2002 Year List

[burhinus]

Hope this is not too premature but it is looking like congratulations to Adrian Riley on his tremendous effort of 368 (at least) for the year (UK).

Happy New Year Adrian and looking forward to some more birding with you next year!

burhinus

[T0ny]

368 for the year ? I haven't even got that as my life list (yet) !

Tony (looking forward to 2003)

[peter hayes]

Burhinus

Writing as a beginner, I would be extremely interested to know how Adrian Riley achieved this. I mean how much time he put in, what sort of techniques he employed, how much he travelled etc.

Does he do most of his birding in Norfolk?

Peter

ps do tell us the origin of your name.....

[Steve]

Who's Adrian riley????

[peter hayes]

That's what I was getting at, Steve!

[Steve]

Total mystery peter!!

[burhinus]

Adrian Riley is a birder from Norfolk retired last year from his job and set his stall out this year to get the highest number of species seen in 2002.

Alot of birding has been done in Norfolk but he has travelled to many counties and islands as well.

Surfbirds have various league tables for birders to contribute to some take it for fun , others more seriously. Adrian has kept his totals running on there.

Adrian set his stall out for the big one this year. Having travelled many miles and no doubt spent many pounds. Alot of planning went into the year as well as a lot of chasing after individual species. A birder that took 2002 serious in his sort of way!

[burhinus]

Hello Peter

Whats in a name?

I live in the Brecks of Norfolk. When I set up my first email account several years ago, rather than choose
Fred.Bloggs@someISP.co.uk I wanted something a bit different. As I rate Stone Curlew as my favourite Breckland bird I decided to take the first part of its latin name: Burhinus. As simple as that.

Nigel has already asked if I have got thick knees. No. I drank lots of milk as a lad and my bones are fine (so far). But who knows I might need a zimmer frame in a few years time!!

P.S The idea has caught on though as I see quite a few people use latin names of birds as identification.

burhinus

[monkeyman]

Don't people get any enjoyment from 'observing' birds anymore? What is this fixation with LISTS????

Yes! I try to keep records of what I've seen and where, but that is so that I can pass INFORMATION and KNOWLEDGE on to others!

I love watching my sparrows and Blue Tits and Robin etc in my garden. I watch their every move; I note there differences in feather patterns, behaviour etc etc etc! And I love it!

When I was creating the wallpapers (see Gallery), I was fascinated by the detail that Andy had captured in his photos. How many of you noticed the wispy strands of feathers covering the forewing on the Stonechat, eh? How many of you look at the brightness of a Blackbirds eye? How many of you can describe the pattern on a House Sparrow's back (and tell, just from those feathers whether it's male or female or juvenile!).

Sorry to get on my soapbox, but if we're to do anything about environmental issues, then "calling" rare species and "ticking" lists ain't gonna help one jot!


I've said my bit, now I'm going to bed to sleep off my Christmas hangover!

So There!

B (: B (: B (:

[peter hayes]

Burhinus

Thank you for that explanation. I thought there might be something highbrow behind it!

Adrian Riley sounds an interesting character, but I have to say I'm with Moneyman on this. I keep a note of what I see, including the circumstances, but I don't make lists. As Al says, there's a tremendous amount of satisfaction to be gained from observation for its own sake. To me, that's what birding is all about.

I'm a newcomer, of course, but I can't tell you how much pleasure I derived this morning from identifiying - instantly - a Great Spotted Woodpecker for the first time. I had never seen one before, but the image from the Bird Forum Quick Gallery site (I think it was Ian F's) stuck with me.

[Steve]

Al, just Because they keep a list doesn't mean they miss the detail does it? are you not being a little harsh? I think your way of track, both you and peter, this has nothing to do with conservation , missing plumage colour etc! In fact to make a positive ID for a list I bet they look at more detail than your average birder!

Surely if getting a list together is there thing good luck to them!!

For the record its not my bag, but I can see the why people enjoy it.

[burhinus]

Hi Steve
Mine neither, I am a birder not a twitcher, though I do keep lists. Life, year etc. Dont think I have ever travelled more than 30 miles to chase after a bird. But back to Adrian it was his thing for this year. He enjoyed it and that is what counts. I do what I enjoy and that counts also.

I have been birding for more years than I care to remember, my UK list is not huge but some common birds still stop me in my tracks even after all these years. Whilst Twitchers and mega listers are in far away places they are not on my local patch, thats great. I do bird watch with Adrian occasionally and I have to say he is a very knowledgeable birder. No harm in congratulating the guy on his efforts!

burhinus

[Reader]

Hi all

I'm back after about 10 days offline and this thread caught my eye.

You all know that I love to drive around the countryside after birds. It takes all types to enjoy this hobby of ours and you shouldn't pigeon hole birders into the catergories that you choose. Me, I like the thrill of the chase and the seeing of birds I could only dream of finding years ago. I still love the usual birds but being honest I can take time out quite often and see these birds almost anywhere I go. In fact I have just purchased a Nikon Coolpix 990 just before Xmas and tested it on some of the birds we see at Upton Warren and they are real stars, as you will see once I have posted them onto the gallery. How can you beat the loveliness of a Bullfinch as well as Tree Sparrows and Tits plus the cracking Teal. Whilst watching these day to day birds you get to see the more reclusive ones such as the Water Rail, Cettis Warbler etc.

Each day birding can be different but I choose to also enhance my birding with a little bit of the twitching element. This I really enjoy and it also gets me to see the countryside and different habitats. I am well travelled around Britain (with the exception of Ireland) and it is mainly down to going after the different birds that appear on our shores.

I keep lists as well. Each year the list changes to the new year so the humble Blue Tit becomes a new bird each year. What is wrong with that? I have life lists, year lists, European lists any list that my data base can throw up. These lists also help in working out itineries at differing times of the year. I tend to do a search for a specific month in the year and see what I have seen on a regular basis in that particular month over the years I have been birding and where the best spots have been to over those years. That way I can plan a week away that could be very productive or just a weekend. It might not be everyones way of birding but it doesn't make it wrong.

No two people are the same, like wise no two birders are the same. We should enjoy the hobby to our own satisfaction not some one elses.

[peter hayes]

JohnJ

How nice to have you back on line! You have just proved, rather eloquently, your own case: every birder is different and it has to be each to his/her own. Everyone has their own style and approach to birding, and it really doesn't matter as long as people have respect for each other and for birds.

I certainly agree with you about watching day to day birds as often as possible; as you say, the rarer ones will then turn up eventually.

As for lists, I think Monkeyman was just trying to be provacative, which is absolutely fine. These discussions need someone to spark things off, after all. he wasn't suggesting that compiling lists is wrong - just that it wasn't his bag.

How are you finding the Coolpix 990, and why did you choose that particular model?

Hope you had a good Christmas. Happy New Year and see you soon.

Peter

[MikePearson]

Hi John,

Glad to have you back,

absolutely nothing wrongwith anyone keeping lists and despite what I have said elswhere I keep a list of sorts. A diary. I do put a list of observations an the Cambs web sight if I have seen something significant somewhere. I dont see any harm in twiching really and I suppose we all do it to some degree, I just don't like the competetive side of it I suppose.

Are you still going to Norfolk sunday only Al mentioned a meet somewhere, If so I'd like to join the party,

Mike

[Reader]

Hi ya Mike

Because I have been offline for so long my plans have become very fluid. I am off work now until Jan 6th. Tomorrow I will stay local starting after the Great grey Shrike again in the vain hope of getting better photos of it this time. (I have posted a photo of it plus quite a few others using my new Digital camera). I will stay local for the rest of the day but if the Pallid Harrier is still in the Stiffkey area on Thursday then I might just go to Norfolk then. What might be best is for you to do a private email giving me your phone number and when I know what I am doing I can ring you. I fully intend doing maybe at least a couple of days in Norfolk anyway its just what is where that will determine when I go. (does that make sense?)

[Reader]

Peter

Sorry I didn't reply straight away.

Why did I choose that camera. It was Andy's recommendation that sold it to me. I have to be honest and say that the camera is frustrating me quite a bit but on the upside I have already taken photos of birds that I didn't manage with my old SLR, as you will see if you check them out in the gallery. I am particularly pleased with the Water Rail. I have put two in the gallery of that bird. they may not be brilliant but I very much doubt that I would have ever captured one on film with my old set up.

Ros & I had a quiet Christmas. We did go out in the morning after the Great grey Shrike, which we redid again today. Both trip reports are in the relevant forum.

Regarding the New year. I only hope that it is better than the last one as that one was easily one I would like to forget.

I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and that the new year brings you everything you would wish for yourself.

Happy New Year Peter to you and your family, and anyone else who reads this.

[peter hayes]

John

Thanks very much for that info. I look forward to seeing you in action at the Slimbash! I have looked in Gallery, and you're right to be proud of the Rail shots - excellent stuff of a bird I know that can be extremely difficult to capture.

Thanks again.

I do hope you and Ros have a great 2003!

Best wishes.

Peter

[marcus]

How many birds do any of you have on your 2003 list so far? I have 11.
In 2002, all I had was 72. That was for 3 states
Marcus

[Reader]

Marcus

I have been out for a few days birding and my total stands at 98, which should increase by the end of tomorrow. I will post a trip report for the last two days but I have trip reports in the forum for both Jan 1st & 2nd which cover my first 67 birds.

[marcus]

Really makes me look pretty bad, John J. You have 98 already and all I have is 11. And not even all of last year did I have as much as you have already.

[Reader]

Marcus

Don't fret about it as you obviously are not as mad as me. As long as you enjoy this hobby of ours it doesn't matter what amounts you have seen. It's all about preferences. What type of birding I like is probably a million miles from your type of birding.

BTW I have added another 6 today.

[marcus]

John J
I do have 12 birds now, but that 12th is only my years first American Crow. Wow?
What type of birding do you like? I bet yours is traveling around the globe to see birds from all the continents. And as many different islands that you can get to. You seem to be someone who can do all those things. You're a professional ornithologist, aren't you?
Let me go your Bird Forum site to see.

[Reader]

Marcus

No, I am an ordinary Joe that loves driving. I love watching all the birds but the thrill of the chase is good to. I have a pager that tells me what birds are where and if anything turns up that I want to see I try to go after it. Going after these birds also introduces me to all sorts of places throughout Britain which is an added bonus.

I always try to book a couple of holidays abroad each year if I can. Those holidays are totally birding holidays and I travel great distances on those holidays. To be honest I stay on the European continent only as that is all I can afford on my wages but I don't miss going further afield because there is so much that I haven't seen yet. I started birdwatching in 1995 but in that time I have been all over the place in my pursuit of birds.

I haven't got a web site. I don't know how to design one. I am hopeful that one or two people in this forum will have time to show me how to go about it. Meanwhile I have a few foreign trip reports, and a Scottish trip report in the Trip Report Forum if you want a read.

[marcus]

I really wish I could drive around to go birding. There are a lot of places I always read that offer good birding, but unfortunately I can only do is local. I'd like to think that there is nobody in the United States that would love to enlarge their lifelist more than me, but I don't know...
I'll have to go to Trip Report Forum and read about your trip. I'm sure it's more than I'll ever likely get to do.

[Marysan]

Hi Marcus and John J, I've enjoyed reading the exchange between you two. I don't have the expertise to design a website, either, so I create photo albums at www.picturetrail.com/marysan so that my friends can view my photos there. It is inexpensive and may be something you might want to look into. Just go to www.picturetrail.com and take it from there.

[Reader]

Marcus

It's a shame that you couldn't link up with some birders that are local to you. Try doing a search on the net for Maryland birding groups or clubs. I assume that you don't drive. What about a bike? With one of those you could at least stretch your territory a bit more. There must be ways of stretching your wings so to speak (pardon the pun).

[Reader]

Marysan

I'm impressed by that album of yours. How on earth did you go about making that?

[marcus]

Hi John J (I just managed to use my computer again, and saw the message you sent Monday.)
I do belong to a bird club here, though I never really do anything with them. Only once, in 2001, did I get to go to one of their meetings.
There is a website that birders from all over Maryland and Virginia can send messages mainly about some birding they have just done and birds that have been seen. Doing that is almost the only way I come in contact with other club members. I have met a few club members who happened to be birding the same place I was. I'll admit, I liked that more than spotting a bird to add to my life-list.
Marcus

[Osprey]

368 species in a year. I'd like tohave seen him do it 20 years ago!

Nowadays in my opinion, you do not need to be a "good birder" to achieve figures well over 250 per annum.

All you need is time, transport and a pager etc. The hard work is already done by other birders finding birds on their local patch ect.

Just my opinion.3:-)


Osprey

[Reader]

Osprey

I am one of those twitchers you are talking about. Perhaps not as mad as some but madder than others. You might find it surprising but I actually agree with everything you say. It does make it easy for us. But what is wrong with that. I haven't got the necessary skills that the good birders have and I have long since recognised that fact. If I was totally reliant on my skills I think that I would probably have given up by now as I would be getting frustrated with myself.

Everyone has their own way of following whatever hobby they like and every hobby has evolved in some way by the experts wanting to make things easier and better. That's a fact of life.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and there is nothing wrong with that. When it becomes a problem is when someone tries to besmirch others because they don't fit into the way that person thinks they should.

Opinions are great as everyone can learn something from the way other people think but don't fall into the trap of saying it is your opinion but saying it in a way that knocks people that fall into the catergory that you are having a go at.

Just my opinion.

[peter hayes]

"I haven't got the necessary skills that the good birders have and I have long since recognised that fact."

Are you joking, John? If I had half the skills you've got I would be a happy man. Then there's your determination. You wouldn't catch me sleeping in a car overnight in freezing temperatures!

[MikePearson]

Spot on John,

You and me know that we do not agree on everything birding, but we respect our rights to express our opinion, and as long as we dont upset the birds, we can live with each other.

Oh, and mostly down to you lot, I'm doing me own private count this year. I'll publish it only if I can beat the rest of yah! Lol.

Mike

[Reader]

Peter

It's nice of you to say those things but don't forget you are only just starting whilst I have been doing it for 7+ years now. Honestly, when I look at other birders it makes me realise just how inadequate my skills are.

Would you believe that I still get mixed up with some of the easy calls but that could be down to the fact that I am probaly tone deaf. Some birds really do stand out and they are easily recognisable by their calls. Likewise some birds are very easy to ID but the test comes with the LBJ's of the world, That really sorts out the men from the boys.

On the plus side, yes I do have the determination and drive to get out there where it hurts but even that is slowing down since I met Ros. I am not going the distances that I used to so in effect I am not seeing all the birds I would like to.

[Reader]

Mike

Well you are certainly in, & close to, some of the better birding areas in Britain. If you put yourself asbout a bit who knows what you might achieve. "Go for it", that is what I say.

[peter hayes]

Ros must be worth it then................

[Osprey]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by John J
[B]Osprey

I am one of those twitchers you are talking about. Perhaps not as mad as some but madder than others.


So am I.

You might find it surprising but I actually agree with everything you say.

Good.


It does make it easy for us. But what is wrong with that.


Well, when me and the better half twitches, we make sure what we have seen and stay long enough to ID the species.

In the last few years, certain "Birders" turn up at a site, quick glance. "That's it" off we go with no birding prowess at all.

Are they *Dudes*

Lee Evans all is forgiven.
3:-)


Osprey

[Reader]

Oprey

I have to say that if that is the way they want to do their birding then what is wrong with that. It may be not your way of doing things but it is theirs. There are no right or wrong ways of doing birding as long as the birds safety isn't jeopardised.

[Osprey]

Nothing I suppose:-)

But I've seen quite a lot of "Birders" leave a site, "thinking" they have seen something that they haven't :-(

"the birds safety isn't jeopardised"

Oh dear, now I could get on my high horse about that!

Osprey

[Reader]

I think I know what you are getting at and I think that I should add that you do not disturb the local residents in a way that would upset them and also treat the property that the bird is on as if it was your own. Mind you some people live like pigs so that part might not help with some birders.

Anyway, I think you know what i mean. Birding is for everyone to do how they want to do it as long as certain standards of common sense are used.

Have I explained myself okay? :lol

[Colin]

Marcus,
Numbers of birds don't really matter. What does matter is that whatever you are doing in the world of birds, enjoy it, that is the main thing.


Colin