I have just read the excellent article in todays Weekend Australian
Magazine 'Watch the Birdie' and would recommend everyone grabs a copy.
How good is it to see articles appearing in national press about
birds and bird watching!
There is no doubt the Grey-headed Lapwing has caught the attention of
the birding community like no other rarity before it. For me it was a
first - I've chased vagrants and rarities close to home but had
never done a 'long distance twitch' to a far-off spot in search of a
tick! i was fortunate to be in Cairns a few years ago when the
Laughing Gull was in town, but had never made a specific long
distance trip to find a single vagrant. Having done it now I reckon
it really is 'all its cracked up to be' by the hard core twitcher's
who have jumped in cars, trains, planes and boats in the past. No
doubt there is something very special about the 'thrill of the hunt'
- the time and effort rewarded by a super tick! . And not to mention
all the resident species seen as well - its been great to read
everyones reports on birding-aus of the various other birds seen and
places visited in pursuit of the GHL.
The article poses the question as to why this bird has attracted so
much more attention than previous twitches? For me I have to say that
Sean Dooley's book the Big Twitch inspired me as a birder to 'walk
the extra mile', (and though work, family and money keep me from
always doing such) when this opportunity came up I knew I had to make
the effort. So glad I did - great bird, great company on the trek and
most of all our great country. What can be better than getting out in
the great outdoors of the greatest place on the planet - and the
birds we see ( rare or 'the every day') are just a brilliant bonus!
cheers
David Taylor
Brisbane
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www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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