Then go out and see some birds! And while you’re at it – buy the October issue of Birdwatch.
This month there is a fascinating article about Scillonian pelagics (where I saw my first and only (so far) Wilson’s Petrels) and an interesting review of eastern rarities and when and where they occur these days. Maybe one day I’ll see a Red-throated Pipit – but not if I sit inside watching the rugby!
I noticed there were quite a lot of reds in this month’s issue. As well as that mythical pipit, there was Red-flanked Bluetail, Red-billed Tropicbird and Red-footed Booby. And talking of reds (and boobies?), my column, the political birder, compares straight-talking Jeremy Corbyn with the careful-talking wildlife NGOs.
Surely I can claim a first for Britain – the first article in a birding magazine with Jeremy Corbyn’s photograph in it? Will it get passed the rarities committee? Does this vagrant lefty signal a colonisation of the UK by his like? Is it down to political climate change? Will he survive or will he disappear soon? Is he a blocker for the fortunes of his party? Do Burnham, Cooper and Kendall feel gripped off?
Have a good weekend whether you pick blackberries, watch rugby, see some birds or cut the lawn. Maybe you’ll do all four – that’s my plan!
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Connecting with a Red-throated Pipit is relatively straightforward, you just need to speak nicely to the guys at rare bird alert. On the other hand, if you miss this round of rugby you will have to wait, as one Australian player famously said to an All Black lying on the ground – four more years!
Fortunately the big match today starts at 8 pm so it shouldn’t interfere too much with bird-watching!