Thursday 14 October 2010

Oh Dear!

I bumped into Will on Rawcliffe Moss at teatime and I was telling him how impressed I was that all the birders at Rossall yesterday were following the instructions not to enter the fields to view the Red-backed Shrike.  Then I found out that two employees of that rare bird news service, you know the one, the one with the pagers that bleep incessantly and really annoy you, were wandering around the fields this afternoon, trespassing to try and see the Shrike. Apparently their excuse was "we thought we were on a public footpath". Bollocks!!! They knew exactly where they were and didn't give a f*ck!

You would think that they would set an example and follow the instructions that they were sending out to subscribers. I think these two characters thought they could get away with it, get a closer look and try and get some shots close up of the Shrike. What they have in fact done is spoil it for everyone else. This site will now become a 'bird news black hole' and no gen will now be released from the site, or not from me at any rate.

I am actually bloody livid about this as I have worked hard to get permission to ring here. I have to produce monthly and annual reports for the school to ensure that we can continue to carry out our valuable ringing studies here. The School won't differentiate between us and these two clowns and any more actions like this could jeopardise everything we have worked hard for, and I am not prepared to risk this. What makes it even more annoying is that both these clowns are qualified ringers and should realise how hard you have to work to gain a landowners trust. Despicable!

These two idiots should take a hard look at themselves and the organisations that they represent and ask themselves whether they have set a good example or not. One of the clowns sits on a national committee and helps to asses whether yours and my records should be accepted or not. Is this acceptable behaviour for someone in this position? I think not.

Anyway, I'm not going to waste my time on this any more and on to today's birds or lack of them.

It was completely cloudy last night and as a result I didn't have a single Redwing calling. I didn't see a Peregrine flying over as I walked across the car park at work either, but I did have a several Coal Tits and a couple of Nuthatch coming to my office feeders.

 Nuthatch

Oh, and Red-breasted Nuthatch, but not on my office window feeders!

On my way back from Longton this afternoon I dropped into Freckleton Marsh to have a alook at the ditches that we put in and they look absolutely fantastic. I'll bob back with a camera next week and let you have a look.

Back to where I started I suppose in that I called at my feeding station on Rawcliffe Moss to feed on my way home from work. As I drove along the track a male Sparrowhawk flew in front of me only inches above the ground. Amazing! Tree Sparrow numbers were similar to a few days ago and I had 93 in total. Other than 3 Skylarks over and a Coal Tit calling from Curlew Wood that was it.

5 comments:

Heather Naomi McGinty said...

Good rant, quite right too.

Anon said...

I have to say I think your petty whinging is outrageous! I know twitchers and ringers will never get on but I think this spineless internet attack is pathetic. If you have an issue with these two men then it is the adult and professional approach to speak to them dirdctly about it, not make childish remarks on yet another pointless birding website.

I appreciate all the effots you and all ringers put into your work and think it is highly admirable that you give up so much time to do it. I think you should take a look at your attitude and not belittle yourself with this kind of vindictive attack.

These two men in question also donate a huge amount of their time to charitable work and do a hell of a lot for the fylde. Not only do I believe that they were in fact walking on ground that is often used by the public, if they were in the wrong then they were most definately not doing it intentionally.

If you want to continue to be respected for the things you do, then stop behaving in such a ridiculous manner.

The Hairy Birder said...

Dear Anon,

Your response to my post made me laugh out loud as I found it quite hilarious, in fact the 'prissy' way in which you write amused me and your reply was full of inaccuracies and half-baked nonsense.

First of all to say that twitchers and ringers will never get on is totally inaccurate. I, and imagine you, know many ringers who are indeed twitchers. In fact why people like to characterise different elements of an interest in birds has always baffled me.

I do have an issue with these two men and I will speak to them at the first opportunity.

You refer to my blog as "yet another pointless birding website"; it might well be in your opinion and you are entitled to your opinion. What I would say is that if you find it pointless then please do not bother reading it. I wouldn't waste a second of my life on something that I find pointless.

I have never questioned the amount of time that these two men donate to charitable work at all and if they do that is very commendable.

The ground they were walking on is private property and there are numerous signs up around the site pointing this out. Both these two men are well aware of the fact that this is a private site. In fact they were putting the message out to stick to the footpaths, so for you to say that "if they were in the wrong they were most definitely not doing it intentionally" is erroneous.

It is very kind of you to say that I am respected for the things that I do, but I will not jeopardise my access to a private site because of the irresponsible behaviour of these two men.

Kind Regards,

Seumus

Ghost of Stringer said...

YES !!!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE !!.....GRUMPY BIRDERS ACROSS THE WORLD UNITE !!!

I would like to formally invite you to join our elite club...

GOB (Grumpy Old Birders).

I love the way people who haven't even got the bollox to leave their own name on a comment, are brave enough to call you spineless !! Hilarious !!

Anyway, I always thought this bloggin bollox was about expressing yourself, if you feel strongly about something, nowt wrong with saying so, in fact it's healthy to have a release I reckon.

8)

The Hairy Birder said...

I couldn't agree more G! Who do I send my subs to!:)