ABA Big Year 2016 (5 Viewers)

[trptjoe]

I know...
Trust me; go with the number further down on the right.

EDIT: Laura and John got their Ross's Gull today, too.

Joe

 

[dantheman]

EDIT: Olaf got the Ross's Gull today (31 of them actually...)

http://olafsbigyear.blogspot.co.uk/

He's also mentioned his lower 48 list in his blog - American Dipper for 700 I think he said? Maybe he's hanging out for that record in a year? I'm thinking John has perhaps spent more time in Alaska and also added more new birds (commoner species that Olaf already had) up there, so perhaps he has a chance?

Christian mentioned Hawaii earlier too ... aside the code 1's he's also cleaned up on the summer migrants as per earlier posts ... all he has to do now is get a winter/fall Yellow Rail (as per earlier posts too) and maybe he is on for the code 1/2 cleanup too?

 

[vkalia]

Why do i have the feeling that Olaf is "hiding" a couple of birds?

 

[Farnboro John]

I may just be a stupid Yank, but that really doesn't seem like an egregious grammar error. Have you read Olaf's blog?

PS, you spelled your name wrong.

Not yet read Olaf's blog, but "'Those with whom I've discussed this with" has a redundant "with": I don't think you would say "those with whom I'm partying with", now would you?

Stupid Brit can't even spell his own name: oops! 8-P

J'hn :t:

 

[Mysticete]

Why do i have the feeling that Olaf is "hiding" a couple of birds?

I am not sure how he could?

 

[Vague Bird News]

I am not sure how he could?

The mighty SIBERIAN-NECKED CHICKATIT?

 

[Captain_of_Crunch]

I wonder if John or Olaf will take a punt to stake out the Hummer feeder in West Texas for the first Amethyst-throated Hummingbird in the US seen there yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAAXKSsKKPk

 

[Kratter]

I wonder if John or Olaf will take a punt to stake out the Hummer feeder in West Texas for the first Amethyst-throated Hummingbird in the US seen there yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAAXKSsKKPk

Not accessible to public. Wouldn't be surprised if the big year chasers could negotiate a way in however.

 

[vkalia]

I am not sure how he could?

By not adding it to his list right now - and only updating his list later? I am not too familiar with ABA rules - would that be an issue?

 

[Mysticete]

By not adding it to his list right now - and only updating his list later? I am not too familiar with ABA rules - would that be an issue?

The issue is where would he get this bird?

If it was on one of his Alaskan trips...well other people would have also seen it an reported it. Unless he didn't tell anyone else about it. But then people would assume he is lying, and more then likely his guides and fellow tour participants would be (justifiably) ticked off. Is he willing to do that and risk those companies banning him from any future trips?

In the lower 48, almost all the birding as far as actual vagrants are concerned is in the form of twitching other people's rarities. There's no point in hiding any bird that John also successfully twitched. If he should remarkably stumble upon some rare vagrant while he himself is in the field (not incredibly likely IMHO), he also risks people thinking he hoaxed the sighting.

I just don't see much a way of hiding anything without dealing with a bad aftermath. Maybe early on had he played things closer to his chest like John, but at this point there really isn't much benefit to it.

 

[jogresh]

The issue is where would he get this bird?

The mighty SIBERIAN-NECKED CHICKATIT?

Didn't Olaf give hints that he was going to have a go for this and had some good gen?

 

[dantheman]

I know...
Trust me; go with the number further down on the right.

EDIT: Laura and John got their Ross's Gull today, too.

But Christian didn't ... http://www.thebirdingproject.com/blog/2016/10/7/above-the-arctic-circle


wrt Olaf 'hiding' birds ... he certainly had an aborted attempt at the Chickadee (weather meant he couldn't go) earlier on - I'm not sure any of us should really be logging his movements that closely but he may have had an opportunity to head off into the wilds for a staked out bird at some far out location with a private charter spruce goose thing in amongst his comings and goings? Perhaps, but otherwise ...

 

[Nutcracker]

Is Spruce Goose tickable under ABA rules, though?

 

[dantheman]

Seaplane - that's the word I couldn't think of earlier ...

 

[Paul Chapman]

Flesh-footed Shearwater added by John:-

http://www.birdingfordevils.com/

All the best

 

[trptjoe]

Blue-footed Booby for Olaf and Christian; Buller's Shearwater for Christian.

Joe

 

[NYCbirder]

So with 75 or so days remaining, it appears to be 769 vs 766, with John still having a couple of gettable birds and Olaf relying on rarities, right? Does someone have an update of which birds John has that Olaf doesn't and vice versa?

 

[Vague Bird News]

Didn't Olaf give hints that he was going to have a go for this and had some good gen?

Yes, yes he did. It's my belief that he possibly saw one, possibly in some trees. I cannot reveal at this point why I believe this.

 

[trptjoe]

Yes, yes he did. It's my belief that he possibly saw one, possibly in some trees. I cannot reveal at this point why I believe this.

Interesting; I haven't heard anything about that. Which isn't to say you're not right. I've not heard that he's given that one a try.

Here's the updated "By Code" list, which makes it easy to see the comparisons.

Joe

 

[Paul Chapman]

Olaf's blog post on Blue-footed Booby:-

http://olafsbigyear.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/my-clown-car-and-me.html

All the best