Appalling new breed of so-called bird watchers.
03rd March 2017
It was a beautiful spring-like day yesterday contrary to what the weather forecast predicted. Susan and I were out early with the intention of seeing some Hawfinches in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. We arrived at Parkend to find two cars already in place near the Hawfinch site so we drove past and got my kit out further on down the lane so as not to disturb the other two people that were already set-up. This is just common courtesy but you would be surprised by the amount of people who park their cars and just get out and spend time talking and setting up while disturbing other people, they have no manners or common sense, a really annoying combination!!
We quickly got ready, me in the front seat and Susan behind and then slowly and quietly drove up, parked and switched the engine off. I crossed over seats while inside the car and we settled in quickly. I have seen people pull up and leave their engines running and the radio playing for some time, they then get out, slam the doors and walk around their cars, they are so rude, it’s no wonder there are arguments at sites.
After about half an hour we could hear Hawfinches squeaking and ticking up in the Yew trees and then one bird dropped down to the ground and we had great views and a few photographs. However, a few more cars arrived and the noise level started to increase with people slamming car doors and talking loudly. These so called birders have no idea about how to approach Hawfinches, these birds are so shy and wary, and they will fly up into the tree tops at the least disturbance. In total there were six people making the noise and we knew it was all over once they then proceeded to walk on to the field and stand there waiting for these birds to come down. They have no chance whatsoever of a Hawfinch coming down when there are people out in the open, they will stay up in the tree-tops all day or even fly to another location. The situation then worsened when one so-called photographer among them walked over and stood right underneath the trees about twenty feet from the birds prime feeding area. He could see three cars parked with people quietly waiting for the Hawfinches to come down but that didn’t seem to matter to him. He displayed a total lack of understanding of Hawfinch protocol and even less regard for other people’s enjoyment, in short he was a total idiot!
He, I’m afraid exemplifies the new breed of bird watcher that is proliferating in the bird watching/photography hobby. They have absolutely no field craft or knowledge of their subject and no regard for anyone but themselves. You can always tell them they don’t carry binoculars, (there would be little point anyway because they don’t know what they are looking at). They have swerved no birding apprenticeship, getting better by learning from their mistakes like most people, they just buy a big lens and try to photograph birds at any cost.
The man in the car facing us finally got out to remonstrate quite politely with this man, and was not as you would think met with an apology and recognition of his behaviour, but with a tirade of foul language and abuse telling him he didn’t know what he was talking about. I also asked him to back-off and was met with the same barrage of abuse and the man behind me asked him to move back and he was threatened with violence.
At this point we all left and decided we were wasting our time trying to reason with this meat-head. I’m sure by this time the Hawfinches were long departed, thankfully I had some images from my time there. The man who got out of his car had come from Bristol and hadn’t got any decent images because of this man's behaviour.
Despite this unsavoury incident it was still a lovely day and we went walking and had very nice views of a Northern Grey Shrike and we also saw some Goshawks displaying.
It’s little wonder that people keep sites and sightings to themselves when people like that are around. Thankfully Susan and I watch wildlife together and I always photograph alone whenever possible. I want no part of this modern bird watching and photography scene because whatever your behaviour you will be tarred with the same brush as these people. I have photographed Hawfinches from various sites in the forest from my portable hide and had great results.
They will never get any decent shots until they understand the protocol you need to adopt to photograph Hawfinches.
Taken in winter in long grass which coincidently complimented the birds plumage.
However, this was when the forest didn’t have this current breed of so-called bird watchers.
Below are a few images taken prior to the incident.
See how their beak has changed from a straw colour in winter to a beautiful pewter-like affair coming into spring, this happens in late February into March as they come into their breeding plumage.
We quickly got ready, me in the front seat and Susan behind and then slowly and quietly drove up, parked and switched the engine off. I crossed over seats while inside the car and we settled in quickly. I have seen people pull up and leave their engines running and the radio playing for some time, they then get out, slam the doors and walk around their cars, they are so rude, it’s no wonder there are arguments at sites.
After about half an hour we could hear Hawfinches squeaking and ticking up in the Yew trees and then one bird dropped down to the ground and we had great views and a few photographs. However, a few more cars arrived and the noise level started to increase with people slamming car doors and talking loudly. These so called birders have no idea about how to approach Hawfinches, these birds are so shy and wary, and they will fly up into the tree tops at the least disturbance. In total there were six people making the noise and we knew it was all over once they then proceeded to walk on to the field and stand there waiting for these birds to come down. They have no chance whatsoever of a Hawfinch coming down when there are people out in the open, they will stay up in the tree-tops all day or even fly to another location. The situation then worsened when one so-called photographer among them walked over and stood right underneath the trees about twenty feet from the birds prime feeding area. He could see three cars parked with people quietly waiting for the Hawfinches to come down but that didn’t seem to matter to him. He displayed a total lack of understanding of Hawfinch protocol and even less regard for other people’s enjoyment, in short he was a total idiot!
He, I’m afraid exemplifies the new breed of bird watcher that is proliferating in the bird watching/photography hobby. They have absolutely no field craft or knowledge of their subject and no regard for anyone but themselves. You can always tell them they don’t carry binoculars, (there would be little point anyway because they don’t know what they are looking at). They have swerved no birding apprenticeship, getting better by learning from their mistakes like most people, they just buy a big lens and try to photograph birds at any cost.
The man in the car facing us finally got out to remonstrate quite politely with this man, and was not as you would think met with an apology and recognition of his behaviour, but with a tirade of foul language and abuse telling him he didn’t know what he was talking about. I also asked him to back-off and was met with the same barrage of abuse and the man behind me asked him to move back and he was threatened with violence.
At this point we all left and decided we were wasting our time trying to reason with this meat-head. I’m sure by this time the Hawfinches were long departed, thankfully I had some images from my time there. The man who got out of his car had come from Bristol and hadn’t got any decent images because of this man's behaviour.
Despite this unsavoury incident it was still a lovely day and we went walking and had very nice views of a Northern Grey Shrike and we also saw some Goshawks displaying.
It’s little wonder that people keep sites and sightings to themselves when people like that are around. Thankfully Susan and I watch wildlife together and I always photograph alone whenever possible. I want no part of this modern bird watching and photography scene because whatever your behaviour you will be tarred with the same brush as these people. I have photographed Hawfinches from various sites in the forest from my portable hide and had great results.
They will never get any decent shots until they understand the protocol you need to adopt to photograph Hawfinches.
Taken in winter in long grass which coincidently complimented the birds plumage.
However, this was when the forest didn’t have this current breed of so-called bird watchers.
Below are a few images taken prior to the incident.
See how their beak has changed from a straw colour in winter to a beautiful pewter-like affair coming into spring, this happens in late February into March as they come into their breeding plumage.