I think that list, you would maybe see 6 in a year, if you were lucky, without dipping into the "RBA, dropping everything, long distance trips" category.
That's the trouble with rare and scarce birds.. they are rare and scarce!!
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Year listing "British" birds (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mono
- Start date
I think that list, you would maybe see 6 in a year, if you were lucky, without dipping into the "RBA, dropping everything, long distance trips" category.
That's the trouble with rare and scarce birds.. they are rare and scarce!!
Farnboro John
Well-known member
On the contrary, in the context of a year listing effort involving planned travel (mainly over short to medium distance) most if not all of the list should be entirely do-able.
The following all have high numbers country-wide, annual long-stayers or even resident individuals:
Yellow-browed Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff, Caspian Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Red-necked Phalarope, White-billed Diver, Rough-legged Buzzard, Ring-necked Duck, Surf Scoter
The birds listed below are predictable spring or autumn migrants that can largely be intercepted by correctly timed (by historical information) holidays in migration hot spots. I suggest a long weekend seawatching in Cornwall and spring and autumn visits to a combination of Spurn/Yorkshire coast, Scilly and perhaps Portland should account for most if not all:
Cory's Shearwater, Wryneck, Grey Phalarope, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Little Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Pallas's Leaf Warbler, Barred Warbler, Richard's Pipit, Sabine's Gull, Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch, Pectoral Sandpiper, Icterine Warbler, White-billed Diver, Spotted Crake
That leaves only a handful which are sufficiently unpredictable as to need reactive measures or just luck.
Cheers
John
Paul Longland
Well-known member
I think you and Paul have it about spot on. I was thinking along pretty much the same lines. Whilst not necessarily high numbers many of these are often long stayers and geographically well spread. Most years for example a GG shrike can be picked up within a hundred mile radius of most places. some of these species will also be regular returners to the same spots (divers/ducks in particular. not on the list but the same pacific diver has been turning up in Cornwall for the last 8 or so winters, Elvis has been around the Ythan estuary for several summers and so are totally predictable, albeit somewhat far flung for many) Sometimes it is not those with the least numbers but the shortest stays that are the most difficult. Wryneck being a good example (still a frustratingly conspicuous hole in my list) with birds often being one day wonders. There are also quite a few species that would be considered more common residents that are still bloody hard to track down such LS woody.
Having said that surely the whole point is that it should be a challenge, and nobody would expect to get a complete list every year. Sometimes we have to make a choice to go for one thing or another, east or west etc. Nobody can be in two places at once so there will always be compromises.
After all the full British list stands at over 600 yet for most of us who do not have unlimited time and resources a yearly list exceeding 200 is a fair target.
As Paul originally stated his proposed list does not include rare breeding birds so the likes of black winged stilt should also be relatively easy most years now
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
I managed 303 in 1997 without too much trouble and mainly utilising only weekends.
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Paul Longland
Well-known member
Bragging again Andy 8-P
Unfortunately, due to work and home circumstances, if I get out more than once or twice a month, with a week trip thrown in during May, that is a miracle. Also the majority of my birding has to be within a couple of hours travel distance from Leicester with the exception of the occasional "special" expedition.
I do intend, however, when I finally get to retire to plan a "big year" to include trips to Scilly in the spring, Shetland/Fair isle in autumn and one or two other specialist species hot spots en-route.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
That should of course be 303 not 403!
West End Birder
Well-known member
Try the Shell Guide from 1983 - 263 regulars - the last one I saw was Quail.
A few of the regulars are probably rarities now and a few of the rarities (vagrants as they were termed) are probably not rarities (Ring Billed Gull for example).
At least one has jumped between the two twice, the dreaded Tawny Pipit, rare, not rare, rare - never seen one as I mentioned on another channel on here.
Good luck
A few of the regulars are probably rarities now and a few of the rarities (vagrants as they were termed) are probably not rarities (Ring Billed Gull for example).
At least one has jumped between the two twice, the dreaded Tawny Pipit, rare, not rare, rare - never seen one as I mentioned on another channel on here.
Good luck
...with that when it comes to Lady A’s.
Seriously, this sounds rather like what I was doing in c. 1976-83 when I was starting to target regular species I hadn’t seen, but wasn’t on even any local grapevine and had no concept of twitching. In some ways that was my most enjoyable period of birding - either that or the first years of twitching when the ticks flooded in
If anyone were to do this, a Scottish trip would be essential (perhaps several, though a couple of extra-long weekends might be enough), and with luck that could get Elvis, Surf Scoter and possibly WB Diver as well as the local resident species.
With scarce migrants, it’s possible to score heavily on a good day. The Sibe Accentor day at Spurn also had IIRC Dusky, Pallas’s and Yellow-browed Warblers, Olive-backed Pipit and a very confiding Shorelark, also Little Bunting, Richard’s Pipit and Rosy Starling which I don’t remember looking for.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
There was also the Quail that came up out of long grass during a sweep for one of the Dusky Warblers, and a small flock of Tundra Bean Geese on the edge of the Humber. A pretty solid day out....:t:
John
West End Birder
Well-known member
Blimey, three lifers in that selection!
I am still not sure why we don't have the equivalent of the code system used across the pond. If I remember correctly Paul, both you and Maffong proposed the same for the WP big year last year and published a list. That should be relatively simple to adapt for Britain?
Then the proposal would be to attempt all the Code 1 & 2 or if brave attempting the Code 3 as well.
No idea how the split would work, but I assume the British list is made so long with the code 4 & 5 s species and the resultant list would be "achievable".
It could be a really good initiative, to encourage more people to join in.
Split code 1 to have a "top 50 species - beginners' group" as well, and get schoolkids (or less mobile people) involved, and work their way up each year.
going well off topic, but..
I took my daughter to her athletic's club last night. She was getting as much enjoyment out of hitting 4 metres in long jump as the huge guy behind her in line who looked to be jumping half a bus length! It was inclusive, (and emptying my wallet having just paid the annual subscription!)
We seem to just idolise a few leading listers, and think of disrespectful names for those starting out, or struggling for one reason or another. Think Dudes and Robin Strokers, or eyes rolling when a family enters the hide.
(I think even wildflower groups are doing better to encourage youngsters!)
Mike Crawley
Emeritus President at Burnage Rugby Club
I was subjected to this many years ago when wandering into an RSPB hide in Norfolk. To be fair my daughter's version of "hushed tones" is fairly loud but she was saying "what's that bird, Dad ?" to the accompaniment of some vigorous tutting.
The tutters didn't seem to mind looking at the Water Rail she'd spotted :t: (sharp young eyes, she hadn't a clue what it was)
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Far more excuse than the old duffers who can't recognise a Water Rail after fifty years.... there were some of those stringing juvenile Moorhens at Fowlmere the other week.
We do like our sub-tribes: there's nothing wrong with that as long as it isn't actually malicious, I'd hate to see the day when you can't take the mick out of people (but the PC brigade are working on it!)
John
Paul Chapman
Well-known member
It is the British List less BBRC rarities with non-standard taxonomy by the looks of it.
All the best
All the best
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
Puzzled slightly as this list states the following as birds on passage, but one or two of them were scarce or uncommon breeders 10 years ago.....
Honey Buzzard, Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel and Arctic Skua.
I would have classed the Redstart as resident and the others as summer visitors.
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
OK, but Black Redstart numbers are enhanced at passage times, especially in autumn. Quite possibly most birders encounter them as passage birds rather than on breeding territory.
John
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Ring Ouzel ??? Far commoner as a breeder than the other species cited! Quite easy to find on breeding grounds.
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Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
They used to breed in an old industrial part of Nottingham, not sure if they still do?
