Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

I was just reading about the Caspian Plover that had been spotted on Fair Isle, Shetland. And the fact that it flew of in the morning before all the tick hunters arrived and then came back after they left.
I am sorry but i had a really good laugh at this, how much money must some of them wasted, i can't see the point in chasing around the country looking for something that they may not see. I wonder how many of the class themselves as wild-life enthuisasts the amount of stuff they must miss out on, just trying to get i milli-second glimse of the tail feather as it flies off.
And how much damage will they have caused by tramping around looking for the bird, without looking what is under thier feet, i bet plenty of spring flowers where crushed which on a isle like that is very important to the spring insects.

Know what you mean Andy. I know a couple of Twitchers who drop everything, including work when a text comes through that a bird has been spotted. One of these was in the Scilly Isles, North Norfolk and Wales all in one day. I believe the object is to see as many birds as you possibly can before you kick the bucket. Dread to think what the effect on the environment is.

Could not agree more, I know of one guy who has been in a number of RTA's one of which resulting in the death of another driver. What is the point?????

I love that expression, "Tick Hunters"!

Having had a few attached to me in my lifetime--you don't need to hunt ticks, they find you .

Nasty little things.

Kingfisher

Ha Ha. You're obviously talking about ticks and not 'Tick Hunters'

Tell me about it i have been out today and just taken 6 off myself.

I presume you are refering to Mr Evans? Do you actually know him personally or just know of him? For info, he also lost an eye in a very bad accident, but when you have covered over 1.5million road miles in pursuit of rare birds i suppose a few accidents are bound to occur!