Ross Ahmed's Self Found 2008

[Ross Ahmed]

Right, been meaning to start this since 1st Jan, and I'm now taking the opportunity to do so while I have half a chance. In this thread, I would like to diarise my 2008 self-found list i.e. all birds I find myself this year.

I reckon self-finding birds is a real challenge but one which is very rewarding. It's often quite difficult differentiating between what is a self-find and not, but I use Punkbirder rules as a guideline.

The year started in January with a few decent local birds (e.g. Pomarine Skua and Greenshank), and a trip to Norfolk (WC Sparrow twitch) bumped the list up well. Best 'find' (found out later it had already been seen way back in Nov 2007, but I can still count this according to 'genuine surprise'/'no reports for a period of time' rules) in January was a Water Pipit at St Mary's Island, Northumberland.

February and most of March however, were completely wiped out with work commitments but things are starting to get back at the time of writing with a few new birds in past days. Currently the list is on 131 (I think), with the end of year target somewhere in the region of 210-220 - quite a tall order!

Here's to a good spring!

[Ross Ahmed]

Some useful additions in past week incl. Red Kite and Marsh Harrier over farmland near Market Weighton in East Yorkshire, plus 3 Black-tailed Godwit nearby at North Cave Wetlands.

Managed to get in on the impressive Whooper Swan movement with a group of 21 at Derwent Reservoir, Durham. A few commoner species added incl Tawny Owl, Sand Martin and Chiffchaff.

Still need to count list but must be nearing 140 now.

[Ross Ahmed]

Just to add a bit of background, here's a list of pevious years totals:

2005 - 208
2006 - 172
2007 - 200

[Ross Ahmed]

In the summer of last year I set myself the near impossible, or at least very difficult, target of a self-found life list (UK-BOU) of 270 by end of 2008. At that time my list stood at 257 i.e. I needed 13 species to reach 270.

The 13 species I felt most likely to be added are listed below:

1. Green-winged Teal

2. Ring-necked Duck

3. Surf Scoter

4. Black-necked Grebe

5. Bittern

6. Red Kite

7. Spotted Crake

8. White-rumped Sandpiper

9. Pectoral Sandpiper

10.Ring-necked Parakeet

11.Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

12.Marsh Warbler

13.Caspian Gull

Over half a year later, my list now stands at 259 (!) with both of the two species added appearing in the above list - Bittern and Red Kite.

[Ross Ahmed]

A tasty addition this morning in the form of a summer plumage Black-throated Diver past Whitburn Obs.

Plenty of common summer migrant in recent days also, but yet to total up list. I reckon it's probably above 140 now.

[Ross Ahmed]

List stands at 141 including addition yesterday of a Scaup at Budle Bay, Northumberland.

[Ross Ahmed]

Iceland Gull today at Belford, Northumberland puts list at 142. Wonder how long I can keep up daily additions.

[Ross Ahmed]

Willow Warbler (Budle Bay, Northumberland) on 13th and Whimbrel (Blyth, Northumberland) yesterday kept up the tick per day theme.

Today's additions were both Green and Common Sandpiper at Whittle Dene Reservoirs, Northumberland - taking me to 146.

This total takes me 2 ahead of work colleague Paul Massey (see Surfbirds 2008 Self Found Year Lists Rankings).

[Ross Ahmed]

No additions on 16th but back track yesterday with 5 Brambling (near Market Weighton, Yorks), and today with Yellow Wagtail (Great Carlton, Lincs).

Brings list to 148.

[Ross Ahmed]

And another from today (yesterday now!) - House Martin at Covenham Reservoir, Lincs (149). What a crazy site this is, expected a small concrete-sided tub of water when when I popped my head over the wall. Got the concrete-sided bit right, but not the small bit - was shocked to see a huge expanse of water!

Wonder what 150 might be?

I reckon three most likely (taking into account where I'm headed next), are Ruff, LRP or Sedge Warbler.

[Ross Ahmed]

Hit the 150 mark today in fine style today with a cracking male Redstart near Longhorsley, Northumberland

[Ross Ahmed]

More incoming summer visitors tonight to put list on 152 - Grasshopper Warbler and Cuckoo - both near Causey Park, Northumberland.

A trip to Lewis via Speyside over weekend/next week will hopefully bump up the list, but the big prize will be a self-found White-billed Diver.....

[Ross Ahmed]

Sedge Warbler today near Causey Park, Northumberland put list 153

[Ross Ahmed]

Jumped straight into the action in Speyside (Sat am) with a hike up Cairngorm for Ptarmigan. This is a species which you just need to see, as opposed to 'find', according Punkbirder rules (due to their highly sedentary nature). New for the year was a Ring Ouzel, but as I ascended it became increasingly more difficult to stand up in wind, and trying to use optics in the rain was pointless. I was about the give up when I noticed two trekkers 'off-roading' it down the side of a slope. Figured this was going to be my best bet for a 'tarmee', and eventually yes, they flushed one. Great moment! A good, but very wet start. Next up was a trip along Findhorn Valley, where in fact I in spent the rest of the afternoon. It was at this point where I started to run in to difficulties in regards what exactly I could count as self-find. A check of the 'rules' revealed I was not allowed to count the juv Golden Eagle seen (must be found away from traditional areas), but I could count the 4 Ravens. Not a bad day.

And so into Sunday, and a visit to Abernethy Forest for Capercaillie and Crested Tit (the same rules apply for these species as Ptarmigan). Surprisingly, it was the latter species which took the most finding but I eventually saw one, but just one! The lekking 'Capers' were on top form for all comers - I saw at least one male. Unfortunately, none of the 4 Ospreys or the Slavonian Grebe could be counted as self-finds, as all were in traditional areas.

Headed to the coast between Lossiemouth and Nairn in the afternoon, keen to have a crack at locating one of the three prize seabirds - White-billed Diver, Surf Scoter and King Eider. Plenty of Great Northerns, a few Common Scoter and small numbers of Eider, but no joy finding in one of the big three. Masses of Long-tailed Ducks were a new self find for the year, as were the Hooded Crows which seemed to gradually replace Carrions as I drove west along the coast, with Lossiemouth apparently an inter-grade zone where a hybrid was seen.

The final tick of the day was on the incredible Inverness to Ullapool route. As I was grabbing a look at an immaculate Black-throated Diver on a roadside loch, a male Black Grouse appeared close to the car.

Stunning scenery, cracking weather and even better birds. A memorable couple of days in fantastic part of the world. In true self-finding spirit, would love to return to this area and search the high tops for undiscovered pairs of Dotteral and something very special like a Snowy Owl, or bring along some sound recording equipment and nail some Parrot Crossbills - hopefully one day soon!

So.....after much checking of the rules, I believe that little lot leaves the list at a healthy 161 and second place in the super-tight Surfbirds rankings.

[Ross Ahmed]

Daily ticks so far on a week-long visit to Lewis, although no rares so far (and certainly no WB Divers!). Will report at end of week.

I was thinking today about the easier birds I still need. Perhaps the easiest is Little Owl, and I thought to myself, 'all I need to do is run down to Trow Quarry to see the resident pair' - Trow Quarry being 5mins from my house. But hang on a second, would these count as a self-find......?

Punkbirder rules state that with long staying birds which may not be reported or go unseen for quite long periods, 'discretion must be used' when claiming a self find. So if I used discretion in this case, I probably wouldn't be able to count these as a self-find. But hang on another sec, as far as I am aware (stand to be corrected), I was first to see Little Owl at this site in the late 90s, and therefore could I re-find a previous self-find?!

Confused yet? Enough ramblings for now I think.

[Ross Ahmed]

The classic Scottish Highlands birding continued on Lewis, with ticks almost on arrival - Bonxie (162) and Twite (163). The rules allowed me Black Guillemot (164), but worked against me with some of Lewis' other star birds. The White-tailed Eagle and Corncrake seen, were both birds which needed to be found away from traditional areas, so new self finds were became limited to Manx Shearwater (165) and Arctic Tern (166).

A better quality find on 1st May were 2 Common Redpolls (167). After seeing one of the lingering birds off Port Nis, much of the last two day's birding was spent searching for the main target - White-billed Diver. The Tiumpan Head area seemed like the best bet, and despite endless Great Northerns (50+), the sight of an ivory bill eluded me. Both Little (168) and Common Terns (169) were however found in the search.

[Ross Ahmed]

New birds today were Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Swift to take list to 172. This therefore equals my 2006 total!

I put a lot of effort in today and it was disappointing not to find anything more interesting, in a day that had potential written all over it.

To be more exact, I put in 10 hours today, and so far in May I have totalled 15 hours of birding. In April, I totalled just 38hrs of time devoted solely to birding - what a shocker! I did however mix some birding with work.

[Ross Ahmed]

Plenty of birding hours in recent days as seen many of the commoner summer visitors now mopped up. Scarcities have been harder to come by however, with a Wood Sandpiper at Druridge Pools and a Spotted Redshank on the Tees Marshes being the best.

List on 183 - top of Surfbirds rankings as it currently stands.

Check out the best Birdforum thread ever (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59295&highlight=finding+rarities&page=3)

[Ross Ahmed]

184 today was a Little Ringed Plover at Bothal Pond.

[Ross Ahmed]

New today were a pair of Garganey at Monk's House Pool, Seahouses

[Ross Ahmed]

Hobby (187) at Saltfleetby, Lincs added yesterday and Turtle Dove (188) today at Thorne Moors, S. Yorks (and of course twitched Red-footed Falcon!).

Spot the mistake? No 186. I've retrospectively added Golden Pheasant (Wolferton Triangle, Jan) as this is a species which falls into the category of sedentary and unlikely to be found away from traditional areas/

[Ross Ahmed]

Superb few days on the east coast, new finds as follows:

Red-backed Shrike - Donna Nook (189)
Black Redstart - Donna Nook (190)
Whinchat - Donna Nook (191)
Red-breasted Flycatcher - Donna Nook (192)
Marsh Warbler - Flamborough Head (193)

[Ross Ahmed]

Quail (194) new tonight, calling near Market Weighton, E. Yorks

[Ross Ahmed]

Not new bird but couldn't resist posting a recording of another self-foud Quail in the Borders....you'll probably need to turn you're speakers up high though!

[Ross Ahmed]

A good day yesterday in Northumberland started with 2 Spoonbills at Budle Bay - distant and asleep - classic! Added bonus of these been a self-found lifer (see below).

Later in the day, an inexplicable find was a Taiga Bean Goose at Longhirst Flash (photo below). The bird's origin is obviously the first thing that springs to mind - if the record's commitee add to the escape bin I'll take it off, or if anybody can prove it to be an escape before then, I'll do the same. Not sure how much weight it carries but the bird was unringed.

So that's the year list on 196 which is only 4 off last year's total.

To give an update on the self-found life list, its now on 264! Since Red Kite in March, new additions have been Capercaillie, Marsh Warbler and Spoonbill, while a full 'review' of my list found that Nightingale was missed off. I've also added Golden Pheasant (see post above).

So what seemed a completely unrealistic target of 270 by the end of 2008 is now within sniffing distance....

[Ross Ahmed]

Storm Petrel (197) and Arctic Skua (198) past Whitburn Obs last night kicked off the seawatching season nicely.

[Ross Ahmed]

More seawatching today found 2 early Sooty Shearwaters off Whitburn.....one more top equal last year's total of 200.

[Ross Ahmed]

I learned yesterday that my Bonaparte's Gull from last year was rejected by the BBRC. Punkbirder rules state that any bird which is rejected by the relevant committee must come off your list. So this then comes off, bringing my self found list down to 263, and the target 270 by end 2008 goes back to being rather far flung.

This does not however mean I agree with their decision - quite the opposite. I agree with their previous rejections of my records - the Little Shear was probably a Manxie, and my flyover Citrine Wag should have stayed in my notebook. This however was a Bonaparte's Gull. I know in myself that I have found a Bonaparte's Gull - it's only the numbers that state otherwise. I'm gutted to say the least, but I see this as a positive - the fuel I needed to go out and nail something special.

[Ross Ahmed]

Worked out total year list last night - 219.

List of non-self found species as follows:

1. Ferruginous Duck
2. White-billed Diver
3. Slav Grebe
4. BN Grebe
5. White-tailed Eagle
6. Golden Eagle
7. Hen Harrier
8. Osprey
9. Red-footed Falcon
10. Corncrake
11. Temminck's Stint
12. Ruff
13. Lesser Yellowlegs
14. Terek Sandpiper
15. Black Tern
16. Roseate Tern
17. Long-eared Owl
18. Lesser Grey Shrike
19. Golden Oriole
20. White-crowned Sparrow

[Ross Ahmed]

Still no new birds for year, but after discussions with several birders I've decided that Bonaparte's Gull really should go back on the list - due to the fact that it was one. Another rejected find which I have not previously counted is Rough-legged Buzzard at Whitburn. This also was one, so this goes on the list also.

Citriine Wagtail still stays off however, as although this almost certainly was one, there's a slim chance that it could have been an eastern Yellow Wag.

So after much personal debate, the self-found list goes back up to 265.

[Ross Ahmed]

A bit late....

...finally some action on Friday, with Ruff at Blacktoft Sands breaking the 200 barrier, plus Bearded Tit there taking me to 201.

[Ross Ahmed]

Long overdue, but finally added Roseate Tern today at Whitburn (202).

[Ross Ahmed]

Trip to Cornwall produced multiple new birds as hoped for. Started with the first of many Balearic Shearwaters past Porthgwarra on 9th, and a juv Yellow-legged Gull at the Hayle Estuary on 10th. Scillonian Pelagic on 11th got me Cory's Shearwater (first of c5) and a Grey Phalarope.

Further seawatching off Porthgwarra and Pendeen found a total of c6 Great Shearwaters, and localised resident self-finds were Chough and Cirl Bunting.

That little lot leaves me on 209.

[Ross Ahmed]

A juv Red-necked Grebe at Whitburn today brought me to 210.

Unsure exactly what self found year list record is but it's likely to be something like 235.

With 4.5 months and the best period of the year still to come, I wonder how close I can get to 235? The following 25 species could do it:

(species added since 17th August highlighted)

Bewicks Swan
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Leach's Petrel
Hen Harrier
Osprey
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Jack Snipe
Long-tailed Skua
Sabine's Gull
Black Tern
Little Auk
Long-eared Owl
Wryneck
Shorelark
Tree Pipit
Waxwing
Cetti's Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Barred Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Firecrest
Common Rosefinch
Lapland Bunting

[Ross Ahmed]

Bit of quality this pm....juv White-winged Black Tern at Covenham Reservoir. Had to work for this one though - the bird was never close, and the light (although good) was rather flat.

On my first few scans through the scattered 16 Black Terns, I failed to pick up on this bird. Gradually though, it began to sink in that this bird really did have a white rump, and I wasn't just imagining the lack of a breast patch. Two hours and 200 photos later, all the subtleties fitted into place quite nicely....longer legs, broader wings, shorter bill and squarer tail. Four pics attached.

Also present at this excellent, concrete bowl were 20 Common Terns, a juv Arctic Tern, Black-necked Grebe and Hobby.

Total now 212 (Black Tern also new).

[Ross Ahmed]

Added Osprey today following a lengthy discussion regarding localised breeders. Way back in early May, I saw a bird at Loch Garton, which I cannot count as this is a regular (famous) site and I knew they were there. However I also saw 2 birds at Findhorn in the Moray Firth while searching for seaducks on the same day. These were unexpected and I found them myself (although I had a feeling that they may have been seen here at least on occasion during the past, as they no doubt are across a large part of Scotland these days). Only after later checking up on the net did I discover this is a fairly regular feeding site for the species - which is why I didn't count them at the time. In retrospect - due to the element of surprise and that other people in rankings are counting Ospreys from Moray Firth - I am now counting this as a find taking list to 213.

[Ross Ahmed]

Another Osprey over Grimoldby, Lincs tonight and no room for debate with this one.

Nice to get in on the big movement through England currently taking place. Two pics attached.

From now on, I will highlight new species added in list of targets (above).

[Ross Ahmed]

An excellent day in the coast with both the sea and the land producing exciting birding.

New finds for year were a juv Sabine's Gull (Whitburn), and Wryneck and Tree Pipit (South Shields Leas).

216 for year.

[Ross Ahmed]

Another cracking day on the coast, the highlight being a found Subalpine Warbler in Trow Quarry, South Shields. Three more Wrynecks found also, amongst large numbers of common migrants. Pics attached.

217 for year.

[Ross Ahmed]

Inspired by the Subalp which rarely ventures far from a single small bush and patch of willow herb, I spent a couple of hours today along Northumberland coast focussing on small, isolated clifftop bushes.

Came off quite nicely with an Icterine Warbler at Cresswell (218) in a small patch of rose bushes, and a Red-backed Shrike at Hauxley in little more than a patch of nettles.

Also new (219) were single Curlew Sands at Budle Bay and Alnmouth.

[Ross Ahmed]

Another good day on coast with find including a Little Stint (220) at Whitburn and a Honey Buzzard (221) at Marsden.

[Ross Ahmed]

This year's Shetland trip got me a few new find for the year....

Richard's Pipit
Bluethroat
Barred Warbler (2)
Slavonian Grebe
Yellow-browed Warbler (20+)

And another new one today in Lincs....

Bewick's Swan.

227 for year.

[Ross Ahmed]

A drake American Wigeon at Fenham-le-Moor, Northumberland on Weds was 228 for year.

[Ross Ahmed]

Jack Snipe on South Shields Leas was new this morning (229).

[Ross Ahmed]

The final say of the autumn was up and down all the way....near misses, birds snatched from under my nose and a few finds along the way. All great fun though!

Waxwing, Lapland Bunting, Long-eared Owl and Green-winged Teal were all new for year, taking list to 233. Others included Richard's Pipit and Red-breasted Flycatcher.

[Ross Ahmed]

Two more at weekend - Caspian Gull as Grafham Water, Cambs and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Potteric Carr, S Yorks to bring total to 235.

[Ross Ahmed]

The final bird of the year?

Hen Harrier at Covenham Resv (236).

[Ross Ahmed]

The species I saw which I didn't self-find....

Ferruginous Duck
White-billed Diver
Black-necked Grebe
Glossy Ibis
White-tailed Eagle
Golden Eagle
Red-footed Falcon
Corncrake
Temminck's Stint
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Great Snipe
Lesser Yellowlegs
Terek Sandpiper
Long-tailed Skua
Pallas's Warbler
Golden Oriole
Lesser Grey Shrike
Steppe Grey Shrike
Arctic Redpoll
Common Rosefinch
White-crowned Sparrow