The Lincolnshire Bird Club

just when you need it the birds lift your spirit .............. on a wet run around riseholme this noon brooding over not yet having seen the swamphen, I turned a corner and there were 8 spot flys hawking insects from the fences - a few juveniles amongst them as to be expected - but having had some disappointments this year in lincolnshire church yards which still seem eminantly suitable it was good to see these birds in such numbers. Were they local breeders or just on passage? Not sure but hey 8 .............. it rejuvenated my knees for at least 200 yards! They were on the fences next to the football pitches at the college.
cheers
danny

Excellent post - sightings ( especially of unexpected birds) are always more interesting if they're accompanied by a bit of human context.

A couple of years ago, a birding friend of mine was having a lunchtime sandwich on a small grassed area outside his offices when a wryneck landed a few yards in front of him and started pecking about on a flower bed.

In his amazement, he swore a couple of times ( for some reason, birders often swear when they come across rarities), then, when he went back to his office ( he is a journalist), he was totally unable to concentrate and missed two deadlines.

When he arrived at work the next morning, there was a written warning from his employer.

Sadly, on this occasion, the wryneck proved to be a bird of ill omen