Lifers this year?

[Joe Ray]

So how many have you had?
3 for me so far, Black-throated Diver, Scaup and Laughing Gull.

[Helenelizabeth2]

So how many have you had?
3 for me so far, Black-throated Diver, Scaup and Laughing Gull.

Ironically, my first one was a Firecrest!

Then: Black Brant, Snow Goose, Black-Eared Kite, Lesser Yellowlegs, American Robin, Willow Tit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Black-Necked Grebe, and in Bulgaria, Red-Breasted Goose, White-Tailed Eagle, Penduline Tit, Long Legged Buzzard, Eagle Owl, Syrian Woodpecker and Middle Spotted Woodpecker.

No Pacific Diver, though. :-C

[Mabel]

3 for me too!
Yellowhammer, Little Grebe and Long-tailed Tits.

[dbradnum]

Just 1.... it involved a trip to North Yorkshire ;)

[sylvia staffs]

Just 1.... it involved a trip to North Yorkshire ;)

What was that for?????? :h?:

Sylvia ;)

[Joe Ray]

Some dodgy Black-throated Diver! ;)

[dan pointon]

2 (or 3 dependant on how you look at it) for me.

Greenland White Front (ssp.)
American Robin
Pacific Diver

[rezMole]

3 for me too:
Pacific Diver, American Robin and Firecrest

[AlexC]

Ironically, my first one was a Firecrest!

You mean coincidentally? (sorry, a pet peeve of mine :hippy:)

3 for me - Lazuli Bunting, Iceland Gull, and American Pipit

[robert burgess]

scaup,penduline tit,red brested merganser
mandarin duck,red crested pochard & treecreeper

[colonelboris]

Raven, yellow-browed warbler (it was on my local patch - it would have been rude not to...), lesser redpoll, great Northern diver, black-necked grebe, ring-billed gull, knot, spotted redshank.
Happy with that.

[Gill Osborne]

'Just' the one so far.....a Shore Lark on Monday 5th February - pleased me though as it's one of the species I would have liked to get on my Life List but didn't honestly expect to. :D

BUT.....my List is on 185 and I'm aiming to reach my 200 by the end of the year.
I've got a few species which I should pick up easily.....Red Kites, Red Grouse, Raven, Avocet etc andthere's a few small brown jobs & warblers which I really MUST concentrate on catching up with this year. ;)

[matt green]

I think I might be getting a biggy lifer this afternoon,the best bit is that a friend has found it in the next village!

..weather doesn't look good though..pffff

Matt

[paulwfromtheden]

I think I might be getting a biggy lifer this afternoon,the best bit is that a friend has found it in the next village!

..weather doesn't look good though..pffff

Matt

Spotted Redshank
Hen Harrier

[matt green]

Spotted Redshank
Hen Harrier

Nope, sworn to secrecy!

It's complicated LOL,there might be a picy later

Matt

[Steve Lister]

Nope, sworn to secrecy!

It's complicated LOL,there might be a picy later

Matt

Yet more suppression!

[Lawts]

Nope, sworn to secrecy!

It's complicated LOL,there might be a picy later

Matt

As I adhere to BOURC rulings then none for me yet this year, although I hope the Pacific Diver will be promoted at some point. Two additions to my Yorkshire list; Black Guillemot and American Robin.

Whilst I'm on I would just like to say that green is my favourite colour, matt is my favourite finish, and my favourite bird is the Goldcrest......

Oh hi Matt. Good luck with your bird by the way. If it's a mega and I haven't seen it please private mail me with directions.

Whatever it is you can't leave us hanging.

[Jos Stratford]

Despite having been in three countries, none for me! Only expecting one this spring. Have had a feeder tick though - White-backed Woodpecker ;)

[Tero]

Glaucous Gull. Locals were all excited about black backed gulls, did not go see them, as I had seen them in Iceland. My state list means little to me. I'm still working on the last 10 to 300.

[matt green]

Oh hi Matt. Good luck with your bird by the way. If it's a mega and I haven't seen it please private mail me with directions.

Whatever it is you can't leave us hanging.

Haha..got it!

Even managed to dodgyscope it,but still complicated :D

You've probably seen oodles of them before anyway,us southerners (southern norfolk that is) have to work a bit harder for our glories ;)

Matt

[mat]

black kite and cettis warbler on holiday in norfolk then managed to persuade the girlfriend to come to see the american robin on the sunday i got back |:P|

[Andrew]

Tree Sparrer?

[Edward]

Glaucous Gull. Locals were all excited about black backed gulls, did not go see them, as I had seen them in Iceland. My state list means little to me. I'm still working on the last 10 to 300.

How on earth did you not see Glaucous Gull in Iceland, Tero? It's virtually impossible!

105 lifers in 2007 (plus another 29 on 31 December), in Trinidad & Tobago.

E

[James Lowther]

A big fat zero :-(

mistle thrush new for my weymouth and portland list though ha ha (yeah i know Jos' white-backed woodpecker is a bit more gripping..)

[Harry Hussey]

Nothing! I'll have to go abroad to get anything soon, as Ireland tends to be quiet in winter for extreme rarities. My most recent lifer was last year's Hermit Thrush, in October.
Regards,
Harry

[kevinguest]

One so far Iceland Gull Beddington Farm it was there again today.

My dipped lifers list is on two. To qualify I must have travelled to see them!

Penduline Tit (Rainham) , Red Necked Grebe (Portland Harbour , Oare Marsh).

Caspian Gull (Beddington Farm) - Not regarded as a seperate species yet!

[Alan G]

21 for me.....from a January trip to South Sinai:

Laughing Dove
Spur-Winged Lapwing
Greater Sand Plover
Bluethroat
Lanner Falcon
Western Reef Heron
Mourning Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Hooded Wheatear
Red-Tailed Wheatear
Rock Martin
Brown Necked Raven
House Crow
Levant's Sparrowhawk
Crowned Sandgrouse
Spotted Sandgrouse
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Sooty Gull
White-Eyed Gull
Pied Kingfisher

Also lots of other great birds like Osprey, Marsh Sandpiper, 100s of White Stork, various other waders, etc.......

[Ruby]

Ring-necked Duck (seen 2 as a matter of fact...)

[Darren Pearce]

Bittern, Pink Footed Goose, Glaucous Gull, American Robin, Pacific Diver, Firecrest, Brambling & Common Crossbill.

Not a bad start :D

[Miedin]

2 for me. Eared Grebe and Lapland Longspur.

[teamsaint]

I think Matt is just making it all up ;)

[Mars4096]

Three: American Three-Toed Woodpecker, Northern Hawk Owl and White-winged Crossbill. The first two were seen on January 7.

[Pedley Birder]

2 for me, both yesterday
Fieldfares near Hulland Ward :D
Tawny Owl at Carsington Water :D

[Conorbirda2]

Some dodgy Black-throated Diver! ;)

You havent seen it then i take it!

[Darren Pearce]

Bittern, Pink Footed Goose, Glaucous Gull, American Robin, Pacific Diver, Firecrest, Brambling & Common Crossbill.

Not a bad start :D

And to add to the above I saw the Lesser Scaup at Cotswold Water Park

[postcardcv]

Haha..got it!

Even managed to dodgyscope it,but still complicated :D

well Matt can you tell us what it was yet...?

[Nightjar61]

Too many to list here, but I got 258 lifers on a two-week trip to Gambia and Senegal in January.

Dave

[Joe Ray]

You havent seen it then i take it!Not the Yorkshire individual, but I might try and somehow get down to Cornwall.....

[Gill Osborne]

Another two to add to mine with a bit of a lucky spell this weekend.........Friday I had the Richardsons Canada Goose at Bothal Pond and Saturday I FINALLY caught up with Little Owl :D That's Lifers Nos. 186 and 187 o:)

Rather frustratingly it was a good weekend for Great Northern Divers, Blaxck-throated Divers etc on the ne coast and I didn't hve a chance to go for them!!! Frustrating or what? :stuck:

[davebenj]

Pale Bellied Brent Goose @ Morston
Dark Bellied Brent Goose @ Morston
Golden Plover @ Cley
Common Scoter @ Cley
Velvet Scoter @ Cley
Little Egret @ Cley
Water Rail @ Titchwell
Goldeneye @ Titchwell
Black Brant @ Titchwell
Waxwing @ Holme
Short Eared Owl @ Home

Last week's holiday in Norfolk was worth it!
;)

[canadagurl123]

Well I went to Mexico a week ago and here's a partial list of what I saw
Magnificent Frigatebird
Canivets Hummingbird
Great tailed Grackle
Tropical Mockingbird
Yucatan Parrot
Ruddy Ground Dove
Melodious Blackbird
Mangrove warbler
Caspian Tern
Laughing Gull
Brown crested Flycatcher
Common Yellowthroat
Ruddy Turnstone
Wilson's Plover
Snowy Plover
Black Vulture
Lesser Yellow headed Vulture
Great Kiskadee
Common Ground Dove
White winged Dove
Yellow backed Oriole
Cozumel Wren
Least Grebe
Little Blue Heron
Roadside Hawk
Cozumel Emerald
Cozumel Vireo
Mangrov eSwallow
Tropical Kingbird
Black necked stilt
Yucatan Woodpecker
Squirrel Cuckoo
Mangrove Cuckoo
Short billed Dowitcher
cattle Egret
Common Black Hawk
American Oyster catcher
Snowy Egret
White fronted Parrot
Ruddy Quail Dove
Boat billed Heron
. Green breasted Mango

__________________

[d.steeley]

Water Rail at Upton Warren.

Dave

[matt green]

I think Matt is just making it all up ;)

Oops, forgot all about this LOL

Our black throated diver from a teeny tiny gravel pit in the middle of inland-nowhere land!!

Finding stuff on private land is always a pain,we had hoped to gain permission to put the record out on birdline-my mate (original finder) was lucky to get
permission for himself (and him only!) to bird the area.

Matt

[jacana]

had 6 this year, aiming for 20 by the end:
snow bunting
smew
great northern diver
laughing gull
golden pheasant
mediterranean gull

[Cillana]

Added a dozen so far this year: Chipping Sparrow, Sandhill Crane, Crested Caracara, Wild Turkey, Blue-winged Teal, American Avocet, Least Grebe, Ladded-backed Woodpecker, Bald Eagle, Long-billed Curlew, Common Loon, & White-tailed Hawk.

[Conorbirda2]

Well I went to Mexico a week ago and here's a partial list of what I saw
Magnificent Frigatebird
Canivets Hummingbird
Great tailed Grackle
Tropical Mockingbird
Yucatan Parrot
Ruddy Ground Dove
Melodious Blackbird
Mangrove warbler
Caspian Tern
Laughing Gull
Brown crested Flycatcher
Common Yellowthroat
Ruddy Turnstone
Wilson's Plover
Snowy Plover
Black Vulture
Lesser Yellow headed Vulture
Great Kiskadee
Common Ground Dove
White winged Dove
Yellow backed Oriole
Cozumel Wren
Least Grebe
Little Blue Heron
Roadside Hawk
Cozumel Emerald
Cozumel Vireo
Mangrov eSwallow
Tropical Kingbird
Black necked stilt
Yucatan Woodpecker
Squirrel Cuckoo
Mangrove Cuckoo
Short billed Dowitcher
cattle Egret
Common Black Hawk
American Oyster catcher
Snowy Egret
White fronted Parrot
Ruddy Quail Dove
Boat billed Heron
. Green breasted Mango

__________________


Fantastic! Brought back memories of my honeymoon! Glad the birding memories and photos lasted. The marriage didn't!!

[Pedley Birder]

Got another 5 lifers today at WWT Slimbridge

Golden Plover
Bewick's Swan
White-Fronted Goose
Bean Goose
Great Skua

[Lichfield Birder]

Pacific Diver
Bonapartes Gull
Barrows Goldeneye
Glossy Ibis

[michaelmacey]

Stonechat and partridge yesterday, but im not sure where the partridge actually came from, saw them in a paddock next to walmer castle.

Whats more worrying, is iv just compiled my lifer list as best as i can remember and it amounts to about 70 - 75. Poor or what? Im gonna be out in earnest this spring and summer looking for a few more.

[Rycycle]

3 for moi

1. Greylag (lazy boy me)
2. Willow Tit
3. Woodcock

Got lucky with the woodcock but some effort was involved with the W Tit!

Hoping to get at least 20 more this year :)

[teamsaint]

Black-throated Diver
Black-necked Grebe
Bewick's Swan
Bean Goose
Red-breasted Goose
Little Owl
Short-eared Owl
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

[Joe Ray]

One more this afternoon, Velvet Scoter.
4th this year.

[Hanno]

1. Grey-faced Buzzard
2. Black-crowned Barwing
3. Violet Cuckoo
4. Siberian Thrush
5. Lesser Necklaced Lau-ghingthrush
6. Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler
7. Collared Yuhina (Armchair tick)
8. Bar-bellied Pitta
9. Masked Laughingthrush

With trips to Borneo and Taiwan planned for this year, I expect this list to grow considerably:-)

[Steve Lister]

Four British lifers already this year - normally I only ever get three.

Barrow's Goldeneye
Pacific Diver
Gyrfalcon
Franklin's Gull

All down to a certain member being prepared to drive 700 miles a day.

steve

[James Blake]

Glaucous Gull at Salthouse in Norfolk last weekend.

[Darren Pearce]

And to add to the above I saw the Lesser Scaup at Cotswold Water Park

Velvet Scoter in Portland Harbour last weekend make it 10 so far this year

[Pete Mella]

Red Kite, Velvet Scoter, Purple Sandpiper

[BobTag]

Two so far in the UK - Pacific Diver, and yesterday the GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL :-)

A work trip to California & Arizona in January added 50 birds to my world life list...

[GTeig]

Two, both in Delaware.

Long-tailed Duck
Brown-headed nuthatch

[Sean F]

10 for me so far.

1.White-fronted Goose (Pulborough Brooks)
2.Great Skua
3.Bean Goose
4.Pink-footed Goose
5.Scaup (All at Slimbridge WWT)
6.Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Thursley Common)
7.Purple Sandpiper (Southsea Castle)
8.Slavonian Grebe (Sandy Point, Hayling)
9.Red-crested Pochard (Dinton Pastures)
10.Spoonbill (Poole Harbour)

[Mabel]

Got another one today - (Common) Treecreeper. 4 lifers so far.

[dafi]

for me lifers this month are.
1 Snowgoose
2 Woodcock

[ghostrider]

Just the one .... Smew.

[Mabel]

Got me a stunning few Waxwings today. That makes 5 lifers this year so far.

[jocateme]

25 to me (especially because I've been to USA), first being Double-crested Cormorant (Miami, FL, USA) and last Brazilian Tanager (Guarujá, SP, Brazil).

[Pedley Birder]

Another 2 Lifers for me today
Ring-Necked Duck at Gibraltar Point and a Barn Owl at West Keal

[kevinguest]

Hayle Estuary Cornwall 10/03

Yellow-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii)
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)

Stithians Lake Cornwall 10/03

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)

A trip to Cornwall paid dividends even though I dipped the Gyr Falcon! Life ticks this year 4, plus Caspian Gull hopefully to be split! Dipped lifers now two!

[Krispo]

2 so far.

Snow goose and White Fronted goose at Downholland moss back in January

[BobTag]

Two so far in the UK - Pacific Diver, and yesterday the GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL :-)

A work trip to California & Arizona in January added 50 birds to my world life list...

Two more yesterday - Gyr Falcon was a lifer, and White-billed Diver was a very belated british tick. 4 added to my British List in a week - amazing stuff...

Well done to the blokes who managed the Gyr twitch on Saturday morning - nice one.

[horukuru]

from my trip last week from kinabatangan river and danum valley

1. great-billed heron
2. black-headed pitta
3. hooded pitta
4. blue-headed pitta
5. malaysian hawk cuckoo

will be back to those places in between june-august during fruiting season hope to see the bornean ground-cuckoo, chesnut-necklaced partridge and bornean bristlehead (heard the calling) hehehe :o

[Joe Ray]

My 4th this year, Hen Harrier 3 days ago.

[Keith Dickinson]

4 UK Lifers so far this year
Shore Lark
Pacific Diver
American Wigeon
Hooded Crow

Much the best year for a while, all but the hoodie being in county as well. Normally I average only 1 or 2 UK life ticks per year now.

[Nightjar61]

I have always kept my Life List in accordance with the Clements list. However, since publication of the sixth edition has once again been delayed (supposedly until June, making it at least one year behind schedule), I'm reluctant to rely solely on Clements to keep up with the rapidly changing taxonomy. Therefore, I have redone my Life List by incorporating taxonomic changes included in Sibley & Monroe, Howard & Moore, the BOU, the Dutch Ornithological Society, etc. As a result, I can add 31 species to my Life List. For numbers which I submit to the ABA (which requires following the Clements list) I will of course keep with Clements.

My 31 "armchair ticks" include:

White-breasted Cormorant
Scopoli's Shearwater
Eastern Cattle Egret
Mexican Duck
Yellow-billed Kite
Black-eared Kite
African Swamphen
Gray-headed Swamphen
Kentish Plover
Eurasian Whimbrel
Common Gull
Scripps's Murrelet
West African Swallow
Cinnamon-throated Swallow
Pied Wagtail
Masked Wagtail
Blue-headed Wagtail
Gray-headed Wagtail
Spanish Wagtail
Ashy-headed Wagtail
Black-headed Wagtail
Brown-throated Wren
Tropical Wren
Caspian Reed-Warbler
Seebohm's Wheatear
Turkestan Shrike
Steppe Gray Shrike
Western Warbling-Vireo
Audubon's Warbler
Striated Bunting
Lilian's Meadowlark

Dave

[Joe Ray]

...and my 5th, Goshawk!

[Lawts]

I do it in reverse and look at what I've missed this year as lifers and Yorkshire list birds and in football cards style either give myself a booking or a sending off for birds I've missed. They have to have been available, but even available birds won't always result in a card. Birds that were untickable (if I'd dropped everything and gone and still wouldn't have got it don't count at all)

So not a bad disciplinary record after nearly four months into the "season"

Life :

Gyr Falcon - Red card - even given the distance it was available too long
Glaucous-winged Gull - just a booking. It was only available in total for about an hour, so anything less rare probably wouldn't have got a booking, but given the rarity status it had to be a yellow card.

Yorkshire :

Raven - straight red - it's available everyday if I can be bothered to get up on the moors
Black-throated Thrush - Yellow card. It was available for two evenings and I had two very good resons why I was unavailable. In fact probably a bit harsh that booking.

Other than those I haven't missed anything.

However, with May round the corner I'm sure there will be some nasty challenges coming up!

May update:

Two more tickable lifers not seen (May always puts the boot in but neither warrants a booking - yet):

Black-browed Albatross
Scops Owl

One Yorkshire - (Only a yellow, given the poor weather we've had for checking this bird out)

Nightingale

[Cillana]

Amazingly I've already got 25 this year. Only 2 more before I get to my goal of 200 by the end of 2007.

Most recent additions after 2 weeks in Florida:
Palm Warbler
Grasshopper Sparrow
Burrowing Owl
Common Ground-Dove
Barn Owl
Merlin
Great Crested Flycatcher
Worm-eating Warbler
Florida Scrub-Jay

[J Moss]

17 lifers this year! Madness, I had no idea!

Lifers seen in Norfolk:
1 - Red Kite
2 - Stone Curlew
3 - Rouzel
4 - Snow Bunting
5 - Little Gull
6 - Short-Eared Owl
7 - Corn Bunting
8 - Tree Pipit
9 - Woodlark
10 - Ruddy Duck
11 - Greater White Fronted Goose

Lifers in Hants:

12 - Great Grey Shrike
13 - Goshawk
14 - Jack Snipe
15 - Purple Sandpiper
16 - Woodcock
17 - Whimbrel

Jason

[g8ina]

A miserable 2, ruddy duck and red rumped swallow. The Algarve hols isn't over yet mind !

[Pedley Birder]

Another lifer at school today
Mistle Thrush

[Hotspur]

Hmm lets add em up

1)Pacific Diver
2) BN Grebe
3) RN Grebe
4) Slav Grebe
5) Am. Wigeon
6) Peregrine (re-instated)
7) Little Ringed Plover
8) American Robin
9) Ring Ouzel (re-instated)
10) Glaucous Gull
11) LEO
12) Lapland Bunting

Thats better than i thought

[Tim Allwood]

lots in NE India

incl
Bugun Liocichla
Fire-tailed Myzornis
Ward's Trogon
Beautiful Nuthatch
Rufous-necked Hornbill
Sikkim Wedge-billed Wren Babbler
Cachar Hills Wedge-billed Wren Babbler
White-naped Yuhina
Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler
Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill
Himalayan Monal
Black-breasted Parrotbill
Swamp Prina
Marsh Babbler
Jerdon's Babbler
Jerdon's Baza
Blue-naped Pitta
Bar-winged Wren Babbler
Long-billed Wren Babbler
Grandala
Mountain Bamboo Partridge
Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler
Assam Laugher
Bhutan Laugher
Striped Laugher
Chinese Bush Warbler
Ludlow's Fulvetta
Long-billed Thrush
Bengal Florican

and quite a few others

Tim

[Hanno]

10. Long-billed Dowitcher
11. Chestnut Bulbul
12. Grey-backed Thrush
13. Narcissus Flycatcher
14. Fork-tailed Sunbird
15. Collared Crow
16. Silky Starling

[J Moss]

Thats just showing off!


lots in NE India

incl
Bugun Liocichla
Fire-tailed Myzornis
Ward's Trogon
Beautiful Nuthatch
Rufous-necked Hornbill
Sikkim Wedge-billed Wren Babbler
Cachar Hills Wedge-billed Wren Babbler
White-naped Yuhina
Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler
Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill
Himalayan Monal
Black-breasted Parrotbill
Swamp Prina
Marsh Babbler
Jerdon's Babbler
Jerdon's Baza
Blue-naped Pitta
Bar-winged Wren Babbler
Long-billed Wren Babbler
Grandala
Mountain Bamboo Partridge
Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler
Assam Laugher
Bhutan Laugher
Striped Laugher
Chinese Bush Warbler
Ludlow's Fulvetta
Long-billed Thrush
Bengal Florican

and quite a few others

Tim

[Cillana]

Added another today on the way to a job interview. I saw it flying above my car in silhouette, but it has a pretty unmistakable sihouette.

199. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

I wonder what number 200 will be. I'm betting some sort of warbler. I'm hoping something from my "eager to see" list like the flycatcher today. Maybe I'll get lucky with a Least Bittern, Sora, Magnificent Frigatebird, Greater Roadrunner, or Green Jay which are on top of my "eager to see" list.

[Jane Turner]

None this year, none last year either... I appear to be stagnating, though my Purple Gallinules in Andalusia were probably a lot more Kosher than the reintroduction scheme Catalan one that was previously on my list.

[J Moss]

2 more today, in the form of a Cuckoo (first seen, that is) and a Common Sandpiper.

Thats 19 this year.

Jason

[Cillana]

Woot! Made it past 200 lifers today! And as I predicted, it was a warbler. :)

200. Blue-winged Warbler
201. Tennessee Warbler

[jacana]

had three more:

jack snipe, ring ouzel and little gull (plus black brant x2, but that doesn't count with me being BOU)

[Mabel]

Up to 6 now-Got a Cuckoo today! :D

[ArtifexAmando]

Yesterday I saw my first ever Bee-eater! :-D The pics are in this thread:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=64343&page=2

And tomorrow I'll possibly se my first ever Long-tailed Duck - although two are reported, actually!

The Great Egret I missed last week may possibly have relocated to the province Hälsingland, to the northeast of my home Province, Dalarna. I'm hoping that it will take the same way down as it took up there! :-)

[Stand on Zanzibar]

Golden Oriole (2 males, with three others heard only) at (where else?) Lakenheath, on the 13th May - a great birthday present!

Tim

[Hotspur]

another 2 today, tawny owl and woodlark

[dan pointon]

Golden Oriole (2 males, with three others heard only) at (where else?) Lakenheath, on the 13th May - a great birthday present!

Tim

I had a few Golden Os at Lakenheath on Sunday too - what time were you there SOZb?

Last lifer was Ibe Chiff 3 weeks ago now....

[Jane Turner]

I should have said - I did manage (uk) in April - Black Kite... steadfastly refused to twitch one for 25 years, thinking I must find my own one day. 5 miles away tested my resolve...

[J Moss]

3 more, making it 22 this year.

Wood Warbler in the New Forest
American Golden Plover at Farlington Marsh
Kentish Plover in Church Norton, W. Sussex

Jason

[kevinguest]

Eleven lifers for me this year with a possible armchair tick.

Beddington Farm Surrey / Greater London 26/01/2007
01 Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)

Beddington Farm Surrey / Greater London 06/03/2007
(-) Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)

Hayle Estuary Cornwall 10/03/2007
02 Yellow-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii)
03 Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)

Stithians Lake Cornwall 10/03/2007
04 Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)

Cheddar Reservoir Somerset 26/03/2007
05 Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

Amwell Quarry Nature Reserve 28/03/2007
06 Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla)

Cross Ness LNR 14/04/2007
07 Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Beddington Farm Surrey / Greater London 21/04/2007
08 Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)

Farmoor Reservoir Oxfordshire 04/05/2007
09 Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia)

Gratham Water Cambridgeshire 05/05/2007
10 Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

Farlington Marshes Hampshire 21/05
11 American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)

[Keith Dickinson]

4 UK Lifers so far this year
Shore Lark
Pacific Diver
American Wigeon
Hooded Crow

Much the best year for a while, all but the hoodie being in county as well. Normally I average only 1 or 2 UK life ticks per year now.

Pied Flycatcher.....they do exist! Tried for these for years and drawn a blank. Bolton Abbey, early morning and bingo...dozens of 'em.

[claire78]

061 Sparrowhawk
062 Avocet
063 Gadwall
064 Lapwing
065 Marsh Harrier
066 Mediterranean Gull
067 Northern Pintail
068 Ruff
069 Common Shelduck
070 Shoveller
071 Common Snipe
072 Eurasian Teal
073 Eurasian Widgeon
074 Little Egret
075 Red-legged partridge
076 Stock dove
077 Great black-backed gull
078 Lesser black-backed gull
079 Bittern
080 Black-tailed Godwit
081 Cetti’s warbler
082 Common Chiffchaff
083 Dunlin
084 Little Grebe
085 Ringed Plover
086 Stonechat
087 Tawny Owl
088 Blackcap
089 Treecreeper
090 Purple Heron
091 Sandwich Tern

31 lifers so far this year for me (but then I did only start exploring what was outside my garden in March this year!!! And I suppose I'm fairly lucky having Minsmere and the Broads on my doorstep!!!)
Claire

[Rob Williams]

A nice round dozen so far this year.

1. Great Northern Diver, Draycote Water
2. Jack Snipe, Upton Warren
3. Ring Ouzel, Peak District
4. Spanish Sparrow, Malta
5. Sardinian Warbler, Malta
6. Eleanora's Falcon, Malta
7. Collared Flycatcher, malta
8. Yellow-legged Gull, Malta
9. Whinchat, Malta
10 Blue Rock Thrush, Malta
11 Puffin, Bempton Cliffs
12 Fulmar, Bempton Cliffs


Rob

[Mars4096]

American Three-Toed Woodpecker
Northern Hawk Owl
White-winged Crossbill
Red Crossbill
Tundra Swan
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Lincoln Sparrow
Blackburnian Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler

Ten so far this year. Last year I had about 25 lifers by this point in the year.
I am trying to compensate somewhat by looking for other animals. I have six life butterflies and two life salamaders.

[Terry O'Nolley]

Year lifers so far (14):

American Bittern
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-winged Teal
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Canada Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Indigo Bunting
Lesser Yellowlegs
Louisiana Waterthrush
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Ruffed Grouse
Swainson's Thrush
Yellow-breasted Chat

[The Devil Bird]

I think this is all of them:
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
2 Arctic Tern
3 Great Skua
4 Great Northern Diver
5 Cuckoo
6 Garganey
7 Black-necked Grebe
8 Slavonian Grebe
9 Rough Legged Buzzard
10 Hen Harrier
So a nice boost of ten.

[Pedley Birder]

I got another 8 from a week in North Wales
Guillemot
Razorbill
Chough
Puffin
Kittiwake
Black Guillemot
Dipper
Spotted Flycatcher

[Stand on Zanzibar]

Quail!

Initially heard, calling in the field behind us, just south of Choseley Barns yesterday (1st June 2007).

Two birds then walked out from the field boundary, were clearly as shocked as we were and took off, flying low into the crops in front of us, where the male re-commenced calling again.

C'mon!

Tim

[Cillana]

Year lifers so far this year:

January
1. Chipping Sparrow
2. Sandhill Crane
3. Crested Caracara
4. Wild Turkey
5. Blue-winged Teal
6. American Avocet
7. Least Grebe
8. Ladder-backed Woodpecker
9. Bald Eagle
10. Long-billed Curlew
11. Common Loon
12. White-tailed Hawk

February
13. Red-breasted Merganser
14. Marbled Godwit

March
15. Sedge Wren
16. Black-and-White Warbler
17. Palm Warbler
18. Grasshopper Sparrow
19. Burrowing Owl

April
20. Common Ground-Dove
21. Barn Owl
22. Merlin
23. Great Crested Flycatcher
24. Worm-eating Warbler
25. Florida Scrub-Jay
26. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
27. Blue-winged Warbler
28. Tennessee Warbler

May
29. Chimney Swift
30. Monk Parakeet
31. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

June
32. Cliff Swallow

2-12: two days in south Texas
17-25: two weeks in central Florida

[Farnboro John]

Yes yes yes! White-tailed Plover at last! What a stonking wonderful bird!

Another monster blocker bites the dust.

2007 is turning out to be a splendid vintage.

John

[dendroica]

Indeed! After getting the alert about the bird as I came through arrivals at Zurich airport (my loud expletive drew some disapproving looks!), my first opportunity to head northward was yesterday.

A very relaxed day - plently of room in hide, bird parading on the pool and the sun out! Result.

The only minor stress was on the journey was while rallying along the recently regritted B-road to the reserve, rounding a corner to see that another car has been a little too enthusiastic! A detour back up to Dumfries and down form the north was required...

[Garry Richard Bagnell]

I really thought this year was going to a non eventful yearin terms of British Lifers, but all of a sudden there has been a good crop of quality birds

Garden Lifers (1)
Canada Goose

Sussex Lifers (4)
Red-breasted Goose, Glossy Ibis, Stone Curlew & Common Crane

British Lifers (4)
Glaucous-winged Gull, Pacific Diver, White-tailed Plover & Hudsonian Whimbrel. Could have been 5 if I got my tactics right with the Greater Yellowlegs.

Western Pal lifers (21)
4 British above, 12 Morocco & 5 In Spain.

[ColinD]

Gary you've left me far behind with quality of your UK lifers. The only one I can muster is White-tailed Plover. At my local patch, at long, long last I found a pair of Garganey. I don't have a garden, but Bullfinch was new for my yard (flyover). I've not been abroad yet this year, so no new birds from Europe yet.

Hang on a minute, I've just had another look at your list. Can you count Hudsonian Whimbrel???

[Farnboro John]

Hang on a minute, I've just had another look at your list. Can you count Hudsonian Whimbrel???

No, although it is one of the "Beringia" splits that Keith Vinicombe is currently promoting. I don't know what the IQ 40 club do with it.

John

[JoanT]

No, although it is one of the "Beringia" splits that Keith Vinicombe is currently promoting. I don't know what the IQ 40 club do with it.

John

UK400 club treat it as a countable species. Brown Skua though has today been removed from that list as a countable species in UK

Joan

[J Moss]

8 more:

Nightjar, at Beaulieu Road Heath
Honey Buzzard, seen at Ryborough Watchpoint
Montagu's Harrier
Yellow Wagtail
Red Backed Shrike at Friary Hills, Blakeney
Little Bittern, at Titchwell
White Winged Tern, seen at Cley
Turtle Dove at Holme dunes (in that order!)

Thats 30 this year, and the magic 200 for the UK life list!

Jason

[postcardcv]

Thats 30 this year, and the magic 200 for the UK life list!

congratulation Jason :t: I remember sitting on 199 for months and then getting two new species within an hour... 200 it is a real milestone.

I share one of your 2007 lifers, the Titchwell little bittern, what a superb bird.

[birderbf]

16 for this year so far:

353. Crested Caracara
354. Black-hooded Parakeet
355. Smith's Longspur
356. Red-headed Woodpecker
357. American Woodcock
358. Worm-eating Warbler
359. Burrowing Owl
360. Least Bittern
361. Common Myna
362. Orchard Oriole
363. Blue-winged Warbler
364. Hooded Warbler
365. Yellow-throated Vireo
366. Cerulean Warbler
367. Seaside Sparrow
368. Clapper Rail

[Lawts]

Three lifers for me:

Iberian Chiffchaff
Scops Owl
White-tailed Plover

If the position changes with Pacific Diver it would increase to four.


Available that I've missed:

Gyr Falcon
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black-browed Albatross
Little Bittern

[Nightjar61]

Ten days in Florida got me four lifers:

Roseate Tern
Nanday Parakeet
Seaside Sparrow
Spot-breasted Oriole

Dave

[Hanno]

An excellent trip to Borneo did wonders to my life list:

17. Storm's Stork
18. Mountain Serpent-eagle
19. Wallace's Hawk-eagle
20. White-fronted Falconet
21. Tabon Scrubfowl
22. Red-breasted Partridge
23. Chestnut-necklaced Partridge
24. Crimson-headed Partridge
25. Ruddy Cuckoo-dove
26. Little Green-pigeon
27. Long-tailed Parakeet
28. Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot
29. Sunda Cuckoo
30. Bornean Ground-cuckoo
31. Buffy Fish-owl
32. Cave Swiftlet
33. Mossy-nest Swiftlet
34. Black-nest Swiftlet
35. Whitehead's Trogon
36. Scarlet-rumped Trogon
37. Black Hornbill
38. White-crowned Hornbill
39. Mountain Barbet
40. Golden-naped Barbet
41. Bornean Barbet
42. Rufous Piculet
43. Grey-and-buff Woodpecker
44. Whitehead's Broadbill
45. Giant Pitta
46. Banded Pitta
47. Blue-headed Pitta
48. Sunda Cuckoo-shrike
49. Fiery Minivet
50. Bornean Bulbul
51. Puff-backed Bulbul
52. Yellow-bellied Bulbul
53. Cinereous Bulbul
54. Bornean Leafbird
55. Bornean Whistling-thrush
56. Bornean Stubtail
57. Sunda Bush-warbler
58. Friendly Bush-warbler
59. Yellow-breasted Warbler
60. Chestnut-tailed Jungle-flycatcher
61. Eyebrowed Jungle-flycatcher
62. Snowy-browed Flycatcher
63. Indigo Flycatcher
64. Long-billed Blue-flycatcher
65. Bornean Blue-flycatcher
66. Pygmy Blue-flycatcher
67. Bornean Magpie-robin
68. White-browed Shama
69. White-crowned Forktail
70. Spotted Fantail
71. Bornean Whistler
72. Sunda Laughingthrush
73. Horsfield's Babbler
74. Temminck's Babbler
75. Black-capped Babbler
76. Black-throated Wren-babbler
77. Mountain Wren-babbler
78. Grey-headed Babbler
79. Chestnut-rumped Babbler
80. Bold-striped Tit-babbler
81. Chestnut-crested Yuhina
82. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
83. Plain Sunbird
84. Temminck's Sunbird
85. Spectacled Spiderhunter
86. Long-billed Spiderhunter
87. Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter
88. Bornean Spiderhunter
89. Whitehead's Spiderhunter
90. Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker
91. Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker
92. Yellow-vented Flowerpecker
93. Black-sided Flowerpecker
94. Black-capped White-eye
95. Pygmy White-eye
96. Mountain Black-eye
97. Maroon-breasted Philentoma
98. White-breasted Woodswallow
99. Bornean Bristlehead
100. Short-tailed Magpie
101. Bornean Treepie
102. Dusky Munia
103. Chestnut Munia

[bebirder]

Lots of Lifers so far this year:

1.Barrow's Goldeneye
2.Black-legged Kittiwake
3.Red-necked Grebe
4.Pink-footed Goose
5.Harlequin Duck
6.Smith's Longspur
7.Western Tanager
8.Brown-headed Nuthatch
9.Red-cockaded Woodpecker
10.Pomarine Jaeger
11.Sandwich Tern
12.Marbled Godwit
13.Burrowing Owl
14.Bronzed Cowbird
15.Purple Swamphen
16.Summer Tanager
17.Eared Grebe
18.Common Myna
19.Black-necked Stilt
20.Crested Caracara
21.Snail Kite
22.Iceland Gull
23.Bullock's Oriole
24.Red Crossbill
25.Boreal Chickadee
26.White-winged Crossbill
27.Gray Jay
28.American Pipit
29.Vesper Sparrow
30.Rusty Blackbird
31.Solitary Sandpiper
32.Yellow-throated Vireo
33.Least Bitttern
34.Sora
35.Virginia Rail
36.Woodcock
37.Bobolink
38.Grasshopper Sparrow
39.Chestnut-sided Warbler
40.Cerulean Warbler
41.Least Flycatcher
42.Hooded Warbgler
43.Golden-winged Warbler
44.Worm-eating Warbler
45.Cliff Swallow
46.White-rumped Sandpiper
47.Prothonotary Warbler
48.Clapper Rail
49.Seaside Sparrow
50.Gull-billed Tern
51.Whimbrel
52.Parasitic Jaeger
53.Chuck-wills Widow
54.Sooty Shearwater
55.Black Tern
56.Curlew Sandpiper

[Larry Wheatland]

lifers this year so far:

Birds : Gyr Falcon

Butterflies : Real's Wood White

Dragonflies : Hairy Dragonfly
Irish Damselfly
Variable Damselfly

[kevinguest]

Two more lifers bringing my year total to 13:-

Digby Fen Lincolnshire 12/07/2007

12 Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Great Ryburgh Norfolk 12/07/2007

13 European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

[Hanno]

From a trip to Da Lat:

104. Scaly Thrush (actually 4, to adults and two chicks in the nest)

[Jhanlon]

Pacific diver (assuming BOURC recognise it)
Glaucous-winged gull
white-tailed plover
chimney swift

plus 'Hudsonian' whimbrel

not bad since it's only mid summer! (apparently...)

[tom mckinney]

Glaucous-winged gull

Nice one mate, I'm not at all jealous... no way... not at all...

Pah!

B (:

[Harry Hussey]

Nice one mate, I'm not at all jealous... no way... not at all...

Pah!

B (:

It was probably just an escape anyway, Tom! ;)

[J Moss]

4 more:

Golden Oriole at Lakenheath
Roseate Tern at Cley
Garden Warbler on patch
Yellow Legged Gulls at Cley

so, 34 this year.

Jason

[Pedley Birder]

10 more in one week.
28/07/2007
Digby RSPB Watch Point, Lincolnshire
174) Montagu's Harrier
29/07/2007
RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk
175) Cuckoo
176) Spotted Redshank
Hunstanton Cliffs
177) Arctic Skua
Hunstanton Maize Maze
178) Red-Legged Partridge
30/07/2007
Near Sandringham
179) Nightjar
02/08/2007
NWT Cley Marshes
180) Yellow-Legged Gull
181) Black Swan
182) Bearded Tit
183) Cetti's Warbler

30 this year so far.

[birder of the south]

So far I have had 14 Lifers which are:

1-Twite at Thornham
2-Pacific Diver x2 at Yorks and self found bird at cornwall
3-White Billed Diver at hayle
4-Gyr Falcon at stepper Point
5-Red Rumped Swallow at brogbrough Lake
6-Crested Tit at abernethy
7-Ptarmigan at cairngorms
8-Capercallie at loch garten
9-Iberian Chiffchaff at colney
10-Groppers at Holme nwt
11-Booted Warbler at blakeney
12-Marsh Warbler at rainham
13-Golden Eagle at haweswater RSPB
14-White Tailed Plover at leighton Moss RSPB

[The Devil Bird]

I started the year with 174.
Adding to my previous ones which were (in order of when I saw them):
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
2 Rough-legged Buzzard
3 Great Northern Diver
4 Arctic Tern
5 Great Skua
6 Cuckoo
7 Garganey
8 Slavonian Grebe
9 Black-necked Grebe
10 Hen Harrier
Since then I have only managed two (but you wait until I get back from Wales):
11 Squacco Heron
12 Turtle Dove

[Storm-Petrel]

I know that I had 200 by the start of 07, and i have 291 now. cant list all of em, though i think the first was green jay. My goal by 1-1-08 is 300 species. only nine left :-D

[birder of the south]

Added my 15th lifter of the year with a sharp tailed sandpiper at oare marshes.

[dan pointon]

This years lifers for me are:

American Robin
Pacific Diver
Gyr Falcon
White-billed Diver
Dusky Warbler
Red-rumped Swallow
Capercaillie
Iberian Chiffchaff
Squacco Heron
Marsh Warbler
White-tailed Plover
Dark-eyed Junco
Roller
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Cory's Shearwater
Audouin's Gull

Nothing as tarty as yours Mr Fuller ;)

[canadagurl123]

6 new ones from Alberta and Saskatchewan
Broad winged Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Black Tern
Common Tern
Blue Jay
Rock Wren

[kevinguest]

One more lifer taking my total to 14 for the year:-

Breydon Water RSPB Norfolk / Suffolk 18/08/2007

14 White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

[Farnboro John]

This years lifers for me are:

American Robin
Pacific Diver
Gyr Falcon
White-billed Diver
Dusky Warbler
Red-rumped Swallow
Capercaillie
Iberian Chiffchaff
Squacco Heron
Marsh Warbler
White-tailed Plover
Dark-eyed Junco
Roller
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Cory's Shearwater
Audouin's Gull

Nothing as tarty as yours Mr Fuller ;)

So is this year going to be ruled a good one by the authorities and IQ40 or not?!

John

[Pedley Birder]

1 more very unexpected and my bogey bird seen today at Carsington Water 31st lifer of the year
Garganey

[Pedley Birder]

4 more lifers yesterday at RSPB Titchwell Marsh
Spoonbill
Curlew Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Ross's Goose
Thats 35 lifers for the year

[birder of the south]

16th lifter of the year Sooty Shear off St Ives.

[Jos Stratford]

In Europe and North Africa, despite wanders to various countries, just one during 2007 - Great Grey Owl - and not expecting anymore.

Beyond the W.P. boundaries, rather better - plenty already and should get bucketfuls later in the year.

[Drumming Sniper]

Due to the pressures of work/family I have scored precisely ONE lifer in 2007 - Black (-eared) Kite in Norfolk back in February. Initial frustration at the lack of new species has now given way to a kind of perverse desire to see if I can get to the end of the year without adding anything else. It's not that I have been (or will be) avoiding potential lifers, it's just been a case of wrong place/wrong time. A perfect example of this is the glut of Great Shearwaters along the North Norfolk coast earlier this week - I was in North Norfolk from Monday to Friday the week before. And so it goes on.

Taking things a bit further, if I do remain on a total of one right to the end of the year then I might find myself wishing that I had dipped on the kite. In this age of readily-available rare bird information I reckon this would be an achievement in itself. I mentioned this to a birding friend (and fellow BF member) the other day and he has now christened me "The Anti-Birder". A possible change of user name beckons.

DS (possibly soon to be TAB)

[pcurpb]

Due to the pressures of work/family I have scored precisely ONE lifer in 2007 - Black (eared) Kite in Norfolk back in February. Initial frustration at the lack of new species has now given way to a kind of perverse desire to see if I can get to the end of the year without adding anything else. It's not that I have been (or will be) avoiding potential lifers, it's just been a case of wrong place/wrong time. A perfect example of this is the glut of Great Shearwaters along the North Norfolk coast earlier this week - I was in North Norfolk from Monday to Friday the week before. And so it goes on.

Taking things a bit further, if I do remain on a total of one right to the end of the year then I might find myself wishing that I had dipped on the kite. In this age of readily-available rare bird information I reckon this would be an achievement in itself. I mentioned this to a birding friend (and fellow BF member) the other day and he has now christened me "The Anti-Birder". A possible chance of user name beckons.

DS (possibly soon to be TAB)

So... the real question here might become how to get rid of the black (-eared) kite....

Hmmn.... maybe it was a moulting or parasitised common swift? I believe there've been a few around this year....

[Keith Dickinson]

Great shearwater seen from the boat on the RSPB Skua cruise from Bridlington was my 12th lifer of the year....almost half of them in my home county of Yorkshire, and 7 of them in the UK. Much my best year for some time. Last time I got into double figures was the year I went to Majorca for the first time, finished that year with 20 odd lifers.

[Drumming Sniper]

Great shearwater seen from the boat on the RSPB Skua cruise from Bridlington was my 12th lifer of the year....almost half of them in my home county of Yorkshire, and 7 of them in the UK. Much my best year for some time. Last time I got into double figures was the year I went to Majorca for the first time, finished that year with 20 odd lifers.

Am trying not to think about Great Shearwaters too much at the moment (please see earlier posting for details).

PCURPB: Now that you mention it, that kite did look a bit on the small side. Hmmm...

[pcurpb]

Don't Even Think It!!!

[Lichfield Birder]

So how many have you had?
3 for me so far, Black-throated Diver, Scaup and Laughing Gull.

23 so far

[Pedley Birder]

Another 2 lifers for me yesterday at Rutland Water.
Lesser Scaup
Shag
Thats 37 lifers so far this year.

[birder of the south]

17th Lifer of the year for me was the Paddyfield Warbler in Kent. This bird showed extremely well down to 3ft at times.

[Nightjar61]

Got another lifer Sunday when I went to southern Wisconsin to see the Green-breasted Mango, a Central American hummingbird that has been coming to a feeder since last July. It's my 277th lifer for the year.

Dave

[Farnboro John]

Number four for the year and number 513 in the British Isles: Brown Flycatcher yesterday at Flamborough Head. Four lifers and not a single off-island trip yet - this can't go on....

Cracking little bird showing well.

Turkestan Shrike into the bank, and a fly-over Richard's Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler and an immaculate Red-backed Shrike rounded out a terrific day out.

John

[Darren Pearce]

39 so far this year for me. Only my third full year of birding and included a trip to the Highlands

[Hanno]

Just got back from a trip to Taiwan where I managed to clean up most of the endemics (as well as some sub-species that are more than likely to be split in the near future):

105. Malaysian Night Heron
106. Varied Tit
107. Collared Finchbill
108. Formosan Magpie
109. Dusky Fulvetta
110. Ashy Wood Pigeon
111. Ferruginous Flycatcher
112. Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler
113. Steere's Liocichla
114. White-eared Sibia
115. Taiwan Yuhina
116. Chinese Bamboo-partidge
117. Pygmy Wren-babbler
118. Taiwan Partridge
119. Golden Parrotbill
120. Vivid Niltava
121. Collared Bush-robin
122. Eastern Crowned Warbler
123. White-whiskered Laughingthrush
124. Vinaceous Rosefinch
125. Brownish-flanked Bush-warbler
126. Taiwan Barwing
127. Rufous-faced Warbler
128. Yellow Tit
129. Mountain Scops Owl (heard many times, never seen before)
130. Styan's Bulbul
131. Bulwer's Petrel
132. Wedge-tailed Shearwater
133. Sooty Shearwater
134. Short-tailed Shearwater
135. Lanyu Scops Owl
136. Brown-eared Bulbul
137. Little Curlew
138. Gray-tailed Tattler
139. Philippine Cuckoo-Dove
140. Cherstnut-cheeked Starling
141. Hwamei
142. Taiwan Whistling Thrush
143. Mikado Pheasant
144. White-browed Bush-robin
145. Taiwan Flamecrest
146. Streak-throatyed Fulvetta
147. Swinhoe's Pheasant

[Mark Bruce]

Hi Hanno,

Some great birds. Just a few points. Hwamei has been split (Ibis 8/2006) so you should have got Taiwan Hwamei Garrulax taiwanus as opposed to Hwamei Garrulax canorus. Then the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta has been split (see Zuo Fasheng et al. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 44, 2007, pp165-174). Grey-cheeked Fulvetta are now South-eastern (Taiwan) Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia; Northern Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe davidi; and Western Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe fratercula.
Also the Black-browed Barbet has been split and you would have seen Taiwan Barbet Megalaima nuchalis (Ibis 8/ 2007).

[Hanno]

Thanks Mark,

I admit to having a hard time with keeping up with all the splits. I looked on the Birding Taiwan Site, but the information there is maybe not up to date. What about the Short-wing, Simon figured there is a split in the making there?

Cheers,

Ha and Hanno

[Mark Bruce]

Hanno, there are some who are splitting it now but most here are still adopting the attitude of it's surely a full endemic but let's wait until a peer reviewed paper appears in a reputable journal which shouldn't be too far off.

Others to note are the following which the OBC have "split" after Collar's paper in Forktail 22, 2006 and list them as full species on the OBC checklist. Most of us in Taiwan are waiting until more credible peer reviewed papers are published, which again are in the pipeline, before we list these as full endemics.

Split from: Pygmy/Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Pnoepyga pusilla /albiventer
Proposed new species: Taiwan Wren Babbler, Pnoepyga formosana

Split from: White-throated Laughingthrush, Garrulax albogularis,
Proposed new species: Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush, Garrulax ruficeps

Split from: Rusty Laughingthrush, Garrulax poecilorhynchus
Proposed new species: Buffy Laughingthrush, Garrulax berthemyi

Split from: Spot-breasted/Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus erythrogenys
Proposed new species: Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis

Split from: Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus ruficollis
Proposed new species: Taiwan Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus musicus

Split from: Streak-throated Fulvetta, Alcippecinereiceps
Proposed new species: Taiwan Fulvetta, Alcippe formosana

Thanks Mark,

I admit to having a hard time with keeping up with all the splits. I looked on the Birding Taiwan Site, but the information there is maybe not up to date. What about the Short-wing, Simon figured there is a split in the making there?

Cheers,

Ha and Hanno

[Pedley Birder]

Two more lifers yesterday at Gibraltar Point.
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Pink-Footed Goose
Thats 39 for the year. My aim is to get up to 200 birds before next year, only 8 more left.

[Farnboro John]

How many threads can I get one bit of news on? American Herring Gull no. 514 on the list, whoopee!

John

[birder of the south]

18th lifter of the year is the American Buff Bellied Pipit at Farmoor Reservoir.

[kevinguest]

My lifers have reached 29 for the year. This includes an armchair tick Caspian Gull.

Dungeness Kent 08/09/2007

15 White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

East Bridgford Nottinghamshire 22/09/2007

16 Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus)

My first trip to the Isles of Scilly was always going to boost my life list. 12 lifers in a week.

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 08/10/2007

17 Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 09/10/2007

18 Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)

19 Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

Isles of Scilly St Agnes 10/10/2007

20 Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)

Isles of Scilly Pelargic 11/10/2007

21 Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)

Isles of Scilly St Agnes 11/10/2007

22 Radde's Warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi)

Isles of Scilly Bryher 12/10/2007

23 Blyth's Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 12/10/2007

24 Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 13/10/2007

25 Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)

Isles of Scilly St Agnes 14/10/2007

26 Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 14/10/2007

27 Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica)

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 15/10/2007

28 Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus)

29 Caspian Gull - Armchair tick.

[Farnboro John]

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 14/10/2007

27 Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica)

Isles of Scilly St Mary's 15/10/2007

28 Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus)

OOOOHHH NOOOO! Rustic Bunting before Lapland - wrong order!!!

Mind you we've all done it.

John

[lewis20126]

OOOOHHH NOOOO! Rustic Bunting before Lapland - wrong order!!!



18th? May 1982 - Marmora's warbler

30th? May 1982 - Wood warbler

Anyone beat that?!

a

[Hotspur]

Remarkably 73 lifers this year including 46 in the uk

[rezMole]

First trip to Scotland netted the following life ticks for us:
Great Northern Diver (did already have Pacific Diver)
Slavonian Grebe
Shag (yes, pathetic to only just be adding this one)
Gold Eagle
White-tailed Eagle
Red Grouse
Ptarmigan
Black Grouse
Capercaillie (two seperate male birds)
Purple Sandpiper (a first for my partner, but not for me)
Black Guillemot
Rock Dove (proper ones, not feral pigeons)
Crested Tit
Hooded Crow
Parrot Crossbill (I am reliably assured that it was Parrot Crossbill and not Scottish Crossbill)

Not a bad haul even though there's no real rarities in there.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Lifes this year...

American Robin (Bingley)
Pacific Diver (Farnham GP's)
Glossy Ibis (Slimbridge and Marshside)
Wilsons Phalarope (Garfham)
Long tailed skua (Cley)
Great Shearwater (Flamborough)
Melodoius Warbler (Flamborough)
Wryneck (Holkham)
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Flamborough and glimpsed Salthouse)
Brown Flycatcher (Flamborough)

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Lifes this year...

American Robin (Bingley)
Pacific Diver (Farnham GP's)
Glossy Ibis (Slimbridge and Marshside)
Wilsons Phalarope (Garfham)
Long tailed skua (Cley)
Great Shearwater (Flamborough)
Melodious Warbler (Flamborough)
Wryneck (Holkham)
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Flamborough and glimpsed Salthouse)
Brown Flycatcher (Flamborough)

Another for Flam - Red Flanked Bluetail

[birder of the south]

19th Wilson's Snipe if accepted and 20th Blackpoll Warbler

[dafi]

I know its not very exotic but i had my first Little Stint yesterday,and well chuffed i was!!

[Hanno]

151: Indian, or Little, Nightjar

I jumped 3 "places" as Mark pointed out a few splits from my last post.

[The Devil Bird]

Update (was up to lifer number 12 before):
I started the year with a life list of 173.
Now I am on 195 (took off a couple, if I left it it would be 198 or something)
22 Lifers this year
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
2 Rough-legged Buzzard
3 Great Northern Diver
4 Arctic Tern
5 Great Skua
6 Cuckoo
7 Garganey
8 Slavonian Grebe
9 Black-necked Grebe
10 Hen Harrier
11 Squacco Heron
12 Turtle Dove
13 Shag (Wales)
14 Chough (Wales)
15 Raven (Wales)
16 Dipper (Wales)
17 Manx Shearwater (Wales)
18 Guillemot (Wales)
19 Fulmar (Wales)
20 Pectoral Sandpiper
21 Great Grey Shrike
22 Snow Bunting
23 Caspian Gull
24 Yellow legged Gull

[stuartelsom]

Can't compete with some of you but these are my lifers for 2007:

Azure Tit - Oulu, Finland
Siberian Tit - Kuusamo, Finland
Siberian Jay - Kuusamo, Finland
Pacific Diver - N Yorks
Hudsonian Godwit - Anahuac, Texas
White-tailed Plover - Caelaverock
Fea's Petrel - Bridges of Ross

Hopefully improve on this in Brazil next month.....

Stuart

[Lawts]

4 for me this year, with 2 more potentials:

Iberian Chiffchaff - Norfolk
Scops Owl - Oxfordshire
White-tailed Plover - Dumfries & Galloway
Great Shearwater - East Yorkshire

Pacific Diver - North Yorkshire
Brown Flycatcher - East Yorkshire

I've missed/not tried for the following that have been tickable:

Gyr Falcon
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black-browed Albatross
Little Bittern(s) - dipped the first Titchwell bird
Chimney Swift - dipped the York bird
Cory's Shearwater(s) - dipped on Cornwall seawatch
Wilson's Petrel(s)
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper(s)
Buff-bellied Pipit(s)
Swainson's Thrush
Pechora Pipit(s)
Grey-cheeked Thrush
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

[Joe Ray]

A trip to Scilly brought 7 more + 1 the next day in Devon.

Blackpoll Warbler
Pallas's Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler (finally!)
Rose-coloured Starling
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Blyth's Pipit

Wilson's Snipe (potential split)
Siberian Chiffchaff (non-BOU)

and in Devon Long-billed Dowitcher

[Connor Rand]

Away from Scotland (6 lifers) have had the following: Wilson's Phalarope, Little Bittern, Iberian Chiffchaff, Killdeer, Great-white Egret, Lesser Grey Shrike, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco (pending acceptance), Chough (!) and Greenish Warbler, bringing my BOU Britsh List to 308.

Cheers,

Connor

[rokermartin]

Had my first UK Night Heron this year, i had been trying to see one in the UK for years

[Farnboro John]

4 for me this year, with 2 more potentials:

Pacific Diver - North Yorkshire
Brown Flycatcher - East Yorkshire


Go on, stick 'em on, you know you want to!

The others all have to go through a committee and you've stuck them on, what matter if another bunch have to look at these as well....

John

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

4 for me this year, with 2 more potentials:

Iberian Chiffchaff - Norfolk
Scops Owl - Oxfordshire
White-tailed Plover - Dumfries & Galloway
Great Shearwater - East Yorkshire

Pacific Diver - North Yorkshire
Brown Flycatcher - East Yorkshire

I've missed/not tried for the following that have been tickable:

Gyr Falcon
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black-browed Albatross
Little Bittern(s) - dipped the first Titchwell bird
Chimney Swift - dipped the York bird
Cory's Shearwater(s) - dipped on Cornwall seawatch
Wilson's Petrel(s)
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper(s)
Buff-bellied Pipit(s)
Swainson's Thrush
Pechora Pipit(s)
Grey-cheeked Thrush
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Little Bittern - you tart! Never knew I had one on you Lawts :t:

[robinm]

... and in Devon Long-billed Dowitcher

You made it then :t: So did we.

We did miss the LT Duck at Dawlish but picked up Purple Heron in Somerset on the way through.

Good to meet you :t:

[Mike Cross]

You made it then :t: So did we.

We did miss the LT Duck at Dawlish but picked up Purple Heron in Somerset on the way through.

Good to meet you :t:



The painfully slow crawl to 400 goes on. Five this year:

White Billed Diver
Gyrfalcon
Little Bunting
Roller
Buff Bellied Pipit

brings it to 375. or 381 on the Mickey Mouse Club unless he's split Partial Albino Blackbird and Brownsea Wren yet.


Of much more importance Squacco Heron and Wilson's Phalarope take me to 311 for Dorset.

And it looks like 2008 will get a push start for both lists courtesy of splitting of American Herring Gull

[Lawts]

Little Bittern - you tart! Never knew I had one on you Lawts :t:

Marcus, don't! I hate the little chap. I've missed several over the years including the pair that bred down the road just at the time I was starting to get info. I can't remember if I heard during the first year, or when the male returned to further torment me. I also missed the Leighton Moss bird on at least two occasions. I suspect that's the one you got?

I know they exist cos I've seen one in Portugal but I know that doesn't count.

Next year!

[jacana]

4 more in Yorkshire weekend before last with:

barred warbler
yellow browed warbler
lapland bunting
red flanked bluetail (my first mega)

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Marcus, don't! I hate the little chap. I've missed several over the years including the pair that bred down the road just at the time I was starting to get info. I can't remember if I heard during the first year, or when the male returned to further torment me. I also missed the Leighton Moss bird on at least two occasions. I suspect that's the one you got?

I know they exist cos I've seen one in Portugal but I know that doesn't count.

Next year!

Yeah I got the LM bird. Went on the Saturday dipped in the morning so went up to the lakes came back 13 hours later for the 108th bird of the day. The hide stunk by that point, and there was a domestic in the hide too, which was hilarious. Sure we can find another in Yorkshire.

[matt green]

4 lifers for me today!!

Dartford Warbler
Little Stint
Bewicks Swan
Great White Egret

NiceB (:

Matt

[Conorbirda2]

Marcus, don't! I hate the little chap. I've missed several over the years including the pair that bred down the road just at the time I was starting to get info. I can't remember if I heard during the first year, or when the male returned to further torment me. I also missed the Leighton Moss bird on at least two occasions. I suspect that's the one you got?

I know they exist cos I've seen one in Portugal but I know that doesn't count.

Next year!

Tart! from someone who hasn't seen Osprey! Very funny!! LOL

[dan pointon]

Had 4 last week on Scillies:

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Blackpoll Warbler
Wilson's Snipe
Blyth's Pipit

[Farnboro John]

Had 4 last week on Scillies:

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Blackpoll Warbler
Wilson's Snipe
Blyth's Pipit

Three and a half maybe!

John

[dan pointon]

Three and a half maybe!

John

I suppose that depends who's taxonomy you follow though, doesn't it! Indeed I do have a BOU tendency, but nevertheless Wilson's Snipe was still a world first for me!

Anyway here's my BOU lifers for 07 (be warned, there's a lot!)

334 American Robin 27/01/2007 West Yorks Bingley
335 Pacific Diver 31/01/2007 North Yorks Farnham GP
336 Gyr Falcon 03/03/2007 Cornwall Stepper Point
337 White-billed Diver 03/03/2007 Cornwall Hayle Estuary
338 Dusky Warbler 03/03/2007 Cornwall Newquay
339 Red-rumped Swallow 31/03/2007 Bedfordshire Brogborough Lake
340 Capercaillie 10/04/2007 Highland Loch Garten RSPB
341 Iberian Chiffchaff 29/04/2007 Norfolk Colney
342 Squacco Heron 31/05/2007 London Erith Marshes
343 Marsh Warbler 05/06/2007 Suffolk Kessingland Sewage Works
344 White-tailed Plover 07/06/2007 Dumfries Caerlaverock WWT
345 Dark-eyed Junco 14/07/2007 Norfolk Langham
346 Roller 16/07/2007 East Yorkshire Sammy's Point
347 Wilson's Petrel 03/08/2007 Isles of Scilly P
348 Cory's Shearwater 05/08/2007 Cornwall Porthgwarra
349 Audouin's Gull 14/08/2007 Devon Seaton
350 Greenish Warbler 22/08/2007 Norfolk Blakeney Point
351 Long-tailed Skua 18/09/2007 Nottinghamshire Shelford
352 Bluethroat 23/09/2007 East Yorkshire Kilnsea
353 Buff-bellied Pipit 28/09/2007 Isles of Scilly St. Mary's
354 Paddyfield Warbler 29/09/2007 Kent St Margarets Cliffe
355 Brown Flycatcher 03/10/2007 East Yorkshire Flamborough Head
356 Blyth's Reed Warbler 06/10/2007 East Yorkshire Flamborough Head
357 Blackpoll Warbler 20/10/2007 Isles of Scilly St. Mary's
358 Blyth's Pipit 21/10/2007 Isles of Scilly Tresco
359 Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 24/10/2007 Isles of Scilly St. Agnes

[JoanT]

I suppose that depends who's taxonomy you follow though, doesn't it! Indeed I do have a BOU tendency, but nevertheless Wilson's Snipe was still a world first for me!

Anyway here's my BOU lifers for 07 (be warned, there's a lot!)


335 Pacific Diver 31/01/2007 North Yorks Farnham GP


355 Brown Flycatcher 03/10/2007 East Yorkshire Flamborough Head


Afraid neither of these species are on the list of BOU accepted species for this country either. Both these 2 plus Wilson's Snipe are UK400Club accepted species. You can have them all as world lifer's if you haven't seen them elsewhere though.

[Pedley Birder]

42 lifers this year now after getting 3 in Wales last weekend.
Red-Throated Diver-Llandudno
Snow Bunting-Great Orme
Twite-Llanfairfechan

[dan pointon]

Afraid neither of these species are on the list of BOU accepted species for this country either. Both these 2 plus Wilson's Snipe are UK400Club accepted species. You can have them all as world lifer's if you haven't seen them elsewhere though.

I do realise this Joan. PD & BF will almost certainly be on the British list in the not too distant future, and as you should have noticed, Wilson's Snipe is not included. I realise I am politically incorrect doing it this way, before someone decides to tell me!

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Tart! from someone who hasn't seen Osprey! Very funny!! LOL

Yep it's true, and will be for another 6 months!

<hangs head in shame>

I aint no hardcore twitcher like Lawts though ;)

[JoanT]

I do realise this Joan. PD & BF will almost certainly be on the British list in the not too distant future, and as you should have noticed, Wilson's Snipe is not included. I realise I am politically incorrect doing it this way, before someone decides to tell me!

I had noticed that Wilson's Snipe was not listed as a number but it was mentioned in your message which was why I too mentioned it! Since BOU have to accept the split by AOU of PD for it to be added soon just might not happen.

I just feel that if you are quoting a number of BOU species you have seen then it should only include BOU species otherwise it is your own list and not BOU. Other people cannot judge whether they have seen more or less BOU species than you if your number is enhanced by future probable armchair ticks. Perhaps you have other non BOU birds on your list as well ie Caspian Gull for instance. (It is only a recomendation by the taxonomic sub committee for it to be given specific species status. It is not on the list yet)

Having a BOU or UK400list means it is a level playing field but only if everyone keeps to what can or cannot be counted by each list. I am sure that not everyone, apart from the list creators will agree with what birds can or cannot be counted on each list and the individual has to choose which list they are going to stick to if they want to compare it to others which you presumably do since you are stating how many you have seen.

Joan

[matt green]

Pallas's Warbler for me today in Suffolk

(well done to Steve, I would have walked straight passed it;))

Matt

[Tim Allwood]

Having a BOU or UK400list means it is a level playing field but only if everyone keeps to what can or cannot be counted by each list. I am sure that not everyone, apart from the list creators will agree with what birds can or cannot be counted on each list and the individual has to choose which list they are going to stick to if they want to compare it to others which you presumably do since you are stating how many you have seen.

Joan

People also count birds that haven't been accepted by BBRC yet - loads on this page alone. Is that a problem? Or is life too big to bother about it?


And it's only a level playing field if everyone is honest, which in yearlisting terms is having a laugh.

One good reason to stick to self-found, patch and world?

[Larry Wheatland]

2 so far this year, Gyr Falcon and Blyth's Pipit (and a couple of others I've not seen in the UK before)...but it's not over yet !

[Lawts]

Yep it's true, and will be for another 6 months!

<hangs head in shame>

I aint no hardcore twitcher like Lawts though ;)

Marcus, I'm not a hardcore twitcher - I'm just old and have done it for a long time! For 3/4 of the list, I technically haven't had to leave Yorkshire (although in many instances I had done before catching up again in Yorkshire)

If I was hardcore, I wouldn't have posted such a long list of misses/didn't try for this year.

The absence of Cory's does still give me tart credentials.

Anyhow in your defence re. Osprey, I know you've had plenty of chances to bag one, but you are now waiting for a Yorks. one. Hopefully for my Yorkshire list, I'll be there with you!

[Lawts]

I had noticed that Wilson's Snipe was not listed as a number but it was mentioned in your message which was why I too mentioned it! Since BOU have to accept the split by AOU of PD for it to be added soon just might not happen.

I just feel that if you are quoting a number of BOU species you have seen then it should only include BOU species otherwise it is your own list and not BOU. Other people cannot judge whether they have seen more or less BOU species than you if your number is enhanced by future probable armchair ticks. Perhaps you have other non BOU birds on your list as well ie Caspian Gull for instance. (It is only a recomendation by the taxonomic sub committee for it to be given specific species status. It is not on the list yet)

Having a BOU or UK400list means it is a level playing field but only if everyone keeps to what can or cannot be counted by each list. I am sure that not everyone, apart from the list creators will agree with what birds can or cannot be counted on each list and the individual has to choose which list they are going to stick to if they want to compare it to others which you presumably do since you are stating how many you have seen.

Joan

I totally agree, hence Pacific Diver and Brown Fly not in my totals. I note what Tim is saying as well, but I think it's reasonable to include birds ahead of BBRC rulings.

[Conorbirda2]

Lets not get into whos ticking what again! Just tick what you want. At the end of the day we all die and then who gives a F*** how many birds youve seen in Britain, WP, World or your piss pot Patch! As long as you enjoy seeing them wether its in your own yard or after a 12hr twitch, who cares? :smoke:

[matt green]

Managed to bag three lifers today|=)|

1, Grey Phalarope
2. Richards Pipit
3, Pomskua

Maybe I should have started a year list after all! ..or maybe not|>|

Matt

[birder of the south]

21st Pom Skua
22nd MOURNING DOVE

[jacana]

had my 21st lifer for the year with Black throated diver off Llanfairfechan

[Joe Ray]

24. Richards Pipit
25. Buff-bellied Pipit

[Pedley Birder]

43 lifers this year now.

Ring-Billed Gull last night at Carsington Water

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Lifes this year...

American Robin (Bingley)
Pacific Diver (Farnham GP's)
Glossy Ibis (Slimbridge and Marshside)
Wilsons Phalarope (Garfham)
Long tailed skua (Cley)
Great Shearwater (Flamborough)
Melodoius Warbler (Flamborough)
Wryneck (Holkham)
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Flamborough and glimpsed Salthouse)
Brown Flycatcher (Flamborough)

Another for Flam - Red Flanked Bluetail




Caught the White rumped sand at Kenfig. 12 lifers this year makes it the highest total for me since 1996!

[Hotspur]

Now 51 Lifers this year UK... recent additions

RF Bluetail
Black-throated Diver
Little Auk
Yellow-legged Gull
Black Redstart