Twitching and More!

I get a bit annoyed when 'populist' TV/radio programmes describe all bird watchers as 'twitchers'. But then wondered is there a definition of a 'twitcher'?

I found some interesting definitions on the internet and this perhaps sums up the situation:

Birdwatcher -  anyone who watches birds whether at a kitchen window, reservoir or nature reserve.  Owning binoculars immediately qualifies you. Birdwatchers let birds come to them.

Birder - a birdwatcher who (almost certainly) owns a scope, watches a local patch (patch worker), knows his or her stuff and looks for certain birds at certain times of the year. A birder knows birds by call as well as appearance; keeps a log of their sightings and may photograph them or take notes in the field.  Likes to find their own birds. May go on the odd twitch occasionally (see below) .

Twitcher - a birder who will travel great distances in his home country to see birds they haven't seen in that country before. They will almost certainly know how many birds they have seen in Britain. Twitchers chase specific individual birds. The best Twitchers know their birds extremely well. Some just do it for a bigger list!

So, since must last update, based on the above, I've been:

1. Twitching twice, albeit I ended up birding as the target species was not to be found;
2. Birding twice, once on my local patch; and
3. Volunteering to clean up a local wildlife site in Glasgow, a category not included in the above!

Twitch no.1 - Red-flanked Bluetail - Denburn Wood, Crail - 7 October 2016
Lynda joined me for this epic journey by public transport to Crail. The day was overcast and drizzly but no sign of the Bluetail or any other birds, apart from Robins, Blackbirds, Wrens and the odd tit. We did, however, have a nice coffee stop in St Andrews and a very pleasant late lunch in Crail!

Entrance to Denburn Wood

 

Twitch no. 2 - Hooded Merganser - Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch - 10 October 2016

Although present early morning, it had flown off by the time I arrived! I did, at least, find my own Chiffchaff!

 

Barr Loch

 

My other birding trips were through to Torness and Thorntonloch on the 11th - a flock of 49 Golden Plover was the highlight - and visiting my local patch, Bingham's Pond, on the 12th.

 

It was good to visit Bingham's Pond a few days after I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs clean-up on the 8th. The volunteers really made a positive impact, but sadly a few bits of litter had already started to accumulate around the footpath yesterday.

 

Volunteers at Bingham's Pond - 8 October 2016

 

Finally, some local sightings courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Tuesday 11 October 2016

Still two drake Ruddy Ducks on Garnqueen Loch; nearby 7 Gadwall on Woodend Loch, and 30 Gadwall and 7 Shoveler on Gartloch Pool, Glasgow.
Three Shoveler on Frankfield Loch, Glasgow.

 

Monday 10 October 2016
Now two drake Ruddy Ducks on Garnqueen Loch.
Two, possibly three Ring-necked Parakeets in Hillview Drive, Clarkston this morning.

 

Friday 7 October 2016
A drake Ruddy Duck on Garnqueen Loch.
Two Redwings on rowans in Gartloch Village, Glasgow.

Late news for 4 October 2016
A Yellow-browed Warbler in Knightswood, Glasgow.

Thursday 6 October 2016
Eleven Shoveler and 470 Teal at Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
Seven Shoveler and 18 Gadwall at Gartloch Pool, Glasgow.
Twelve Shoveler and 198 Lapwings at Frankfield Loch, Glasgow.
Still two Nuthatches at the feeders in Pollok Country Park, Glasgow, and a Jay by the Police Recreation Ground.
Two Stonechats and two Shoveler at Harelaw Reservoir, Barrhead, also three Sparrowhawks overhead.