Spent most of my life in the Black Country but migrated north to Stafford in 2003 after retirement.Started birding in 1956 and hardly stopped since. I did not start twitching until the mid seventies and got my 500th BOU tick in 2008. I have watched birds on every continent but my favourites are still the ones I see in my garden.I do however love South America and more latterly Asian birds. My best birding mate is my son and my best birding friend is my wife who has nearly always understood and supported my birding activities ! I am a BTO member and am an active member of the West Midland Bird Club.My local patches include around my villages of Ingestre and Tixall.Perhaps my greatest find was a Belted Kingfisher at Tixall on April 1st 2005.Cannock Chase is 15 minutes from where I live.I am a Blithfield WMBC warden and leader of the WMBC Blithfield Birders 'Group.