Two people break 10,000 species, and on the same day? Can it be? (5 Viewers)

[James Lowther]

These include the following near-mythical species: Bornean Crestless Fireback, Malayan Crested Argus, Manipur Bush Quail, New Caledonian Nightjar, Bare-legged Swiftlet, Buff-breasted Sabrewing, Nubian Bustard, Purple-winged Ground-dove, Colombian Crake, Zapata Rail, Auckland Rail, Talaud Rail, Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Sulawesi Woodcock, Jerdon's Courser, Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Albertine Owlet, Shelley's Eagle-Owl, Manus Dwarf Kingfisher, New Ireland Dwarf Kingfisher, Niam-niam Parrot, Blue-fronted Lorikeet, Red-throated Lorikeet, White-naped Lory, Tachira Antpitta, Stresemann's Bristlefront, Taliabu Myzomela, Rotuma Myzomela, Papuan Whipbird, Western Wattled Cuckooshrike, Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike, Sooty Shrikethrush, Taliabu Fantail, Vanikoro Monarch, Ogea Monarch, (Iranian Ground Jay), Kordofan Lark, Sassi's Olive Greenbul, (Nauru Reed Warbler), Taliabu Bush Warbler, Dusky Tetraka, Namuli Apalis, Kangean Tit-babbler, Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler, (Bahama Nuthatch), (White-browed Nuthatch), Cozumel Thrasher, Pohnpei Starling, (Javan Pied Myna), Rufous-breasted Blue Flycatcher, Spectacled Flowerpecker, Afghan Snowfinch, Zarudny's Sparrow, Bates's Weaver, Cinnamon Weaver, Yellow-capped Weaver, Ibadan Malimbe, Red Weaver, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Anambra Waxbill, Jambandu Indigobird, Guadalupe Junco, Grey-crowned Palm-Tanager, Selva Cacique, White-faced Whitestart, Guaiquinima Whitestart, Carrizal Seedeater, Duida Grass Finch, Scaled Flowerpiercer, Black Robin, Blackthroat.

Out of interest, how many of those species would PK have seen?
Cheers
James

 

[Owene]

I just did a quick google of Jason Mann birds and there is nothing apart from things emanating from the mannikin tours posts and this thread apart from one reference in 2010 to him finding a new bird for peru

 

[Jos Stratford]

The lists can be found here:These include the following near-mythical species: Bornean Crestless Fireback, Malayan Crested Argus, Manipur Bush Quail, New Caledonian Nightjar, Bare-legged Swiftlet, Buff-breasted Sabrewing, Nubian Bustard, Purple-winged Ground-dove, Colombian Crake, Zapata Rail, Auckland Rail, Talaud Rail, Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Sulawesi Woodcock, Jerdon's Courser, Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Albertine Owlet, Shelley's Eagle-Owl, Manus Dwarf Kingfisher, New Ireland Dwarf Kingfisher, Niam-niam Parrot, Blue-fronted Lorikeet, Red-throated Lorikeet, White-naped Lory, Tachira Antpitta, Stresemann's Bristlefront, Taliabu Myzomela, Rotuma Myzomela, Papuan Whipbird, Western Wattled Cuckooshrike, Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike, Sooty Shrikethrush, Taliabu Fantail, Vanikoro Monarch, Ogea Monarch, (Iranian Ground Jay), Kordofan Lark, Sassi's Olive Greenbul, (Nauru Reed Warbler), Taliabu Bush Warbler, Dusky Tetraka, Namuli Apalis, Kangean Tit-babbler, Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler, (Bahama Nuthatch), (White-browed Nuthatch), Cozumel Thrasher, Pohnpei Starling, (Javan Pied Myna), Rufous-breasted Blue Flycatcher, Spectacled Flowerpecker, Afghan Snowfinch, Zarudny's Sparrow, Bates's Weaver, Cinnamon Weaver, Yellow-capped Weaver, Ibadan Malimbe, Red Weaver, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Anambra Waxbill, Jambandu Indigobird, Guadalupe Junco, Grey-crowned Palm-Tanager, Selva Cacique, White-faced Whitestart, Guaiquinima Whitestart, Carrizal Seedeater, Duida Grass Finch, Scaled Flowerpiercer, Black Robin, Blackthroat.

All the above mentioned species are extremely rare, virtually no one in the world has seen them.

One of them isn't very rare and, though localised even within Iran, can be seen moderately easily ...Iranian (Pleske's) Ground Jay - even I have seen on three separate trips

However if he is on an American passport, getting a visa would have been problematic (impossible for independent visit, difficult but possible if he was on a tour organised by an official tourist company)

 

[dantheman]

Perhaps this thread will help break the stranglehold that the eponyms debate has on the site?

Hoping for an even bigger controversy?

;-)

 

[Sangahyando]

One of them isn't very rare and, though localised even within Iran, can be seen moderately easily ...Iranian (Pleske's) Ground Jay - even I have seen on three separate trips

Still, that is a very long list of dodgy ticks...

 

[Maffong]

I compiled the list using my list of "Inaccessible species". Not all of these are completely impossible, I put those in brackets, which I deem actually possible (but on the list)

 

[dantheman]

... the Manakin Tours post did say he'd visited 190 countries, it's implied he had money (lots of tours and private guided birding along the way?), and perhaps he did hire lots of helicopters etc etc ...

(Doesn't change the odds that much in his favour in some respects). It did say in that article he went up 'alone' to reach his 10,000th bird. I assume the 10,001st species photographed is a stock photo from Mannakin rather one he took ...

As they say, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence ...

 

[wintibird]

I compiled the list using my list of "Inaccessible species". Not all of these are completely impossible, I put those in brackets, which I deem actually possible (but on the list)

Sooty Shrikethrush is now available in PNG along a new road from Tabubil to Telefomin.

 

[Maffong]

I just double-checked. I'm quite surprised by the number of these that Peter also claims:
Zapata Rail, Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Jerdon's Courser, Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Albertine Owlet, Western Wattled Cuckooshrike, Sooty Shrikethrush, Dusky Tetraka, Bahama Nuthatch, Cozumel Thrasher, Afghan Snowfinch, Ibadan Malimbe, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Red Weaver, Jambandu Indigobird, Grey-crowned Palm-tanager and Blackthroat.
Almost all of these seem in the kinda believable range, but two stick out to me: the Buttonquail and the Tetraka.

 

[qwerty5]

I just double-checked. I'm quite surprised by the number of these that Peter also claims:
Zapata Rail, Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Jerdon's Courser, Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Albertine Owlet, Western Wattled Cuckooshrike, Sooty Shrikethrush, Dusky Tetraka, Bahama Nuthatch, Cozumel Thrasher, Afghan Snowfinch, Ibadan Malimbe, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Red Weaver, Jambandu Indigobird, Grey-crowned Palm-tanager and Blackthroat.
Almost all of these seem in the kinda believable range, but two stick out to me: the Buttonquail and the Tetraka.

Dusky Tetraka was reported to eBird last January, with photos and detailed comments.

 

[Jim M.]

That's a good article. Good for the reputation of the hobby, conservation etc.

The title "Best Birdwatcher in the World" (referring to Mann) is ridiculous though. There is little correlation between number of ticks and birding skill.

 

[Mysticete]

The title "Best Birdwatcher in the World" (referring to Mann) is ridiculous though. There is little correlation between number of ticks and birding skill.

Indeed. If you gave the resources and time to many of the people on this forum, I bet they could hit 10,000 without much problem. Probably faster even!

 

[Jim M.]

I just double-checked. I'm quite surprised by the number of these that Peter also claims:
Zapata Rail, Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Jerdon's Courser, Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Albertine Owlet, Western Wattled Cuckooshrike, Sooty Shrikethrush, Dusky Tetraka, Bahama Nuthatch, Cozumel Thrasher, Afghan Snowfinch, Ibadan Malimbe, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Red Weaver, Jambandu Indigobird, Grey-crowned Palm-tanager and Blackthroat.
Almost all of these seem in the kinda believable range, but two stick out to me: the Buttonquail and the Tetraka.

Not sure if you are aware, but PK had become the first person to see a representative of every bird family in the world by 1986. And he was in the U.S. foreign service with diplomatic postings all over the globe. So just because a bird has been inaccessible this century, or is not accessible to the general birding public, wouldn't mean it would be inaccessible to him.

 

[Sangahyando]

I just double-checked. I'm quite surprised by the number of these that Peter also claims:
Zapata Rail, Buff-breasted Buttonquail, Jerdon's Courser, Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Albertine Owlet, Western Wattled Cuckooshrike, Sooty Shrikethrush, Dusky Tetraka, Bahama Nuthatch, Cozumel Thrasher, Afghan Snowfinch, Ibadan Malimbe, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Red Weaver, Jambandu Indigobird, Grey-crowned Palm-tanager and Blackthroat.
Almost all of these seem in the kinda believable range, but two stick out to me: the Buttonquail and the Tetraka.

I thought Cozumel Thrasher was considered extinct, or is it one of his older records?

Indeed. If you gave the resources and time to many of the people on this forum, I bet they could hit 10,000 without much problem. Probably faster even!

And there are also many excellent birders who're not on this forum. I doubt it's even possible to narrow the title of "best birdwatcher" down to one person or even a small group.

 

[angusmcoatup]

Hoping for an even bigger controversy?

;-)

Could be twice as spicy- Kaestner has an Antpitta named after him.

Cundinamarca antpitta - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Mysticete]

He's not on eBird either - just checked New Caledonian Nightjar, while he doesn't appear on the recent lists for Colibri del Sol ProAves reserve, where he reportedly broke the 10,000 barrier.
I think birders can sometimes be a little too quick to judge those who aren't 'known', but would agree some of these records do seem extraordinary, and would've expected to have been reported and examined.

Indeed. If you are reporting species that haven't been seen or recorded in a half a century, those records need to be properly verified and information given to the proper authorities. Not to let other people twitch them, but to actually make sure the habitat is properly protected and to allow scientists to get data that they can use to monitor the species.

 

[pppppvvvv]

The title "Best Birdwatcher in the World" (referring to Mann) is ridiculous though. There is little correlation between number of ticks and birding skill.

yes, and to be honest, I despise of most things that try to turn our hobby into some kind of sport, except along the lines of a personal challenge. It doesn't need it. But the article read well.

 

[Mysticete]

I thought Cozumel Thrasher was considered extinct, or is it one of his older records?

If he has been birding for a long time he could have gotten this (and the Bahama Nuthatch, which is probably also extinct), Although that would have been ideally before 1988 in the case of the thrasher.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Indeed. If you gave the resources and time to many of the people on this forum, I bet they could hit 10,000 without much problem. Probably faster even!

I do find the denigration of such achievements astonishing. I can only marvel at the endurance and efforts to achieve such a species total. Also presumably, with a bit of effort, one could just look up the checklists....

Personally, I suspect that very few could replicate such an effort. I know a few people quite well with very large 8,000/9,000+ lists and to be blunt, I suspect that I could not match any of them!

All the best

Paul

 

[DMW]

I thought Cozumel Thrasher was considered extinct, or is it one of his older records?


And there are also many excellent birders who're not on this forum. I doubt it's even possible to narrow the title of "best birdwatcher" down to one person or even a small group.

I'm pretty sure he would have seen Cozumel Thrasher back in the day.

Regarding other birders, I'd be interested to know what Frank Lambert's list is. He's sound-recorded an extraordinary number of species, let alone seen. I wouldn't be surprised if he's actually the highest lister.