2003 Year List.

[birdman]

It's tempting fate, I know... but I'm gonna chance posting my year list today, rather than waiting while tomorrow!

As I joined BF on 31 Dec 02, there is an almost perfect correlation between this years idings and my time on the Forum.

Joining BF gave me a bit of extra oomph for birding, and I began to take things just a little less casually - note taking, list making, that kind of thing.

Well, I've gone through this years trip notes - which started in earnest around March - and trawled through my BF postings for sundry reports, and pulled together a Year List, split by month, for your perusal should you so wish.

Early 2003 records are sketchy to say the least, and there are one or two slightly iffy records, where I recorded things in good faith at the time, but perhaps a few months later I am a little better informed (or more cautious). I didn't think there was anything to be gained from too fine a tooth-comb approach to, what in reality becomes a baseline for future records.

My final year total (all UK) comes out at 140, which considering my UK Lifelist is 161, erm... well... actually I'm not sure what that says.

For those who are not bothered about the actual species list, the monthly numbers are as follows:

Jan : 22
Feb : 38
Mar : 47
Apr : 59
May : 79
Jun : 90
Jul : 66
Aug : 15
Sep : 64
Oct : 61
Nov : 43
Dec : 60

(August looks very low, I know, but I had six weeks where I got almost no birding done for various reasons!)

Anyway, it's there if you wanna take a look.

All comments and criticisms would be gratefully and graciously received, respectively!

E&OE

[pduxon]

My year list is 156 and that's not tempting fate since I'm not birding tomorrow. Then again my life list is uh 156!! And somehow I doubt I'll top that this year given my holiday plans!!

And you have 16 I'd love to have, Grasshopper Warbler for one!!

[Andrew]

I think I just managed to push my life list to about 220+ today and my year list to 218. I am well chuffed with that. Like you, I reckon BF gave me more oomph to my birding too.

I will get back to you when I have trawled my lists properly early in 2004.

Here's hoping all BF members break their personal bests, whatever they may be, in 2004!

[jada dulo]

My year ( and UK life ) list currently stand at 197 species ! Ive missed a few belters this year but I am putting in more effort in 2004 and hope to add another fair few species to my list . ** fingers crossed **

[James]

I cheated this year and had a year list including holidays! So I got to 386 for the year!
Best year tick? Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush.

James

[jada dulo]

Because I re-started birding this year after a ten year plus absence from the hobby ( and due to one or two questionable birds on the old list ** shame ** ) I decided to re-start my life list this year also . Ive managed 197 species this year , which I'm quite proud of , I'd be a lot happier if I hadn't dipped out on so many ( around 20 local sightings of good rareities ) .
But I still managed a few crackers ... Firecrest , Little Egret , Bittern , Savi's Warbler , Lesser-spotted Woodpecker , Osprey , Common Scoter , Smew , Spotted Redshank , Red Kite , Water Rail and Hobby being some of my favorites !! Well , here's to 2004 and loads of ticks !!

[jose]

I don't feel so bad now,I thought everybody here had list of 300 plus. My year and life list stands at 159. My objective next year is to raise it to 200.
Hope every has a happy 2004 and a good birding year.

[cjay]

My final list is 156 I made 110 visits to my local patch this year. highlights were Sabines Gull & er thats about it really.

CJ

[birdman]

I don't feel so bad now,I thought everybody here had list of 300 plus. Absolutley not, as you've found out!

Mind you, I reckon we sub-200ers should get together to form UKABC...

The UK Average Birder's Club!

Once you get to 200 though... you're out! ;)

[jose]

Birdman, I think that is a very good idea

[Michael Frankis]

Oh dear, that's me out!

2003 yearlist 234 (of which 224 in Northumberland: I haven't travelled very much this year!)

Good luck Jose with your target for next year, hope you make it!

Michael

[birdman]

Hey, Michael...

Stop poaching!!! ;)

[Denis J]

My first year over 200 (209) and my life list up from 218 to 239 how about making the club limit 250 :@)

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Birdman,

Don't worry, none of them from Yorks - apart from one in Durham, the rest of the 'non-Northumbrian' were in Scotland and Wales ;)

[jose]

thanks Michael.
Sorry you cannot be part of our club but its an exclusive thing

[Denis J]

Hi Birdman,

Don't worry, none of them from Yorks - apart from one in Durham, the rest of the 'non-Northumbrian' were in Scotland and Wales ;)

Oi get yer own Melodious warbler!

[Michael Frankis]

thanks Michael.
Sorry you cannot be part of our club but its an exclusive thing
Hmmm . . . I'll make sure you get over 200 next year and get expelled too!

:king:

[jose]

Hmmm . . . I'll make sure you get over 200 next year and get expelled too!

:king:
oh please, please, I beg you, please

[Michael Frankis]

oh please, please, I beg you, please
OK the challenge is on!

[birdman]

Crikey... can't be much of a club... the membership are all bashing on the doors to get out!!!

[jose]

no, we are just trying to make it a very exclusive club, with very few members, honest ;)

[pduxon]

Sorry Birdman I too would like to break 200, don't think I'll do it though!!

[Andrew Whitehouse]

My year list almost always ends up around 180 -190 and this year looks like being no exception. That said I managed three year ticks today - Little Egret, Little Owl and a proper Caspian Gull at last (which was a 'lifer' of sorts). Congratulations to everyone over 200 - something I've only ever managed once!

[Tim Allwood]

I don't feel so bad now,I thought everybody here had list of 300 plus. My year and life list stands at 159. My objective next year is to raise it to 200.
Hope every has a happy 2004 and a good birding year.

although it must look to you from this thread that everybody into birds is a lister it's not the case.....some of us aren't ;)

it doesn't mean anything and you most definitely shouldn't feel 'bad' as you say.

enjoy your birds Jose and don't feel pressured by the numbers game

after all I've seen more birds in a couple of weeks in some places than on my UK life list - it means nowt!

[Bluetail]

after all I've seen more birds in a couple of weeks in some places than on my UK life list - it means nowt!That's just rubbing it in, Tim!(o)<

Jason

[Tim Allwood]

yes Jase - that might have backfired a little!!!

Oddie is doing well on Mastermind at the mo folks!

[Strix]

I had about 280 for the year, although I'm over here in the US.

[Geoff Pain]

Just been doing a bit of reckoning,but can't get my list above 197 for the year. :-C
Out of the year 59 days were spent birding(thats counting holidays etc)of which 15 were spent in Norfolk.Out of the 197 species see,146 were seen in Norfolk,thats about 74% of my years total.I'm going to have to get down to Norfolk a bit more often if this is going to be the case.

Happy New Year everybody

Geoff :t:

[pauco]

Well are we on for this idea of birdmans club, it sounds like fun my list is only 145, it may make us try a lot harder? I would be a very happy birder if
i could just add Bonapartes gull as i have dipped
on this gull 3 times!!! so do we give it a go? over
to you folks.

[Denis J]

It's not a bad idea but as there is already a uk 400 and a uk 250 club how about making it a sub 250 club ..if enough people showed an interest we could ask the guys in charge for our own category like the bird buzz community page.

[Ian Hart]

It's not a bad idea but as there is already a uk 400 and a uk 250 club how about making it a sub 250 club ..if enough people showed an interest we could ask the guys in charge for our own category like the bird buzz community page.

Sub 250 club! That means anyone can join "goodie" My list for 2004 is 1! Can I join? ;)

IH

[Andrew]

Is there really a UK250 Club? Have they got a website?

[Bluetail]

Yes. If I recall correctly, it's for birders who have found (not just seen) 250 species.

Jason

[bcurrie]

Well, seeing how Strix has joined in from Wisconsin, I will venture another US 2003 list. I will attach my list in case anyone comes to Utah s/he can gain an idea of when they can see what. This is the first year I have done this, but will continue to do so now that I have started. Most of these were seen more than one time. The time I listed is the first time I saw them for the year and the place. The exception to this is the Reddish Egret. It was only seen for a few weeks, and it was the first time since 1956 that it had been seen (confirmed), and the Blue Jay is similar, very rare for Utah (but not as much as the Reddish Egret).

So for Utah my tally stands at 191 species for 2003, 25 of which were new for me (I made more of an effort to see a wider variety of birds this year). I did take a 3 day business trip to Vancouver, BC, but DID NOT include these on the list (they are written in separately on the bottom, only saw a couple of different species anyway, but they were lifers!).

Tyler (geomorph), if you are reading this, how did you do?

[Strix]

bcurrie, glad to see some more company from this side of the pond. 191 seems to be pretty good for Utah, you seem to have gotten most of the expected species and a couple rare ones. You've got about 30 that would be lifers for me. In addition to Wisconsin, I spent time in Washington and Texas this year, so my year numbers got quite a boost from that.

[Larry Lade]

Reporting from Missouri, USA. I had 273 species in Missouri for 2003. My wife and I took a trip to Texas during 2003 and that trip brought the years total to 331. Texas has a lot of neat birds!

[alan_rymer]

Hmm can we set up a BBC?.
That first B = Beginners!.
My list for 2003 is 113 but I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on my local patch and do not twitch further than two miles!.
I think my best bird of the year is probably an Eider Duck!.

[pduxon]

Well up to 49 this year. A few goodies like Green Sandpiper, Smew, Water Rail & Treecreeper. The Firecrest is still active at Rye Meads so may have another look for it tomorrow!!

I'll have to add up my Rye Meads list which is my local haunt.

[Tim Allwood]

the 250 club is indeed for people who have found 250 + species but it is not a 'real' club like the UK400

and yes....I'm a member!

[deboo]

Reporting from Warboys..
My 2003 year list finished on 219.....Smew at Fen Drayton Gravel Pits were the last addition........
....I added 20 new species to my British list!
I started 2004 in South Wales, and got Peregrine as my 1st raptor and Raven as my 1st Corvid!!!
At the Gwent Levels it's Cetti City....I heard at least 15
singing males during my visit, and also saw a female Scaup!
Dave

[Hanno]

203 last year, most of them in Vietnam. Not my best year (1994 = 512), didn't have nearly enough time to go birding.

[Charles Harper]

Just added it up: 178 for 2003. Only one trip out of my part of the country this year. (High for Japan was 204 in 1996.)

[Birdingam]

Just added up my 2003 list and has reached 495. Not my best year, that was 2002 with 703. Not expecting as many this year, might reach the 300's, as I've no firm plans to go anywhere much outside UK except for 6 days on a non-birding trip in southern Spain in February. Might pop down to the Gambia for a couple of weeks in November on a birding photo trip.

Only 53 so far but that does include Bittern, Water Rail, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler. Godd birding to everyone for 2004.

Andy

[jtibbetts]

I managed 291 in 2003 which includes a trip to France in september, its about 230 odd just in the UK.
11 of those were lifers: Waxwing, Lesser White fronted Goose, Water Pipit, Lammergier, Crested Tit, Alpine Accentor, Alpine Chough, Citril Finch, Wallcreeper, Blue-winged Teal and Red-breasted Goose.

Managed 46 so far this year!

[marcus]

I only saw 95 birds for 2003, 9 of which were lifers.

[birdman]

22 (count 'em, 22!) lifers in 2003... although that includes a couple promoted from my iffy list to my real list.

As follows...

Redwing, Meadow / Rock / Tree Pipits, Spotted Flycatcher, Tawny Owl, Arctic Tern, Great Skua, Long-eared Owl, Ring Ouzel, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Merlin, Peregrine, Red Kite, Chough, Bittern, Hawfinch, Redpoll, Great Northern Diver, Turtle Dove, Whitethroat.

Trips to SW Wales and Northumberland came up trumps, getting me 10 lifers between them.

(Gotta say, I don't know how the "Redpoll" sneaked in, I can see that getting relegated again.)

[Denis J]

You beat me by 2 I only managed 20 lifers in 2003
Red Necked Grebe
Snow goose
White Fronted goose
Ring Necked Duck
Red Kite
Osprey
Black Grouse
Pomarine skua
Bairds Sandpiper
White Rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Little Auk
Black Guillimot
Turtle Dove
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Shorelark
Hawfinch
Richards Pipit
Melodious Warbler

2004 target birds
Nightingale
woodlark
and possibly stone curlew but we rely on public transport and can,t find a Stone curlew site near a bus route
Good luck for 2004....Get yourself to the coast you know it makes sense!

[Jasonbirder]

I managed 23 Lifers in 2003 - (I reckon Black Scoter might be good for a split in the near future tho`)

Lesser White-fronted Goose
American Black Duck
Black Kite
White-tailed Eagle
Baird's Sandpiper
Pomarine Skua
Whiskered Tern
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Long-eared Owl
Alpine Swift
Tawny Pipit
Olive-backed Pipit
Pied Wheatear
Grey-cheeked Thrush
American Robin
Marsh Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Western Bonelli's Warbler
Pallas` Warbler
Isabelline Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Little Bunting
Baltimore Oriole

[Michael Frankis]

I managed 23 Lifers in 2003
.....
Wot no Black Lark!?!

Michael

[Larry Lade]

I had six "lifers" in 2003 here in the USA.
Muscovy Duck - Texas
Groove-billed Ani - Texas
Verdin - Texas
Black Rail - Kansas
Cerulean Warbler - Missouri
Cape May Warbler - Missouri
________________________________________
One questionable Purple Sandpiper in Missouri?
One "Audubon's race" of Yellow-rumped Warbler - Texas

And two "new for Missouri birds"
King Rail
Sabine's Gull

[StevieEvans]

New birds for me in 2003 were

Melodious Warbler
Richards Pipit
Lesser Yellowlegs
&
Eleonoras Falcon on holiday

Jasonbirder- your Long eared Owl looks Very much out of place in That List...
i thought your home county was the English Leo capital?

Good Luck to all bird listers this year.
Steve

[Jasonbirder]

Ha - you`re not kinding Long-eared Owl was that "most embarassing miss" bird (as discussed on another thread) - once i`d seen one though there was no stopping me! Seen plenty since my first...

Black Lark...I`d forgotten about that (how could I?) was going to try and sound sober and say i`d not counted it until it was accepted by the BOU...but truth is I missed it out when I did a count back...

[Denis J]

has anyone got any for 2004 yet..I saw my first ever Hooded Crow over the weekend:@) thats 1 to me

[Dave B Smith]

I so wanted to join y'all's club but just tallied up my year list and saw it was a good year, 234. I also had 99 lifers for the year which brought me up to 375.

Here's to more good birding in 2004.

[Michael Frankis]

has anyone got any for 2004 yet..I saw my first ever Hooded Crow over the weekend:@) thats 1 to me
Hi Denis,

Where was the Hoodie?

Precious few of them in this area in recent years - so a very good find!

Michael

[Denis J]

Hi Denis,

Where was the Hoodie?

Precious few of them in this area in recent years - so a very good find!

Michael

Near Dormans Pool on the Tees Marshes the land fill just south