I've been birding since about age 6 and am now rather older than that. I started my "real" birding in Suffolk during family holidays when I went to proper birding places, like Minsmere, as opposed to watching in my granny's back garden in Surrey (full of Turtle Doves in those days). I then graduated to Dungeness where I spent many a happy (and slightly hung-over) a day. Having lived and been birding in Yorkshire for 21 years I moved to Orkney in August 2009 - ambition a self-found list of 300.
Briefly birder, then bryophyte-er, then fungi-er, then ...
Started PSL as cataloguing my local patch (Cullaloe LNR) before taking it further afield. Still get a nosebleed outside VC85.
Keen birder since 1994 or thereabouts, still quite a few signficant gaps in my UK list, but it's fun plugging them in slowly. Not averse to the odd twitch, as long as it's not too far away!
I am the current CEO of BTO. A birder since the age of 7, with note-taking and specialist trips starting in 1971. Late onto the world scene, I'm never going to be a big world-lister, but now choosing a 'bucket-list' of 50 most desirable species world-wide. British, Self-found British and Norfolk lists all relatively important.
I don't twitch outside Kent these days, unless I am in Dorset, then I don't twitch outside Dorset.
Interested in Birds, Moths and Mammals anywhere really.
Not particularly fussed about a BOU life list, but keener on my Kent list and seeing new species abroad.
Joint architect of BUBO Listing with Mike Prince. Originally from Leeds, spent six years in Bristol, a couple of years in Cornwall and have lived in Norfolk since 1996. Worked 25 years at BTO, but now a freelance ecologist specialising in invertebrate surveys. In spare time (hah!) I can mostly be found bug-bothering in south Norfolk.
Butterfly recorder for VC95, Moray. Scottish GMS co-ordinator and database manager. Active in Butterfly Conservation Highland Branch and Inverness Botany Group. I record all species I can identify - if we don't know where it is, we can't conserve it!
Started birding in 2009 aged 6 and slowly branching out into 'other stuff'.
A young birder from the Surrey/London border.
Lincolnshire
United Kingdom
Was an Ecological Consultant based in Lincolnshire but now a freelance ecological surveyor (mainly birds, botany and badgers). Not a twitcher, much prefer finding my own local good birds. Local patch: Trent Port area, Marton, Lincs.
Keen birder with a real interest in Irish listing and Western Palearctic birds.
Lapsed birder and traveller!
Been birding since 1977 ,used to be BTO RR Ayrshire,and name listed in 88-91 new atlas of breeding birds on page 9.Spend a lot of time in North-east England,and local patching,only the odd twitch.Life list for Britain 339.
I'm someone with several mental health issues, including a personality disorder. Natural History/recording/listing etc., really helps to level my mind.
PSL has helped me to enhance my Natural History skills, it gave me the push to look at groups i would have generally ignored. In doing so, i have found several new species to science, and a number of new for Britain's...all from my little corner of Wales. :)
Lincolnshire
United Kingdom
3rd year university student studying BSc Ecology and Wildlife Conservation. C permit Bird Ringer. Place to record the few lists I keep.
Well I have been birding since I gained enough strength in my arms to raise a pair of bins, I look at every thing Birds, Mammals, Butterflies, Moths, Reptiles, Beetles, Women, Amphibians and any thing I can get my hands on. I am based in Cornwall.
Have been twitching in the UK since 1976 and globally since 2001. Most birding trips abroad are out of season due to the work constraints of teaching which means that holidays dates are not flexible.
Started panlisting properly on January 1st 2024 with exactly 2000 species. Started birding in 2001 when I was 15, and that was it for 15 years until moths took over my whole life. Now trying to identify any bycatch to my garden moth trap. All good fun.
Gloucestershire naturalist now based in Cambridgeshire monitoring the wildlife of RSPB Hope Farm.
Greater London
United Kingdom
Masters student at Kew Gardens studying Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation
