The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Hello,

For those of you who follow the Roger Parson's LNU weekly report, you may have noticed that for the S-T NNR, Peter Roworth asked for people visiting the beach at Brickyard to bear in mind that the winter feeding lark and finch flocks are reliant on all the daylight hours to get enough food to sustain them and that some consideration should be given to the birds welfare when watching/photographing them.

After the publication of shorelarks presence in the area nearly 3 weeks ago, the number of people coming to see the birds over the following weekend was huge, with scores of birders and photographers. Unfortunately, some of the photographers persisted in constantly chasing the larks up and down the beach. Come the Monday afternoon, all 13 shorelarks had vacated the area, but whether this was because of the harassment or not I can only surmise.

Unfortunately, I have had complaints about the way that the birds were relentlessly pursued by the local dog walkers. This is a case of the boot being on the other foot for a change. In fact, there is one 73 year old lady who comes down every day with 2 collies, who slipped over on the mud and had difficulty getting up.Whilst she hasn't complained to me, another person has told me how 2 birders walked straight by her carrying tripods (whether scopes or cameras, I wasn't told) and didn't stop to help her or ask if she was OK.

With the departure of the larks, the pressure on the twite and snow buntings gradually eased. However, as 9 shorelarks returned last Saturday, the number of visitors has gone up again, the big lenses continuously tracking them.

I haven't seen the larks yesterday or today, so they have probably moved on again.

It's quite interesting how the number of photographers have markedly increased since last time we had shorelarks a few years ago, so that relatively, the pressures on the birds have significantly increased. I am not opposed to photographers, as I am one too, although I've had to downscale from my 7kg of Nikon camera and 200-400 lens because the arthritis is kicking in now. However, I would reiterate Peter's plea to give the birds some space please.

My experience is that the birds are very mobile and it's possible to take up a couple of strategic positions and let the birds come to you.

Regards,
Cliff

Cliff makes some valid points. Check out the RPS Nature group Code of Conduct here:
http://www.rpsnaturegroup.com/page7.htm

The opening statement is:

There is one hard and fast rule, whose spirit must be observed at all times -
"The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph.”

Anyone disagree?

John

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Lincolnshire Birds https://www.flickr.com/photos/120340949 ... 8078912016
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Contact: recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk

I fully agree with Cliff's comments.

I remember a few years ago reading on the forum the Shore Lark and Snow Bunts were at S & T as I'd never seen the former before I decided to go, one of pals asked to go so I took her as well. On reaching the beach we had to look very hard to find the birds, as I had difficulty walking ( and still have) I plonked myself on my cow stool and my pal went further along the beach to find them, which she did about a hundred yards away.

I set up my scope and camcorder and hoped for the best! I thought to myself if I only get a record shot it's better than nowt.

I kept waving to her and she waved she back, probably letting me know I hadn't been forgotten. As I was deep in concentration I felt someone's presence, I looked up and it was JW, my pal and AR come on they said we have come to fetch you and your gear closer to the action, which I thanked them for. Even though we were much closer than I had been we were still a fair way from the birds. There was quite a few birders/photographers there but none were upsetting the birds. Okay the birds did move a few times but that wasn't our fault, cos they rarely moved more than a few yards to eat etc.

I can't speak other than for myself and my pal but I got good footage from the camcorder and fairly good from my digiscoping ( using a Sony x3 zoom plus x25 Spacemaster) and my pal got decent shots with her DSLR+zoom. I was happy just to see the Shore Lark through the bins having never seen one before!

At the end of the day the birds should be allowed to feed wherever they decide to land be it in our garden or on the beach etc, who are we to disturb them in our quest to photograph/film them, without the birds many people would be devoid of an hobby including me, although I rarely go out these days.

Kind regards

Max

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GETTING OLD HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE lol