Monday 20 August 2018

JOHN LEE: BIRDING IS "A DRIVING FORCE IN MY HEART"





SHEFFIELD  birder John Lee gave an engaging  presentation at Birdfair 2018 on his first book Bonkers Birding.

The wittily-written paperback is  a lively account of his many memorable experiences as a birder, starting, aged 10, with his first glimpses of birds of prey including Osprey.

This early interest was nurtured by visits to places such as RSPB Minsmere. Since then, birding has  become long-established as a “driving force in my heart”.

Often, it has helped him at times of stress or sadness, for instance when his father died.

A graduate of  the University of Aberdeen (degree subject - English), John's varied career has included a spell, in the late 1980s, with with the Royal Hong Kong Police.

While on parade in the intense humidity, he used to find welcome distraction from the hornets drinking sweat  on the back of his neck by glimpsing the sparkling blue of  white-breasted kingfishers which were feeding not far away.

As an ardent Sheffield United fan, he was asked by a member of the audience if he had ever seen a rare bird at the clubs Bramall Lane ground.

"No, but I once saw a kestrel land on the pitch during a particularly boring match - I think against Hartlepool United."

His brother, Tom, also a birder and in the audience, piped up that they had seen a waxwing on their way to a game. 

Evidently, it proved a good omen because The Blades won the match (against Luton) 4-0.

Birding brings its lows as well as its highs. 

Once on holiday in The Scillies, John temporarily abandoned  his wife (who was pregnant with son-to-be Jack) after a tip off that a Trumpeter Finch had been sighted some way four miles away.

Leaving her on the roadside, he cadged a lift to the scene of the 'rarity' -  only to find that it was nothing better  than a juvenile greenfinch!

The highlight? Almost certainly seeing his 400th bird in the UK - a Siberian rubythroat.

It’s such an iconic rarity, he said. It’s a species every birder want to see.

“I can't begin to describe how amazing it was!"

Bonkers Birding is published at £9.99 by specialist nature and wildlife publishers Brambleby Books.

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