To List or not to list ? (1 Viewer)

I post this thread to open up the debate about listing.
I have been birding all my life with a healthy appreciation of all wildlife around me when out at home, on holiday, on the way to work and even whilst at work I often find myself spoting something fly past a window and have to try to ID it....it's in the blood but I only started to list these sightings two years ago and it's added to my birding making it almost a sport now. My father has started coming oout and he too enjoys the sport of listing. Whilst I still love sitting and watching I do feel the need to list more than ever. Sitting in a hide a few weeks ago I spoke to a new birder helping him find his first Bittern and he tld me he'd never be a lister couldn't see the sense etc etc and then as soon as I pointed out a Cetti's warbler he turned to his wife and she ticked it in her book.....this surely makes him a lister!
I suppose for me the issue will be if ever the list becomes more important than the day out.

check out my blog which I've written as a record of the challenge I've set to list 250 birds this year. It's taking me to some wonderful places but on occassion I do find myself missing the day as it has (only a couple of times) been victim to the chase.

I use BUBO to list the sightings as I'm sure most do but I'd be interested in others points of view on the merits of listing and it's ability to ruin a good day out.

briansbirding.blogspot.co.uk

I too am a lister, but do it for a number of reasons, along with simply enjoying it! I often use my lists to keep track of species I should be looking for in certain areas at certain times of the year; to check to numbers of certain species - wax & wane - over time; simply keeping a species list for each park, area, county that I bird; I document types of behaviors seen while out birding in my lists as well.....

Though when I say that I list, it is not a matter of simply ticking the bird and going on my merry way!