Toadsnatcher: Nowt like a bigoted fisherman to rile birders

Well, we all know there is friction in some quarters between birders and fisherman. The problem largely stems from ignorant bigots such as Angling Times contributor Steve Partner. Just read is brilliantly titled 'The dark heart of twitching' article at Angling Times.

To quote Partner 'It's a story that I guarantee will ignite fury'. Aye, it does that alright, but not in anglers, but in the millions of law abiding birdwatchers Partner is slandering with this crap. Partner suggests an individual who is legally controlling Cormorants, who is armed with a rifle and has a dog with him, is 'challenged by a man, almost certainly a birdwatcher, who had been spying on him while he undertook the shoot. Malcolm was then verbally abused before being punched in the face. Unable to defend himself because he had his hands full with gun, dead cormorant and a dog lead, he turned away, only to be subjected to the epitome of cowardice: he was repeatedly punched in the back.

The attack, which some of the better informed are suggesting may have been committed by a 'heavy' paid for by the birdwatching fraternity that also use Carr Mill Dam, left him with a broken nose and cracked ribs. All this for simply helping a fishing club safeguard its stock. Sometimes, rarely, words fail me.'

Well, words fail me too Mr Partner. In my 20+ years of birding and in all that time working in the administration of birdwatching at the local and national level, I've never heard such crap suggesting that 'almost certainly' a birdwatcher undertook the attack, or it was 'committed by a 'heavy' paid for by the birdwatching fraternity'. That's right, I forgot, that whip-round we all had last year to 'do in' fisherman and others.

The fact is Mr Partner, its all in your head. Yes, someone may have been assaulted, but to state this had anything to do with a birdwatcher is pure fantasy. I know of just as many non-birdwatchers who dislike the controlling of animals at any level, but I dont know of anyone, birdwatcher or otherwise, who goes around punching people in the face. Perhaps we associate with different sorts of people oourselves.

Its amazing that any publication should publish such nonsense. It is poor journalism in the extreme and even poorer editorial control. Unless of course Angling Times supports Mr Partner's views of birdwatchers (anyone like to guess if they do or not?!)

Its nice to see that with 174 votes on Steve Partner's article, it gets a rating of one star! well done all those (like me) who voted to send a message to Angling Times that this sort of bilge is not wanted nor needed.

And coincidentally I received an email from the Chairman of an angling association in the NE today asking for support for their habitat restoration scheme at their fishery to benefit local wildlife. I pointed him to Steve Partner's article and suggested that with cretins such as Partner in their midst, anglers were unlikely to receive much support from the birdwatching community. His response 'Thanks for bringing the article to my attention i had not seen it, who needs enemies when you have insensetive bigots like that in your corner'.

Well, for Mr Partner's benefit, many people who are against fishing are anti because of the actions of people like himself and people who litter the countryside with fishing line which is a danger to wildlife. IN just a couple of minutes searching online I came across numerous images of birds caught in fishing line like this Black-throated Diver and, aamzingly, Tawny Owl, below.