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About
us
Why
Allnmark? – well in the beginning there was Allison (Alli) ‘n’ Mark, then
cam Nats (Natz, Nathalie) and Cam (Cammy, Cameron).
We live in Yate, South Gloucestershire, but tend to
be migratory during the summer months due to a mix of birding and scouting
activities. Holidays are UK
based – usually camping in tents or caravans (and strangely often end up
with birding wish list attached!).
We love to disappear for a day or weekend following
a birdguides tip - 2008 has seen us flee to Hampshire for the red breasted
goose, Norfolk for the white crowned sparrow and a few trips to
Pembrokeshire for the rosy starling then back for a dose of Auks on Skomer
in July.
 Mark. I’ve always loved the outdoors,
playing in the fields as a kid (when kids were still allowed to), distance
running and cycling through my late teens into my 20s. However, I did much of it without
really paying the due attention to my surroundings. It was only in my late 30s that a
renewed interest in the wildlife around me lead to proper listings from
2004, my 40th year.
Also being bit of a computer geek, it’s amazing just how many
buttons birding pushes!
Work
is far too many hours pushing a mouse around a computer screen, broadly
described as Pensions Administration in Cheltenham (no, not really as
boring as it sounds).
My
birding has evolved into a routine of monthly visits to Slimbridge, the
Forest of Dean, Severnisde and Marshfield. Interspersed with annual trips to
Devon, Dorset, Skomer……and then I turn Birdguides on.
 Alli
joined in our early birding jaunts and kept her own respectable list, but
then discovered that when we all go birding, an unknown peace descends on
our home.
We
are blessed with one of the most understanding wives and mothers, Alli now
actively encourages our birding trips - whilst happily and quietly
spending the time planning and organising her two great passions of
Scouting and work as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant.
When
we’re away Alli also doubles as one of the best non-subscription paging
services available – listing up to the minute sighting details from a host
of websites and even giving directions when the SatNav hasn’t a
clue!
 Nats.
A true teenager, Nats is a
chameleon; spreading her time between her bed, birding, scouting, her
studies, make up and did I mention her bed? Birding has been squeezed in this
year, but when a mega is on the cards – Nats manages to get up ;o)
While
her 2008 bird list has been a
little roller-coasterish, in Scouting Nats has gained her chief scout gold
award and also become a young leader. She has also studied really hard
towards her Sats exams.
As
with all teenagers, Nats manages to swing our emotions between immense
pride and true frustration!
 Cam
spent
the first few years of our birding trips actively not watching birds! - he
instead had his own notional mammal and bug lists.
Towards
the end of last year though he started to look up instead and suddenly
started his own bird list. He
is now enthusiastic and ready to come on any trip offered, the earlier the
better!
Cam
has a unique birding style, he will often take a hand held games machine
into hides with him, once he’s scanned the scene he will turn it on
(silently) immersed in his game - with his ears tuned into every birder
around him and one finger on the pause button – multitasking or just
young? I’ll tell you in a few
years!
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