[biking birder 2010]

Bigby stands for Big Green Year.

Last year I set a new Bigby record for the UK, 253 [or 254] birds seen by cycling when visiting every RSPB and WWT nature reserve. Now I did have to catch quite a few boats in order to get to the islands, especially the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, not forgetting the fabulous Fair Isle. American rules states that this is fine as long as those boats are timetabled. After all i could hardly be expected to pedalo the Minch!

If you think that this is beyond what can be termed a 'non-motorised year list' record, then Chris Mills still holds that with 251 see mostly in Norfolk in 2005.

So, are you having a go, or are you prepared to take it on? If so please say so. I'd love to know how you're getting on and I would be over the Moon if someone beat me. I think tat with effort and planning 300 would be possible. Indeed I hope to go for that in a few years time if I can stay fit and raise the cash. I won't be able t go for it for a few years and at 54 years old now - well let's hope I stay as I am now. Mind you my asthma has been a bit of a problem this year. Oh well.

I do know that certain people at Minsmere RSPB Reserve are going for the record and I wish them all the best. If they're asking for sponsors then my name will be on their list.

Go for it and stop being a total 'carbon twitcher'. Chris Mills calls it 'metal box watcher' or something of the like. Despite the stance of certain newspapers whose readerships prefer to be told that climate change is a myth; our own eyes when birding tell us the truth. Last year was the warmest global year so far on record. Quite ironic that I chose to cycle for the year when Britain suffered two hard winters.

This year my birding will mostly intail cycling the few miles to my patch, Upton Warren in Worcestershire. We're having a sort of fantasy league year list and although I know I won't win, Dave Walker should do that, I will at least not have used any carbon for my birds. OK pedantically I can say that the only carbon I will have used will be from the food I'll have eaten.

Go on, go for it!

ATB

Gary Prescott

Biking Birder

[Parker]

Good to read you beat the record & your hard work paid off & I'm even more impressed now I know you're in your 50's, nice one.

Regards,

[joannec]

Good on you Gary! Some of the serious twitchers could certainly learn from your fine example. Did you really make it to every RSPB reserve? Very impressive.

[biking birder 2010]

Originally Posted by joannec

Good on you Gary! Some of the serious twitchers could certainly learn from your fine example. Did you really make it to every RSPB reserve? Very impressive.

Thanks for your kind comments.

Went to every RSPB reserve but with a few I had to view them from as near to them as I could from over the waves. e.g. Ailsa Craig because the weather stopped the boats from getting out to it; another island off Ullapool was passed by the ferry and a few other islands were seen in the same way.

This Summer's Birds magazine [RSPB] will have a map of the route in it. When I get the chance I'll put the same onto my blog. Seems strange now that this time last year I was going along the south coast. It's all a dream and the photos make it more real.

All the best,

Gary

[Jos Stratford]

Originally Posted by joannec

Some of the serious twitchers could certainly learn from your fine example.

Ei, but if I were a serious twitcher and trying to get several hundred miles across the country to see the latest windfall, I'd be a tad worried that the bird might depart in the six weeks it would take me to get there

[joannec]

Originally Posted by Jos Stratford

Ei, but if I were a serious twitcher and trying to get several hundred miles across the country to see the latest windfall, I'd be a tad worried that the bird might depart in the six weeks it would take me to get there

What I meant was that he saw 254 birds in a year travelling by bike and public transport. That's amazing to me and it's a fine example. OK, so he missed a some rarities...........but putting everything into perspective, he still saw more species in a year than most birders and I bet he had more fun than many twitchers too.

[Jos Stratford]

Originally Posted by joannec

What I meant was that he saw 254 birds in a year travelling by bike and public transport. That's amazing to me and it's a fine example. OK, so he missed a some rarities...........but putting everything into perspective, he still saw more species in a year than most birders and I bet he had more fun than many twitchers too.

Agree to all.

I have to confess however that in the five years I have owned a bicycle I have yet to do more than one circuit of the living room ...and that was on the first day

[Brian Stone]

I'll be keeping a self-powered local list again this year. Last year's record of 163 will be hard to beat. On 88 so far this year.

[JimSRoyer]

Hi Gary,
As you know, I am doing another BIGBY in 2011 - this time I am keeping track of those I've found on foot from my home in coastal California. My blog is at http://greenbirding.blogspot.com/. I should be able to get well over 200 species, but we'll see. Work gets in the way!

[streatham]

Planning on giving it a bash this year after giving up a couple of years back. Did a little tally for the year including a little backdating. Not sure I am fit to do much cycling (at least until it gets above -4 degrees) but enjoying plodding along (literally) to do it. A rather modest total of 59 species so far but I'm sure that will start building once spring arrives (first few Red-winged Blackbirds arrived this week so can't be long). Best self-found bird so far has been a rather nice Barrow's Goldeneye on Lake Ontario. Interested to see how everyone else does.

Luke

[borealowl47]

I'm doing a big green year here in Manitoba.Will be using my legs,bicycle and public
transportation.Already have some rare and impressive birds for Manitoba,Red-bellied
Woodpecker,Eurasian Collared Dove,Norther Cardinal and Eastern Screech Owl.And
doing pretty well with my list compared to other birders in Manitoba who are using
vehicles,according to Ebird.Just started a blog recording my sightings,link in my
signature.

[streatham]

Finally broke 100 species for the year. You can tell I am not trying that hard! Still a nice way to make it to 100: American White Pelican, Sandhill Crane and Northern Goshawk. All not bad for NY State: http://underclearskies.com/2011/04/1...bigger-better/

[Brian Stone]

We completed our 24 hour birdrace last Friday. Read about the birds seen at:
http://tnsgreenyear.blogspot.com/201...-birdrace.html

We managed 107 species, just short of last year's record breaking 110. This is all in the Peterborough area of NW Cambridgeshire.

So far we've raised £245 for Sightsavers! Feel free to add to that total
http://www.justgiving.com/thenaturalstone/

I'm now on 136 for the year by bike/foot.

[streatham]

Hey Brian,

Nice to read about your exploits on the bike birdrace. You are certainly expending more energy with your BGBY than I am as I am merely wandering the local environs looking for birds. Still just tallied my numbers and am now up to 163 on the year.

Luke