Young Birder (1 Viewer)

[Raptorboy98]

Thanks Joseph, and yes it does seem we are a bit of a rarity . In fact not alot of sites in Scotland are given any recognition, I subscribe to Wildlife and regularly buy Birding Magazines and all the British places to go to are all in England or Wales and when it does rarely include Scotland its always some remote island or mountain Glen. Anyways, enough of my ranting, i have always been interested in wildlife but have only started taking birding seriously, so unfortunately I don't have any lists. And im looking for some suggestions, I have got quite a large garden with a small wood, orchards and fields but unfortunately I only seem to get common birds and buzzards. Luckily though my Dad has given me a bit of the field as a present so Im wondering on how I could use this to attract birds. Maybe flood it for wildfowl? Or plant woodland trees? Create scrub and hedgerows for migrants? Any ideas?

Going to the Guardbridge hide this weekend, so that should yield some results.

Saw a great spotted at the feeder.

27) Great Spotted Woodpecker

Glen

 

[knotsbirder]

As you've already got woodland, I'd be tempted to make a scrape (it will take a lot of hard graft though), with some scrub around the edge and large, tall, thriving hedgerows around the edge of the field.

Sam

 

[knotsbirder]

As you've already got woodland, I'd be tempted to make a scrape (it will take a lot of hard graft though, with some scrub around the edge and large, tall, thriving hedgerows around the edge of the field.

Sam

 

[Raptorboy98]

Thanks Sam, that's probably the best thing to do. Also, saw some more birds at the feeder.

28) Robin
29) Wren
30) Long-tailed tit

 

[Joseph N]

1st) Birding Maniac (UK, Durham) - 259 species
2nd) Armin Kreusel (Germany, Hannover) - 248 species
3rd) Birder of the South (UK, South) - 211 species
4th) Joshua B (Australia, Sydney) – 205 species
5th) Joseph N (UK, Aberdeenshire) - 204 species
6th) Ospr3y (USA) - 204 species
7th) Knotsbirder (UK, Nottinghamshire) - 200 species
8th) Olivierpwl (Poland) - 199 species
9th) Jonny721 (UK, Lancashire) - 193 species
10th) Samuel Perfect (UK, Herts) - 192 species
10th) Simmojunior (UK, London) - 191 species
11th) harpyeagle1 (USA) - 181 species
13th) DIJ (UK, Lincs) - 160 species
14th) Silverstar24 (UK, London) - 136 species
15th) Sandhill Crane Lover (USA) – 120 species
16th) Halcon (Spain) - 114 species
17th) Midlands Birder (UK, Midlands) - 109 species
18th) Mari E (Japan) - 101 species
19th) Mworks (UK, Lancashire) - 96 species
20th) Adin 92 (Malta) - 80 species
21st) Trevistky (Canada) - 65 species
22nd) Goldfinch12 (UK, Lancashire) - 59 species
23rd) Wildlifelove (UK, Essex) - 56 species
24th) Beth598x (UK, South) - 19 species

@Samuel: Have read you'll be in Fife very soon, so will add that Guardbridge is on the Eden Estuary just to the north of St Andrews (towards Leuchars), and can be pretty decent for waders, definitely worth a visit. Would also reccomend the beach at Crail (east of Anstruther, have had a Black Redstart here): Largo Bay for seaducks/grebes and Kinghorn for seawatcing, amongst others. More info on these sites here: http://www.the-soc.org.uk/fife-coast-sites.htm .

Congrats on some good birding on Scilly. Great find on the warbler by the way, had a look at the pics and would be inclined towards Melodious for the reasons outlined in that thread, as well as geographically it would seem a more feasible option.

@Glen: I know what you mean about Scottish birding sites not being mentioned much in birding magazines; they don't often review many coastal mainland sites in mags like Birdwatch/Birdwatching. But it makes sense I suppose, due to how cut off such places are from most of the UK birding populous. Regarding your field idea, I agree entirely with Sam that a scrape would be best, it would likely attract waders and plenty of other stuff as well; where there's water, there's birds .

Joseph

 

[Raptorboy98]

A few birds seen in Leven, then went up to the Guardbridge hide to see what we could find. Highlights were my first ever Kingfisher and an Osprey fishing. Also saw Lapwings, Redshanks, BH Gulls, Buzzard, Curlew, 3 feral Chinese Geese with one Greylag, Cormorants, Goosanders, Magpies, Mute Swans, Whooper Swans, Shoveler and Rooks.

31) Starling
32) Chaffinch
33) Jackdaw
34) Whooper Swan
35) Chinese Goose
36)Greylag Goose
37) Black-headed Gull
38) Curlew
39) Magpie
40) Rook
41) Osprey
42) Kingfisher

 

[Joseph N]

1st) Birding Maniac (UK, Durham) - 259 species
2nd) Armin Kreusel (Germany, Hannover) - 248 species
3rd) Birder of the South (UK, South) - 211 species
4th) Joshua B (Australia, Sydney) – 205 species
5th) Joseph N (UK, Aberdeenshire) - 205 species
6th) Ospr3y (USA) - 204 species
7th) Knotsbirder (UK, Nottinghamshire) - 200 species
8th) Olivierpwl (Poland) - 199 species
9th) Jonny721 (UK, Lancashire) - 193 species
10th) Samuel Perfect (UK, Herts) - 192 species
10th) Simmojunior (UK, London) - 191 species
11th) harpyeagle1 (USA) - 181 species
13th) DIJ (UK, Lincs) - 160 species
14th) Silverstar24 (UK, London) - 136 species
15th) Sandhill Crane Lover (USA) – 120 species
16th) Halcon (Spain) - 114 species
17th) Midlands Birder (UK, Midlands) - 109 species
18th) Mari E (Japan) - 101 species
19th) Mworks (UK, Lancashire) - 96 species
20th) Adin 92 (Malta) - 80 species
21st) Trevistky (Canada) - 65 species
22nd) Goldfinch12 (UK, Lancashire) - 59 species
23rd) Wildlifelove (UK, Essex) - 56 species
24th) Beth598x (UK, South) - 19 species

Two Pectoral Sandpipers on a small pool at Slains near the Ythan finally notches me up to 205. Definitely the best views I've ever had of this species (within 10ft); managed to get the pics below. A couple of juv Curlew Sands were also nice amongst a varied array of waders on the Ythan.

Hi Glen, are you sure you don't want to join the yearlist competition? You're more than welcome to.

Joseph

 

[Raptorboy98]

Ok then Joseph, why not.

43) Treecreeper

 

[Raptorboy98]

Popped over to Riverside Nature Park, But the tide was OUT! :-C The hide only allows decent views when the tides almost fully in and when I went last Sunday at the same time, the tide was almost fully in so just assumed it would be the same. Saw goldfinch, buzzard, carrion crows, oystercatcher, dunlin, curlew, the usual gulls, mallards and some redshank. So went over to Kingoodie where I managed to get better views of dunlin, curlew and redshank plus some house sparrows and two grey herons.

44) Common Gull
45) Dunlin
46) House Sparrow
47) Goldfinch

 

[harpyeagle1]

Raptor boy, your life list is increasing substantially. Good job! I wish I could say the same for my year list. I went to Frick Park today but was unable to turn up any year birds. I went with a new convert to birding and I got him a few lifers.

 

[Joseph N]

1st) Birding Maniac (UK, Durham) - 259 species
2nd) Armin Kreusel (Germany, Hannover) - 248 species
3rd) Birder of the South (UK, South) - 211 species
4th) Joshua B (Australia, Sydney) – 205 species
5th) Joseph N (UK, Aberdeenshire) - 205 species
6th) Ospr3y (USA) - 204 species
7th) Simmojunior (UK, London) - 203 species
8th) Knotsbirder (UK, Nottinghamshire) - 200 species
9th) Olivierpwl (Poland) - 199 species
10th) Jonny721 (UK, Lancashire) - 193 species
11th) Samuel Perfect (UK, Herts) - 192 species
12th) harpyeagle1 (USA) - 181 species
13th) DIJ (UK, Lincs) - 160 species
14th) Silverstar24 (UK, London) - 136 species
15th) Sandhill Crane Lover (USA) – 120 species
16th) Halcon (Spain) - 114 species
17th) Midlands Birder (UK, Midlands) - 109 species
18th) Mari E (Japan) - 101 species
19th) Mworks (UK, Lancashire) - 96 species
20th) Adin 92 (Malta) - 80 species
21st) Trevistky (Canada) - 65 species
22nd) Goldfinch12 (UK, Lancashire) - 59 species
23rd) Wildlifelove (UK, Essex) - 56 species
24th) Raptorboy98 (UK, Angus) - 46 species
25th) Beth598x (UK, South) - 19 species

I agree with harpyeagle1, you're doing very well Glen. Keep up the birding; you'll find it more addictive the more you get out. Visiting sites such as Guardbridge and Riverside Nature Park will be great fun, you're bound to see more and more new birds the more that you visit places like that, particularly waders at this time of year. Keep up the good work!

PS: If you're wondering why you're on 46 species rather than 47, it is because only wild birds are counted in the competition, and as I'm sure you know Chinese Goose is a domesticated species in the UK. |=)| .

Joseph

 

[simmojunior]

Sorry, I haven't updated for quite a while as I've been too busy birdwatching . I'm now on 203 for the year.

Recent highlights have included Short-billed Dowitcher on Saturday and Baillon's Crake today as well as a self-found Caspian Gull.

 

[Raptorboy98]

Thanks, Joseph and yes the Chinese Goose I heard had escaped form a nearby pub or something. Does anyone hear use a scope? Just wondering.

 

[harpyeagle1]

I use a scope. It is useful for far off ducks and shorebirds. It is my dad's so we share it.

 

[ospr3y]

Blackburnian Warbler - 205!

I've never used a scope. Usually just use binocs for closer stuff and my superzoom camera for far away stuff.

 

[Samuel Perfect]

I managed to squeeze in a short session of birding on a two day visit to Scotland before returning to Herts. Was not in the right place for any of the Scottish specialties (I was visiting Fife Ness) but had 23 Little Gulls on the coast, RB Mergansers with year ticks being Guillemot and Razorbill (embarrassingly). The highlight not being birds but 8+ Common Dolphins performing spectacularly just off shore, spinning, splashing diving etc. Also added Dipper to the year list in the Lake district, en route to Scotland. Thanks for the advice on birding hotspots in Scotland Joseph!

Year list now 195

Question: Is anyone adding Feral Pigeon to their list, not sure if I should?

 

[S.C.]

Alright guys, here's another young birder to join the ranks! Assuming 19 is young enough to count, no idea how old you lot are.

Good to see there are a few other young birders out there, can't say I've met many.

S

 

[midlands birder]

Very long time since i last posted, my Yr list is now on 165, recent additions being Black Necked Grebe, Long Billed Dowitcher, Osprey, Great Egret and Black terns.
MB

 

[Joseph N]

1st) Birding Maniac (UK, Durham) - 259 species
2nd) Armin Kreusel (Germany, Hannover) - 248 species
3rd) Birder of the South (UK, South) - 211 species
4th) Joshua B (Australia, Sydney) – 205 species
5th) Joseph N (UK, Aberdeenshire) - 205 species
6th) Ospr3y (USA) - 205 species
7th) Simmojunior (UK, London) - 203 species
8th) Knotsbirder (UK, Nottinghamshire) - 200 species
9th) Olivierpwl (Poland) - 199 species
10th) Samuel Perfect (UK, Herts) - 195 species
11th) Jonny721 (UK, Lancashire) - 193 species
12th) harpyeagle1 (USA) - 181 species
13th) Midlands Birder (UK, Midlands) - 165 species
14th) DIJ (UK, Lincs) - 160 species
15th) Silverstar24 (UK, London) - 136 species
16th) Sandhill Crane Lover (USA) – 120 species
17th) Halcon (Spain) - 114 species
18th) Mari E (Japan) - 101 species
19th) Mworks (UK, Lancashire) - 96 species
20th) Adin 92 (Malta) - 80 species
21st) Trevistky (Canada) - 65 species
22nd) Goldfinch12 (UK, Lancashire) - 59 species
23rd) Wildlifelove (UK, Essex) - 56 species
24th) Raptorboy98 (UK, Angus) - 46 species
25th) Beth598x (UK, South) - 19 species

@Samuel: No problem about the directions, glad you had a good time up there. Feral Pigeon is fine yeah, considering Rock Dove is only really a possibility in Northern Scotland. Will add it to your total if it isn't already part of it.

@S.C: Welcome to the thread, good to have you on board. Young birders are few and far between, but this is one of the hubs where we've gathered. 22 is the maximum age for joining the yearlist comp, so 19 is fine. Give us a shout if you want to join it and hope you enjoy the forum.

Joseph

 

[Raptorboy98]

Turned 14 on Tuesday:king:! Got a Collins Bird Guide and a Camera Trap (I take it birds on camera traps don't count for the year list?)! Went to Riverside on Friday again (this time checked the tide tables) but when I got there the tide was fully in and there was just a flock of Redshank on the railway embankment. I thought about leaving, but suddenly a flock of pigeons flew down and disturbed a large flock of waders which seemed to be hiding behind some reeds. The tide then started retreating quite fast and offered good birding oppurtunities. Managed to see 2 Goosanders, teal, gulls, redshank, dunlin, gulls and a cormorant. There was probably some rarer species in there, like the Curlew Sandpiper I saw last time but an experienced birder was pointing out the smaller and further away birds last time with his trillion times zoom or something. Also saw a buzzard being mobbed by crows and a Pied Wagtail.

(im bringing the list down one due to the Chinese Goose I mistakenly put in last time)
47) Feral Pigeon
48) Greater Black-backed Gull
49) Pied Wagtail