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------=_Part_22872_18536488.1187975229378 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Hi, I have just returned from 2 weeks in England - mostly visiting family, but we took in 2 days at the British Birdwatching Fair. This is huge annual event, with several large marquees, and this year about 19,000 visitors over 3 days. For me it was like being a kid in Santa's toybox at Xmas - although I was rightly warned to leve my credit card at home! Every conceivable make of binoculars, scopes, tripods digiscoping connectors, cameras dSLRs etc. were represented, with numerous models of everything, all being demonstrated by knowledgeable reps. It was neat to try out all the latest gear on thew birds on the lake out of the windows - combinations of very expensive scopes ( the new top of the line Kowa 880 in particular is mind-blowing), different tripods etc. Each day there was a full program of talks, and I attended a few of them. The big name celebrities, like Bill Oddie and Simon King, were standing room only. All the big N.American and European birding and wildlife tour companies were there, with all sorts of brochures and itineries, and even free samples of the Peruvian national drink. Canopy Tower was represented by Carlos and Jose, who were surprised and delighted to meet Liz and I again. I met all sort of tour leaders, and several birders and photogrophers who knew me from web and e-mail correspondence. Book and magazine companies were out in full force, and one could buy a book on every conceivable bird, bird family ID topic, where to go birding, etc, etc. There were also all sorts of gizmos and gimmicks to attract birds, play back sounds in the field and so forth. Another highlight was the huge tent full of bird-related artwork and photography - fabulous stuff, ranging from abstract sculptures to plates for field guides Catering arrangements were good, and the only "damper" on the event was the weather - it rained continually, and the place was like a mud- bath. But birders don't care. It took me 2 full days to take it all in. If any of you re planning a trip to Britain in August, I can highly recommend taking this event in. But book accommodation well in advance. -- ################# Richard Stern, 317 Middle Dyke Rd. Port Williams, NS, Canada B0P 1T0 rbstern@ns.sympatico.ca rbstern@xcountry.tv sternrichard@gmail.com ################### ------=_Part_22872_18536488.1187975229378 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: inline Hi,<br><br>I have just returned from 2 weeks in England - mostly visiting f= amily, but we took in 2 days at the British Birdwatching Fair. This is = ; huge annual event, with several large marquees, and this year about 19,00= 0 visitors over 3 days. For me it was like being a kid in Santa's toybo= x at Xmas - although I was rightly warned to leve my credit card at home! E= very conceivable make of binoculars, scopes, tripods digiscoping connectors= , cameras dSLRs etc. were represented, with numerous models of everything, = all being demonstrated by knowledgeable reps. It was neat to try out all th= e latest gear on thew birds on the lake out of the windows - combinations o= f very expensive scopes ( the new top of the line Kowa 880 in particular is= mind-blowing), different tripods etc. <br><br>Each day there was a full program of talks, and I attended a few of= them. The big name celebrities, like Bill Oddie and Simon King, were stand= ing room only.<br><br>All the big N.American and European birding and wildl= ife tour companies were there, with all sorts of brochures and itineries, a= nd even free samples of the Peruvian national drink. Canopy Tower was repre= sented by Carlos and Jose, who were surprised and delighted to meet Liz and= I again. I met all sort of tour leaders, and several birders and photogrop= hers who knew me from web and e-mail correspondence. Book and magazine comp= anies were out in full force, and one could buy a book on every conceivable= bird, bird family ID topic, where to go birding, etc, etc. There were also= all sorts of gizmos and gimmicks to attract birds, play back sounds in the= field and so forth. Another highlight was the huge tent full of bird-relat= ed artwork and photography - fabulous stuff, ranging from abstract sculptur= es to plates for field guides Catering arrangements were good, and the only= "damper" on the event was the weather - it rained continually, a= nd the place was like a mud- bath. But birders don't care. It took me 2= full days to take it all in. <br><br>If any of you re planning a trip to Britain in August, I can highly= recommend taking this event in. But book accommodation well in advance.<br= clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br>#################<br>Richard Stern, <br>317 Middl= e Dyke Rd. <br>Port Williams, NS, Canada<br>B0P 1T0<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:rbstern@n= s.sympatico.ca">rbstern@ns.sympatico.ca</a><br><a href=3D"mailto:rbstern@xc= ountry.tv">rbstern@xcountry.tv</a><br><a href=3D"mailto:sternrichard@gmail.= com"> sternrichard@gmail.com</a><br>################### ------=_Part_22872_18536488.1187975229378--
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