[Denis J]

Only a week to go! How has 2003 Been for you all? I have for the first time achieved more than 200 species in a year (207) and got 20 new lifers up from 218 to 238 all in all quite a satisfying year I think!

[scampo]

I bet you've enjoyed it, too, by the sounds of it. Was that with any twitches, Denis? I haven't added mine up but it looks like a possible record year.

I should be able to add a short-eared owl to my list - one's just turned up at a local gravel pit. I've never seen one before.

Best of luck for 2004 - and Merry Christmas!

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Denis,

Congratulations!

207 in a year only with public transport is VERY good - I don't think I ever managed that many in a year without getting lifts!

Michael

[Denis J]

The twenty new ones were
Red Necked Grebe
Snow goose
White Fronted goose
Ring Necked Duck... Twitched
Red Kite
Osprey The lake District one ..is that a twitch?
Black Grouse
Bairds Sandpiper
White Rumped Sandpiper ..Twitched
Pectoral Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs..Twitched
Little Auk
Black Guillimot
Turtle Dove
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Shorelark..Twitched
Hawfinch...Twitched
Richards Pipit
Pomarine skua
Melodious Warbler..Twitched
Sorry if this is turning into a string from the lists section but i didnt expect to actually produce a list lack of forethought there i'm afraid!

[dennis]

Hello fellow listers.

310 lifers so far in 2003. Ecuador can do wonders for a list!

dennis

[jada dulo]

197 species for me this year ... as I re-started my life list also this year they all fell into the category of ' lifers ' I guess ... but ones which weren't on my original life list are :-
Firecrest .
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker .
Bittern .
Water Rail .
Little Egret .
Spotted Redshank .
Ruff . ( I know , pathetic )
Savi's Warbler .
Red-brested Goose .

I think that's it , I was really hoping to break the 200 barrier by 2004 !! ... nevermind .

[deboo]

Managed 218 species this year (ish). Highlights for me were the Hoopoe at Cherry Hinton, 1st trip to Bempton Cliffs and male Montagu's Harrier somewhere in Norfolk!?! Suppose most of you know where but I don't want to encourage any would be eggers!
Cheers Dave
P.S. Good luck for 2004

[Steve Gross]

As of right now, I'm four birds away from my goal:

400 species in Texas in 2003

I have a chance for at least four more with a trip to the Rio Grande Valley later this week. As a Xmas Eve present, I added three birds yesterday:

Virginia Rail
Stilt Sandpiper
Surf Scoter

My US total for the year is 464. I spent a month in Arizona and did a three week trip to Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. That helped my list considerably, and I caught a few trout in the process.

I have not yet established my 2004 goal, but it might be to get to a US list of 600 (right now I'm at 528). Looks like I'll be going to California and Florida, perhaps New England.

Hope the remainder of the year is wonderful for you all. Perhaps you can make a Texas trip part of your 2004 plans. Let me know when you're coming down!

Steve in Houston

[deboo]

Hello Steve,
U.S list of 600..........awesome.
I hope you succeed, I'd like to reach 300 for 2004.
Cheers Dave.

[Binocularface]

I've managed 243 (BOU) so far this year. Not my highest year list but fairly happy seeing as I have not been 'going for it' too much this year! Within this 243 species the following nine were 'lifers': Pallid Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Red-rumped Swallow, Purple Heron, Taiga Flycatcher, Black Lark, Baird's Sandpiper, Dusky Warbler and Baltimore Oriole.Here's hoping for a few more in 2004, preferably a few in Cumbria (and found by me with a bit of luck!!)!

Happy Christmas!

Regards
Tristan

[very boring banned member]

No lifers from my country, but abroad:
Aquila pomarina
Falco eleonorae
Hippolais polyglotta
Hirundo rupestris
Locustella luscinioides
Luscinia megarhynchos
Montifringilla nivalis

[Michael Frankis]

Yearlist 234 in UK, of which 224 in Northumberland.

New birds, a very slim showing: just one lifer (Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis) and two British ticks (Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta). Nothing new in Northumberland

Michael

[william j clive]

My Welsh year list is currently 252, it may be a new Welsh year list record as I am 9 ahead of the old record. Added 9 species to my Welsh list including Golden Oriole and Bee-eater, I was fortunate enough in being at the right place at the right time and found them myself. Other Welsh lifers were Black Lark, Squacco Heron, Tawny Pipit, Aquatic Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Dusky Warbler and Hume's Warbler taking my total to 311. If 2004 is as good I will be well Choughed! The only bird on my British year list in addition to the 252 is American Robin. I could not resist that one after missing the one on Bardsey.

[Dave B Smith]

Well I've had a very good year. 99 lifers!!! and still a week to go. I've managed a number of birds that had been eluding me for several years including the Jabiru, F. Pygmy Owl, and A. Pygmy Kingfisher.

Looking forward to a busy 2004!