For the older ones amongst us - do you ever get the impression our attitudes to birdwatching are directly related to the antiquity of our gear?
Was out the other day minding my own business with my old, multi-scratched monopod/Optolyth 30x75 draw scope (and 35 year-old 8x40 Trinovids), when a youth with digital recorder, pager system, super black Ultravids and a huge green Swarovski beast on a battleship mounting gave me the 'up and down'. We got to talking and by the time he left I was made to feel that I definitely needed to change: a) my gear and b) wise up to the fact that scientific birding was the thing - contribute to the community and all that, instead of just 'pleasuring myself', ie., simply watching birds.
Are there any other old-timers out there who have met the new wave?