West Midland Bird Club

VHS Video tape
£9 (discount for members)

This 90-minute video has been produced by local birder Brian Stretch and is only available from him.

Nearly sixty birds are shown (plus a few more included as still images, for record purposes), mostly in Worcestershire, with a few from elsewhere in our region, and more around the country.

For the most part, the image is good, with the camera steady on a tripod (the Bittern at Ladywalk being an unfortunate exception, suffering from bad camera shake), There are some imperfections in the picture, as might be expected on a VHS tape, but these are negligible. Brian tells us that he aims to make the 2004 version available on DVD — if he does, it is to be hoped, given the capacity which that high-quality medium affords, that he might include on it at least some of the 2003 material.

The sound consists of ambient recordings, so there is traffic noise, the voices of people in hides, and some very distracting wind noise. There is no commentary, and no music.

Brain has succeeded in getting very close to his subjects, framing them well. He's either an extremely good cameraman, or has rigorously discarded a great deal of out-takes (or possibly both). The birds are well lit, seemingly with no artificial illumination, and all the relevant markings are clearly shown.

This is not a film to entertain the family on a cold, damp Sunday afternoon, but a wonderful souvenir for anyone who saw these birds, a consolation for those who did not, and a useful resource for those wanting to brush up on their identification in the hope of seeing them in the future. It is also, clearly, a labour of love.

Other species, from outside our region, are: Alpine Swift, American Wigeon, American Wigeon, Black Brant, Black Lark, Black-winged Stilt, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Chough, Great White Egret, Greenland Wheatear, Grey Phalarope, Lapland Bunting, Least Sandpiper, Little Gull, Long-eared Owl, Mediterranean Gull, Olive-backed Pipit, Sabine's Gull, Shorelark, Spoonbill, Tawny Pipit , Temminck's Stint and White Stork.

Brian sells the tape for £8, but has kindly offered a discount for Club members, who may purchase it at a special price of £7.

A similar tape covering 2002 sells for £12, or £9 for Club members. Members may also buy the two tapes together for just £15 (all prices include p&p).

Send a cheque or postal order for the appropriate amount, payable to Brian Stretch, to 13, Pitmaston Road, Worcester WR2 4HY, including your membership number if claiming a discount.