[Jonny Crossbill]

Hi Birdforum'ers,

Thought this may be of interest... three friends & myself are doing a charity Big Bird Race on 13th May.

You can read more about the big day over on the Talking Naturally website.

I have set up a JustGiving page for the event - all funds from this will go straight to the RSPB in support of their Sumatran Rainforest & farmland birds campaigns.

Whilst fellow bird racer Rob has set up a JustGiving page in support of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and their Living Landscapes campaign.

So two excellent charities to support, four bird racers and 24 hours to see as many species as possible! I hope you share our excitement and maybe even sponsor our efforts?

We are yet to recieve per-species sponsorship. Maybe you will be the first?

Cheers

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

Ok, no responses to my earlier post - but hopefully some of you are excited about the Big Bird Race!

Its nothing new I know - people have been bird racing since they invented the wheel! But its all in aid of a good cause, two great campaigns from the RSPB. You can read about them via the JustGiving page for the event.

I am trying to do one post per day in the run up to Sunday 13th - either on here, my blog or as was the case yesterday a guest blog on another site!

Talking Naturally kindly hosted yesterdays guest blog - which was an interview with my good fiend and key team member Rob. I hope you like it.

The days I don't post on here - I'll at least link to the other blogs. I hope someone enjoys reading even if they don't comment! Feel free to comment on any of the posts or blogs and even vote in the poll linked from my blog (on the right hand side). If you enjoy what you read then of course please consider donating or even sponsoring us per species?

Ta for now

Cheers,

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

Evening all,

Today's post is over on my blog & explains why we are raising funds for the RSPB's Harapan Rainforest campaign...

Cheers,

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

Busy day prepping for next weeks big event - you can read all about it over on my blog

Cheers,

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

Morning all,

Another days preparation ahead.

Lots to plan.. plenty of species still to pin down. 5 days & counting till the big event...

Wee update over on my blog.

Cheers,

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

Hi all,

Latest blog post uploaded - introducing the second of the bird racers my friend Mal.

I am delighted to say that we broke 20% of our fundraising target yesterday! Plus, although the weather is dire right now the low moves off tomorrow and a high moves in giving much improved weather by the weekend!

Hopefully this will allow for all the late migrants to pour in; Oriole, Spotted Crake, Spot Flys... all late back... all much needed on the big day!

Cheers

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

As well as the Sumatran Rainforest campaign mentioned in post #3 we are proud to be supporting Operation Turtle Dove via the Big Bird Race...

Be sure to check out the Operation Turtle Dove website: http://operationturtledove.org/ and also the JustGiving page if you wish to support

Cheers,

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

Evening all,

Despite my worries - and there was lots of them! - things are picking up.

Heading towards the last sleep before the big day & there has been a real upturn; at least one Oriole has returned to Lakenheath, I've recieved some great gen for the big day & the weather is improving & looks much better for Sunday.

I also had a timely reminder this lunchtime of why we are raising funds; I saw my 1st Turtle Dove of the year... what stunners!

Makes me delighted to be fundraising for Operation Turtle Dove & also to have (last Sunday) had one tattoo'd to my right arm.

As ever feel free to visit: https://www.justgiving.com/BigBirdRace & support our fundraising.

Yours excited

Jonny

[GiG]

All the best Jonny! Look forward to reading your exploits.

Gi

[Jonny Crossbill]

Originally Posted by GiG

All the best Jonny! Look forward to reading your exploits.

Gi

Many thanks Gi

Fundraising has elevated the event from an amble with friends - to a near full time effort - just hope the results are good!

Extremely excited

[Jonny Crossbill]

Morning,

Mark Avery kindly hosts today's guest blog which offers a little reflection on tomorrows proceedings.

This is my last post till Monday - see you on the other side!

Cheers,

Jonny

[jimbob]

Good luck mate, the birds are shaping up nicely for you!
Donation sent, not a lot but it all helps. Hopefully more will do the same.

Cheers,
Jim.

[Jonny Crossbill]

Originally Posted by jimbob

Good luck mate, the birds are shaping up nicely for you!
Donation sent, not a lot but it all helps. Hopefully more will do the same.

Cheers,
Jim.

Many thanks Sir

Yes, fortunately we did have a flurry of good birds ahead of the big day - I was getting really worried by Thurs of last wk...

At that time no Oriole, Quail, Monty Harrier or significant wader passage!

Fortunately an Oriole returned and we were able to enjoy a male calling away yesterday morning. The weather has delayed the Quail and Monty's tho - so they were a no go.

Similarly the wader passage was almost non existent - didn't even see a Ruff or a Greenshank - in north Norfolk - in May! We did catch up with Whimbrel at Titchwell and Temmink's stint at Cley. But no Spotted Redshank, Little Stint or Curlew Sand's which I'd have almost expected!

Definite star species of the day was a summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe which we found at Snettisham despite not encountering Little Grebe all day! My only guess is that they are secretive due to nesting duties - not mistaken for Ruddy Duck by defra!

I am still digesting the day and remembering the goodies we encountered & I am sure more will come back to me once exhaustion fades!

We did get a Turtle Dove purring away at Lakenheath - which was a great reminder of why we were fund-raising and a good pep-up!

We finished the day with 145 species.

Cheers,

Jonny

[GiG]

Originally Posted by Jonny Crossbill

Many thanks Sir

Yes, fortunately we did have a flurry of good birds ahead of the big day - I was getting really worried by Thurs of last wk...

At that time no Oriole, Quail, Monty Harrier or significant wader passage!

Fortunately an Oriole returned and we were able to enjoy a male calling away yesterday morning. The weather has delayed the Quail and Monty's tho - so they were a no go.

Similarly the wader passage was almost non existent - didn't even see a Ruff or a Greenshank - in north Norfolk - in May! We did catch up with Whimbrel at Titchwell and Temmink's stint at Cley. But no Spotted Redshank, Little Stint or Curlew Sand's which I'd have almost expected!

Definite star species of the day was a summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe which we found at Snettisham despite not encountering Little Grebe all day! My only guess is that they are secretive due to nesting duties - not mistaken for Ruddy Duck by defra!

I am still digesting the day and remembering the goodies we encountered & I am sure more will come back to me once exhaustion fades!

We did get a Turtle Dove purring away at Lakenheath - which was a great reminder of why we were fund-raising and a good pep-up!

We finished the day with 145 species.

Cheers,

Jonny

Well done Jonny, 145 is a good total. Good that you got turtle dove too.

I'll be doing a sponsored birdwatch to raise funds for the Suffolk Ornithologists' Group in Autumn. Autumn was chosen to make things a bit different and interesting and likely to use different tactics!

Well done again on raising funds and awareness.

Gi

[GarySmith]

Looks interesting.Once an albatross won a 6000-mile race across the Indian Ocean raising awareness of the plight of the iconic seabird.Are your birds are like that?

[Jonny Crossbill]

Originally Posted by GarySmith

Looks interesting.Once an albatross won a 6000-mile race across the Indian Ocean raising awareness of the plight of the iconic seabird.Are your birds are like that?

Whilst I am not sure exactly of your point / question!?!

We saw Wheatear as well as many other migrant birds on the big bird race; Wheatear alone can migrate 18, 600 miles (N America / Europe / Africa).

I hope that helps.

Cheers,

Jonny

[Jonny Crossbill]

Hi all,

You can read the full account of our big day over on the Birdwatching Mag website

http://www.birdwatching.co.uk/articles/Tattoos

Enjoy! The fundraising page is still live too should anyone feel moved to donate

Cheers,

Jonny