2016 - World Yearlist Record Attempt (1 Viewer)

[Vincent van der Spek]

Arjan Dwarshuis, Dutch Birding: January 1-4.

Re Hypocolius. If heard-only records are considered acceptable for a big year, then I'd say that seeing a distant "compact flock of long tailed birds with rounded wings" departing an established Hypocolius roost site ought to be good enough (although arguably unsatisfactory for a life list).

Thanks for trying to add another bird, but I'd wouldn't say so, Richard: it's about being very confident about every identification: have you positively recorded a species, either heard or seen?

You can often be absolutely certain about a heard-only. But with lousy views... I agree with Arjan that he needs more than 'it looks like it, I can't think of anything else, so it must be the real deal'. o And this is a Hypocolius! A bird - in a unique family - that screams for a proper view!

On Jan the 1st we had a calling Rock/Water Pipit (fly-by) before sunset. Habitat was most suitable - I'd say 99,9% diagnostic - for Rock. He didn't tick it. Fortunately we found both species later that day (1 of each: justice!).

So you can't be critical enough. Especially in his case, as a potential record needs to be "beyond doubt" *

Cheers!
PS still no internet there it seems

* personal note, slightly off-topic: no matter how critical you are about ID's, at places on the globe where you have little or no experience, you're bound to make mistakes. On trips I sometimes get the comment of being over-critical (I e.g. refuse to tick many Empidonax flycatchers in the Neo-tropics, even in the (rare) cases I've hired a guide and the bird is pointed out to me). Still I have no illusions that my life list is a 100% pure. I hope (and think) it's very close, but a 100% ? I still need to meet the first birder that is free of mistakes even in his or her own country. World travellers that think their lists are pure, are overestimating their skills I'm afraid.

 

[Richard Klim]

Thanks for trying to add another bird, but I'd wouldn't say so, Richard: it's about being very confident about every identification: have you positively recorded a species, either heard or seen?

But was Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus confidently identified in Sri Lanka?

OK, I was being a little mischievous there! And it's great that Arjan is keeping his standards very high. But surely many identifications will be based upon assumptions about the realistic possibilities in the local context, rather than a conclusive identification to species level. eg, there will no doubt be many cases where individual claims are at least partly based upon the exclusion of cryptic but extralimital congeners - tubenoses, Phylloscs, Acros... But are there really any realistic alternative possible IDs for what Arjan witnessed at the Abu Dhabi golf course?

 

[Vincent van der Spek]

Yes, you are of course right there, it's all in geographical context. And you're right about the minivet as well ;-)

I don't know anything more than you about the hypocolius sighting.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

* personal note, slightly off-topic: no matter how critical you are about ID's, at places on the globe where you have little or no experience, you're bound to make mistakes. On trips I sometimes get the comment of being over-critical (I e.g. refuse to tick many Empidonax flycatchers in the Neo-tropics, even in the (rare) cases I've hired a guide and the bird is pointed out to me). Still I have no illusions that my life list is a 100% pure. I hope (and think) it's very close, but a 100% ? I still need to meet the first birder that is free of mistakes even in his or her own country. World travellers that think their lists are pure, are overestimating their skills I'm afraid.

:clap: :t: I think so too.

 

[Richard Klim]

Sri Lanka, 6–7 Jan: world.observation.org/arjan.php.

IOC split (v5.3): Grey-headed [Purple] Swamphen Porphyrio [porphyrio] poliocephalus in Sri Lanka.

PS. Split! :t:

 

[Nohatch]

Starting to plateau now (although the pace has been tremendous) - he's got one more full day in Sri Lanka, anything he's missed?

 

[Thijs Fijen]

Sri Lanka, 6–7 Jan: world.observation.org/arjan.php.

IOC split (v5.3): Grey-headed [Purple] Swamphen Porphyrio [porphyrio] poliocephalus in Sri Lanka.

Already changed, but the list is cached for 2 hours. Also: Megalaima-species are now called Psilopogon. This will be changed tomorrow.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Starting to plateau now (although the pace has been tremendous) - he's got one more full day in Sri Lanka, anything he's missed?

the split endemic wood shrike at a glance

 

[Vincent van der Spek]

All endemics in the bag. Dry forests tomorrow for new birds! As he's not going to southern India, he hopes to see as many birds that these two regions share. But four days would have been enough indeed.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

All endemics in the bag.

what about the Woodshrike?...

guess he'll get it tomorrow though

 

[Paul Chapman]

A further seven species today that Noah did not record:-
Pied Thrush
Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon
Dull-blue Flycatcher
Eyebrowed Thrush
Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush
Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler
Yellow-eared Bulbul

So 25 species so far by the close of day five. (Eastern Cattle Egret is an IOC split that will be added when Noah updates his list for IOC taxonomy.)

In the last two days, two species that Noah did not record - Orange-breasted Pigeon & Great Thick-knee. So 27 species in 7 days that Noah did not record.

On a comparative basis, I am getting 335 species.

All the best

 

[Brian J Small]

he's got one more full day in Sri Lanka, anything he's missed?

I can't see either Crested/Variable Hawk Eagle (common in SL) on the list or Legge's Hawk Eagle. I may be missing some, but has he seen Alexandrine Parakeet? Black-headed Cuckooshrike

He did well to see Ashy Drongo - I have not seen one in 5 visits, and Eye-browed Thrush is good too

Brian S

 

[Paul Chapman]

I can't see either Crested/Variable Hawk Eagle (common in SL) on the list or Legge's Hawk Eagle. I may be missing some, but has he seen Alexandrine Parakeet? Black-headed Cuckooshrike

He did well to see Ashy Drongo - I have not seen one in 5 visits, and Eye-browed Thrush is good too

Brian S

The only three additions that Noah had in Sri Lanka that Arjan has not recorded yet are Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher, Indian Blue Robin & Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike.

Arjan has seen 62 of Noah's 180 additions from Southern India but Arjan will get a significant number of the balance in the remainder of India.

(Noah had seen Legge's and Crested Hawk-Eagles and Alexandrine Parakeet in India already before he visited Sri Lanka where he had also seen Ashy Drongo. As recorded upthread, he did not record Eye-browed Thrush at any point in the year.)

All the best

 

[Richard Klim]

what about the Woodshrike?...
guess he'll get it tomorrow though

Tick!

Sri Lanka, 8 Jan: world.observation.org/arjan.php.

 

[Paul Chapman]

what about the Woodshrike?...

guess he'll get it tomorrow though

Now seen:-

http://world.observation.org/arjan.php

All the best

 

[JustinJansen]

What's this: http://world.observation.org/waarneming/view/113818094

 

[Richard Klim]

What's this: http://world.observation.org/waarneming/view/113818094

Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus winters in Sri Lanka according to Payne 1997, Grimmett et al 1998 ("rare, irregular winter visitor to lowlands and lower hills"), Rasmussen & Anderton 2005/2012 ("a few"), Grimmett et al 2011, Erritzøe et al 2012 ("few").

Grimmett et al 2011: "Hepatic morph of female prevails". Erritzøe et al 2012: "intermediate females frequent".

 

[Andrew Verrall]

Just read the Friday blog, marvellous start to the year and great photos. We are in for a great year following this.
Andrew

 

[Nohatch]

Link to the first blog entry by Arjan:
http://www.dutchbirding.nl/news.php?id=1054

 

[Richard Klim]

Sri Lanka, 8 Jan: world.observation.org/arjan.php.

Little Tern must be a tough call in Sri Lanka in winter, with both Little and Saunders's resident (and difficult to separate in non-breeding plumage).