Black Woodpecker - sighting in Dutch park brought Bill Oddie moment of bliss
With live wildlife programmes such as BBC-TV's Springwatch, Bill Oddie paved the way for many other broadcasters, not least Chris Packham who today paid him this tribute.
A renegade polymath with binoculars and a beard, Bill was invariably funny and occasionally furious.
He loved birds and loathed those who harmed them .
He was delightfully unpredictable, sparky, smart and at times a bit spiky.
Critically, he really knew his stuff , and his passion was true - he didn’t just pick up his binoculars on telly, he went birding whenever he could.
So he was genuine - and that’s why we loved him.
He never needed a script, and took scant interest in any he was given.
He did not like rules and often neglected to play by them.
This may have frustrated the serious and the worthy, but it always amused his audience - he was an utter joy to be with.
I recall once watching a Black Woodpecker in a damp Dutch park with him once.
He gazed at it intently, sighed , put down his bins, turned to me and just smiled.
A massive grin.
No words, just a beautiful childlike bliss.
That says all you need to know about Bill Oddie .
Sadly, we have lost not only lost a 'goodie', but one of the besties!
* See also previous blog
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