My interest in birds started off in the mid 70’s with a fascination with bird tea-cards which lead to a few years of egg collecting. Though illegal it was pursued in innocence and didn’t last long. That interest reemerged after leaving the British Army in 1990 after spotting a Great Grey Owl in Alberta Canada. This lead to being involved in raptor rehabilitation, bird banding (ringing) for 8 years, 10 years of of birding in BC Canada (2001 - 2011) and now 12 years of birding and occasionally twitching in the UK. I have also enjoyed a few trips abroad such as Texas, Washington, Oregon, California, Greece, Spain, Gambia and a fantastic ring trip to Ascension Island. I haven’t twitched every year but am enjoying adding new species over the last couple of years.