just a note in reply to eric hoskin's mail re birds in the u.k and "how
lucky we are here",
after living in N.Z. and coming to australia the birdwatching is
wonderful!!! however, i lived in the u.k when younger and i think eric
is a bit off the mark. for the size of the place the british isles have
an enormous number of birds. woodpeckers for example, and several
species of tit {i remember a common occurrence of great and blue tits
poking holes in milk bottles and drinking the cream. any trip to a
fishing port will turn up at least 6 to 8 species of gull, an estuary is
invariably chock full with waders and shorebirds.
the change between winter and summer birds is always keenly
anticipated...the winter flocks of bramblings, fieldfares, redstarts,
snow buntings, etc etc. being on a north-south passageway and it's
proximity to europe means that a surprising number of "odd" birds turn
up and even the westerlies bring in occasional rarities from the states.
aussie is a great place for birds, but the u.k. has good points also!!
rob
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