ABA Big Year 2016 (1 Viewer)

[lewis20126]

What would make an interesting tally is how many code 3 and above birds each person got on their own not following up on someone else's lead.

Must be close to zero surely - not a criticism, but it's a full year of chasing other peoples rarities. Perhaps a few chances of self finds on Gambel etc.

Cheers, a

 

[guy_incognito]

On that Audubon page it indicates that Olaf got a Yellow Grosbeak? I don't recall one being in the ABA this year. I assume that is a mistake.

 

[Mark]

Christian got Little Gull today per twitter 747+2

 

[Mysticete]

Rustic Bunting in Washington State...think Olaf still needs that I believe.

 

[trptjoe]

Actually, Yellow Grosbeak isn't a mistake. It's the missing species between my lists and Olaf's online number. I've known about it for a while, but I've been leaving it to him to talk about it publicly. Since it's out there I'll comment. The sighting was hidden in eBird, which is why you don't see it, but it was earlier this year and was confirmed.
I'll leave the details to him, but I'll add it to my lists now and let him clarify things.
Joe

 

[Mysticete]

Was the Yellow Grosbeak somewhere with restricted access? Or do you otherwise know more the story about it?

 

[Mysticete]

I mean I have this very vague memory of him actually mentioning thinking he had found/seen a Yellow Grosbeak way back in spring...but I might be mistaken.

 

[trptjoe]

Was the Yellow Grosbeak somewhere with restricted access? Or do you otherwise know more the story about it?

Yes and yes, but it's his story to tell.
Joe

 

[guy_incognito]

I was wondering if it could have been one of his "hidden" species. Will be interesting to hear the details. Normally those are extremely tough to chase. Wonder if he lucked into it, or if it was chaseable for a period of time. Either way, I can't imagine it stayed around for very long, and why would he withhold this information for months?

 

[Vague Bird News]

I believe that the Yellow Grosbeak is one of five such species that may have been 'kept back' by Bradley/Olaf this year.

With the Grosbeak the story that I heard is that whilst walking the trail Bradley saw what he considered to be this species. Olaf was less sure and his photos proved to be inconclusive. Thus there is some internal dispute, the result of which will only be known after the year has ended.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I was wondering if it could have been one of his "hidden" species. Will be interesting to hear the details. Normally those are extremely tough to chase. Wonder if he lucked into it, or if it was chaseable for a period of time. Either way, I can't imagine it stayed around for very long, and why would he withhold this information for months?

Its likely to be a 'special invite' story isn't it? Not a situation I like I must say. It sticks in the throat as against the whole ethos of listing/twitching. But best to make that judgement (if at all) when the details are known.

All the best

 

[GrizGrouse]

Actually, Yellow Grosbeak isn't a mistake. It's the missing species between my lists and Olaf's online number. I've known about it for a while, but I've been leaving it to him to talk about it publicly. Since it's out there I'll comment. The sighting was hidden in eBird, which is why you don't see it, but it was earlier this year and was confirmed.
I'll leave the details to him, but I'll add it to my lists now and let him clarify things.
Joe

Wow, this is really taking this year's competition to a new low. I have no personal beef with either of the main contenders, but here we have two guys about to set huge record ABA yearlist numbers with the following characteristics:

Both of which appear to be marginal birders in terms of actually identifying birds and understanding status and distribution in North America -- Olaf; Orange-crowned Warbler, "Intermediate Egret", super shady Great Knot claims, and now this (at best) suppressed Yellow Grosbeak. John; inexplicably missed many common species during his rarity runs indicating he just didn't know what he was missing (although that's fair given he's from Australia), claiming to be able to ID a flushed sandplover to species while on a moving ATV, chased a clearly dubious Eastern Spot-billed Duck that was never likely to actually be a ESBD, let alone be determined to be wild.

It just seems to me that neither of these guys are really pillars of what we would consider "great birders" or in Olaf's self-aggrandizing (trumpily accusing ABA of adding Hawaii to spite him?!, how many times do we have to read about his business or financial conquests?), self-pitying, stringy, case, even great people.

Such a shame things have ended up this way this year. I for one will be ecstatic to see these records fade into irrelevance once Hawaii is on board in 2017.

Sorry, been bottling that up while watching this all unfold all year long. It's been great to follow the forum. Thanks to everyone for posting. Can't wait till 2017!

Andy

 

[Mark]

Olaf got the Common Shelduck and has both Rustic Bunting and Brambling to chase now.....

 

[Paul Chapman]

Just adding the links again

http://www.birdingfordevils.com/p/this-is-listing-of-species-so-far.html
http://olafsbigyear.blogspot.co.uk/
http://ebird.org/ebird/top100?locInfo.regionCode=aba&yr=cur
http://www.thebirdingproject.com/birdlist/

All the best

 

[Jon Turner]

Just adding the links again

http://www.birdingfordevils.com/p/this-is-listing-of-species-so-far.html
http://olafsbigyear.blogspot.co.uk/
http://ebird.org/ebird/top100?locInfo.regionCode=aba&yr=cur
http://www.thebirdingproject.com/birdlist/

All the best

Again and again it would seem Paul

That link to Olaf's blog is well out of date - Nov11th....

 

[DMW]

John; inexplicably missed many common species during his rarity runs indicating he just didn't know what he was missing (although that's fair given he's from Australia), claiming to be able to ID a flushed sandplover to species while on a moving ATV, chased a clearly dubious Eastern Spot-billed Duck that was never likely to actually be a ESBD, let alone be determined to be wild.
Andy

To be fair, when you are birding in a very target-focused fashion, it's not unusual to miss a lot of common species.

It also seems a bit unfair to criticize him for going for a bird about which there are doubts (the Spotbill)... surely better to go and find you've wasted your time, than not go and find you've lost a tick?

Let's face it, setting these sorts of records has very little to do with birding ability, and everything to do with having the financial resources, and single-mindedness and stamina to keep going full-throttle for 365 (or 366!) days.

 

[dantheman]

Again and again it would seem Paul

That link to Olaf's blog is well out of date - Nov11th....

30th Nov for me ... I guess you're stuck on Devon Time??

 

[GrizGrouse]

To be fair, when you are birding in a very target-focused fashion, it's not unusual to miss a lot of common species.

It also seems a bit unfair to criticize him for going for a bird about which there are doubts (the Spotbill)... surely better to go and find you've wasted your time, than not go and find you've lost a tick?

Let's face it, setting these sorts of records has very little to do with birding ability, and everything to do with having the financial resources, and single-mindedness and stamina to keep going full-throttle for 365 (or 366!) days.

Sure, that's totally fair.

My main point was that, in two cases (the 'Intermediate Egret' and the Eastern Spot-billed Duck), a decent amount of knowledge on bird ID and status and distribution would have not only saved a tremendous amount of time and money, but also would have freed him up to chase legitimate birds. In the case of the egret, 30min on google and orientalbirdimages.com would have been enough. In the case of the duck, it's crystal clear that a waterfowl species with zero history of vagrancy to that part of the world and questionable parentage would ever be accepted by the ABA or the local records committee. My overall point is that these sort of things show a general lack of knowledge about North American birds and it's a bummer that this "point-click-credit card" method has overtaken actual knowledge and ability so drastically this year. I'm sure John is a great guy, he certainly seems so via his posts, interests...etc. I'm just being nostalgic I guess.

As for 'stamina', I think it takes a lot more stamina to get up and go to work every day of the year than it does to traverse the most beautiful parts of the country looking for birds. That's just me though.

Oh man, I almost forgot Olaf's 'Baird's Sparrow' photos earlier this year. :/

Andy

 

[dantheman]

Not that likely the BY'ers will be heading to Alaska again, but ...

https://lynnbarberblog.com/

 

[dantheman]

Sure, that's totally fair.

My main point was that, in two cases (the 'Intermediate Egret' and the Eastern Spot-billed Duck), a decent amount of knowledge on bird ID and status and distribution would have not only saved a tremendous amount of time and money, but also would have freed him up to chase legitimate birds. In the case of the egret, 30min on google and orientalbirdimages.com would have been enough.

Both of them went for both birds? The egret (a vagrant in any case, whatever species it turned out to be) was still potentially an Intermediate when both went (don't think it had been photo'ed at that point). The duck - well - what if it had been a first? But yes ...