Hello from Tattershall

Trevor Gunby · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:54 pm

I have been living in Tattershall for about a year now having moved back from North Yorkshire where I spent the previous thirty years.
I took up bird watching almost three years ago and really by accident. My wife and I were cycling along the path by Ripon canal for the first time when we came across two hides overlooking former gravel pits on the opposite side of the path to the canal. We stopped to have a look out of curiosity and it became a regular thing to stop for a break and spend a while looking at the birds. We were fascinated to find that such a variety of birds were to be seen within a couple of miles of where we lived and were soon hooked and began visiting other local sites. During our first winter of bird watching we saw two spotted redshanks in front of the lagoon by Ripon Canal - they were quite close and I was quite certain of the id (by then we were carrying an RSPB guide to check out our sightings). A few weeks later we met a local birdwatcher who had been visiting the site almost every day for years and recording his sightings. When we told him of the spotted redshanks he replied "Oh no, you're mistaken you could not possibly have seen such birds here!" It was then that I decided that I needed a suitable camera so that when such an incident arose again I could say "Well, there's a photo of it then - how do you explain that?"
Now I don't know what I did before bird watching and what I would do without it - it combines fresh air and excercise in attractive locations with a love of photography and the joy of watching birds and the ever present anticipation of finding somethign "new".
I don't aspire to being a great photographer or becoming a real expert on birds - I just enjoy birds of any species and get satisfaction out of getting half decent photos. I have posted a lot of photos on Birdguides and my main reason for that is that any one browsing and anticipating visiting any of the sites that I know can get an idea of birds which they are likely to see there. I am not one to dash off to the far corners of the country to get a picture of the latest rarity to land but have managed to combine visits to Gigrin Farm and Rutland Water with holidays this year. I do keep a tally of how many species I have photographed and though I don't set targets there is always a bit of a thrill in capturing a bird that I haven't seen before or one that I haven't photographed at a particular site.
Obviously my local patch is now Kirkby on Bain (just over two miles away)
but I try to make regular visits to Gibraltar Point and Freiston Shore and will try to make occasional visits to sites a bit further afield. I hope to continue to post photos to the Lincs Bird Club Photo Albums when I have suitable images and look forward to enjoying more of the birds of Lincolnshire and hopefully meeting other members of the Club.

Mandy West · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:15 pm

Hi,

Welcome to the forum, look forward to reading your postings and seeing your pics!

Mandy & Mick

Dean Eades · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:12 pm

Welcome
Dean....

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Hello from Tattershall

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