Atlas listing (1 Viewer)

[CornishExile]

TTV around my local patch yesterday - work, Christmas and foul weather have all conspired to push it this late. A solid (for here) midwinter 22 species, although missing some birds I just know are here - Twite most annoyingly, as I normally guarantee them, and almost as irritating, I couldn't stumble on the Water Rail that's wintering in our neighbour's kale yard.

Highlights (and this gives you some idea of how slow midwinter birding can be here!) were 19 Long-tailed Ducks and a Dunlin. Pleasant surprises were the numbers of waders feeding around the place - 64 Turnstone, 20 Curlew, 17 Redshank - but didn't get lucky with a stray Purple Sand or two (their regular beaches are outside of this tetrad, so they go in as Roving Records), and a mere single Snipe flushed from the cliff edge - daft, as this is prime Snipe habitat, and the place is heaving with them.

Another TTV to do this morning... this one will be less exciting, involving acres of heathery hill. Might get Greylag or Red Grouse, but either would need a generous dose of good fortune.

ce

 

[Surreybirder]

What a different world you inhabit, Cornish Exile... nearly all the ones you mention would be amazing round here! The only waders I've had so far were green sand and woodcock - not even a lapwing!
Three woodpecker sp. and three owl sp. on my home tetrad now, which is probably all I'll get during the 4 years.
Ken

 

[Jane Turner]

I had an entertaining but damp couple of hours exploring a new tetrad this week. I attracted the attentions of some young heffers/bullocks that got a little too close for comfort on a number of occasions. I also gathered a large herd of cows (200) on a bat survey in a different area in the summer


31 species, with much the best being a soggy Peregrine sat in the middle of a field. The other good bird was Tree Sparrow. It looks good for quite a few breeding species. Disturbing number of electric fences and ditches though.

 

[Hugh Addlesee]

Having just joined BF, I hadn’t seen this thread before. I fully agree with those who’ve said how rewarding Atlas work can be, particularly in exploring new places and taking more notice of commoner species. That, along with the overall value of the project, is why I’m a bit miffed that I haven’t been able to do more timed tetrad visits than the two that I have done. The reason that I haven’t signed up for more tetrads is the necessity of a second visit in the same season. While I’ve had a fair amount of spare time of late, during which I’d have happily done a lot more TTVs, I couldn’t be certain that I’d continue to have so much time available, or indeed that I would be staying in the same area. Moreover, just because I’m willing to go somewhere once - eg. because I could combine a TTV with doing a particular hill or somesuch – doesn’t necessarily mean that I’d be keen to commit myself to visiting the same tetrad again a month or two later. For those reasons, I’d rather there was a much more flexible system, whereby I could head out and survey a tetrad as and when I wanted, with no tetrad reservation system. OK, this would probably result in some duplication, particularly due to the use of paper records (fairly low, in any case, I would hope), but so what? – a set of results could be picked at random (with preference given to 2-hour visits), with the duplicates providing roving records and possibly some sort of data validation. Also, unless there are particular problems of having different surveyors for the same tetrad that I’m failing to appreciate, then that would allow one observer to pick up where another left off. It’s already clear from this thread that some observers are not exactly thrilled by the prospect of a second visit, so why force them into it? I accept that this might lead to some tetrads only being visited once in a season throughout the 4 years, but surely this data could still be incorporated somehow, and tetrads that had already been surveyed once could also be promoted on the website. I would bet that my system would result in better coverage, particularly of relatively unpopulated areas. Folk could do the odd tetrad on holiday in the Highlands, for example.

On the subject of the two visits per season, is there supposed to be a difference between the early and late winter visits in terms of what the data means? I suspect that the results from a late December survey around here (and many other places) are likely to be a lot more similar to those from February than they are to those from November, particularly in a year like this when there’s just been a very cold spell which has certainly caused a lot of birds to shift from inland areas.

Another thing I’m not clear about is whether the date of roving records makes a difference ie. are they assigned to early winter, late winter etc.? In which case, do the species lists go blank again in a few days time, perhaps to reappear on a yearly cycle?!

Just one more comment: I fully agree with whoever wanted an automated converter from grid refs to tetrads. In fact, it would make it more straightforward to enter roving records, and perhaps reduce errors, if they could be entered online with grid refs alone.

Incidentally (and more in keeping with the origin of the thread!), my highlight from a spot of roving recording this afternoon was a flock of 1000 or so Siskins, by far the biggest flock I’ve ever seen.

PS. Despite my gripes, I’m still very keen on the Atlas project and grateful for the work of the BTO – I just feel I could contribute more if the system was different.

 

[Surreybirder]

Just one more comment: I fully agree with whoever wanted an automated converter from grid refs to tetrads. In fact, it would make it more straightforward to enter roving records, and perhaps reduce errors, if they could be entered online with grid refs alone.

.

I think that might have been me! I have since discovered the facility on the Atlas website to call up a map of any given tetrad, which at least helps confirm that you've got it right.
Go to: http://blx1.bto.org/atlas/
Home > Bird Atlas > Taking part > Grid references
and fill in the little form about halfway down the page (under the headline: Can I view or print a tetrad map online?). I was confused at first because the GR doesn't seem to correspond to the tetrad but I now realise that the GR is that for the middle of the tetrad, so all is well.

 

[ikw101]

I think that might have been me! I have since discovered the facility on the Atlas website to call up a map of any given tetrad, which at least helps confirm that you've got it right.
Go to: http://blx1.bto.org/atlas/
Home > Bird Atlas > Taking part > Grid references
and fill in the little form about halfway down the page (under the headline: Can I view or print a tetrad map online?). I was confused at first because the GR doesn't seem to correspond to the tetrad but I now realise that the GR is that for the middle of the tetrad, so all is well.

This is really confusing. After entering sightings via birdtrack for the past couple of years or so re-defining sites to tetrads is really complicated especially when you can't see an overlay of tetrads within the adjacent area ( eg. 10km ). I tried the above link - definitely a step in the right direction, however instead of "Press the button to be taken to the Ordnance Survey Get-a-Map facility with a window showing just the tetrad you specified" a window showing all the adjacent tetrads would be a lot more helpful. Perhaps I'm missing an obscure link somewhere? The shaded area method of defining sites is practically impossible to use if your original site includes 3 or 4 1 km squares. A simple overlay would be so much easier.

 

[Surreybirder]

Bird Atlas home > Area choice > Region choice > 10km coverage > Tetrad
might help

 

[Mike Cook]

Bird Atlas home > Area choice > Region choice > 10km coverage > Tetrad
might help

Or, if you are looking at the tetrad displayed in the OS Get-a-map window, in the 'Zoom and navigate' section to the left of the map, click largest white circle, down and left of the plus sign. Instead of seeing just your tetrad, you'll see your tetrad plus an extra km all round. The map will be different because it will be the 1:50,000 sheet instead of the 1:25,000 sheet.

Is this any help?

Mike

 

[CornishExile]

Another day (a fine one, too), another tetrad (a complete stinker).

The generous dose of good luck I needed to lift this one didn't materialise, and it was even a struggle to get a Shag. Which is saying something... A less than grand total of 13 species. Highlight was the regular flock of Golden Plover (46 birds) - by virtue of being halfway inside a peat bank and hidden from view, I got to experience what it's like to be in the middle of a flying mass of Goldies - they came in to land on the ground a few feet behind me, so I stood up to find plovers mere inches away from me as they flew through. Their wings make an eerie whistling noise close to, in case you wondered.

As for why I was in a peat bank - I was busy seeing the nearest thing to a Snipe I was going to get in the hour - the remains of 4 Snipe, in the entrance to a feral cat's lair. With any luck bad weather in coming weeks will drive it off the hill and towards the houses and outbuildings where I might stand a chance of catching it...

ce

 

[Mike Cook]

Roving Records - 'Counts' field

Counts on Roving Record forms
We've agreed to add counts to Roving Records. The PDF that can be downloaded from the website has already been changed, and in due course (New Year sometime) the online Roving Record data entry system will be changed. The most useful counts will be those of flocks of birds eg Golden Plover, Fieldfare.

For those who, like me, have been complaining about the lack of anywhere to enter counts for roving records,

It's here!

I went to enter a nice little flock of 20 siskins as a roving record today and the 'counts' column exists in the on-line data entry screen.:king:

Dawn, I'm really impressed by the on time delivery of your programmers.

Mike:t:

 

[Kev Rylands]

Dawn/Mark et al,

Apologies if this has already been asked.

I know of several records of birds from my 10km square and other tetrads which have yet to be reported to the atlas or BirdTrack and mopst of them will not get beyond the county recorder.

Should/Can I be adding these as roving records - or are they best left alone/

Cheers and keep up the good work

Kev

 

[ikw101]

Dawn/Mark et al,

and mopst of them will not get beyond the county recorder.

Kev

:eek!: sounds a bit odd. Are you trying to say the County Recorder is vetting people's records before they are included! If this is the case perhaps it's time to name and shame.

Entering your own records direct is relatively easy and I'm sure this is the approach taken by the vast majority.

 

[Mike Cook]

I know of several records of birds from my 10km square and other tetrads which have yet to be reported to the atlas or BirdTrack and mopst of them will not get beyond the county recorder.

Should/Can I be adding these as roving records - or are they best left alone

Are you trying to say the County Recorder is vetting people's records before they are included!

Or are you saying that these are observations by other birders who do not intend to enter sightings on the Atlas web site, only to submit them to their County Recorder? I don't think I'd be happy entering other people's sightings under my name, if that's what you mean.||

Also, I would not expect my County Recorder to enter my Atlas records for me!

Mike:t:

 

[Surreybirder]

Or are you saying that these are observations by other birders who do not intend to enter sightings on the Atlas web site, only to submit them to their County Recorder? I don't think I'd be happy entering other people's sightings under my name, if that's what you mean.||

Also, I would not expect my County Recorder to enter my Atlas records for me!

Mike:t:

I have occasionally entered someone else's record where I was convinced that they knew what they were talking about. There are a lot of people who are knowledgeable about birds but totally outside 'the system'.
Perhaps I should give a couple of examples: a neighbour gave me a very convincing description of an osprey fishing in his ponds a few years back. I wrote out what he said and sent it to my CR. The record was accepted.
And last year I saw a barn owl. One of my neighbours saw one on the same farm a few months later on two occasions, so I entered that into Bird Atlas - I hope to see it again myself!
Ken

 

[StevieEvans]

<snip>........
Also, I would not expect my County Recorder to enter my Atlas records for me!
Mike:t:

Hi Mike
Im pretty sure there'll be a two-way exchange of data in place between BTO & County clubs with an electronic database (especially so for those doing a local atlas) ?
ie, owt the clubs get the bto will get & vice versa...

Vast majority of our Barn owl records come 2nd hand, it would be a waste not to document them - you've obviously got to sort the wheat from the chaff though.

Our local patch rovers are doing well & have turned up at least 95 species this year alone (parts of NZ34/35 - inland).
cheers
SE

 

[Kev Rylands]

:eek!: sounds a bit odd. Are you trying to say the County Recorder is vetting people's records before they are included! If this is the case perhaps it's time to name and shame.

Not at all, although Willow Tit and GoshawK are description breeding species...

Or are you saying that these are observations by other birders who do not intend to enter sightings on the Atlas web site, only to submit them to their County Recorder?

Got the nail on the head :t: Some may not even get to the recorder.

I have submitted 2nd hand records to county recorders, even BBRC on occasion, so have no problem with that - especially if a record is otherwise going to be lost. Just wondered what the protocol was for the atlas - there is no place on the forms to state the records are not mine.

Not sure what is happening re data exchange, but the vast majority of records sent to county recorders do not have grid references, so the sites will need to be defined etc. With 80,000+ records a year in Devon alone I cannot see this happening!!

Cheers
Kev

 

[pipixcan]

Just as an interesting aside, in Sussex we've just had 3 species of egret in the same 10km square on the same day, in neighbouring tetrads in fact - must be some kind of record surely?! It will be very interesting indeed to see the egret results in the finished atlas.

 

[Hugh Addlesee]

Has anybody else tried entering Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), as opposed to Pied/White Wagtail? I did today, & got it queried as rare or scarce! I don't think I made a balls up, but quite possible. Could, though, explain why all the entries seem to be for Pied/White Wagtail on the tetrads I look at.

 

[Dawn Balmer]

Hi Kev

We suggest you only enter your own records. If you know of other species seen in a 10-km square please encourage them to submit to the atlas online, or give them a paper Roving Record form to use (available from BTO).

A record should be traceable to the original observer. Should we need to query a record during validation, then we need to be able to contact the observer.

Hope that helps.

Dawn Balmer

 

[Dawn Balmer]

Hi

The 'Rare and Scare species' message on Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) is a bug that has cropped up since we introduced the counts on Roving Records. We should be able to get this fixed this week.

Pied/White Wagtail is used to cover both yarrellii and alba and also those you are not sure about. There is the option on Roving Records and TTV data entry to enter Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) and White Wagtail (alba) if you are confident of the identification.

On the TTV, go to the end of Page 4 and use the rows to enter additional species/sub species not on the list.

With best wishes
Dawn Balmer