Tuesday 17 March 2009 - Birders of the West Midlands Profile: Richard Powell #4

Birders of the West Midlands Profile: Richard Powell #4

Full Name:  Richard Anthony Enoch Powell 

Nickname(s):  Rich, Dicky Darling, The self-styled "Local Birder for Local People" and other various insults 

Born:  Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Currently Resides:  Upper Tean, Staffordshire 

Occupation:  Applications Development Consultant

Dicky Powell and his mate Desjit Lynam take a quick spin around Branston Water Park.  Please note that such practices are still completely legal on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border along with badger baiting, witch burning, incest, public floggings and drink driving!

Birding Since:  Circa 1985. Great Crested Grebes on the Trent, and what is now Branston Water Park, did it for me.

First Twitch:  Snowy Owl at Wainfleet, Lincolnshire - January 1991 

Best Twitch:  Good question!  I've got it down to three.  Nutcracker at Cocknage Wood in Stoke, October 1991.  One weekend in February 1996 featured Laughing Gull in Sunderland and Cedar Waxwing in Nottingham.  River Warbler at Doxey Marshes, June 1996.

Worst Dip:  Scops Owl at Thrupp, Oxfordshire.  It was there for months, and I went the day after it was last seen/heard.

Local Patch:  Used to be Drakelow.  These days, various sites around Tean and Cheadle, Uttoxeter Quarry, Blithfield passage migrant. 

Favourite British Bird:  Common Buzzard  

Fantasy British Bird:  Either Black-Naped Monarch or Cape Sugarbird in my garden.  Preferably both........   Arch Sez:  C'mon bro' GET REAL!

Favourite British Birding Destination:  Farne Islands

British List Total (BOU only):  337

Biggest British Blocker:  Nutcracker

Biggest British Tart:  Bufflehead

Motor: Ford Fiesta 

Favourite Football Team:  Burton Albion  Arch Sez:  URGGGGHHHHHH! 

Favourite Food:  Any curry  Arch Sez:  How about Edwina? 

Favourite Band/Performer:  Madness  Arch Sez:  The Specials were better!

Favourite Sexual Position:  I'm too much of a gentleman to divulge. 

Fantasy Sexual Partner:  See previous answer.                                     

Most Likely To Say:  "Brewers, Brewers!"  "Pint of Pedi please!"  "Wow, a bird at Croxden Quarry."  "Belted Kingfisher/Arctic Warbler/Franklin's Gull/Broad-Billed Sandpiper/Great Reed Warbler (delete as necessary), that's another one I haven't seen in Staffs".

Not Bloody Likely To Say:  “I just love all those flies at Blithers dam in April."  "Tittesworth/Foremark/Ladybower (delete as necessary, but you know who owns them, the name ryhmes with Trevern-Sent) are geared up for wildlife, and in no way, shape or form, rip off the visitor."  "Tamworth are the best non-league side in Staffordshire."  Arch Sez:  Shouldn't this go in the former category?  "No thanks, I couldn't drink another drop" 

Which of the Mr Men he most resembles:  Mr Greedy x Mr Local hybrid 

Amazing Facts:  

• His great, great, great grandfather invented Branston Pickle.  Arch Sez:  WOW that's the best amazing fact ever!
• Like all good Burtonians he has to put a teaspoon of Marmite in his mug of tea.
• He is friends with Edward and Tubbs (who own the local shop in 'The League of Gentlemen') and actually run the Co-op in Upper Tean.
• He once drank the equivalent height of a Mute Swan, in cans of Marstons Pedigree.
• Like all good Burtonians he smells all about yeast-based beverages.
• He once watched the Brewers get knocked out of the FA Cup by The Lambs.
• He shuns fellow bloggers at local aviform based gatherings.
• Like all good Burtonians he strenuously denies that Burton-upon-Trent is actually in Derbyshire.

Wednesday 18 March 2009 - Wait a minute..........