How's your 2004 year list going?

[SimonC]

So, we're nearly a week in now, how's everybody doing?
My year list has all the signs of finally breaking my PB (1995 - 133 species - pitiful I know ;) ) But I think that most years!
I'm reaping the benefits of actually having transport this year! Currently on 78, which is probably way behind some, but last year I got my 50th as late as 28th January, so things are looking good!

So, what about the rest of you? anybody think they're onto a winner?

[birdman]

It's difficult to tell, Simon as this is the first year that I have started "recording" in January.

Last year my list reached 140, and currently I'm on 49.

No lifers yet, but I've managed to pick up a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which I avoided all last year!

[Birdingam]

Just a paltry 54 so far, but only been out once 'cos of other committments. Got Bittern, Water Rail, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler though.

Things can only improve.

Andy

[robinm]

75 so far. But got some good ones - Great Northern Diver, Bewick and Whooper swans and white stork. And all within Kent.

[SimonC]

No lifers yet, but I've managed to pick up a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which I avoided all last year! I've managed to "avoid" them since 1998!


Got Bittern, Water Rail, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler though.
Only got one of those so far (Water Rail) & Cetti's would be a lifer for me!

[Tero]

Short list, but one lifer. If it were colder longer, we would get some eagles on the river.

[alan_rymer]

51 currently, best is Bittern and Goldeneye. Doubt if I will get much more before the Spring migrants arrive. My area of Berkshire doesn't get many rarities, and I don't twitch. Well only those twitches caused by drink!

[Reader]

Saw my 90th today with a Pied wagtail. By far the worst start number wise but certainly good on quality, which includes. Baltimore Oriole (Oxford) American Robin & Waxwing (Grimsby), Shorelark, Twite, Snow Bunting, Dunlin, Knot, Sanderling, Redshank, Golden Plover and Tree Sparrow (Donna Nook) Grey Plover, Ringed Plover (Saltfleet Haven), Smew, Goosander and Goldeneye in a few places, Blackcap, Whooper and Bewick Swans in Staffordshire and Bittern, Willow Tit & Water Rail in Warwickshire plus Chiffchaff in a couple of places.

I'm hoping to do Norfolk either this weekend or the following weekend so hopefully my numbers will increase by quite a few.

[cjay]

Up to 78 managed to get some difficult species out of the way this year. I am also trying to get my Norfolk list over 200 species.

CJ

[andy]

92 so far all in Devon, best Penduline tit,Dusky Warb and Yellow Browed Warbler

[Geoff Pain]

I like the way Birdman casually mentions that he's picked up Lesser Spotted Woodpecker already and this being only 6 days into the new year. :C I'd love one,never had one in my life. :'D

[StevieEvans]

2004.
84 as of yesterday. Most of them local.
Have seen 5 Owl species.
Best birds so far - Bewicks Swan, Smew, Bean Goose, Water Rail, Kingfisher.
Have tried for Jack Snipe at 3 sites, but none yet..
Coastal visit planned for weekend, so hope to get up to about 120.
Stevie

[Ashley beolens]

stuck on 60, but they were all new years day and in Bucks (best of Cettis warbler and 3 scaup). Juts wish I ahd the time to do more work commitments and the imminant (or late as he/she was due Monday) arrival of a new Beolens will keep me from going out much this month.

[Jane Turner]

48 from the comfort of my houe so far

[Gill Osborne]

Been laid low with a bug since Christmas so been restricted to the birds in the garden and what's been flying over the house! Hence my List so far being really low...less than 20!!! Do I get a prize? Or a dunce's cap LOL. But feeling ok now so when I finish work tomorrow at 2pm I'm going to nip out for a couple of hours to see what I can find!
My first bird of the year...and a first for my garden...was a female Chaffinch 'pinking' away in the tree at the bottom of the garden on January 1st as I checked the feeders and birdbath. Was really pleased with her!
My Life List is currently on 166 and for 2004 I'm going to try REALLY hard to reach 200......I'll bet those will be the hardest 34 birds I'll ever try for!!! But, fingers crossed, come December 31st I will have done it!!!

GILL XXXX

[SimonC]

.........My Life List is currently on 166 and for 2004 I'm going to try REALLY hard to reach 200......I'll bet those will be the hardest 34 birds I'll ever try for!!! But, fingers crossed, come December 31st I will have done it!!!

GILL XXXX
Sounds like we are sharing a new year's resolution! I've got 11 less to get to reach 200 but it's still going to be just as hard! Fingers crossed for both of us hey?!

[Gill Osborne]

EVERYTHING crossed Simon!!! Getting some positive vibes though.....we WILL do it!!! Just remember to let us know when you do it...and i'll do the same!
Tomorrow night I'm going to go through the County List and make a note of what is missing from MY list and work out what and where I need to go to, hopefully, get them!!!

GILL XXX

[Denis J]

Work out the commoner birds you need for your 200 and post them someone is bound to know the best sites in your local area:@)...unless you really want to find them yourself.

[Larry Lade]

I am rather off to a slow start here in Missouri, USA, as we were visiting our youngest son who lives up near Chicago, Illinois, as the new year began.

I only have 48 species so far, some of the "better" birds include: Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, Rough-legged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, Eurasian Collared Dove, Winter Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern Mockingbird.

[Charles Harper]

At 91 as of January 7th, but won't reach much over 100 by the end of the month, I've picked up most stuff around at this season.

[SimonC]

Work out the commoner birds you need for your 200 and post them someone is bound to know the best sites in your local area:@)...unless you really want to find them yourself.
It had crossed my mind (there was a momentary pang of guilt that it might be cheating - but that soon passed!)
So you can expect to se a list of "wants" in the Herts section here as soon as I work out what's feasible!

Cheers

[pduxon]

well 59 at the moment. Don't suppose there's anyway I'm going to beat last years 88 lifers unless I take up Twitching.

A few good birds Goosander, Smew, Water Rail. The Stonechat that popped up atop the Welcome to Rye Meads sign (directly in front of my car) whilst I was eating lunch was handy.

Anyway 45 to get to 200, wonder what my chances are?

Goodluck to Gill and Simon C

[Michael Frankis]

Total to end of:
1st: 46
2nd: 46 (not out)
3rd: 72
4th: 99
5th: 99 (not out)
6th: 105
7th: 108

Michael

[Harry Hussey]

Hi all,
Not sure how many species I've seen so far,but it's a little over 100 anyway.Highlights include Hume's Warbler,Snow Goose,Surf Scoter,both 'white-winged' gulls,Ring-necked Duck,Brambling,Water Pipit.Still need Ring-billed Gull,Dipper,Shag(!),Hen Harrier,Merlin,any owls etc.
Harry H

[SimonC]

Total to end of:
1st: 46
2nd: 46 (not out)
3rd: 72
4th: 99
5th: 99 (not out)
6th: 105
7th: 108

Michael

Michael, good going! :clap:

I sat down last night to try and work out if it was feasible for me to break a century before February but I got stumped! (might've been due to my blood alcohol level at the time B (: )
I'll have to try again tonight.

Are there any rarities on your list?

[Michael Frankis]

Are there any rarities on your list?
Hi Simon,

Just a rather boring Green-winged Teal. Best birds I'd say are Shore Lark (five at the Long Nanny on Sunday) and Black Redstart this afternoon

Michael

[Gill Osborne]

Black Redstart....WHERE????? Please please DON'T say St Mary's as I couldn't get along there after all!!!
Last time I was getting a strong feeling about something was when the Grey Phalarope turned up on the Wednesday at St Mary's. Was at work and when I heard what I had missed the next day I could have cried!!!

GILL XXXX

[Michael Frankis]

Nearly - it's at the foot of the cliff at Hartley (NZ344757 (http://www.multimap.com/map/places.cgi?client=europe&quicksearch=NZ344757&scale=25000)), though earlier in the day it was closer to St Mary's.

I'd guess it is wintering there, so I think there's a good chance it'll be around for the next couple of months, if perhaps somewhat elusive with a kilometre of cliff to range along

Michael

[jtibbetts]

Im on 82 so far, but only get every other weekend off so its a bit slow, should b able to get over the 100 mark by the end of the month though!

[SimonC]

I sat down last night to try and work out if it was feasible for me to break a century before February but I got stumped! (might've been due to my blood alcohol level at the time B (: )
I'll have to try again tonight.

OK, I've tried again & with a certain amount of luck (& a bit more travelling than I can probably get away with! o:D ) I think I can just about do it :t:
I'll let you know if I manage it!

Cheers

[Gill Osborne]

Thank you Michael!!!
Now that is good news...fingers crossed it's still there on Sunday which is my next day off!!!
I just looked on the Birdlinks site and saw it mentioned and thought "Typical!"....I'm going to have to pack in this full-time work lark!!! It's infringing on my precious birding time!
But, you are probably right about it wintering...so hopefully it'll be a new tick for me come Sunday!!!

GILL XXX

[Michael Frankis]

full-time work lark
Don't know that one - how does it compare with a sky lark or a shore lark?




:king:

[Gill Osborne]

It's not as nice......and I know what I would prefer!

GILL XXX

[Denis J]

Nearly - it's at the foot of the cliff at Hartley (NZ344757 (http://www.multimap.com/map/places.cgi?client=europe&quicksearch=NZ344757&scale=25000)), though earlier in the day it was closer to St Mary's.

I'd guess it is wintering there, so I think there's a good chance it'll be around for the next couple of months, if perhaps somewhat elusive with a kilometre of cliff to range along

Michael

We may just make that our saturday trip out ..drop in at Sunderland on the way to see if the Iceland gull is still there.
Are there any Short eared owls about at Saint Mary's? its usually good for them.

[StevieEvans]

Theres a Black Red closer than that Dennis! & you won't need to go onto foreign soil to get it !

NB. Its a strange co-incidence that 2 have turned up on the same day on the same piece of coast.....

Stevie

[jada dulo]

I'm on 77 !! but still missing quite a few common birds !
Best so far Little Egret , Yellow-legged Gull and Willow Tit . I,m off birding at the weekend into Wales , so I'm hoping to get a few winter ducks ... all being well .

[Michael Frankis]

Are there any Short eared owls about at Saint Mary's? its usually good for them.
Hi Denis,

Nope - not heard of any, anywhere in the county, in the last month or two. Looks like the voles have crashed, after good numbers last winter.

Michael

[CJW]

I'm on 84, but as I haven't done my annual New year birdrace this year, it's not too bad. My entire year list was only 172.

[Andrew]

Just done an update of my list after a two birding trip and am now on 101, not bad going for my second full year. Got four lifers this year already.

[StevieEvans]

Denis, 3 Shorties at Rainton on Monday, been there since September. Seen at least 1 on every visit.
Steve

[Denis J]

Denis, 3 Shorties at Rainton on Monday, been there since September. Seen at least 1 on every visit.
Steve

Thanks Steve..Have you seen my patch Barn owl this year yet?

[StevieEvans]

Hi Denis
Havn't seen those birds yet this year, i have a free day tomorrow so might go down there first thing, as i Need Marsh tit for year list too!
Have seen Barn owl close to home, along with the other 4 species.
Also found a 'new' Leo pair at a promising looking site.....it was my first ever visit there!
Read about your Hoodie Crow, v.good, is it stilll about?
Hope all is well with you.
Steve

[Strix]

I'm not yet out of single digits, but it's winter. One of those is Northern Hawk Owl though, so I can't complain.

[SimonC]

up to 83 today with a surprise (Common) Buzzard buteo buteo on my lunch break walk! Didn't even have that one down as one of my possibles to reach 100 by the end of January - Bonus!

[Karl J]

I only really keep a local list, but after a bit of a trip upriver this morning it reached 50 ... and as that is half way to my target of 100 for the year & it's still only Jan I'm happy as larry with that

[StevieEvans]

A couple of hours at the coast 2day has got me up to 106
including Med. Gull & Velvet Scoter.
Birds i have tried for & missed so far include Iceland Gull, Hooded Crow, Jack Snipe, Guillemot, Red th.Diver & Ringed Plover.
S

[Michael Frankis]

Another 8 for me today brings the total to 116:
Woodcock
Common Snipe
Meadow Pipit
Buzzard
Mediterranean Gull
Black-necked Grebe
Siskin
Willow Tit

Michael

[Jasonbirder]

Blimey....you guys are racing away from me I`m on 80 so far.
Only managed 1 proper trip out though and don`t forget its a marathon not a sprint!

[Larry Lade]

I think I am probably "bringing up the rear", so to speak. I only have about 1/2 as many as you guys.

Today I added eleven species to bring my total for the year up to 68. Added today from a trip to Smithville Lake, Smithville, Missouri, USA.

58 Ring-billed Gull
59 Hooded Merganser
60 Double-crested Cormorant
61 American Coot
62 Pied-billed Grebe
63 Green-winged Teal
64 Brown-headed Cowbird
65 Herring Gull
66 Bonaparte's Gull
67 Bufflehead
68 Red-breasted Merganser

[samuel walker]

Michael, good going! :clap:

I sat down last night to try and work out if it was feasible for me to break a century before February but I got stumped! (might've been due to my blood alcohol level at the time B (: )
I'll have to try again tonight.

Are there any rarities on your list? Standing at 173 lifers todayBonapartes gull,greater scaup were recent adds. Will try to catch the remaining 15 possible warblers this Spring.
Good sightings,
Sam

[Geoff Brown]

My list is much about the same as ever. Nothing exciting really unless you count Dr. David Bellamy at RSPB reserve Freiston shore yesterday afternoon.

[seb salas]

58 Ring-billed Gull
59 Hooded Merganser
60 Double-crested Cormorant
61 American Coot
62 Pied-billed Grebe
63 Green-winged Teal
64 Brown-headed Cowbird
65 Herring Gull
66 Bonaparte's Gull
67 Bufflehead
68 Red-breasted Merganser

Wouldn't mind a few of those on my UK year list!!!

[postcardcv]

Currently at 90 for the year - but missing some very easy birds (coal tit, grey heron, barn owl). I hope ti hit 100 but the middle of the month...

[Andrew Whitehouse]

After my first proper birding in Fife this year (a wander down to the Eden Estuary) I'm left hanging on a rather tantalising 99. Added a few nice ones today though, 10 Brent Geese, 4 Slavonian Grebes and a Peregrine taking out a Dunlin right in front of me. Still need Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Yellowhammer and Dipper though. What's to be the 100?

[pduxon]

well not making great progress. No Hawfinches at Lynford Arboretum today - didn't meet anyone who saw them. FINALLY saw Redpoll today.

Will have to go to Welney and Ouse Wash next week.

[Bluetail]

Currently a 104 with some silly things still missing like Linnet, Yellowhammer and Common Sandpiper. Best of the bunch so far:

Glossy Ibis
American Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
Lesser Yellowlegs
Ring-billed Gull
American Robin
Dusky Warbler
Penduline Tit
Baltimore Oriole

[Steve Lister]

Got up to 111 today (seem to remember that this has some relevance in cricket??) with Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and Nuthatch. just about level with 2003 so far.

Steve

[Tim Allwood]

watcha Steve

it's called a 'Nelson' in cricket but I don't know why. When the batting side reaches 111 the umpire does this funny kind of hop!

[Jasonbirder]

AFAIK 111 is supposed to be a very unlucky score, the dance is in some way connected with Lord Nelson who had one eye, one arm and one leg - he actually had to legs but why let facts get in the way!!!

[Steve Lister]

[QUOTE=Jasonbirder]AFAIK 111 is supposed to be a very unlucky score, QUOTE]

I had better see something else quick then!!

Steve

[Michael Frankis]

Two more for me today, Blackcap (117) and Kittiwake (118)

Some obvious ones still to get: Bullfinch (heard but not seen), Water Rail (ditto), Lesser Redpoll (saw a flyover redpoll sp.), Merlin, Peregrine, Little Owl, Marsh Tit, Black Grouse, White-fronted Goose, Guillemot, Razorbill, Scaup

Michael

[Denis J]

Up to 89 now With my second lifer of the year Black Redstart at Marsden..what a nice bird! also saw my first Kittiwake of the year weeks earlier than I usually see them. I'm off for a walk around my local patch tomorrow if the weather stays ok and should get Marsh tit and Green woodpecker I have never seen 100 species in january ..any bets?

[Pol]

Hope the weather is ok for you tomorrow Dennis - good luck for your 100!!

I went to Thursley Common, Surrey this afternoon and added Dartford Warbler, Snipe and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - so up to 117 now. Did not see the Great Grey Shrike unfortunately.

We intend going down to the Chichester Harbour area tomorrow so hope to add a few more.........

Pol

[Andrew Whitehouse]

On the 111 thing, I think it's unlucky because of its mathematical associations with the old number of the beast. The umpire who gets rather jittery about it is David Shepherd. Being a typically quirky westcountryman, he believes that he has to keep his feet off the ground as much as possible when the scores 111 (or multiples thereof).

[Larry Lade]

Dennis, I am betting on you, I think you will get your 100 for January!

I got four more year birds to bring my total up to 72.
Swamp Sparrow- 3
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Loggerhead Shrike - 1
Northern Bobwhite - 8, (I got to study these for about ten minutes while they foraged in a harvested corn field, apparently eating weed seeds. I got stunning looks at the five males and three females, as I was far enough away not to "spook" them and near enough that I could see every feather through my KOWA scope.) Usual looks at these birds are as they fly away after they have been "flushed" from their cover.

My average (over the last ten years) number of species seen in Missouri, USA, in January is 63. Last January (2003) was my highest at 85 species.

[StevieEvans]

Hi
I guess Samuals photo is a Bonapartes Gull then...?

Today I added 3 :-

Black Redstart - a beauty Male
Glaucous Gull - an Adult which musta come from other side of the Tyne
Kittiwake - to take me onto 109

'WiLL', X , get these by the end of the month! :- (in home county)
Dipper, Red & Black Grouse, Stonechat, Raven, Buzzard, Siskin, LesserRedpoll, (####Crossbill#### )-NOT 27/1
Guillemot, Red throated Diver, Green Sand, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Ringed Plover, Bar tail Godwit, Grey Plover, Shelduck.

'HOPE' to get These before the end of the month! :- (in home county)
(####LSW,# Scaup,# Goshawk,# x2Divers,# R.N Grebe.####) -NOT 27/1
Slavonian Grebe, Hooded Crow, Peregrine, Razorbill

(Denis...... plenty time left yet marra.....)

(Michael F - 4 Whitefronts at Bishop Middleham, Stoney Beck Lake. grid ref:-NZ339317. Viewable from roadside. 9km south of A1M services at Bowburn.)

Stevie

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stevie,

Hi
I guess Samuals photo is a Bonapartes Gull then...?Yep

Today I added 3 :-

*Black Redstart - a beauty Male
Glaucous Gull - an Adult which musta come from other side of the Tyne
*Kittiwake - to take me onto 109

'WiLL' get these by the end of the month! :- (in home county)
*Dipper, *Red & Black Grouse, *Stonechat, Raven, *Buzzard, *Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Crossbill, Guillemot, *Red throated Diver, *Green Sand, *Woodcock, *Jack Snipe, *Ringed Plover, *Bar tail Godwit, *Grey Plover, *Shelduck.

'HOPE' to get These before the end of the month! :- (in home county)
LSW, Razorbill, Scaup, Hooded Crow, Goshawk, Peregrine, x2Divers, *Slav & *R.N Grebe.

* Got these already this year, all in Northumbs (so far, my entire yearlist is Northumbs)

(Michael F - 4 Whitefronts at Bishop Middleham, Stoney Beck Lake. grid ref:-NZ339317. Viewable from roadside. 9km south of A1M services at Bowburn.)
Dipped on 3 today at Hartley nr Whitley Bay. There's also the 8 Greenland Whitefronts out at Grindon to have a try for - may be going for them on Monday.

Michael

[Denis J]

You must have been following me today steve I got the Black Redstart and Kittiwake but missed the Glaucus gull :@) but I did see a flock of 100 or so siskin last week at the far pastures hide Still have not seen an owl this year but I can only get out at weekends Hawthorn tomorrow(sun) so may get Tawny or Little or just possibly Short eared ...or all 3:@)

[Dave B Smith]

Got my first Lifer of the year today. I went to the beach and due to high winds had lots of shore birds on the beach. In a small flock of Herring Gulls I found a Lesser Black-backed Gull. They are just vagrants here so was lucky to find it. Having seen my first BBG sp late last year and failing to take sufficient notes for a positive ID, I was pretty much up on what to look for to confirm this one! (and in retrospect after seeing this LBB, makes the one I saw in Dec. almost surely GBB)

[StevieEvans]

Denis ...You ARE being wotched!...(lol)

Michael (for your info)....Had the Adult Glaucous Gull on the S.Shields side of the River mouth this afternoon at approx 16:00. At 16:10 it followed in a fishing boat & went onto the Fish Quay area on 'your' side.

118 North'd, very impressive. What do you expect to be on at the months end..?

Stevie

[crispycreme]

Not as impressive as some on this list, but we're standing at 62, with 3 lifers (Lucy's Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow). Going for another 8 to 10 tomorrow (with a hopeful 2 lifers - if everyone could please fire off a dream about Clark's Nutcrackers and Red-shouldered Hawks tonight).

[Charles Harper]

Up to 101. Added 8 to the yearlist today: Mandarin Duck (300), American Wigeon (1), Falcated Teal (12), Gadwall (6), House Swift (12), Greater Pied Kingfisher (1), Grey Wagtail (1), and Japanese Wagtail (1). The prize was the kingfisher, hard to come by in this part of the country any more.

[andy]

Now on 118 still all in Devon, with quite a few common ones still toget,Bullfinch, M Thrush, Perigrine, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Bar T Godwit, Tawny +Little Owl, Yellowhammer and a few more

Andy.

[Larry Lade]

To give you some idea of how my birding usually goes here in Missouri, USA, I enclose the total species count per month for last year (2003). The list is by month with the number of new year birds added for each.

Jan - 85 species observed
Feb - 6 species added
Mar - 31 "
Apr - 72 "
May - 43 "
Jun - 2 "
Jul - 1 "
Aug - 8 "
Sep - 8 "
Oct - 5 "
Nov - 9 "
Dec - 3 "

Total 273 species seen in 2003

[Michael Frankis]

Michael (for your info)....Had the Adult Glaucous Gull on the S.Shields side of the River mouth this afternoon at approx 16:00. At 16:10 it followed in a fishing boat & went onto the Fish Quay area on 'your' side.

118 North'd, very impressive. What do you expect to be on at the months end..?Hi Stevie,

Thanks; not had a chance to get out today. The last few years, I've reached around 140 give or take one or two, by 31st Jan, but I doubt I'll be able to do that this year, with several species looking to be in short supply - poor for raptors with a vole crash, and by the looks of it, poor inshore fishing at sea.

Michael

[Andrew Whitehouse]

After my first proper birding in Fife this year (a wander down to the Eden Estuary) I'm left hanging on a rather tantalising 99. Added a few nice ones today though, 10 Brent Geese, 4 Slavonian Grebes and a Peregrine taking out a Dunlin right in front of me. Still need Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Yellowhammer and Dipper though. What's to be the 100?

It was Dipper! Actually these are requiring of a little more effort for me to see at the moment because the burn is in spate after the recent rain and so the usual spot where I see them is too deep. I had to walk at least half a mile to get one today! It's remarkable to see these thrush-like birds diving into the water, even when the burn is a great torrent. Miraculous creatures.

[Denis J]

Not a bad day I got Marsh tit within 5 min of starting my walk but the green woodpecker eluded me still I did get Tree sparrow, Tawny owl, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest and Red throated diver so thats 95 so far :@)

[Larry Lade]

Denis, it looks like you will have no problem whatsoever in reaching the 100 plateau for January. Good Birding!

[StevieEvans]

Set out today with the intention of reaching 120!

It was looking good with White fronted Geese (110) the first 'tick' without any effort.
Down at Teeside we made a brief speculative visit to a few sites, with no luck, so decieded to look at the Long eared Owls, before heading inland & up the Dales. Just about to get in the car when we were luckily shouted back for the Hooded Crow (111).

We had Just heard about the return of the Bittern (112) up in mid-Weardale at Low Barns, so This Halted our plan to go any further up the valley for Grouse etc.

Allways a Stunner, but when your looking down on it in a small Reedmace stand, well we didnt worry about any plans for the 120 !

As it happened, we got 3 more in the form of Lesser Redpoll (113) Brambling (114) & finally Siskin (115).

A great, if slightly wet & cold day.
I think i shall score an extra '10' for the Bittern though......incredible creature!

Steviewol B (:

[Denis J]

Nice one Steve but you are a bit slow with the hooded crow I got that a week ago! lol
I have been looking on the sea every couple of days for Red throated diver with no luck at all then today 9 turned up all at once! its a funny old game.

[jada dulo]

Up to 91 species now , there is Bittern and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at my local patch , went today but there was no sign . Still , I'm quite chuffed with 91 as I have only been out birding 4 times this month . Remarkably , I've had 2 Little Egret's so far this year , one on the Severn and one at Porthmadog !!

[Ashley beolens]

Stop showing off the lot of you, i'm still on 60 and have been since the 3rd. Mind you I do now have an 8.9lb bundle of nappy to keep me at home :o)

[SimonC]

Stop showing off the lot of you, i'm still on 60 and have been since the 3rd. Mind you I do now have an 8.9lb bundle of nappy to keep me at home :o)

Don't want to worry you Ashley, but the year my youngest was born (Jan 23rd), was my lowest ever year-list :(
Not that it'll happen to you necessarily ;)

[Ashley beolens]

I had 2 years off any real birding with my first (only birdrace and Scillies) I plan on doing more this time.

[Jane Turner]

Still crawling along at 51...but all from inside my house. Sanderling added today

[StevieEvans]

Jane, that an impressive garden tick.

Had a 'spare' hour today, so Tried for Iceland Gulls (supposedly 3 at Sunderland) 1st & 2nd winters & an Adult.....Result.....None seen by Me!

But added one tick with Shelduck :- 116.

Stevie

[Michael Frankis]

Added Bullfinch (119) and Marsh Tit (120) today

Michael

[jada dulo]

Hey Ashley , my daughter was born in November last year so I fully understand how you feel ... still , they're worth it , aint they ? .... ;)

[StevieEvans]

Hope to get 4 more tomorrow, after work....
S

[andy]

3 more todat Yellowhammer M Thrush and Bullfinch now up to 121 all Devon but dipped Red Kite.

[StevieEvans]

Woodcock (117) but missed Yaffle, Dipper & Jack Snipe (have tried 6places for the Snipe!)
Day off work on Thursday, hope to get the Moorland stuff like Black & Red Grouse, Raven, Stonechat, Dipper & hopefully a raptor or two....
S.

[Michael Frankis]

Another eight today on a trip up to Holy Island . . .

121 Lesser Black-backed Gull
122 Peregrine Falcon
123 Black-tailed Godwit
124 Merlin
125 Gannet
126 Razorbill
127 Great Northern Diver (Common Loon)
128 Guillemot (Common Murre)

Michael

[Larry Lade]

I added three today. (Brings my total to 76 for 2004)

American Robin (they had been evading me until today, I saw three)
Northern Shrike (Great Grey Shrike)
Hairy Woodpecker

[SimonC]

I'm up to 86 as of Sunday (11th) with Canada Goose (bit of a cheat!)
Still missing some really obvious ones like: Coal tit, Bullfinch, Willow tit (getting scarce round here) & Marsh tit (even scarcer!) and surprisingly, Sparrowhawk.
Hoping to go out during my lunch break today to try and get a couple more (if the rain stops :C )

[Alan Hobson]

Hi All,

My year total thus far is fairly modest compared with a lot of you on this thread - mid 70s - but it has been a good year for quality in these first two weeks, with Bittern [wonderful views], Great Northern Diver, Smew, Waxwing, Tawny Owl, Water Rail, Monk Parakeet and Goosander being among those I've seen so far.

Alan

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

mid-70's, Alan? Modest?! I'm on 53, although I live in a relatively poor birding area and 'rely' on public transport. Had 51 on saturday though,(excluding dead cormorant), which AMAZED me. So this leads me to ask, what's people's personal day records not involving rushing about from one hotspot to another in a car? (Bet this has been done elsewhere) Jealous of your 83 Simon, 'specially as you're just down the road from me.........

[SimonC]

Jealous of your 83 Simon, 'specially as you're just down the road from me.........

Ahh! That does include a trip to Titchwell, so take away 15-20 from that (I'll work out "home" birds later!)

[SimonC]

Ahh! That does include a trip to Titchwell, so take away 15-20 from that (I'll work out "home" birds later!)

15-20???? who am I kidding? Better make that 35-40!
Just worked out my "home county" birds & it's only 49. Feeling any better?

[Alan Hobson]

mid-70's, Alan? Modest?! I'm on 53, although I live in a relatively poor birding area and 'rely' on public transport. Had 51 on saturday though,(excluding dead cormorant), which AMAZED me. So this leads me to ask, what's people's personal day records not involving rushing about from one hotspot to another in a car? (Bet this has been done elsewhere) Jealous of your 83 Simon, 'specially as you're just down the road from me.........


Hi Darrenom,

Glad you don't think mid-70s is a modest amount. Sometimes I tend to follow the view of the ancient Greek philosopher that he would rather people asked why there wasn't a statue of him than ask why there was one.

As for my best total in a day, it's 61.

Isn't Paston Gravel Pit in your part of the world (west Cambridgeshire)? That has some good stuff there, although I don't know if it's accessible to public transport. I think your "rely" in inverted commas is rather apt!

Alan

[Reader]

I added 11 this week which pushed me just past the 100 mark and I am now on 101. Still to do Norfolk or anywhere that will add largeish numbers to my list. Hopefully that will change soon. Birds added this week:

Green-winged Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Taiga Bean Geese
Brambling
Linnet
Goldcrest
Greylag
Coal Tit
Kingfisher
Ruff
Snipe

Birds I have missed include

Green Woodpecker
Siskin
Redpoll
Nuthatch
Meadow Pipt
Stonechat and Peregrine.

[StevieEvans]

118 Dipper seen singing and also feeding underwater.
119 'eventually' Jack Snipe 2 seen.
all but 6 of them in home county.
S

[Denis J]

Grey wagtail today ..thats 96 and all on public transport:@)
btw where did you see the Jack snipe steve? That would be a lifer for me!

[Michael Frankis]

mid-70's, Alan? Modest?! I'm on 53, although I live in a relatively poor birding area and 'rely' on public transport. Had 51 on saturday though,(excluding dead cormorant), which AMAZED me. So this leads me to ask, what's people's personal day records not involving rushing about from one hotspot to another in a car? (Bet this has been done elsewhere) Got 82 on New Year's Day a few years ago by bycicle. Very unusual that year, NYD was mild, dry and not too windy - I don't think there's been a NYD since with decent weather!

Still plenty of rushing about involved, though!

Michael

[StevieEvans]

Hi
Cant remember the last time i was on a bike, nevermind Bird-biking!
Very Eco-friendly & i suppose very handy if you spot an interesting looking Blackthorn copse.......no worries about having to park up etc....

Denis, i have tried 6 known Jack snipe sites before getting these 2day. (theres 5-6 sites in the Hetton-Houghton area)
But It was at LowBarns, as i was nearby to price up a job.

UNFORTUNATELY....the weather conspired against me & i got the van stuck in the 3" of snow on W-le-Wear bank, luckily the manager of the Victoria had a 2nd shovell & a grit box nearby. We got as far as his pub, & could shovel no more!
I loaded some heavy timbers into the back to get some traction but still no good!
Had to get a Uni-mog to tow me to the A68- even it was rough.
Heading into Crook wasn't so bad, but then the traffic stopped! I asked a wagon driver going West what was happening....it had took him 3 hours to come from Durham !(usually a 20 min run)
I deceided to try a back road rather than sit not moving.......i dont know how i managed it but got from Crook up Billy Row bank past Oakenshaw & out onto the main road at Brancepeth! By the time i got to A1M there wasnt a bit of white in sight.

Anyway 2 year ticks still.......hopefully will get that job too..?

Stevie

[AlanJones]

For the first time I have managed a ton ( 100 ) for Jan.With Black Redstart at Whitburn my 100th.
Believe it or not my first woodpecker was a lesser ( the first for 7 years ) only 100 metres from the last one, both females.Don`t worry Geoff you will see one and you will be amazed at its size a real dwarf.

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

feeling much better now- thank you Simon. Yes Alan, Paxton Pits is just down the road, but alas the only time I can get there is sunday, and well, thats tricky. Should get a pushbike i 'spose! Or move somewhere else! Herring Gull flew past my window 15 mins ago......54. Darren

[Denis J]

I will make another assault on the 100 barrier tomorrow
anyone know if the Leo's are still at Dormans or if the Bittern is still at low barnes?

[Sleeper]

I almost feel embarassed!!! Lowly 49 for me but did add American Robin today, at which point i am obliged to add quality not......didn't think it would make me feel better. Enjoying my birding though.

[StevieEvans]

Another 2 added today (slowly but surely.....)
120 Black Grouse, cock bird against a snowy background at a location to the east of the A68. &
121 Mealy Redpoll, 2+ birds with large mixed flock on Pennine edge stubbles.

Hope.....to add a 'few' tomorrow in an adjoining County...
Stevie

[Reader]

Another 2 added today (slowly but surely.....)
120 Black Grouse, cock bird against a snowy background at a location to the east of the A68. &
121 Mealy Redpoll, 2+ birds with large mixed flock on Pennine edge stubbles.

Hope.....to add a 'few' tomorrow in an adjoining County...
Stevie

121 Mealie's !!! are you sure (LOL)

I managed to add 2 today with Little Owl and 15 + lesser redpolls (No Mealies). Now crept up to 103.

[StevieEvans]

Reader,
Quite Sure, my dear fellow....
An aquaintance of mine used to breed them in his back garden.....True!
We get Little Owls on the chimney pots of our housing estate.....& have Barn Owl on our garden list, infact our 10 year old has seen all 5 owl species already this year!.

Hope to add 10 species tomorrow in Northumberland (with thanks to MF)

Kind Regards S.

[Denis J]

It's ok you can all relax now I got my 100 up
no long eared owl but I did see the following
97: Purple sandpiper
98: Merlin
99: Knot
100: Great crested grebe
101: Twite
102: Red breasted merganser
all 102 in Durham/Cleveland and all on public transport ;@)

[Karl J]

I almost feel embarassed!!! Lowly 49 for me but did add American Robin today, at which point i am obliged to add quality not......didn't think it would make me feel better. Enjoying my birding though.


Now there's a post that made me smile !! At the dizzy height of 55 myself & thoroughly enjoying it.

[crispycreme]

Reached 75 today with two lifers - Red-breasted Sapsucker and Wilson's Snipe.

[jada dulo]

In a day locally , 55 species ... missed Green Woodpecker at Belvide ( flew off about 2 seconds before I arrived !! ) and a Stonechat at my local Patch . I'm up to 94 species all local bar 10 , which I got on a very cold day visit to Porthmadog !!
Dipped on Bittern and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at my local patch too plus Iceland and Glaucous Gull at a lake about 18 miles away from my house ... I did go look but there was no sign ! :(
I'm hoping to break the centuary by end of January ... but time is running out and I have no trips out planned ... besides , my 10 week old daughter would never forgive me !

[Charles Harper]

To give a fair view, I should report the unsuccessful days too. The plan was to go up the nearest mountain, and although we had our first serious snow in the night, Sunday morning left none on the ground, and I headed out with visions of 10 or 12 good mountain birds for the yearlist. The snow had however remained at higher altitudes, and the car made it only halfway up before she started slipping about dangerously. I walked a way up the road. The sun was warm and the air calm, a beautiful day, but the trees were dripping wet snow in showers. Every time I looked up, I got splashed in the eye; every time I looked down, I got splashed down the collar. Impossible to see birds (if any)-- the boughs were in constant movement from the falling snowballs but the silence was otherwise deafening.

Therefore, only three for the January list today-- Red-flanked Bluetail, Varied Tit, White's (Tiger) Thrush-- bringing me to 104.

Geez, you guys got a lot of winter birds in Brit Land!

[Andrew Whitehouse]

But what a three Charles! I went out all day yesterday but only added 2 species (Greenshank and Snipe) so I'm up to 103 now. One of those days where, if asked, I say "I had a nice walk". Actually went all the way from the Eden to the Tay, which is often good but seems quiet at the moment. Also a Peregrine and 6 Slavonian Grebes.

[Denis J]

I know just what you mean I had a" nice walk " today. not much bird activity at all still no green woodpecker but they will start yaffling soon no divers on the sea (9 last week) no Marsh tit no Redwings or Fieldfares but I still saw some good mixed tit flocks and most of the common woodland species including a great view of a treecreeper and the Snowdrops are starting to flower so all's right with the world and the Spring will be here before we know it :@)

[SimonC]

Struggled to 89 today:

87 Pochard

88 Great Crested Grebe

89 Goldeneye

Still missing stupid things (for round here) like Coal tit, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk, so there's still a slim chance of breaking the century for Jan, with a trip to Lynford Arboretum planned for 31st being the last-ditch attempt!
Not that I'm that worried, this is still my best ever start to a year list since I started in 1995 & besides, it's the enjoyment of birding that really counts ain't it?!;)

Cheers

[deboo]

Simon,

Cannot agree more with your last sentence.

For my list today it was.....

99. Brambling

100. Willow Tit

101. Hawfinch!!!!

FOCL

Dave.

[Steve Lister]

Crept up to 121 now, with Spotted Redshank the latest, but expect to rocket to about 400 over the next two weeks as my wife and I go to NE India tomorrow night!!

Steve

[Larry Lade]

I went over to Chillicothe, Missouri, on the 16th of January to bird with a friend. New Birds added for 2004:

77 Pileated Woodpecker
78 Cedar Waxwing
79 Yellow-rumped Warbler
80 American Black Duck
81 Red-shouldered Hawk
82 Common Redpoll
83 Great Black-blacked Gull (This was a new bird for me of Missouri. I have seen quite a few on the east coast. This was a first winter bird. It really made the thousands of other gulls on the lake look small).
84 Lesser Scaup

On the 17th of January I picked up one more year bird for 2004:

85 Belted Kingfisher

[Reader]

Added two more today to bring my total to 105 with Meadow Pipit at Draycote Water and Long tailed Duck at Stanford reservoir, Northants. It was a very long walk looking for the L T Duck, as a birder told me that it was towards the dam end, and I was at the other end. I walked for ages without seeing it and as I had to be back home before 15:00 I turned back only to find the bird a few hundred yards away from the car park. Still I enjoyed the walk and some close up views of Goosander. Unfortunalely because of lack of time I couldn't complete the walk and other birds that were definitely a bit further along the walk were Little Egret, Mandarin and Red crested Pochard.

[SimonC]

Simon,

Cannot agree more with your last sentence.

For my list today it was.....

99. Brambling

100. Willow Tit

101. Hawfinch!!!!

FOCL

Dave.
D'ya wanna rub a bit more salt in there Dave? :storm:

So, any tips for my trip to Lynford then?

[deboo]

Simon,

The good weather today certainly helped. It also brought out the birders! I thought there must have been a 'mega' at Welney.........there were more people than birds! I wondered who was watching who!!!
At Lynford there were at least 6 scopes set up at the paddock.....(not another 'mega').....Somebody said he'd heard of 12 Hawfinches seen, I saw at least 5...maybe 7,
most views were on the floor, at the base of the Hornbeams.
Not trying to rub anything in! (ooh err).
It was a lovely Winters day, and if you knew beforehand exactly what you would see.......would you bother going???

Dave

[SimonC]

.....Somebody said he'd heard of 12 Hawfinches seen, I saw at least 5...maybe 7,
most views were on the floor, at the base of the Hornbeams.
Not trying to rub anything in! (ooh err).

I know you're not mate! Just glad you saw them, I was beginning to think that my trip might be wasted (a few people have said they've been recently & not caught up with them)
At any rate, I'm planning to maximise my chances of having a memorable day, got back-up plans for May day farm (Goshawk?) and/or Welney (for whatever else might be there - always turned up trumps whenever I've been for some reason?!?)

Cheers then

[StevieEvans]

Managed to add 14 species on the excellent Northumberland Coast:-

122 Ringed Plover
123 Whooper Swan
124 Peregrine
125 Bar tail Godwit
126 Grey Plover
127 Brent Goose
128 Long tailed Duck
129 Fulmar
130 Guillemot
131 Slavonian Grebe
132 Red Throated Diver
133 Razorbill
134 Barnacle Goose
135 Ruff
S

[andy]

Now on 133 all in Devon .


Andy

[Michael Frankis]

Just one new for me today, American Wigeon at Whittledene Reservoirs

Michael

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

63 now, with Siskin, Common buzzard, Treecreeper, Barnacle Goose, Grey wagtail, Yellowhammer, Red-legged partridge, Chiffchaff, Skylark and Jay. All within 3 miles of Bedford......think this area's under-rated now. Good luck with the ton-up Simon, reckon you have every chance at Welney!!

[Andrew]

Just pushed my year list to 136 with a Sunday day out in the South Hams and Torbay area and added . . . .

131 - Common Chiffchaff
132 - Eurasian Jay
133 - Red Knot
134 - Ruddy Duck
137 - Slavonian Grebe

[pduxon]

D'ya wanna rub a bit more salt in there Dave? :storm:

So, any tips for my trip to Lynford then?

To really rub it in Simon I'm at 95

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Will You 2 Pack It In?!?;-]

[Andrew]

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

[SimonC]

Will You 2 Pack It In?!?;-]Nah! It's just starting to get fun!!! ;)
Anyway, I have a feeling this thread will eventually die on or around the 1st of February! Might not though of course, as it could get resurrected as soon as the spring migrants start arriving!!! (or whenever I reach 100 for the year - whichever is later!)

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Deep Joy;-p

[pduxon]

Nah! It's just starting to get fun!!! ;)
Anyway, I have a feeling this thread will eventually die on or around the 1st of February! Might not though of course, as it could get resurrected as soon as the spring migrants start arriving!!! (or whenever I reach 100 for the year - whichever is later!)

just to depress you still further. Welney was very flooded today. No counting the hybrid Scaup/Tufty !!

[Swift]

Hoping to see 1000+ species this year worldwide , have managed it the last 2 years running , just 700 left to go this year!

[jada dulo]

Ground to a halt on 94 ! Been on that number now for 4 day's . Going out next week in a vain attempt to reach the magical 100 !!! ... you lucky people living in or near coastal areas .

[SimonC]

STILL on 89, with some really stupid birds still missing:

Sparrowhawk
Coal Tit
Bullfinch
Kingfisher
Grey Wagtail
Smew (still haven't been to Amwell!!)
And some not so stupid ones:

Snipe
Willow Tit
Brambling
Golden Plover
Stock Dove

With these 11 birds, I'd have my 100 & I'd shut up!
Oh well, got a week & a bit left yet, I might make it ;)

[Andrew]

Got a couple more . . .

136 - Mandarin Duck
137 - Skylark

[SimonC]

Got a couple more . . .

137 - Mandarin Duck
138 - Skylark
I hope you realise that I'm now completely gutted! My highest ever year list was 133 - in 1995!

[Denis J]

Got a couple more . . .

137 - Mandarin Duck
138 - Skylark

What suprises me is the fact that you saw 137 birds before you saw Skylark!

[deboo]

Simon,

Have just seen your 'up to 100 list'.
Try the RSPB Ouse Washes reserve near Manea in Cambs...If you are lucky you should see all off that list in a day. Some of the Cambirding 'big-hitters' have been going recently and there have been reports of Water Pipit,White fronted Goose,SEO,Merlin etc etc......It's as flooded as Welney, but there's loads of farmland birds around the visitor centre and Wild Swans in the fields.
Be warned, if it's sunny.....all the hides look directly into the sun.....So a cloudy day helps, or get there after midday!

Good luck, got to go daughter no.2 wants to play on Sims!!!

Dave

[SimonC]

Cheers Dave, might give that a go if I can wheedle another "long distance" trip!;)
Hmmmm, what household chores are worth a 120 odd mile round trip I wonder?............

[Larry Lade]

Today I added specie number 86, a Peregrine Falcon.

[AlanJones]

For the first time I have managed ( in the Durham area )over the ton for Jan. Standing at the moment at 101 but it is strange how some so called easy species have so far evaded me, such as Guillemot. Skylark was a late arrival too.
Never mind a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on the 4th will probably be my bird of the year.

[Andrew]

What suprises me is the fact that you saw 137 birds before you saw Skylark!
Actually, I consider Skylark a bonus as I can't hear the bleeding things. I expected to see one this spring on a post at Dawlish Warren.

[Andrew]

I hope you realise that I'm now completely gutted! My highest ever year list was 133 - in 1995!
To rub it in I have a few simple birds to get like Eider, G N Diver, Velvet Scoter and Brent Goose. I am going for some rare gulls before I go for these to make things more bizzare!

[SimonC]

To rub it in I have a few simple birds to get like Eider, G N Diver, Velvet Scoter and Brent Goose. I am going for some rare gulls before I go for these to make things more bizzare!
Simple He says!!!! Cah! G.N.Diver would be a lifer for me and I've only seen Velvet Scoter once in 9 years.
Guess that's what comes of
A: Not living in the right part of the country &
B: refusing to Twitch ;)

Never mind, I'm still beating all my previous records so I'm as happy as a proverbial pig!!

[Bluetail]

I am going for some rare gulls before I go for these to make things more bizzare!I assume not locally, Andrew?

Jason

[jada dulo]

Simon , you seem to have a very similar approach to both birding and listing as me . Yes , I'd love to break the ton by end of January ( need 6 species to do this ) but I sure as hell aint spending 5 odd hour's in a car to add one or two tick's to my list . Especially when Bittern , Water Rail , Green Woodpecker , Grey Partridge , Stonechat and Scaup are all missing from my year list so far and ALL are being seen fairly regulary within a 20 mile radius of my house !

Plus Iceland and Glaucous Gull , Great Grey Shrike , Hen Harrier and Snow Bunting all in the last week scattered across the county and ALL of them are not just year tick's but life tick's for me also .

[ideboy]

2003 was my first full year of birding, and I didn't keep a list. This year I have, and I am glad I did. I got off to a flying start seeing the American Robin and various other goodies in Cornwall. Since then I have added the Penduline Tit in Devon, and also birded in Herts and Kent, making the total so far 125.

[Andrew]

I assume not locally, Andrew?

Jason
Naturally not, going to the Midlands this weekend. Hope to update my list here after then.

[Jasonbirder]

Whereabouts are you planning on going Andrew?

[Andrew]

Wherever my friend takes me but it should involve Belvide for the goodies there.

[Andrew]

Picked up two more in between chores . . .

138 - Dusky Warbler
139 - Red-crested Pochard

[Larry Lade]

I birded a local cemetery today (there was nobody about, so I did not offend anyone) and picked up two more year birds.

87 Carolina Wren (saw three and heard a couple more)
88 Golden-crowned Kinglet

Some other birds seen there which I already have for the year: Winter Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and 14-15 of the more expected species.

[ideboy]

After a lightening trip to Norfolk today (a visual feast of thousands of Golden Plover swirling about)

126 - Pink-footed Goose
127 - Snow Bunting
128 - Black-winged Stilt
129 - Velvet Scoter

[Denis J]

Another trip to Teesmouth this week brought another 6 birds :@)
103 Long eared owl
Thanks Ian F they were just where you said they would be I only had to check out 3 trees before I found them!
104 Ruddy duck
105 Slavonian grebe
106 Ruff
107 Guillimot
108 Razorbill
The Razorbill was a surprise as I don't see to many of those about. Usually its Marsden around March before I see one dont you just love this hobby :@)

[pduxon]

Simon , you seem to have a very similar approach to both birding and listing as me . Yes , I'd love to break the ton by end of January ( need 6 species to do this ) but I sure as hell aint spending 5 odd hour's in a car to add one or two tick's to my list . Especially when Bittern , Water Rail , Green Woodpecker , Grey Partridge , Stonechat and Scaup are all missing from my year list so far and ALL are being seen fairly regulary within a 20 mile radius of my house !

Plus Iceland and Glaucous Gull , Great Grey Shrike , Hen Harrier and Snow Bunting all in the last week scattered across the county and ALL of them are not just year tick's but life tick's for me also .

And frankly me too. Although a Nuthatch was 96 for me.

[StevieEvans]

A drive around the moors this afternoon produced
Raven 136, Buzzard 137 & Red Grouse 138.
S

[Larry Lade]

On our local club field trip today I observed bird #89 for the year, Pine Siskin. This was found near a local cemetery high in the leaf-less trees. There were six of them and in their company was a Common Redpoll (this is, I believe, referred to as the Mealy Redpoll by our British friends).

[Andrew]

Failed to see the Caspian Gull, actually failed to find anyone to point one out to me! Got a few more in the midlands though . .

140 - Willow Tit
141 - Waxwing
142 - Mistle Thrush
143 - Glaucous Gull

. . . .141 and 143 were lifers for me!

[pauliev69]

So far this year five lifers
Waxwing
Goldeneye
Redpoll
Bullfinch
Long-eared owl
;)

[Reader]

Up to 108 now after adding Nuthatch, Peregrine and a bonus 1st winter Glaucos Gull today.

[Charles Harper]

Don't you guys have jobs?

Sunday came 'round again for me at last, and I went up to Tokyo Bay all day, adding eight species-- Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Whimbrel, Black-winged Stilt, Red-necked Stint, Grey Plover, Dunlin, and Saunders's Gull-- and bringing my list to 112 for January, a personal best. Since this was the last Sunday in January, that is likely my final score for the month.

[SimonC]

Slowly creeping towards the ton!!
Up to 92 today with Coal Tit on Wednesday (21st)
Bullfinch & Sparrowhawk today

The last-ditch attempt will come on 31st but whatever happens, I've already smashed my personal best for January! (52 last year) so I'm happy!

[pduxon]

Slowly creeping towards the ton!!
Up to 92 today with Coal Tit on Wednesday (21st)
Bullfinch & Sparrowhawk today

The last-ditch attempt will come on 31st but whatever happens, I've already smashed my personal best for January! (52 last year) so I'm happy!

take it you didn't get to Amwell. There were Smew about yesterday.

[Denis J]

Another good day today lots of activity on my local patch
109 Green woodpecker
110 Common scoter
I also saw 10 Treecreepers today one of them on a tree just 6 feet away and the biggest flock of wood pigeon I have seen for years ..about 500 of them
Nuthatch, Marsh tit and Red throated diver were also very accommodating giving excelent views
Sad news towards the end of the walk though a guy I sometimes bump into told me someone found a dead Barn owl on friday:@(

[Michael Frankis]

Two more for me today:
Black Grouse - 130
Red-legged Free-range Chicken - 131 (personally I think it shouldn't really be on, but officially they're countable . . .)

Michael

[SimonC]

take it you didn't get to Amwell. There were Smew about yesterday.
Nope, sadly not :(
Car's been running on fumes for the last week! Roll on payday

[Harry Hussey]

Hi all,
I really have to count up my year-list: not keeping an Irish year list this year,but aim to keep a Cork one.Got my first Green Sands for Cork this year(had 1 in Waterford earlier),also my first Dipper of 2004,and...........LITTLE RINGED PLOVER at Mallow!
This bird,as I mentioned on the forum,was found shortly after Christmas,but was only seen a day or two after that,and we had assumed that it had moved on/died.Imagine,then,our surprise at seeing it while we looked for Green Sands!Nice,species not even a guaranteed year-tick in season here.
Harry H

[Jasonbirder]

People should have some sympathy for me....my wife is trying hard to break my spirit and stop me birding!!! Its not condusive to domestic harmony or at least thats her belief!! Emotional blackmail and outright threats have been used which has so far limited me to 2 full days in the field and 2 half days....i`m tearing my hair out!! Still weather permitting i`m hoping to get out again for a full day to Dumfries and Galloway and to Devon again in the next week or two!

So far only managed 129 but does include Glossy Ibis, Ferruginous Duck, Surf Scoter, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-eared Owl, American Robin & Humes Leaf Warbler.

[Tim Allwood]

Hi Jase


what a dilemma....I'm particularly intrigued about the emotional blackmail.......on the other hand there are some birdless mornings when I'd much rather stay in bed ;) A bit of give and take can improve things (insert your own rude punchline here folks :eek!: )

[Larry Lade]

Denis, your ten Treecreepers were similiar to the three Brown Creepers I saw here in Missouri, USA, yesterday, All on one tree about 15 feet away from where I was standing. I usually only see one at a time, very rarely two in the same location. So three in one tree was rather exciting.

[Jasonbirder]

Tim, I think you`ve put your finger on the problem there....oops perhaps thats the wrong phrase to use ;)

[Tim Allwood]

I think it comes with age Jason
I could never quite put my finger on it when I was a young man

(think we'd better stop now...it's getting like a Carry On film!)

[Harry Hussey]

Hi lads,
'Carry On Birding',the great unmade 'Carry On' film,with Sid James as Seymour Titts.Lots of mentions of Shags,Barbara Windsor as a keen inexperienced birder who was willing to learn fast etc....;)
Harry H

[Gill Osborne]

Calm down boys!!! LOL

Jason...tis your own fault...you should have married a birder!!! You guys always get easily taken in by a pretty face and ALWAYS forget to check whether they are interested in birding...it's like buying a pair of new bins or a scope...try them out and check before commiting yourself!!! Either that or do as I do with Neil...I tell him that I'm going out birding and he can either join me or not!!! He has a choice.....either I get out and about or my PMT gets REALLY bad!!!! :C LOL

Had my first new tick of the year today when I finally caught up with the Black Redstart at St Mary's Island...that's No.167 on my Life List........haven't worked out my Year List yet as I've been SO busy with either working overtime or,when I have had a day off, it's monsooned down!!! Will get back with the total ASAP!

OK, you can get back to your sillyness now......

GILL XXX ;)

[Denis J]

People should have some sympathy for me....my wife is trying hard to break my spirit and stop me birding!!! Its not condusive to domestic harmony or at least thats her belief!! Emotional blackmail and outright threats have been used which has so far limited me to 2 full days in the field and 2 half days....i`m tearing my hair out!! Still weather permitting i`m hoping to get out again for a full day to Dumfries and Galloway and to Devon again in the next week or two!

So far only managed 129 but does include Glossy Ibis, Ferruginous Duck, Surf Scoter, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-eared Owl, American Robin & Humes Leaf Warbler.

I have the oposite problem with my wife last year I got 208 birds she got 202 she is as keen as I am. Only trouble is I wanted a pair of Leica ultravids for christmas and could not find a reason why she should not have a pair as well!
it gets damned expensive when you have to buy 2 of everything!
Seriously I am very lucky we have been married for 27 years and we still share the same interests:@)

[Gill Osborne]

That's brilliant Denis....Neil likes to come birding with me as he finds it really relaxing and enjoys seeing wildlife of all sorts but he's not like me in that he HAS to put a name to everything...he's content to just see the things! Poor chap put up with two and a half hours in the freezing winds at St Mary's today whilst I looked for the Black Redstart and chatted away to other birders...even though I told him to get off home and I'd get the bus when I was finished...usually sometime about duskish!!!

GILL

[Harry Hussey]

Hi Gill,
Duskish Warbler,perhaps?;)
Understand what you mean about putting a name to everything: try looking through a few hundred large gulls(the odd time that one gets the chance these days)....
Harry H

[Gill Osborne]

Hi Harry,
Duskish Warbler...I WISH!!!!!! :-O

Unfortunately(for my OH's stomach!)I tend to lose ALL sense of time when I'm out in the field...especially in the summer months when I'll often be going through the terns and stuff on the rocks at St Mary's and only really stop when I realise that it's nearly dark and I can't actually see anything except black outlines in front of me!!! That's when I think "Whoops, better head home and do Neil's dinner!".....only to be distracted by bats and stoats in the undergrowth around the Wetlands!!!!! The times poor Neil has had to ring me on the mobile!!! Well,serves him right.....he should flog his hi-fi,buy himself a scope & bins and join me!!! LOL

GILL

[StevieEvans]

Added NO year Ticks (nor any Owls) on Sunday........!
Set off at 05:15 to get to Caerlaverock for 1st light. (07:15)
SPECTACULAR.
7000 Barnacle Geese on the reserve.
Saw the 3 'small' Canadas.
A drive around the fells at Laurieston & then on to Loch Ken with its greenland Whitefronts & picture postcard scenery.
This was a perfect birding day with excellent weather & good company.
I had a list of Birds we had hoped to locate, but these went by the wayside, as we thoroughly enjoyed whatever came along.
(had expected Kite, RLPartridge, Scaup, HHarrier)
This perfect day realy put 'birding' into perspective............
S

[LSB]

hi all,
im on 87 for year so far been mostly sticking to my local patch.BUT i did go and twitch smew and american wigeon for the year the other day(old habbits die hard)

[Gill Osborne]

Ok Steviewol, you've made my mind up for me!!! Despite cash being a teensy bit tight at the mo I'm going to pay a visit to the folks at the Natural History Society of Northumbria at the Hancock museum tomorrow....was just looking at their website last night and saw that they are doing a trip to Caerlaverock in three weeks time and on Saturday 6th March they're doing a trip to Loch Ken,Laurieston Forest & Mersehead. Hopefully they'll still have a few places going so I'll book up tomorrow...there's half a dozen lifers on your list there for me!!!

GILL

[Larry Lade]

Birding my regular route this morning during a light snow fall I observed my 90th bird of the year. I was watching some feeder birds south of Saint Joseph, Missouri. All of a sudden a "largeish" gray,black and white bird swished through my field of vision. It landed in a red cedar tree, sat there for a few seconds and then flew to a bush in a yard some 50 meters to the north. From there it flew off again, not to be seen again. It was a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER! A common bird in the western US but there have only been a handful of sightings in Missouri. I don't know if anyone else here will be able to see it because I covered the general area for a couple more hours and never could relocated it. Needless to say, it was a new bird for my Missouri List.:bounce:

[Michael Frankis]

..... It was a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER! ....
Now there's a good one! Guess there's been a Whitebark Pine cone crop failure out west, ties in nicely with Crispycreme's finding one in the AZ desert last month.

To relocate it, check any nearby parks or gardens with large conifers in.

Michael

[Larry Lade]

Michael, I had forgotten about Crispycreme's sighting awhile back. Maybe there was a pine cone failure out west. I have not heard of too many other reports here in the midwest though. But then again I have not been checking the other nearby state's listserves. I will be trying some the areas parks with large conifers. Thanks.

[StevieEvans]

'mist' two off......
Stonechat & Green Sandpiper
Total 140.

[Motmot]

98 so far in Majorca. Best stuff Brambling (rare here), Audouin's G., Great Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Booted Eagle, Red Kite, Merlin (rare here), Purple Swamp-Hen, Red-knobbed Coot (reintroduced last month at Albufera), Crane, Jack Snipe, Thekla Lark, Serin, Fieldfare (scarce here).
Still looking for Black Vulture... and a few more not found yet.

[Andrew]

Added two more, I was actually hoping for Jack Snipe and Woodcock but failed on them. The Woodcock would have been a lifer.

144 - Common Eider
145 - Black Redstart

[jada dulo]

29th of January and I'm well and truly stuck on 95 species !! I think my hopes of breaking the century by end of Jan. are now doomed to failure . But with 10 visit's to my local patch , 3 visit's to Belvide Res , 1 visit to Brown Clee , 1 visit to Wood Lane , 1 visit to Brim Pool , 2 visits to Priorslee lake and finally a day out to Porthmadog !!! I think it can be said I gave 100% effort ? Oh well , focus on beating last year's list now .

Bird's I have missed so far or failed to get ...
Bittern , Water Rail , Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Stonechat at Venus Pool .
Great Grey Shrike , Snow Bunting and Goshawk at Brown Clee .
Black-tailed Godwit at Wood Lane .
Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull at Priorslee Lake .
Dunlin and Merlin at Belvide Reservoir .

Plus I have searched franticly for Green Woodpecker and Grey Partridge without any success .... yet !!

I had a chance of Waxwing at Wolverhampton the other day but I didn't go for them ....

Possible 15 bird's there ... but hey ! , if we all got ALL the bird's we went for ..... where would the fun be in that , eh ? ..

[deboo]

.. but hey ! , if we all got ALL the bird's we went for ..... where would the fun be in that , eh ? ..

Exactly,you hit the nail right between the horns there!

Dave.

[Andrew]

. . . I had a chance of Waxwing at Wolverhampton the other day but I didn't go for them . . . .
Got them at Fordhouses last Saturday :t:

Just added one more . . .

146 - Water Pipit

[Reader]

I have been visiting relatives in Essex for a few days and did a few hours birding on Tuesday and came back to the midlands via Suffolk on Wednesday. Added 12 birds to the list.

Iceland Gull
L.E Owl
Y L Gull
Fulmar
Black tailed godwit
Bar tailed Godwit
Avocet
Turnstone
Shag
Dartford Warbler
White fronted Goose
Brent Geese

That pushes me onto 120. I can't see me moving from that in January as I have no plans to go anywhere this weekend, unless a Green Woodpecker makes a sudden appearance in my garden.

Didn't enjoy the journey home though. It took me nearly 8 hrs to do a journey that normally takes me under 3 hours.

[deboo]

.

Didn't enjoy the journey home though. It took me nearly 8 hrs to do a journey that normally takes me under 3 hours.

With the weather as it is, I'm hoping for an Iceland Gull in my garden!
I cannot believe the number of folks on Birdforum who have got LEO on their lists............I still ain't seen one EVER!
Boo Hoo
Dave.

[jada dulo]

Green Woodpecker is really annoying me too in 2004 , so far . Cant find one anywhere , usually I hardly glance at them they are that regular around where I live ... nah ! got to accept fact's , I'm waltzing into February on 95 species !! .... Unless a kindly Barn Owl would glide into view of my headlight's on the way home .

[StevieEvans]

Hi Andrew
I cant understand How its possible to see 146 different species in the first month of the year & to have 'never' 'ever' seen a common breeding & wintering species like Woodcock.......as you said earlier "bizarre!"

Or are they not so common in Devon?

Regards Stevie.

[Reader]

Green Woodpeckers are really doing my head in. I have heard more than 5 of them so far this year but seeing one is another matter. The other bird I would have expected to have seen by now are siskin and yet i haven't heard much news about them as yet. they appear to be in very short supply here in the Midlands. Are they missing in anyone else's areas?

[Andrew]

Just never been looking for them and did not know where to look before. Came close once as a companion heard them (I am deaf) and I looked for it but no luck.

The Devon report suggests it status as 'Probably not scarce winter visitor, but much overlooked; rare breeder (last bred 1988)'

[StevieEvans]

Managed to locate a beautiful 1st winter Iceland Gull at Sunderland, after work today. 141
S.

[Andrew]

Steviewol,

Congrats on the Iceland Gull, I was hoping for one at Belvide. Just going back to the bizzarre thing, I have yet to see a Tawny Owl or a Lesser Whitethroat at all. Odd when you consider I have seen Pallas's Warbler!

[StevieEvans]

Hey now ! That is bizarre!

Maybe we can do a 'deal' later in the year.....

I can think of at least 5 local places were you could get Tawny, Woodcock & Lesser Whitethroat by standing in the same spot....!!!

In return you could show me 3 UK 'ticks'
Cirl Bunting, Cettis & Dartford Warbs.
Plus if you were feeling generous i suppose you could throw in Glossy Ibis, & i wouldnt mind seeing my 2nd uk Woodlark either.....

Stevie.

[Andrew]

I can show you those three.

[deboo]

Lesser Whitethroat...in January. Only stuffed in a Museum surely!

Dave.

[Andrew]

Lesser Whitethroat...in January. Only stuffed in a Museum surely!

Dave.
What and I can't tick them?

[Karl J]

A bumper day out today bringing it up to 80 in total, 69 of which are local.

[birdman]

Little Owl takes me to 71.

[Charles Harper]

Anyone got the time and talent to do a January Summary of this thread's Participants' Totals?

[Strix]

Wow Larry, that's a great find. The only ones I've seen were at altitude in BC.

I don't know how you guys do it, I haven't seen 25 species yet this year.

[pduxon]

97 Bewick Swan
98 Brambling
99 Black Tail Godwit
100 Common Buzzard

phew

[Denis J]

97 Bewick Swan
98 Brambling
99 Black Tail Godwit
100 Common Buzzard

phew

You cut that one a bit fine!
4 nice birds though! The swan would be a lifer for me and the buzzard a year tick I have been stuck in the house all day due to the weather so 110 is it for January a shame as Iceland and Glaucus gull were both seen only 4 miles from my house yesterday still I can't complain if it was easy it would not be as much fun.

[jada dulo]

95 for me , hope of Night Heron being 96 ( and No. 200 on life list and 115 on patch list also ) being dashed today as NO-ONE has seen hide nor hair of it !! Oh well , let's see what February bring's .

[Andrew]

Just hit 150 on the last day of the month, nice to have a rounded figure. My birds today were . . .

147 - Northern Fulmar (unexpected)
148 - Brent Goose
149 - Sanderling
150 - Bar-tailed Godwits

[harry harris]

scored a century on 25 jan but nothing since [weather is rubbish]
managed bittern on new years day,tawny owl in bushy park on the same day,the waxwings in morrison`s car park were nice and the american robin in grimsby was great.
roll on feb

[StevieEvans]

Well the month has ended with the weather just as bad as it was on the 1st of the month!
Added 3 today
Spotted Redshank142
Greenshank143
Scaup 144.

# All seen in Durham / North'd except the Grimsby Robin.

Denis, i had the gulls at the Wear mouth yesterday afternoon, the Iceland was the 3rd bird i looked at!! Previous to this i had tried 4 one hour visits.
Theres some Bewicks kicking about in North'd, i had a family group come in to roost on Cresswell at dusk not long ago.

Andrew, How can you possibly 'leave' those 4 easy ones till the last day.....?
You are the Bizarre Devonian ! (well done on your total ;) )
PS -Apparently a certain person has already seen 200+ in the UK so far in 2004!!!!!

I have enjoyed this listing 'game' it adds a different dimension to your birding.
Stevie

[pduxon]

You cut that one a bit fine!
4 nice birds though! The swan would be a lifer for me and the buzzard a year tick I have been stuck in the house all day due to the weather so 110 is it for January a shame as Iceland and Glaucus gull were both seen only 4 miles from my house yesterday still I can't complain if it was easy it would not be as much fun.

Tell me about it. I had actually given up. I was driving past Wicken Fen so decided to stop. Was wandering down to the visitor centre when out in the distance.....

[deboo]

Tell me about it. I had actually given up. I was driving past Wicken Fen so decided to stop. Was wandering down to the visitor centre when out in the distance.....

Pete,

Did you see any Bitterns at Wicken.....and did you wait for the Hen Harrier roost? I might go there Sunday. Congrats on getting the Ton for Jan.

Dave.

[pduxon]

Pete,

Did you see any Bitterns at Wicken.....and did you wait for the Hen Harrier roost? I might go there Sunday. Congrats on getting the Ton for Jan.

Dave.

No didn't stay very long. What's the best time for the Harrier roost? It was a foul day so I had been to Welney. Bramblings under the feeders!!

[deboo]

No didn't stay very long. What's the best time for the Harrier roost? It was a foul day so I had been to Welney. Bramblings under the feeders!!

Pete,

It's about 10 minutes b4 dusk!
But get in the 'old' Tower hide and it is 10 minutes that will be etched in your memory forever! You get views OVER the Harriers, and if you see a full adult Male....well, what an absolute STUNNER.
How's Welney.......like the Sea I guess??!!! Bramblings are a lovely bird to see no matter where ever you are.
With the weather being so foul, I stayed indoors. I'm praying for decent weather tomorrow.....I'm going Stir Crazy!!!

Dave.

[Charles Harper]

HI FOLKS, I DID SUMMARY TOTALS FOR JANUARY 2004.

Listed is everyone that posted a definite number after January 10th. Many obviously quit updating (tsk, tsk!), so if you PM me, I will update your January Total here. If anyone who quit posting before January 11 or anyone new to the thread wants to add their Name and Number for January to this list, please PM me also.

On to FEBRUARY. Should we count from 1 again, with a running total in parentheses? It makes for an interesting overview of monthly productivity at the end of the year. Same thread, or should we move to a February 2004 one? Well, do as you will.

My FEBRUARY LIST is at 2 (114), as of today's patch walk: Green Pheasant and Chinese Bamboo Partridge.

Bonne chance!



Alan Jones 101
andy 133
Andrew 150
Ashley boelens 60
birdman 71
Carlos GY 80
Charles Harper 112
crispycreme 75
Darrenom 77
Dave B. Smith 105
deboo 130
Denis J 110
Fifebirder 103
harry harris 100
ideboy 129
jada dulo 95
Jane Turner 51
Jasonbirder 129
Larry Lade 90
littlestintboy 87
Michael Frankis 132
Motmot 98
pduxon 100
peteh 87
Reader 120
SimonC 94
sleeper 49
Steve Lister 121
Stevie Evans 144
Strix 25
Tchagra 117
tom mckinney 152

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Charles,

Thanks for the listing; I didn't get round to posting my last (Greater Scaup on 30 Jan), so I'm on 132

Michael

[Denis J]

Hi Charles a good idea I managed to walk my local patch today nothing new for the year but saw 47 species so thats
47 (110) if we keep it in this thread it could end up as the biggest thread in the forums history! so lets see how long the admin let us get away with it :@)

[Karl J]

Good work Charles ..... lol Denis J .... after today I'm still chugging along at 81

One question though - The first figure... is that new ticks for the month or new ticks for the year ?

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I lumbered up to 109 today. Last weekend I managed Yellowhammer and, slightly more impressively, Snow Bunting. Today I added Sparrowhawk (blush), Twite, Brambling and Ruff.

[Denis J]

Good work Charles ..... lol Denis J .... after today I'm still chugging along at 81

One question though - The first figure... is that new ticks for the month or new ticks for the year ?

Hi Carlos
The 47 are new ticks for February my local patch is quite productive for common birds I dont get many rarities but its a 4 ish mile walk the first 2 miles through a Dene with a small stream running through it its part farmland and mostly mixed woodland , the second 2 miles is cliffs overlooking the North sea no mudflats or reedbeds but still ok for a good mix of gulls,and some waders, it finishes at the local docks. I have never realy counted up how many birds I can get in the 4 hours or so it usualy takes me to walk round but today was fairly typical for this time of year

[Charles Harper]

Glad you all are hanging in here, but it's a YEAR LIST. First digit should be new birds for the year, and second (in parentheses) should be year-to-date total. I'm sitting at 2(114) which is 114 species for the year with 2 new ones in February so far. Man, you WILL have the longest thread in history if we start all over again each month! This thread should be really refined and rare by the time we get to December.

Cheers,

[Denis J]

OK sorry about that I misunderstood your post so thats
0(110) for me then though it would have been interesting to see how many birds we got each month it would have shown up the most productive months in different parts of the world and so on.

[Karl J]

Ah Charles, thanks for clearing that up, so I'm now on ... 1 (81)

[SimonC]

Just 2 more for me during January

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 93
Willow Tit 94

So, in line with Charles's brilliant idea for this thread that puts me on 0(94)

Cheers

Day 3 - No ciggies

[Charles Harper]

Damn, Simon! No cancer sticks! Good on you, lad. Carrot sticks and commitment will carry you through. Remember, every day it gets a little bit less horrible...

[SimonC]

Damn, Simon! No cancer sticks! Good on you, lad. Carrot sticks and commitment will carry you through. Remember, every day it gets a little bit less horrible...

Thanks Charles
If I can get through this first week at work, I think I'll start finding it easier!

Cheers

Day 3 - no ciggies - but maybe a bit less hair!!

[deboo]

Simon,

It's been 377 days 12 hours and 15 minutes since I gave up the Cancer sticks......20 years a smoker and possibly £20,000 wasted!....more fool me!
Keep at it sunshine....trust me you'll feel so much healthier!

Dave.

[Michael Frankis]

Hawfinch and Chiffchaff today, so (2) 134

Michael

[Andrew]

Ruff and Yellow-browed Warbler for me today pushing me to (2)152

[Jasonbirder]

Nice one Andrew...was that you that reported the Branscombe Yellow-browed today?

I`m hoping to try for that (weather permitting) when I make another run at the Devon & Dorset birds i missed on Saturday later this week

[Andrew]

Jason,

Yes it was me, they should have also put out the info that there was a Firecrest too. It did not go out with the Yellow-browed info.

[Dave B Smith]

Well, I finally have some birds on my 2004 list. I started out real slow and just got up to 67 on the 25th of Jan. Then we made a little weekend trip to the next state and did some serious birdwatching (see report in "Your Birding day" forum). So with that my year list grew and stands at (55) 122. This includes 17 lifers this year bringing my total to 396.

[Reader]

Had to visit someone in Norfolk on Monday and later that day we spent a couple of hours between West Somerton and Horsey. Tuesday saw us try and bird the Norfolk north coast but the wind virtually defeated us but I did connect with my very first Pale bellied Brent and managed a few shots of them (needed to hide behind a horsebox on Lady Anne's drive Holkham to ease the wind agains my scope) + I managed to find the American Wigeon there.

Went around Titchwell but the wind was too bad for decent shots but I did manage a good one of a Grey Plover.

Totals so far now are 72 (Feb) 129 year.

[birdman]

Meagre in comparison... but Feb lurched tentatively into action on Monday...

Jackdaw makes me 1 (72)

[pduxon]

Had to visit someone in Norfolk on Monday and later that day we spent a couple of hours between West Somerton and Horsey. Tuesday saw us try and bird the Norfolk north coast but the wind virtually defeated us but I did connect with my very first Pale bellied Brent and managed a few shots of them (needed to hide behind a horsebox on Lady Anne's drive Holkham to ease the wind agains my scope) + I managed to find the American Wigeon there.

Went around Titchwell but the wind was too bad for decent shots but I did manage a good one of a Grey Plover.

Totals so far now are 72 (Feb) 129 year.
You've seen 72 year ticks in February??

[Reader]

You've seen 72 year ticks in February??

Sorry Pete

I suppose it does read like that but in fact it means that I have seen 72 species so far this February of which 9 were year ticks (January's total was 120 for the year)

[StevieEvans]

Added 1 today, female L.S.Woodpecker ! (missed Hawfich, Chiffchaff & Blackcap though)
January 144 species (1) life tick included.
February 76 species (1) year tick.
Year List 145 species (all but one in D'ham/North'd).

Stevie.

[Dave B Smith]

Just back from a late afternoon walk on the beach and now my year list is (3) 125 with Reddish Egret, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Neotropic Cormorant.

When I first saw the egret it was at the far side of the small lagoon and I said probably a Great Egret as it was fairly large and all white. Then it flew to our side and since my wife had the bins I asked her to verify yellow bill and black legs to be sure it was the Great Egret. She said gray bill and black legs. So I thought Snowy and said it seemed large for a Snowy when she said it also didn't have yellow feet. Well, it came pretty close to us and we could verfiy the legs and feet were dark but the bill was a bone color close to the head and dark on the tip. This was the first "White phase" Reddish Egret we have ever seen. Almost as good as a lifer!

[Michael Frankis]

One more yesterday, Greenland White-fronted Goose brings my total to (3) 135

Michael

[Andrew]

Broke my day record today with 94 birds and two were year ticks, Velvet Scoter and Black-throated Diver so that's now (4) 154.

[Karl J]

After a day in north Norfolk I've steamed ahead to (8) 88 inc 2 new life ones.

[jada dulo]

Sitting on 97 species .... really struggling to see any new bird's . 96 in January and I'm on 58 so far in February , ( 1 year tick in Feb. ) .