My own favourite? the waxwings (county/lifer)just because without the forum I wouldn,t have a snowballs chance of finding them.My best bird has got to be the spoonbill that obligingly lingered just long enough for others to see.

cheers geoff

I was about to start a new thread that we could perhaps include our own personal "bird of the year" on for interest. But this looks to be the place to use.

Having just gone through my year list trying to get it up to 200!!! - my own favourites were Snow Buntings at Pensarn in January (a lifer at the time) - I sat on a stump and they ran around my feet feeding, the Leaches Petrels in October at Leasowe just flitting by as they prepared to go out to sea and finally the young Cuckoo at Parkgate in September.

The Cuckoo is my bird of the year for its charismatic behaviour and for the number of great big juicy caterpillars it was getting down - I hope it made it to Africa or where ever Cuckoos go to for the winter.

Any more offers. Happy 2009 and good birding everyone.

Sid A

-- Edited by sid ashton at 20:54, 2008-12-31

I tipped Glossy Ibis. Bit easy though - one was bound to turn up!

Anyone remember this thread? Nice to meet you today Andy and congratulations on predicting BOTH Alpine Swift AND Red-Rumped Swallow.

No that I saw either of them mind you....

Oops didnt read that we were only supposed to choose three. Ill go for two newbies and a good rarity then. Terek Sandpiper, Pallass Warbler and Hoopoe then.

(Theres probably more chance of a dolphin in the duggie than me seeing the cettis.)

carrys on raining like this how a bottle nosed dolphin ont duggie

Simon Johnson wrote:

---

Well seen as this thread is still going i'll throw in Squacco Heron or White rumped Sand as County
newbie......gotta be a rare tern this year....Gull Billed or Roseate.....and what else??? a flock of Eider on HPR!! That'll do nicley!

---

So which three of those five are you actually having then Simon

American Herring Gull, hopefully on a site with general access!!

Little Bittern in Bryn Marsh

Crane on the Mosses

Will Ladbrokes quote a price on these, or would you just a funny/bemused look?

Well seen as this thread is still going i'll throw in Squacco Heron or White rumped Sand as County
newbie......gotta be a rare tern this year....Gull Billed or Roseate.....and what else??? a flock of Eider on HPR!! That'll do nicley!

I hope its not too late either.

My predictions (safeish ones)- Sabines Gull and Hoopoe. I'd like to agree with Andrew and go for something like Alpine Swift, but I've nearly lost sanity watching the millions of Swifts at Pennington over the last few years in the hope of an Alpine, so maybe if I dont predict one I'll find one this summer. Possible new county birds - Terek Sandpiper and Pallas's Warbler. At least I think they'd be new.

It would be nice to have something like Bearded Tit at one of the flashes (Pennington fingers crossed). Less exotic maybe but would still have a few county listers scarpering

Is it too late to join in? It's only 4 Jan so hope not

How about:

Swainson's Thrush because I dreamt I found one (not that I think I could id one mind you)

Nutcracker - could turn up anywhere so why not here

and Shore Lark because I took the train and cycled all the way up a brutal hill in Halifax to twitch one last year and all I got was some brats on trail bikes.


Cattle Egret is the most likely I think

What about
Rosy starling
Alpine swift or
red rumped swallow
If we're going for anything
Male Pine Bunt at rindle road feeding station!

i hope paul h wins!

How about?

1. Spotted Sandpiper

2. Lesser Yellowlegs

3. Laughing Gull (although they managed to evade Manchester in the influx the other year, but here's hoping!)

Rare for the county ?

I`m predicting that one of these will be seen in 2008 ;

Bearded Tit.
Golden Oriole.
Guillemot

I don`t know why, but I really have a gut feeling about the Guillemot, either seen on a small reservoir somewhere or picked up in a totally unexpected place.................Mark my words !

March 2008 headline -

'Belated news came from Greater Manchester where an EVENING GROSBEAK frequented the bird table of a private garden for three weeks during January and February 2008. See attached photographs...'

Wouldn't you just cry

I suppose it is the seaason to be jolly so how about the ultimate three.

1. WALLCREEPER clung to the side of the trafford centre, free parking and wife can go shopping.

2. SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT in MR Wooseys back garden just to get his garden list bigger.

3. Yes you guess it after watching the reeds for half a year GM birders discover the last DODO..
Stay happy,,, back to watching reeds
Keep birding.

I suppose all three could be gulls if they keep getting split at the present rate. Wouldn't THAT be exciting (yawn). I think we're due a new lark. Can't remember if we've had SHORT TOED, but it's a fair bet for turning up. Same applies to POMERINE SKUA. If we've had CIRL BUNTING, it can't have been for over 100 years, so it's well due a return. If I saw any of these, It would be an advance on 2007.


Andy Bissitt

Ooh, Black-winged Stilt, that was one of mine!

Rarest birds in 2008: Caspian Gull (a safe bet? Any would currently be only the 3rd record, assuming a 2007 record is accepted), Collared Pratincole (and I'm going to find it) and my choice for county newby...Franklins Gull.

Finger in the air, and not so rare, but here goes:

Glossy Ibis
American Robin
Black-winged Stilt

A Wilson's Phalarope was claimed at Penny Flash 22.9.1990 but never accepted by BBRC. James Harvey was the finder, and I think Charlie Owen may have seen it too. Not sure if anyone else saw it - if so, and they have notes, it's never too late. It was later seen at Martin Mere. It's in the 1990 bird report...but that was before I was the editor. Probably on the Pennington Flash list (like at least one other non-verified species!)
I'm pretty sure I tried to persuade Jim Harvey to do a description. I honestly can't remember if he did, and it was rejected, or not.

the bird doesnt have to be a new bird for the county just the rarest bird in 2008, the choice is yours. there is some wishfull thinking in my guesses, all 3 are lifers for me and are rare enough that any one of them could be the best bird should one turn up. i hope that makes sense.

Brian,

Are we talking county newies here, or just what I (or anyone else for that matter) might consider to be the three birds they would most like to see?



Andy Bissitt

just for fun, no prizes etc, shall we see who can predict what the best bird in 2008 will be in the county. best bird i e the rarest. everyone gets 3 guesses. the only rule is that the bird must be seen by at least 2 people.i will start the ball rolling with 1. marsh sandpiper 2. purple heron 3. wilsons phalarope