Lesser Black-backed Gull at Broome

The bird continues to be seen intermittently at the Broome tip. Anyone wishing to see it should allow at least a couple of days to ensure they coincide with its irregular visits.

Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136 ===============================

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8 comments to Lesser Black-backed Gull at Broome

  • Jude Latt

    Grant, I’m with you … IF ONLY I had the money and the time … but …

    Jude

  • "Tony Russel"

    Hi Jenny and others. I seem to have generated the thought that I am somehow jealous or angry about people spending money to twitch a bird. Nothing could be further from the truth. Being a twitcher I too have spent thousands of dollars avidly traipsing round the country chasing new birds, and I wish those who still do it the best of luck. However, I seem to have lost some of my own twitching zeal and the rewards of getting a tick are definitely fading for me, unless of course the bird is closer to home, then I’ll go for it. Oh, and BTW, I don’t suffer from the domestic financial constraints that Philip mentioned so I could still go but choose not to. This, fortunately, does not preclude me from passing comment on these compulsive expeditions. Tony

  • David Stowe

    Surely we don’t have to have this constant debate again!

    Some people will be interested and consider it worth the cost (whatever it is).

    Other people won’t be interested and won’t go for whatever reason.

    Why turn it into a judgement about how silly it is against the people that are happy to do it? Not everyone has been to the UK (much more expensive) to see it hundreds of times.

    In the end does it really matter?

    cheers David Stowe

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  • Jennifer Spry

    Hi all,

    I am again wondering why the expenditure of money on our chosen hobby/pastime/obsession is such a contentious issue. Using Tony’s calculation the cost of a trip to Broome comes to about $1,000 – $1,200 and having costed it myself I agree (I am not including food and fuel because I feel one usually uses that whether or not they are on a twitch). Some people can afford to spend, and what’s more want to spend, that amount to see a vagrant bird. So what?

    There are people who collect old vinyl or wax records who will pay $1,200 for one record. There are people who will pay many times that amount for a used postage stamp. Other people pay for a ticket to an interstate concert or, unbelievably, to attend a cricket match (smile). So what? It’s their hobby/pastime/obsession.

    The expenditure of money, in general, also provides employment for a large range of people from the person who cuts the sandwich in Broome to the person who flies the plane to get you there. And those who went for the LBBG undoubtably saw other birds and spent an enjoyable social time with friends.

    Philip mentions the Secretarybird on the plains of Africa. Like Philip, I chose not to spend my finite money reserves on a ticket to Africa, but if one turned up on the plains of Western Australia I would do my best to go and see it. Just as some people who can’t afford to go to Europe to see a famous painting will fly to Canberra to see it.

    Personally, I feel happy for those who have seen the LBBG and I gain pleasure from reading about their trips. To me the joy of birding is good friends, beautiful places and birds. Let’s just enjoy our hobby/pastime/obsession and stop begrudging a person’s discretionary expenditure in that pursuit.

    cheers and long live all birders

    Jenny http://jenniferspryausbirding.blogspot.com.au/

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  • John Tongue

    If people don’t want to spend the money to go and see it, then don’t…..

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  • Grant Brosie

    If I had the money and time I’d be in Broome without a second thought. Better then being at home watching the same birds day in and out. Plus there’s so much to see in Broome besides what looks to be a quite impressive bird, lets not sell it short, it is a bird after all.

    Grant Brosie Rutherford, NSW

    Sent from my iPhone

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  • "Tony Russel"

    Richard, I’m with Philip on this. You skipped very quickly over the expensive bits !! For a start you used frequent flyer points !! The air fare from Adelaide (compulsorily via Melb) is around $400-800, and that’s in the cheap seats. Going on one’s own the minimum accommodation cost would be ca $120 per night. Then I’d have to hire a car for a couple of days – allow $120 for that, plus fuel. Oh, and I guess one would need to eat , other than taking sandwiches. Allow another $50 for that even eating fast food ( which I don’t). OK for some, but not for most of us. And all for one skungey bird which I’ve seen a hundred times in the UK. I don’t think so.

    Tony

  • Richard Baxter

    Philip, It doesn’t always cost a fortune. I twitched the LBBG in Broome a few weeks ago with Mike and Rohan. The entire trip cost me $75. I used frequent flyer points, we shared a room and George Swan very kindly drive us to the rubbish tip.

    Breakfast at Maccas and flew home.

    Cheers Richard

    Sent from my iPhone

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