NB.....This post is totally unsolicited, will be a surprise to Roy, and is the author's own idea.
Re Roy's 2011 DVD :
a. For those members who claim to be "of few words" and have little time available to read a review :
Excellent DVD;
b. For those members of just a few more words and a little more time :
Excellent DVD; highly recommended; very good value for money.
c. For those members who prefer mulling over a review before parting with their money :
For me, one of the brighter events in an otherwise usually dull and miserable January is the knowledge that Roy's DVD of the previous year's birding highlights will be available. This year is no exception and the current DVD is the tenth in the series of Rare and Scarce birds that Roy has produced.
Lincolnshire is especially fortunate in having a number of birders who must certainly qualify for inclusion in the very top echelon of British photographers producing bird 'stills'. Roy complements their work most effectively and most skilfully in his production of video recordings : 'movies' are indeed an ever popular format for enjoying the birding world.....as witnessed by the tremendous popularity of recent TV bird programmes.
My own favourites amongst the 70+ 'rarities and scarcities' on offer, and running for over 3 hours, include : the Covenham American Black Tern, the unforgettable White-tailed Eagle at Ruckland, Spotted Sandpiper at Whisby plus the November Great Grey Shrike at Tetney Lock (which Roy put me onto when I arrived there) and the Kirkby Pits Great White Egret (staying on well into January 2012).
The video recordings not only capture the moving birds in detail but also the locations and occasionally even the group of birders present at the time, providing a general and also a specific birding atmosphere for the sighting. There are plenty of useful ID tips plus information regarding geographic range, details of previous UK sightings of the birds and their length of stay. Occasional human touches are added such as the kitchen scene where the owner of the house, in whose Chipping Norton garden the Oriental Turtle Dove chose to perform, is busy preparing teas for the twitching throng filling his kitchen and gawping out of the window at the bird. We are also introduced to an intriguing avian 'menage a trois' - a veritable threesome - consisting of the charismatic Ouse Washes Blue-winged Teal drake, a female Shoveler and a compliant drake Shoveler.
So much for the 'pros' in this review. As for the 'cons'....well. I'm still searching and I'll let you know.
I think the message is clear with regard to Roy's production 'Rare and Scarce Birds DVD 2011' ; BUY and ENJOY.
Freddy