Page 19 - Out Birding Spring 2024

Over lunch at a local eatery, we were fascinated to hear how both Doreen and Louis had found their way to living as ex-patriates in southern Spain, and both as clergy. We exchanged life stories and experiences in the way that you do when newly ac- quainted and caught up with news of GBC friends we had in common, many of whom Doreen had not seen for a good length of 􏰀me. Louis drove us back to Mala- ga and Doreen headed off in the other direc􏰀on. We’d had a great day, Doreen shar- ing her huge knowledge of the local birding scene. We arranged to meet Louis again the following week and had a great day walking in El Torcal of Antequera Nature Reserve, one of the most impressive karst landscapes in Europe. We had great views of Rock Bun􏰀ng and Thekla Lark, whilst the spectacular rock forma􏰀ons more than made up for not seeing too many birds.
Who knows if we will see each other again but these chance mee􏰀ngs within the network of the GBC help to make life a li􏰁le more special; we’d met Doreen, a living legend of the GBC and Louis, who we’d enthused enough to become a GBC member and who, through us, he said, had rekindled his love of birding.
The second of this year’s Encounters of the GBC Kind happened to me in April when I was in Shetland. I knew we had one member living up there, Frances, so I contacted her and we arranged to me for a day’s birding. I hadn’t realised that in so doing, she had to drive a considerable way and catch two ferries, which was very generous of her. But based on Fetlar, an island of only about 70 people, she was more than hap- py to drive to the Shetland mainland to meet someone to bird with for the day. We went across to the west mainland and found a lovely spot at the small se􏰁lement of Sand, called the Gairdins O’Sands, a community garden with a good planta􏰀on of trees, so rare in Shetland. We heard the first Willow Warbler of the year, four singing Goldcrest and I learnt something from Frances that I didn’t know, which is that the Shetland Wren is different from the mainland UK form. It’s darker, a more rufous- brown with more barring underneath, a stouter bill and stronger legs. Who knew?! There had been a report of a Dusky Junco near the village of Walls, which was a bit like the proverbial needle in a haystack. We enjoyed watching the birds on the loch shore there anyway.
As with Doreen and Louis, it was fascina􏰀ng to hear of Frances’ life on Shetland, a place she’d moved to so as to watch Red-throated Divers from her living room. I’d had my own magical encounters with these wonderful birds whilst in Shetland, so I could see what she meant. I’d only seen Frances on Zoom before: The Zoom talks arranged by Jim are a great way for members who are in far flung places or who simply can’t get out too much, to share in the friendship the GBC offers. It’s even more special to meet up in person though, and it’s something that I for one am very grateful for.
Rachael Dixey
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