Atlas listing (2 Viewers)

[Mary]

Is this correct?

I was under the impression the 4 years is designed to cover all Tetrads once, not to continue to survey the same squares up to 4 times?

In other words, once a square's had its 2 x Winter & 2 x Summer surveys I thought that survey was completed.

I could be wrong of course?

I was meaning Roving Records, Alan. I'm concentrating on getting breeding evidence of the 'easier' species this year, to get into the swing of it. Then can concentrate on others in future years. What you say does apply to Timed visits, as far as I know.

 

[Pete Mella]

Has anyone else noticed dodgy records in the summary data for their 10km squares?

I was looking at the square summary for this 10km square and noticed that the species list included Eider, Red-throated diver and Sandwich Tern.

I suppose anything is possible, but these species seem very unlikely in a square that is 25km inland with no significant waterbodies.

I don't envy the atlas organisers having to sift these things out and it makes you wonder how many other records have been wrongly posted that might not be obvious.

I was surprised to see a stone-curlew recorded overhead on a square I keep adding roving records to - I was embarrassed to find it was actually me who'd recorded it the day before, submitting a lot of entries at once and accidentally clicking on "stone-curlew" on the drop down list instead of "curlew". |:$| It has of course been changed now...

 

[Capercaillie71]

Where on the website do you find the summary for the 10km squares?-can't seem to locate it on the Atlas website and I would be interested to see what has been found in areas around where I surveyed

Hi Mark,

When you log into the atlas website, the box at the right hand side (called 'Your Atlas Options') has an option called 'Square Summaries'. Click on this and it provides a list of squares that you have entered data for (TTV or roving records). You can then click on any of these squares to see a list of species recorded and the highest level of breeding evidence.

One thing that has surprised me is that some people have entered large numbers of species for some squares but haven't bothered to enter any breeding codes. At the very least most of these could have an 'H' entered for them.

 

[Surreybirder]

Hi Mark,


One thing that has surprised me is that some people have entered large numbers of species for some squares but haven't bothered to enter any breeding codes. At the very least most of these could have an 'H' entered for them.

I've noticed this too. But you are not supposed to enter summer records unless the birds are in breeding habitat, so I suppose an H is assumed.

 

[Surreybirder]

I trust you filled in your roving records with a geordie accent!

I thought that one of the skuas said something about the 'reet canny weather' but I wouldn't dare try and write anything in a Geordie accent, even though I got married in Newcastle I'm definitely a foreigner.

If you've seen the skuas and shearwaters at Big Waters, I think you've done very well.

Are you taking the Mikey?? I did see lots of tree sparrows there though, which is a nice treat for a southerner.

 

[Surreybirder]

Has anyone else noticed dodgy records in the summary data for their 10km squares?

I was looking at the square summary for this 10km square and noticed that the species list included Eider, Red-throated diver and Sandwich Tern.

I suppose anything is possible, but these species seem very unlikely in a square that is 25km inland with no significant waterbodies.

I don't envy the atlas organisers having to sift these things out and it makes you wonder how many other records have been wrongly posted that might not be obvious.

Hi, Caper,
I don't know how it works on a national level, but in Surrey all the records will be vetted by someone who knows the area well. (I'm responsible for my 10Kms square for example). And Surrey rarities will be vetted by the records committee of the Surrey Bird Club. I am a bit dubious about one or two records in TQ34 but I'm keeping an open mind until I've had a chance to find out more about the observers and how confident they are.
Ken

PS Sorry, I've not got the hang of this multiquote business :C

 

[Daffyduck]

Hi,

I have two organic hen farms near me - I ve tried to enter "Hen" but it will not accept it in the TTV - does anyone know what I should use? Thanks!
Tina

 

[Surreybirder]

The species is red jungle-fowl but I don't know whether the BTO are interested in them or not!
Ken

 

[Capercaillie71]

The species is red jungle-fowl but I don't know whether the BTO are interested in them or not!

Probably not! I think they are interested in exotic species living wild (black swan etc.), but I doubt if there are any genuinely wild-living chickens in the British Isles.

Otherwise I could have put in a roving record of this occupied nest in my garden!

Edit: Just realised this photo could break the birdforum rules on nest photos!

 

[Capercaillie71]

Otherwise I could have put in a roving record of this occupied nest in my garden!

I also saw an ostrich on one of my timed tetrad visits. I didn't count that either!

 

[Daffyduck]

great thanks! Its just I saw a post somewhere else the other day which included some birds from a zoo! and hence why I queried it! I will just stick to the "normal" wild stuff.....
Tina

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I haven't posted much on here during the summer Atlas visits. I have been heartened by the number of squares in which I have had Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Corn Bunting. It is also clear just how widespread Buzzard have become on the Fylde.

Today on a small pool in the middle of nowhere I had 4 Green Sandpipers. Whilst tetrad work isn't about the uncommon birds it is always nice to see something unusual when surveying.

Stephen.

 

[Surreybirder]

Good to know that you have those species... yellowhammer are scarce here and I've not seen the other two in Surrey except many years ago.
I also saw green and common sand yesterday - bringing my tetrad up to 80 species.
Ken

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I thought it would be worth resurrecting this thread and seeing if anybody is still doing tetrads in this second year.

I have done three tetrads around Blackpool in the last couple of days. Some nice local birds including Treecreeper, Jay, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk and best of all a pair of Stonechats which whilst not rare by any means were in an unpreposessing area of rough ground within a few hundred yards of my house.

Stephen.

 

[Surreybirder]

Hi, Stephen,
I admire your energy! I did a tetrad this a.m. and it took me nearly three hours (as I had to walk to the starting point). It was a bit frustrating as I could see lots of movement among the leaves without being able to pin down the IDs in many cases. I ended up with 33 species after two hours. Nothing unusual but it was nice to hear a few siskins and see a couple of kingfishers, bullfinches, goldfinches etc. Of those you mention I only saw grey wagtails.
I'll do another tetrad next time I have a free day with reasonable weather.
Ken

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Hi, Stephen,
I admire your energy! I did a tetrad this a.m. and it took me nearly three hours (as I had to walk to the starting point). It was a bit frustrating as I could see lots of movement among the leaves without being able to pin down the IDs in many cases. I ended up with 33 species after two hours. Nothing unusual but it was nice to hear a few siskins and see a couple of kingfishers, bullfinches, goldfinches etc. Of those you mention I only saw grey wagtails.
I'll do another tetrad next time I have a free day with reasonable weather.
Ken

Ken,

I would love to see Bullfinch during a TTV, as there are barely any on the Fylde coast.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[davercox]

Blimey you guys are quick off the mark. Trying to get some Swallows into a "winter" TTV ?

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Blimey you guys are quick off the mark. Trying to get some Swallows into a "winter" TTV ?

Dave,

No, I have got nearly 50 squares to do so I think it helps to take advantage of suitable weather when you get it.

You raise an interesting point though. There was a post on a local forum where the disappearance of a summer visitor on 31 Oct was highlighted in terms of being unable to include it in the wintering atlas. Given it was never likely to be wintering I don't see why anyone would want to include it.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Stewart J.]

Good to see this thread again, did one TTV yesterday and another this afternoon in glorious sunshine. Suprise find 650+ Golden Plover in a field in the shadow of Hadrians Wall.

ATB

Stewart

 

[davercox]

No, I have got nearly 50 squares to do so I think it helps to take advantage of suitable weather when you get it.

You raise an interesting point though. There was a post on a local forum where the disappearance of a summer visitor on 31 Oct was highlighted in terms of being unable to include it in the wintering atlas. Given it was never likely to be wintering I don't see why anyone would want to include it.

Stephen

Nearly 50 !? Wow, respect.:clap:

Re summer visitors, I guess the point would be that, with climate change or whatever, some species might start wintering in Britain or Ireland in the future; and past Atlas records could be of interest then. Depends on the species, of course, if indeed "it was never likely to be wintering" then you're right.