. Good views of a Green Sandpiper as well, unusual as they are wary birds.

Many Starlings and lots of juv House Sparrows, at least 20. I hope this is a sign if things to come...A few blue tits...

First blog entry about my birding activities in Switzerland and it's already about a Birdrace. Well, it was held yesterday. We were a group of four, André (another one), Peter, Enzo and me. We started at the Schwägalp in the mountains. Friday night we had to cycle up there (1,5hrs) as cars are not allowed by the rules. After 10 pm, the official start time, we headed out and got a calling Tawny Owl after about 20 minutes. We went to bed with a good feeling... ...which immediately changed when we got up in the morning. It was raining hard and foggy. Nevertheless we went out and started. It was birding by the hard way. Not very much activity and usually just a short call. We needed the first four hours to clean up the Thrushes and the...

Underlined means a 2007 year bird BOLD means a lifer. This is my first blog entry. I recently went to Wales, got back yesterday at about 8pm. We stayed in a lovely cottage on a farm in Carmarthenshire. We arrived around 4pm on Saturday the 18th. On the way there I tried to spot as many birtds as possible from the car, only got about 15 species, things such as Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Gulls, Carrion Crow, Buzzards etc. The first day was pretty uneventful, we went shopping to stock up on things for the cottage but nothing really obird wise. Anyway I manage to pack in about 3 months worth of birding into a fortnight, got 7 lifers and it was very enjoyable. Day 2- The first birding day We woke up around 7ish to go for a walk around the farm. I...

So, we now have blogs! I think this is a great idea as it allows those of us who already have a blog (which is not exclusive to birding) to post bird only related items. All I have to do now is remember to use it!

well everyone, on this blog, I plan to keep you all up to date with any birding I get up to, trip lists, from holidays and single outings, and hopfully much more.

I will move what had been the '2007 Blackpool Blog' to here from now on. Good day of birding today without anything exceptional. Great views of several freshwater waders (including Ruff) at Mythop and 24 Little Egrets in the roost at Freckleton Naze (though unfortunately no Great White...). Stephen.

Welcome to the new blogs section of BirdForum! What is a Blog? You can think of a blog as your own personal diary on the web - you can use it as your own diary and other people can read and comment on it. Use it to tell people about what you've been doing, where you've been going, and what birds you've seen whilst doing it! Ollie