Young Birders Yearlist Challenge (1 Viewer)

[simmojunior]

I am going to fair isle in July so would not want to go again this year. Travel is also difficult as is accomodation. With Fair Isle your spending £250 before your even there. Scilly it is nearer £150.
I would love to go to Scilly but would not go to Fair Isle. I also think that week Scilly is better as Fair Isle is better in September

 

[birding maniac]

I am going to fair isle in July so would not want to go again this year. Travel is also difficult as is accomodation. With Fair Isle your spending £250 before your even there. Scilly it is nearer £150.
I would love to go to Scilly but would not go to Fair Isle. I also think that week Scilly is better as Fair Isle is better in September

Both are at peak in Sept, and over the last few years there has been few rarities on the scillies, while last year I seem remember there was a mega fall of sibe megas at the end of Oct on fair isle. Then again, Common Night hawk is tempting. I'm not bothered but its up to everyone, not just me.

 

[gropperwinch]

I was under the impression it would be a trip in the summer, if not Shetland/Scilly in October would be absolutely fantastic! One little suggestion p'haps, would Foula or North Ronaldsay be cheaper than Fair Isle? Still a good chance of sibes, and its much quieter so we could find loads of good birds ourselves! I may be busy in October, but if I'm free and it's £250 for Shetland or Scilly I'm there! Still never met any of you on here so it would be a great chance to go and meet people, and first time I visit either of those places! One other thought, if we were to hire a minibus, are any of you old enough/qualified to drive or know someone who could ferry us all around?

 

[rokermartin]

I am not a young birder but i will give you my view on Fair Isle,mainland Shetland and Scilly.The best years on Scilly were the 80s and early 90s for megas and rarities when 1000+ birders used to go.You still get rare birds turning up but not as many these days.Last autumn was the worst on record for Scilly only around 150-200 birders were on and very few rarities were found.The best time for rarities on Scilly used to be the 2nd and 3rd weeks of October.Generally the end of October is quiet for birds when the schools are off.The last 5 or 6 autumns Shetland and Fair Isle have been the places for seeing megas and rarities there are more birders going up there and more rarities are being found.Peak time for rarities on Fair Isle and Shetland is the last week of September and the first 2 weeks of October after that period is goes quiet for birds.I have been to mainland Shetland Twice and Fair Isle 4 times and Scilly once.

 

[birding maniac]

I think we must do some research into prices ect. I think there is a campsite on the Scillies that could offer a good cheap alternative to 'proper' acommodation, which, as far as i'm aware has had rarities recorded in the same area

 

[birding maniac]

I am not a young birder but i will give you my view on Fair Isle,mainland Shetland and Scilly.The best years on Scilly were the 80s and early 90s for megas and rarities when 1000+ birders used to go.You still get rare birds turning up but not as many these days.Last autumn was the worst on record for Scilly only around 150-200 birders were on and very few rarities were found.The best time for rarities on Scilly used to be the 2nd and 3rd weeks of October.Generally the end of October is quiet for birds when the schools are off.The last 5 or 6 autumns Shetland and Fair Isle have been the places for seeing megas and rarities there are more birders going up there and more rarities are being found.Peak time for rarities on Fair Isle and Shetland is the last week of September and the first 2 weeks of October after that period is goes quiet for birds.I have been to mainland Shetland Twice and Fair Isle 4 times and Scilly once.

Thats what I feared. Where would you recommend to go in the Last week of October, especially for rarities or scarcities? I would be happy with the likes of Bluethroat or other 'common' rarities/scarcities.

 

[Jonny721]

Would definately agree that I don't mind seeing some of the scarcer species which I would say fair isle is better but could be wrong.

 

[simmojunior]

I was under the impression it would be a trip in the summer, if not Shetland/Scilly in October would be absolutely fantastic! One little suggestion p'haps, would Foula or North Ronaldsay be cheaper than Fair Isle? Still a good chance of sibes, and its much quieter so we could find loads of good birds ourselves! I may be busy in October, but if I'm free and it's £250 for Shetland or Scilly I'm there! Still never met any of you on here so it would be a great chance to go and meet people, and first time I visit either of those places! One other thought, if we were to hire a minibus, are any of you old enough/qualified to drive or know someone who could ferry us all around?

No the main cost is getting from north Scotland to Shetland. I would rule Fair Isle out now as it is clear that due to the seas being volatile, it would be very expensive to get there. It may be better for birding but Scilly would definitely make a better and cheaper holiday.

 

[Joseph N]

To be honest Fair Isle and Shetland would of course be more convenient for me but the things is I'd be going a couple of weeks before the dates you've brought up, so that wouldn't tie in for me at all. The Scillies are the furthest away from me that you can get and I'll be at school so it seems I'll be unlikely to make it if something is arranged. I love the idea of it but the fact I'll probably be going to these places a couple of weeks before and that those dates don't tag in for me I'm afraid means it wouldn't be possible for me at that point.

Joseph

 

[gropperwinch]

Do you have different half-term times to us up in Scotland then Joseph? I knew you had earlier summer holidays but not all of them different. Still, good luck anyway, and you'll probably see a lot more than we would if you're going up a few weeks earlier anyway :t:

 

[rokermartin]

Thats what I feared. Where would you recommend to go in the Last week of October, especially for rarities or scarcities? I would be happy with the likes of Bluethroat or other 'common' rarities/scarcities.

Well you cannot beat the east coast really for rarities/scarcities especially Norfolk and the Yorkshire coast.But it all depends on the weather.You need easterly wind to get the birds in.If its a SW or west wind that is rubbish for the east coast.Shetland and Fair Isle are the same easterly or SE wind for birds. But if there's been a strong westerly been blowing for a day or so there's a chance of a yank or two being found.On Scilly if you want to see yanky birds you want a good strong west or SW wind and SE or easterly for sibs etc.These days Scilly doesnt seem to get alot of yanky birds.Most have been found in Ireland ,Shetland and the Western Isles and a few have been found in Cornwall

 

[Joseph N]

Do you have different half-term times to us up in Scotland then Joseph? I knew you had earlier summer holidays but not all of them different. Still, good luck anyway, and you'll probably see a lot more than we would if you're going up a few weeks earlier anyway :t:

Cheers Liam. Yea I'm off from 11 October till 22nd October. I might spend the whole holiday in the northern Isles but not 100% sure yet. If I do spend the whole holiday, well I guess I've got to be lucky with wind directions! :t:

 

[gropperwinch]

what sort of stuff are you thinking of for east coast in late october? Barred/Icky Warblers, Bluethroats and most Scandinavian stuff will have gone through, so will it mainly be sibes like Y-Br and Pallas's Warb, RB Fly, Pallid Swift and maybe some late stuff like RB, p'haps Isabelline or some other Shrike? and what chance of a real gem, Pipit/Bluetail/locustella is there?

 

[rokermartin]

what sort of stuff are you thinking of for east coast in late october? Barred/Icky Warblers, Bluethroats and most Scandinavian stuff will have gone through, so will it mainly be sibes like Y-Br and Pallas's Warb, RB Fly, Pallid Swift and maybe some late stuff like RB, p'haps Isabelline or some other Shrike? and what chance of a real gem, Pipit/Bluetail/locustella is there?

Late October time can be excellent for Pallas's Warblers ,Hume'sYB Warblers,Richard's Pipits,Dusky Warblers,Radde'sWarblers,Pied Wheatears,Desert Wheatears,RB Flycatchers,Little Buntings,Rustic Buntings,Lapland Buntings, Isabelline Shrikes,GG Shrikes, Firecrests, Blyth's Reed Warblers,Sib Stonechats,RF Bluetails,OB Pipits etc anything can turn up.Also late October can be excellent for seawatching especially for Pom Skuas if the wind is right.

 

[louisfh]

Sounds like great ideas abounding. I'd love to be involved in something like this and providing it wasn't too expensive I could probably do scilly or shetland. If only I knew someone who did minibus hire! I'd be up for anything, a day trip to rainham or longer elsewhere. Only met billsbirding off of here but you all seem like cool enough people I will also have my scope by then and will look like substantially less of a dude with only my avian F binos and a list smaller than some people's house lists.

Being from down south scilly is a bit closer although it does seem a little more expensive for the ferry/flight than shetland would be. I agree fair isle, though amazing for birds, might be a tad difficult should we get the aftermaths of an eastern seaboard hurricane!

 

[rokermartin]

Sounds like great ideas abounding. I'd love to be involved in something like this and providing it wasn't too expensive I could probably do scilly or shetland. If only I knew someone who did minibus hire! I'd be up for anything, a day trip to rainham or longer elsewhere. Only met billsbirding off of here but you all seem like cool enough people I will also have my scope by then and will look like substantially less of a dude with only my avian F binos and a list smaller than some people's house lists.

Being from down south scilly is a bit closer although it does seem a little more expensive for the ferry/flight than shetland would be. I agree fair isle, though amazing for birds, might be a tad difficult should we get the aftermaths of an eastern seaboard hurricane!

One of the reasons why less birders are going to the Scillies is the cost to stay and to get there.Also you have to use the little boats to go to the various islands and that will put the cost up a bit.I better point out that if it's bad weather up on Shetland and Fair Isle you may get stranded for a day or even longer.The planes will not land on Fair Isle and the there wont be a boat service if its to windy.I have been stranded on Fair Isle before for 2 days but i did see Lancy that certainly made up for being stuck.

 

[Adin 92]

pheew! at last i`ve seen the honey buzzards flock of 7 from my house

which takes me to 126

 

[Adin 92]

I was under the impression it would be a trip in the summer, if not Shetland/Scilly in October would be absolutely fantastic! One little suggestion p'haps, would Foula or North Ronaldsay be cheaper than Fair Isle? Still a good chance of sibes, and its much quieter so we could find loads of good birds ourselves! I may be busy in October, but if I'm free and it's £250 for Shetland or Scilly I'm there! Still never met any of you on here so it would be a great chance to go and meet people, and first time I visit either of those places! One other thought, if we were to hire a minibus, are any of you old enough/qualified to drive or know someone who could ferry us all around?

All of you are tempting me to join you all!!!:eek!:

 

[gropperwinch]

hey, get a flight over and you're more than welcome Adin! Sadly, since I'm still 14 my parents are a bit iffy about me going up to Fair Isle, especially the idea od being stranded on the remote Island for weeks on end (doesn't sound all that bad to me though) However, Norfolk/Yorkshire seems a great bet too according to RokerMartin, and if that's what the rest of you decide on I might be able to twist my parent's legs a bit more easily!

 

[Birding Bob]

Personally I would say Norfolk would be best. You could camp on a campsite at Wells and would already be in walking distance of Holkham pines/dunes (some great birds have turned up here) and would be close to the Wells bus station where you could catch the coast hopper bus what could take you places all around the coast such as Titchwell, Holme or Cley. I use in frequently and find it v.good. Norfolk is also not to hard to get to by public transport.