I have reached the magical age of 76and currently spend several hours most days watching my local patch., or dealing with the 2 moth traps in my garden . As a result of the lockdowns over the last 18 months I have taken to moths - it can easily become an obsession.

My interest in bird watching started at the age of 11 when I was living in Middlesbrough.   Early years spent visiting the Tees Marshes and Hartlepool headland.

Yes I did see the Dusky Thrush which frequented the school playing fields in 1958.

Moved to Kidderminster in 1970 where Wilden Settling Ponds and Upton Warren were my local sites.

Moved full time to the South Hams in 2004 before finally moving to Thurlestone in July 2008 where I awake each morning to a view of the back marsh.now drained !

Until recently I have always been a local patch watcher now visits to some of the more remote parts of the South West are undertaken.

Having started with an enjoyment of sea watching there is nothing better than spending several hours with one eye to a telescope - well there is - viz mig when the Waders are migrating and using the Bay as a flyway.