My new lifer list - advice please and musings! (1 Viewer)

[Julie50]

Hi all,

I am redoing my Lifer List and would like your input and advice.

Firstly I like a paper and pen list - no online, excel etc tips please - I know it would be easier, better, more useful etc. But it’s just not for me!

My old list is literally that, although in theory alphabetical, I started it before I knew much so e.g. Little egret is under “L” and Great White under “G”.

This time I am planning to write down all the birds I might see - I have a new ring-bound A4 book Then add next to them where I have seen them, I know I should probably do when, but haven’t so far and it would take far too long to go back through all my day books - but then again I might leave space for that!…………

I am using the RSPB Britain’s Birds as my guide - happy for you to argue this choice amongst yourselves lol - but this is my choice! So it starts with “Wildfowl” and although this will probably go next to last for my list, with woodpeckers last, it has raised some interesting questions.

Do I have a separate section in each main section for “very rare”, “introduced” and “escapees“, put them in an “others” category or not bother?

What to do about sub-species? There are 3 listed for Brent geese!

Totally alphabetical within each main section, e.g. pochard would be away from red-crested pochard which would be next to red-breasted merganser, or do I put the Pochards, teals etc. together?

All ideas considered, the more the merrier! Looking at “water birds” now

 

[Julie50]

So my partner’s just thrown a spanner in the works by suggesting index cards and a nice container - I feel a search of a well known internet site with which I have “prime” coming on………..


Still interested in your thoughts though!

 

[Farnboro John]

Index cards are good, and kind of future proofed against the vagaries of taxonomy: if a bird moves from say Egretta to Ardea, just move the card with a strike-through of the scientific name. You can always leave a blank card in Egretta with a note confirming the move and new location.

The RSPB Book of British Birds is a noddy book for non-birders. Bad choice. Better, would be to download the British List from the BOU website and use that as the basis for your thought, whether ticking off on the list itself or using it to order your index cards. And while you're at it, order a copy of the Collins Guide prior to consigning the RSPB book to a charity shop.

As far as rarity or otherwise is concerned, each bird counts once on each list, so I would ignore it for the purposes of sectioning the list - just stick with taxonomy. All three Brent Geese go on the same card. They are just sub-species.

The alphabet is not your friend. Forget it.

You will find any system not based on what normal birders do to be inadequate, inconsistent with what you see on BF (if that matters to you) and ultimately frustrating.

John

 

[Julie50]

Thanks for the input - will definitely go for index cards And have a think about order and categorisation - would have to be common names for me (at least at the start), but will add Genus and Species to it.

I have a Collins in my Birding Rucksack- what can I say - it’s in the car!

Thanks again

 

[Richard D]

I haven't listed in 20 odd years, although when the county ornithological society restarted their database I did start submitting sightings to that (unarguably more useful in terms of conservation). Consequently my life list is what I can remember (so probably a few gaps...).

Index cards sound a good idea - be prepared for the odd name change and either lumping or splitting of species, so it probably is worth noting subspecies on the main card.

What you choose to do about escapees is entirely up to you - unless you're competatively listing, you're the jusge and jury of what counts!

Guide book wise the Collin's is the best illustrated guide and Wild Guide's Britain's Birds the best photo guide - personally I like having both.

I'm planning on starting a year list tomorrow for the first time in over two decades, whether I keep it up or not remains to be seen.

 

[Julie50]

Thanks - I could do a Year Index as well………..

 

[Green Sandpiper]

I'm always of the opinion that its each of our individual lists, and we should choose what works best for us individually. The index card thing sounds good, as it would allow you to include lots of other information as well. My recommendation would be trial and error, see what works best for you as time goes by.

Good luck!

 

[Julie50]

Thanks - cards are coming on Tuesday!

Bought lots so am wondering about other life forms also!

Got a new day records book I’m going to start tomorrow at Brandon Marsh then Monday at Upton Warren

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

You’ve reminded me I need to sort my list out Julie. I think I’ve only got it on my Collins App.

Rich

 

[Mike Crawley]

I think index cards are a great idea.
The current taxonomic order would be how I would order it, if I followed this route.
I’d use Collins Bird Guide, decent copies should be hitting the second hand book shops now the new version is out.

I would record the name, where and the date too (important in my humble opinion)
Maybe you could include “year list” notes too

Interesting topic

 

[Julie50]

Thanks both - I will definitely try to add dates to as many records as I can!

The cards are big enough - so could add Year info to those rather than have a different set, thanks Rich and Mike.

 

[Mysticete]

Index cards are good, and kind of future proofed against the vagaries of taxonomy: if a bird moves from say Egretta to Ardea, just move the card with a strike-through of the scientific name. You can always leave a blank card in Egretta with a note confirming the move and new location.

The RSPB Book of British Birds is a noddy book for non-birders. Bad choice. Better, would be to download the British List from the BOU website and use that as the basis for your thought, whether ticking off on the list itself or using it to order your index cards. And while you're at it, order a copy of the Collins Guide prior to consigning the RSPB book to a charity shop.

As far as rarity or otherwise is concerned, each bird counts once on each list, so I would ignore it for the purposes of sectioning the list - just stick with taxonomy. All three Brent Geese go on the same card. They are just sub-species.

The alphabet is not your friend. Forget it.

You will find any system not based on what normal birders do to be inadequate, inconsistent with what you see on BF (if that matters to you) and ultimately frustrating.

John

I would second the suggestion of using the BOU checklist. Besides providing up-to-date taxonomy, this list also uses a category system. Category A and B birds are naturally occurring species of various degrees of rarity, while Category C species are introduced species with self-sustaining populations. My general sense is that most birders would feel comfortable counting in there list anything in these three categories. I would just place them in the proper order as indicated in the list, rather than separating them out.

It's not a bad idea to all keep track of other escapees and populations of introduced species that are not yet considered established (I do), but I keep such records separate from my life list and they don't count for the total.

For subspecies, there are a lot of dubious subspecies or subspecies that are probably not field identifiable. I'd only keep track of distinctive ones. If you want a list of distinctive subspecies, the subspecies groups listed in Clements/Ebird taxonomy is a useful starting point.

 

[Julie50]

Thank you Mysticete.

 

[PelomyLemony]

Hi all,

I am redoing my Lifer List and would like your input and advice.

Firstly I like a paper and pen list - no online, excel etc tips please - I know it would be easier, better, more useful etc. But it’s just not for me!

My old list is literally that, although in theory alphabetical, I started it before I knew much so e.g. Little egret is under “L” and Great White under “G”.

This time I am planning to write down all the birds I might see - I have a new ring-bound A4 book Then add next to them where I have seen them, I know I should probably do when, but haven’t so far and it would take far too long to go back through all my day books - but then again I might leave space for that!…………

I am using the RSPB Britain’s Birds as my guide - happy for you to argue this choice amongst yourselves lol - but this is my choice! So it starts with “Wildfowl” and although this will probably go next to last for my list, with woodpeckers last, it has raised some interesting questions.

Do I have a separate section in each main section for “very rare”, “introduced” and “escapees“, put them in an “others” category or not bother?

What to do about sub-species? There are 3 listed for Brent geese!

Totally alphabetical within each main section, e.g. pochard would be away from red-crested pochard which would be next to red-breasted merganser, or do I put the Pochards, teals etc. together?

All ideas considered, the more the merrier! Looking at “water birds” now

I keep my list in paper form. Front of book is year lists and at back I have life list. Also at back I have 'Appendices' for birds not included in life or year lists. Such as escapees, hybrids, interesting morphs (I.e. albino, leusotic forms etc), heard only birds and others. These lists follow a rule system I have devised which I have written right at the front. I'll add some photos. I wouldnt follow exactly like this as having some issues atm with categorising sub species in my list.

 

[Paul Freestone]

I keep my list in paper form. Front of book is year lists and at back I have life list. Also at back I have 'Appendices' for birds not included in life or year lists. Such as escapees, hybrids, interesting morphs (I.e. albino, leusotic forms etc), heard only birds and others. These lists follow a rule system I have devised which I have written right at the front. I'll add some photos. I wouldnt follow exactly like this as having some issues atm with categorising sub species in my list.

Same here. Year lists throughout with a section for year lifers, then life list in the back.

 

[Julie50]

Thanks both. Just had a birthday 😄 So attached is my proposed card filling system. I think I‘m going English names on one side and Latin on the other!

Also the array of books I have used “in the field” to list my sightings.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

A belated Happy Birthday Julie. 🎉🎉🎉

 

[Bewick]

Hi all,

Hi all,

I am redoing my Lifer List and would like your input and advice.

Firstly I like a paper and pen list - no online, excel etc tips please - I know it would be easier, better, more useful etc. But it’s just not for me!

My old list is literally that, although in theory alphabetical, I started it before I knew much so e.g. Little egret is under “L” and Great White under “G”.

This time I am planning to write down all the birds I might see - I have a new ring-bound A4 book Then add next to them where I have seen them, I know I should probably do when, but haven’t so far and it would take far too long to go back through all my day books - but then again I might leave space for that!…………

I am using the RSPB Britain’s Birds as my guide - happy for you to argue this choice amongst yourselves lol - but this is my choice! So it starts with “Wildfowl” and although this will probably go next to last for my list, with woodpeckers last, it has raised some interesting questions.

Do I have a separate section in each main section for “very rare”, “introduced” and “escapees“, put them in an “others” category or not bother?

What to do about sub-species? There are 3 listed for Brent geese!

Totally alphabetical within each main section, e.g. pochard would be away from red-crested pochard which would be next to red-breasted merganser, or do I put the Pochards, teals etc. together?

All ideas considered, the more the merrier! Looking at “water birds” now

This might be a dumb question but what’s this about? A list of birds you’ve already seen? Or birds you want to?

 

[Mysticete]

It's a list of all of the birds you have seen, or at least all birds you have seen since a specific date.

 

[Julie50]

So I have mused for a few months! I have gone for June 2017 as my start date, as that is when I first started writing down birds with confirmed ID. Annoyingly this misses a short-eared owl seen at the Roaches before I started birding seriously and somewhat less so the golden eagles I used to see on family holidays to Arran, amongst others! Also annoyingly for the first couple of years I did not write down the exact date sighted, I added them to a place list - all that changed on 15th August 2019 when I saw spoonbills, Buff-breasted sandpiper, long-billed dowitcher and black-necked grebe - what a day! I have collated all my sightings which, having discounted the black swan and pheasant, gives me a list of 137. I think I am going for the format pictured, but again am having another muse!