In no particular order…
It’s been a while since I posted anything, and I’m aware that I’m skipping ahead in time to today from September accounts of August birding, but chronology is a harsh task master and I’m no historian. I might go back and tell about some incredible experiences in Yorkshire (all five grebes in a day centred around Tophill Low, plus some serious rares at Flamborough), at Frampton (American Sandpipers for days) and Sennen for 17 seconds of Upland Sandpiper… or I might not. I’ll see how I feel. This post is about an aspect of birding as a middle aged man returning to a hobby from my teens and twenties. Back in the mid/late 90s I was a fanatical birder but the usual distractions hit me and I stopped in favour of football, drinking and trying to find a partner. In 2020 during the lockdown, I worked every day - many teachers were wearing surgical plastic face shields to teach vulnerable kids and the fear and pressure was acute - and I began to stop off and sit in my car ...