2017 Western Palearctic Big Year (2 Viewers)

[DanielDoer]

And now there has been found a Pine Bunting in York (I suppose) - so they should go back...

Or is it a more regular rarity in Sweden and there is even one hanging around there at the moment?

 

[DanielDoer]

They posted this link about the lumping of Hudbrel and our Whimbrel on their facebook site:
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/a...k&utm_campaign=taxa-bg-news&utm_medium=social ...

Which authority splitted the Hudsonian Whimbrel and based on which research? And what did they tell about the northeastern Siberian race variegatus - does it belong to the Hudbrel? Did I miss an armchairtick that is now gone again? In my opinion hudsonicus and variegatus are quite similar looking. But on the other hand we had also quite a few variegatus with white rumps!

 

[Maffong]

Variegatus is included in the Eurasian Whimbrel group. Hudsonian Whimbrel was split by BOU and their reasoning can probably be found in one of their older reports. This approach was also adopted by netfugl who we thought (until their last blog post) they would be following. But the taxonomic subcomittee of the BOU was disbanded some time ago and they looled for a new taxonomic authority to follow, which they found in the IOC. IOC has reasoned against splitting the Whimbrels in the past, so that not many taxonomic authorities are left who keep them as two species

 

[Maffong]

Pine Buntings are all around at the moment. I guess there are still some in Sweden. If not, I'd suggest they go to Switzerland soon and in addition to 4(!) Pine Buntings they clean up in the Alps species

Maffong

 

[Jon Turner]

Hawk Owl (fine video too!) and Arctic Redpoll added today....

And now the list updated to include Eurasian Treecreeper, Green Woodpecker and White-tailed Eagle.

 

[Maffong]

Hopefully something for their trip to Morocco soon
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=338486

Maffong

 

[Paul Chapman]

Morocco & Western Sahara starts next week I believe. A quick flick through and I reckon they have the potential to add maybe 85 species to their yearlist from that trip?

All the best

 

[Captain_of_Crunch]

Sora in southern Portugal the last few days:

https://observation.org/waarneming/view/134063560

May be worth a stop on their way to Turkey, or even a day trip from Sweden? Skyscanner gives a price of £320 for a day return from Stockholm on Saturday giving about 2hours to look for the bird...

 

[Pedro Ramalho]

Sora in southern Portugal the last few days:

https://observation.org/waarneming/view/134063560

May be worth a stop on their way to Turkey, or even a day trip from Sweden? Skyscanner gives a price of £320 for a day return from Stockholm on Saturday giving about 2hours to look for the bird...

10 minutes to look for the bird... it's that easy.

https://youtu.be/25Zln_six3c

 

[McMadd]

So, 4 weeks gone and 25% of the way there...

 

[Jon Turner]

So, after several presumed 'family' days, the year gets going again, in Sweden, with a few extras including American Black Duck. Off to Morocco dreckly I guess.

 

[ronaldnuiver]

American black duck added

 

[Paul Chapman]

Blog added in which they have decided to take Mauretania off the itinerary for this Morocco trip in favour of their second one:-

http://www.bigyearwp.com/

http://www.bigyearwp.com/index.php/itinerary/

This would suggest end of April. A sensible decision. It is already a very tight itinerary.

All the best

 

[Jos Stratford]

American black duck added

Whole bunch of rarities in neighbouring Norway that they seem to have not bothered with? Ross's Gull, Pine Buntings, etc.

 

[lewis20126]

Three weeks in Morocco? Crikey - are they doing this on the bus?

But seriously, are there enough birds to fill three weeks, let alone with a return visit later?

cheers, alan

 

[Jos Stratford]

Three weeks in Morocco? Crikey - are they doing this on the bus?
But seriously, are there enough birds to fill three weeks, let alone with a return visit later?

My first visit was via buses and hitch-hiking and even then it didn't require three weeks :t:

Good on them for setting the target, but it is looking that their total will be an 'easy' one to beat. Basically one trip in January, a couple of days in the UK, then non-birding at home.

 

[lewis20126]

Basically one trip in January, a couple of days in the UK, then non-birding at home.

Is that your strategy for beating their record? :t: B

cheers, alan

 

[Jos Stratford]

Is that your strategy for beating their record? :t: B

cheers, alan

If it were, I think I might need a change of homes first :t:

 

[Paul Chapman]

Three weeks in Morocco? Crikey - are they doing this on the bus?

But seriously, are there enough birds to fill three weeks, let alone with a return visit later?

cheers, alan

They are including Western Sahara. In comparison to 17 days for a Kuwait trip and 11 days on Canaries, it is bird racing pace. (Though the latter may reflect their interest in potential IOC splits and an island by island tour?) With Marsh Owl, Francolin, Crimson-winged Finch, Bald Ibis, Brown-throated Martin, Dupont's Lark, Maghreb Lark, etc and down to Dakhla Bay and Oued Jenna and back, a fortnight would be pushing it in my view. I suppose doing Western Sahara, they don't need to head out to Merzouga.

All the best

 

[lewis20126]

They are including Western Sahara. In comparison to 17 days for a Kuwait trip and 11 days on Canaries, it is bird racing pace. (Though the latter may reflect their interest in potential IOC splits and an island by island tour?) With Marsh Owl, Francolin, Crimson-winged Finch, Bald Ibis, Brown-throated Martin, Dupont's Lark, Maghreb Lark, etc and down to Dakhla Bay and Oued Jenna and back, a fortnight would be pushing it in my view. I suppose doing Western Sahara, they don't need to head out to Merzouga.

All the best

I appreciate they are doing Western Sahara and I know it is a long drive, but even so it seems a huge amount of time - is Merzouga important for African Desert Warbler, Scrub Warbler perhaps?

What will they be targeting in addition in their (new) April trip? Atlas Fly but what else?

cheers, alan