16 thoughts on “British Twitchers – Canberra times”

  1. There will be quite a few overwintering in the UK in 2015, hoping to see a few more Cooks Golden Duck unless it is extinct by then. Yours in all things “green” John Harris Croydon, Vic Owner – Wildlife Experiences Ecologist/Zoologist Nature Photographer Wildlife Guide wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com 0409090955 President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (www.fncv.org.au) —– Reply message —– Cc: <birding-aus@vicnet.net.au> I suspect that English twitchers are more likely to overwinter in Australia than vice-versa. Regards, Laurie.

  2. Deb, are you suggesting infidelity amongst females of the species? Not unusual in either species, I imagine 🙂 Yours in all things “green” John Harris Croydon, Vic Owner – Wildlife Experiences Ecologist/Zoologist Nature Photographer Wildlife Guide wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com 0409090955 President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (www.fncv.org.au) —– Reply message —– Cc: “birding-aus@vicnet.net.au” <birding-aus@vicnet.net.au> I have also noticed amongst male UK twitchers their unique display behaviour, not in bright plumage but loud vocalisation of birds seen and rarities ticked. This seems however to leave the females often unimpressed and liable to seek out non compatible species on occasion.
    Debbie
    (Former UK twitchette)

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

  4. Well yes, faithful but forlorn. —–Original Message—– Sent: Wednesday, 18 December 2013 3:15 PM Does that go for the barmy army also? “They are clearly more vocal too, must be a separate species” Yours in all things “green” John Harris Croydon, Vic Owner – Wildlife Experiences Ecologist/Zoologist Nature Photographer Wildlife Guide wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com 0409090955 President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (www.fncv.org.au) —– Reply message —– ) I used to twitch in UK when I was a teenager, but fortunately it hasn’t affected me. Bananas, Simon Clayton Manager Birdrangers, Gibraltar Reserve Cangai, NSW, 2460 http://www.birdrangers.com

  5. Does that go for the barmy army also? “They are clearly more vocal too, must be a separate species” Yours in all things “green” John Harris Croydon, Vic Owner – Wildlife Experiences Ecologist/Zoologist Nature Photographer Wildlife Guide wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com 0409090955 President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (www.fncv.org.au) —– Reply message —– ) I used to twitch in UK when I was a teenager, but fortunately it hasn’t affected me. Bananas, Simon Clayton Manager Birdrangers, Gibraltar Reserve Cangai, NSW, 2460 http://www.birdrangers.com

  7. I would never call myself a female Superb Fairy-wren or Black Swan, but all that posing and displaying a la Satin Bowerbird can exhaust the male of the species occasionally, especially for those long cross country migrations for that rarity.
    I can think of one occasion in the UK when the female got tired of waiting for her beau to come home to her!

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

  8. I’m an ex-Pom and twitching in Oz has made me totally neurotic. —–Original Message—– Sent: Wednesday, 18 December 2013 2:20 PM Cc: birding-aus@vicnet.net.au I have also noticed amongst male UK twitchers their unique display behaviour, not in bright plumage but loud vocalisation of birds seen and rarities ticked. This seems however to leave the females often unimpressed and liable to seek out non compatible species on occasion.
    Debbie
    (Former UK twitchette)

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

  9. But the home ranges of individuals of both species can overlap and the species can interbreed. Frequently there are large mixed-species sporting and/or partying flocks, and occasionally smaller mixed twitching flocks. Bird-watching hasn’t affected me either. Merry Christmas everyone. Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW —–Original Message—– [mailto:birding-aus-bounces@lists.vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of Simon Clayton Sent: Wednesday, 18 December 2013 12:08 PM Hi All, I think Australian twitchers should be taxonomically split from British twitchers, they have more available prey and have to migrate shorter distances for it. This results in larger flock sizes and greater competition for prey items. They are clearly more vocal too, must be a separate species. 🙂 I used to twitch in UK when I was a teenager, but fortunately it hasn’t affected me. Bananas, Simon Clayton Manager Birdrangers, Gibraltar Reserve Cangai, NSW, 2460 http://www.birdrangers.com

  10. I have also noticed amongst male UK twitchers their unique display behaviour, not in bright plumage but loud vocalisation of birds seen and rarities ticked. This seems however to leave the females often unimpressed and liable to seek out non compatible species on occasion.
    Debbie
    (Former UK twitchette)

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

  11. Like starlings, we’ve mostly adapted to our new environment and become more sedentary. However some now travel even more widely in search of new sources. Sent from my iPhone

  12. Hi All, I think Australian twitchers should be taxonomically split from British twitchers, they have more available prey and have to migrate shorter distances for it. This results in larger flock sizes and greater competition for prey items. They are clearly more vocal too, must be a separate species. 🙂 I used to twitch in UK when I was a teenager, but fortunately it hasn’t affected me. Bananas, Simon Clayton Manager Birdrangers, Gibraltar Reserve Cangai, NSW, 2460 http://www.birdrangers.com

  13. Nothing wrong with sitting at home watching the cricket hoping to see a vagrant pommy duck or two. Actually we’ve seen a few this summer including a couple of northern snickers c.f northern shoveller and a Cook’s Golden Duck 🙂 Gotta love summer!! Yours in all things “green” John Harris Croydon, Vic Owner – Wildlife Experiences Ecologist/Zoologist Nature Photographer Wildlife Guide wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com 0409090955 President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (www.fncv.org.au) —– Reply message —– Cc: <birding-aus@vicnet.net.au> No matter what the weather, they won’t be home watching the cricket during the ashes series They have to do something to get out of the house and it could lead to a spike in rare bird reports. Tony Russell wrote:

  14. No matter what the weather, they won’t be home watching the cricket during the ashes series They have to do something to get out of the house and it could lead to a spike in rare bird reports. Tony Russell wrote:

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