Norfolk birding (12 Viewers)

MarcusN said:

I have also been involved in the discussions with Dave & Jacquie (and Andy) about record submission and thought I might add some additional comments and reiterate Andy's plea for your help.

At the moment, Dave & Jacquie are drowning under the weight of records submitted to them. It is great that so many people contribute - and really appreciated - but it creates a huge problem. At the moment, every record submitted in a format other than spreadsheet has to be input manually. With lots of people submitting annual reports, this is creating a truly gargantuan workload for the recorder(s) which is simply not sustainable. A way to solve this problem is desperately needed.

Dave & Jacquie do use bird recorder software, but it is assumed most people would not want to buy this. Far easier to put sightings into a generic spreadsheet, from where it can be uploaded automatically into their database. They are looking into making an optional spreadsheet template available online (if that would make it easier for some people to get started) and will even try to help anyone to use it if necessary. It is actually far easier to enter data into a basic spreadsheet than making up a table in a Word document and free spreadsheet programs are available.

So your help to try to make this work would be really appreciated. If there is anything else that can be done to make it easier, your suggestions would be very welcome.

Click to expand...

finderswife said:

Am I right in thinking that records submitted to the BTO's Birdtrack are forwarded on to the relevant County Recorder?

Click to expand...

MarcusN said:

They are looking into making an optional spreadsheet template available online (if that would make it easier for some people to get started) and will even try to help anyone to use it if necessary.

Click to expand...

firstreesjohn said:

I find it astonishing that no more info has ‘leaked out’ on Sunday’s Bluetail- there’s not even much comment (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=254578). It’s not as if they’re regular in the UK in Spring (five or so records, I believe) and, if the record is genuine, would be the first record in this season in County.

Does no-one know any more ?



Whilst I can see the immediate benefits of this for the recorders, those who bought a PC with basic software may not be able to do this. I know that I had to ask for this to be included, so I could do stuff for work (I should have claimed)- and had to pay extra for an enhanced package, when I had my PC built.

In addition, Excel is not the easiest software for the computer semi-illiterate to use. Perhaps, Word in ‘Table’ format would be a suitable substitute (?)- and easily transferable to Excel.

It is an astonishing lump, The Bump. I made my ascent beyond first base camp, then second, searching all the way, when I could see some birders on the distant summit. Fortunately, one began to descend, so I waited. He had had no luck.

As we reached the parking area, the Black Redstart briefly appeared on a roof, then flitted about the Pitch & Putt course- it’s not really Beeston Bump, but still in Sheringham. Obviously, it’s best to go when people are not attempting to emulate Tiger Woods. On second thoughts, perhaps that should be Rory McIlroy !

Click to expand...

finderswife said:

Am I right in thinking that records submitted to the BTO's Birdtrack are forwarded on to the relevant County Recorder?

Click to expand...

RonMac said:

The BTO's birdtrack is an excellent way of keeping your bird records and can be used to report birds wherever you are in the country. The best thing about using this system is that its simple to export your records out of birdtrack straight into a spreadsheet which can then be used for the Norfolk Bird report on a monthly basis.

Click to expand...

RobLucking said:

The bluetail was reported to us at Titchwell on Monday by a telephone caller. We passed the info on to the county recorders to follow up. That's all there is to know.

Click to expand...

firstreesjohn said:

In an early foray, WRunton produced 3 Wheatears in the field to the W of the beach car park.

The Black Redstart came and went at the Pitch&Putt, at the western approaches to Beeston Bump. I can visualise a Red-throated Pipit here, before the disturbances (dog-people, ramblers, clubbing-people) begin in earnest.



Many thanks for this, Rob.

The question, nonetheless, remains. With no other information forthcoming more than five days after the event, and in our world of instant e-comms, it is difficult to have a firm belief in the veracity/accuracy of this record. The latest attempted (photographic) hoax of Golden-crowned Sparrow is just another, in a whole train, of examples of people wishing to ‘muddy our waters’.

At least- and fortunately- from what we have been told above, it doesn’t appear to be yet another case of (local) suppression of a great bird, viewable from a public footpath, that many others could easily have seen.

Click to expand...

Andy Benson said:

So I've set up an account, Andy@Norf_Viz_Mig on Twitter. I've never 'tweeted' in this medium before (as opposed to trying to coax a autumn phylosc out of a bush!) so know not what I am doing yet!
I have posted a first tweet, refering to an hours watching before work this morning at Sidestrand. Having seen Archies post, further 'tweets' will be preceeded by #Norf_Viz_Mig. Lets see how it goes.
Andy

Click to expand...

PYRTLE said:

Stone Curlew south then east over the reserve followed by a Red Kite slowly drifting East from the West Bank. Several swallows as well.

Wonderful art exhibition currently in the old visitor centre, particularly the fungi artwork - worth a look.

Click to expand...

Dave_A said:

Tried to tweet, never done before, doesnt seem to have appeared anywhere but on my twitter, Andy?

Click to expand...

Andy Benson said:

#Norf_Viz_Mig up and running! loads of finches (majority Chaffinch) moving this morning with nearly 500e in an hr at Sidestrand and c2000 through Waxham.

andy

Click to expand...