Mr. Rayner, have you noticed no-one's had a go at the recuring letter game, despite your giving them a start? So:

Alpine Accentor
Brown Booby or Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Cream-coloured Courser or Clinking Currawong ( just lovin' that name, Mel)
Dinelli's Doradito
No E so far
Fernadino's Flicker
Glaucous Gull
Hen Harrier
No I
No J
No K
Lapland Longspur
Mascarene Martin
Nubian Nightjar
Olive Oropendola ( I said there would be one)
Palawan Peacock Phesant
No Q
Rouget's Rail
Steller's Sea-Eagle
Tickle's Thrush
No U
Van Dam's Vanga (Shrike)
White Wagtail
No X
Yellow-naped Yuhina
No Z

Of course some of this may be American nomenclature, or just out of date. It's not that long since I saw the scientific name Zosterops being used as a common name for White-eyes. Unfortunately no one named one after Zenaida or Zapata or found one in Zaire

p.s. Yellow-headed Blackbird = Xanocephalus Xanocephalus!



-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Tuesday 25th of August 2009 10:53:15 PM

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Tuesday 25th of August 2009 10:54:42 PM

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Wednesday 26th of August 2009 05:41:05 PM

Ugandan Woodland Warbler

Yucatan Vireo or Yemen Thrush

and the best I can do for an X is

XMAS ISLAND FRIGATE BIRD

Oh and for the possessives what about Baker's Chestnut-headed Yuhina

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Monday 24th of August 2009 10:37:02 PM

Tony,

No U or X either

I'm sure an Owl buff could probably get the whole alphabet in Scops Owls !

Abyssinian Roller
Baltimore Oriole
Cape Canary
Dartford Warbler
Egyptian Vulture
Florida Scrub Jay
Guianan Puffbird
Himalayan Swiftlet
Iceland Gull
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Kalij Pheasant
Lapland Longspur (Bunting in old money)
Madagascar Blue Pigeon
Namaqua Dove
Oriental Cuckoo
Philadelphia Vireo
No Q
Rainforest Scops Owl (it's sort of a place isn't it ?)
Sardinian Warbler
Torotoroka Scops Owl
Volcano Junco (there can't be that many inhabitable volcanos ?)
West Indian Woodpecker
No Y
Zapata Wren

Countries/Regions

Arabian Accentor
Bengal Florican
Cuban Amazon
Daurian Redstart
Egyptian Goose
Falkland Steamer Duck
Galapagos Flycatcher
Hawaii Amakihi
Indian Spotted Eagle
Japanese Accentor
Kashmir Flycatcher
Lapland Longspur
Mongolian Finch
New Zealand Bellbird
Oriental Plover
Peruvian Warbling Antbird
No Q
Rotuma Myzomela
Senegal Eremomela
Tanzania Masked-Weaver
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird
Venezuelan Flowerpiercer
West Indian Woodpecker
No X
Yucatan Nightjar
Zenaida Dove

Sorry - I should have said - those are birds I have seen.

I'm sure there's plenty of candidates - but I can't think of a colour beginning with X unless Xinjiang is a Chinese colour as well as a province, not that I've seen the Ground-Jay in question anyway :(

Jet Antbird
Unicoloured Blackbird/Ultra Marine Kingfisher

The wonders of spreadsheets !

Ashy Drongo
Black Grouse
Citrine Wagtail
Dusky Eagle-Owl
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove (how much of a colour does it have to be ?)
Fiery Minivet
Golden Eagle
Harlequin Duck (is that a colour - colour related anyway ! )
Indigo Flycatcher
No J or K
Lavender Waxbill
Maroon Woodpecker
No N
Ochraceous Pewee
Plain-colored Tanager (a colour of sorts ) or Purple Heron
No Q
Red Kite
Scarlet Macaw
Tricolored Heron (is that worth 3 points ?)
No U
Violet Sabrewing
White Stork
No X
Yellow-green Vireo
Zebra Dove (presumably colour related)

Mike Chorley wrote:

---

Also, what about races/sub-species e.g. Bewick's Swan (ring any bells Mr Suttill?)


Thanks Mike, I'd forgotten Bewick's Swan (the only bird named after a wood engraver) before they renamed it. I've also seen Sabine's Gull, so that's two - still in line for the booby prize!

Steve

Just been out for a day's birding with Messrs Rigby and Chorley. A plague of curses on the name of Passant but we played 3 variants of this game with varying success.

Try going through the alphabet with bird names preceded by a colour or shade of colour and then do it again with names preceded by a geographical country/region/area.

Thirdly try going through an alphabet of names with recurring letters in both the generic and specific name (eg Alpine Accentor/White Wagtail. Ooops! There's a region and a colour to get you started)

Cheers, John

John Rayner wrote:

Mike Passant rules that titles don't count so I've now got a spare Amhearst's Pheasant you could have. What good swaps can you offer?

Cheers, John

Thanks for the offer, John, and the reminder , which means I've got an A. Also, on checking, I've a P as well. Just need an N before Mr Rigby finds that Falcon at Castleshaw

Sorry, Mike, I dont remember that set. I started, surprise, surprise, with British Birds.

(I must say though, an Eleonora's Falcon at Pennington would now be greeted with added jubilation)

..and not a little scepticism !!

Oh how I enjoyed this game whilst trying to safely chauffeur us across Extramadura, complete with a suitably stumped county recorder.

That sent me scuttling for my list.
Unfortunately, I can only find "possessives" for less than half the alphabet on my BOU list.

Barrows Goldeneye
Cettis Warbler
Forsters Tern
Humes Leaf Warbler
Isabelline Wheatear
Leachs Storm-petrel
Montagus Harrier
Pallass Grasshopper Warbler
Raddes Warbler
Sabines Gull
Temmincks Stint
Whites Thrush


Mike

-- Edited by Mike Crawley on Sunday 23rd of August 2009 12:53:13 PM

Greetings Guys. Kindred spirits indeed!

Have either of you got "Out into space"? (Mid/late 50's Brook Bond set).
Sadly, the key to collecting cards was that you shouldn't stick them into an album, but predictably, I suspect most of us did, thus detracting considerably from their value to modern collectors.

I don't think swopping "possessive name" twicers is within the spirit of the game (it would surely be akin to stringing?), but quality and quantity of twicers (or thricers) could be used as tie breaks, or to steal a round from some one else who gets stuck on his/her turn.

I think this dialogue is indicative of a dearth of good birds at present; for obvious reasons we need some one to find something, if only to put an end to this triviality; (I must say though, an Eleonora's Falcon at Pennington would now be greeted with added jubilation).

Mike Chorley wrote:

---

Hi Mike. What are the rules, if any, on 'swops' as with ciggy/tea/bubblegum cards?

On the BOU list I'm missing A,N, P and E (assuming that as it's the BOU list only UK sightings count) but have doubles on B,C, F, R & S

Also, what about races/sub-species e.g. Bewick's Swan (ring any bells Mr Suttill?)

I have a feeling I may be playing some of these games very soon

---

Hi Mike C,

I used to collect PG Tips tea cards and like this twist.

Mike Passant rules that titles don't count so I've now got a spare Amhearst's Pheasant you could have. What good swaps can you offer?

Cheers, John

Hi Mike. What are the rules, if any, on 'swops' as with ciggy/tea/bubblegum cards?

On the BOU list I'm missing A,N, P and E (assuming that as it's the BOU list only UK sightings count) but have doubles on B,C, F, R & S

Also, what about races/sub-species e.g. Bewick's Swan (ring any bells Mr Suttill?)

I have a feeling I may be playing some of these games very soon

Hell's bells! What have I started?

There are so many variants (and interesting ones at that) being suggested, Mr. Rayner will be thoroughly dismayed; he may even have to seek counselling over coming weeks on how best to avoid me and these games.

It would appear Pete that quite a few would be only stuck on "E" in a BOU context (unless someone in Gr. Man. circles has managed to jam in on a British Eleonora's Falcon)?

I've only seen 3 of the BOU list in the UK and another 4 abroad
I must stay at home more !

Cetti's Warbler (Strumpshaw Fen, UK)
Leach's Petrel (Red Rocks, UK)
Montagu's Harrier (Kings Lynn, UK)
Pallas's Gull (Harike near Amritsar, India)
Swainson's Thrush (Punte Leone, Costa Rica)
Temminck's Stint (Kaziranga, India)
Wilson's petrel (pelagic cruise, South Africa)

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 21st of August 2009 05:41:43 PM

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 21st of August 2009 05:54:05 PM

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 21st of August 2009 05:54:38 PM

Pete Hines wrote:

---

I need an E

---

Talk to FRANK

Another twist. A quick perusal of the BOU list reveals 14 characters with "possessive names", ABCEFHLMNPRSTW, of which I personally score 13. I need an E , though I'll settle for an Eleonora's Falcon

Robin????????

Hmmm, indeed! Are you offering a booby prize, Mike? I've not seen any of the birds on any of these lists. In fact I'm not sure that I've ever seen a species named after anyone!

Steve

Hmmm. I've seen 18 of Henry's original 22 but only 2 of Tony's and Riggers' and one from the former's isn't even countable Seems my lack of attraction to pretty bright 'local' birds when abroad (and a complete lack of any South American species) rather than my attention of the usual little brown jobs we get here as vagrants which really appeal to me, has cost me dearly in this arena

- Just back from a morning (shopping =ugh!) in Newcastle.

Looking at this again, I note the barred Mr. Rayner has put his hoof in. He knows full well that "Queen" is a title and not a name, so "Queen Charlotte" can only be used as a C. and not a "Q."
Moving on from Henry's and Tony's suggestion, using possessive names restricted to birds one has seen, (against the maximum possible of 24), I suspect 20 plus would be a pretty good score?

Tony,
What a good idea ! You and Henry have hatched a new slant to the game; - devising a list of possesive names, but with the condition that you have to have seen all the birds whose names you are offering! I wonder who among us all can get close to 24? Possibly the well travelled Mr. Rayner, or a certain Mr. Berry perhaps??

John Rayner will be dreading this new variant though; -he'll be playing it with me next week under sufferance?!

Unfortunately your submission of "Isabelline" Shrike doesn't meet the criteria in that the name must have the possessive apostrophe. "Isabelline" is simply an adjective describing the plumage.
Cheers,
Mike P.

I've only seen 7 of Henry's list and 1 of Rigger's !
How about new lists of birds you've actually seen - here's 18 and 1 dodgy one.

Allen's Hummingbird
Baird's Trogon
Carmiol's Tanager
Dickinson's Kestrel
Everett's White-eye
Fernandina's Flicker
Germain's Swiftlet
Hartlaubs Babbler
Isabelline Shrike (does that count ?)
Jameson's Firefinch
Kittlitz's Plover
La Sagra's Flycatcher
Meves's Starling
No N or O
Passerini's Tanager
No Q of course
Raffles's Malkoha
Shelley's Francolin
Temminck's Sunbird
No U
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
Ward's Flycatcher
No X, Y or Z

... none of Mr.Rayners made up names are on the OFFICIAL "Checklist of the World"

Cheers

Riggers




Now then Riggers. Where in the rules does it say the names have to be in current use and that the birds must not be extinct

Queen Charlotte's Jay a.k.a. Steller's Jay
Yaldwyn's Wren - extinct in New Zealand many centuries ago.

Try Googling them. I'll lend you this book ready for the next time Mike suggests playing this game. (Oh yes, believe me, there WILL be a next time)

Cheers, John

Hi Paul,
- Thanks for a perfect answer; you were only beaten by the clock (ie the fast draw of top gun Mr. Cook).
I'll try to get down to Elton Res. on Monday to have a look round the place, as we are visiting my sister- in- law's nearby; (they live up past the Jolly Carter pub); I think the road up by there is Watling St?
I'll not be able to get there early and you will probably all be at work, but I mention this just on the off chance.
(Of course if a Willett turns up on Sunday evening, I'll be there at dawn with about 500 others from the North East).
Cheers,
Mike P.

Mike,

I think Mr.Rayner is banned from entering the competition and he has just made up any old "tosh" to try and win the £20.

I think the missing letters are Q and Y and none of Mr.Rayners made up names are on the OFFICIAL "Checklist of the World"

My attempt is as follows (note-i am only claiming a fiver)

Audubon's Shearwater
Baer's Pochard
Cabanis's Spinetail
Darwin' Rhea
Eversmann's Redstart
Finsch's Rufous-Thrush
Gambel's Quail
Humboldt's Sapphire
Ijima's Leaf-Warbler
Johanna's Sunbird
Kittlitz's Plover
Lewin's Rail
Murphy's Petrel
Natterer's Slaty-Antshrike
Oustalet's Sunbird
Pringle's Puffback

Rüppell's Robin-Chat
Salvin's Prion
Townsend's Shearwater
Ursula's Sunbird
Victoria's Riflebird
Woodford's Rail
Xantus's Hummingbird

Zimmer's Tapaculo

Cheers

Riggers

Thankfully, I was barred from entry but a quick look in "Whose Bird - Men and women commemorated in the common names of birds" and I found:

Queen Alexandra's Parrot
Queen Carola of Saxony's Six-wired Bird-of-Paradise
Queen Charlotte's Jay
Queen Charlotte's Woodpecker
Queen Charlotte's Owl

Yaldwin's Wren
Yarrell's Curassow
Yarrell's Goldfinch
Yarrell's Woodstar
Yen's Fulvetta
Yersin's Laughing Thrush

Hopefully this will put an end to this game altogether, as I've suffered it more than most, but I doubt it. It has to be said it's not as bad as a really low point I remember when we resorted to alphabetical diseases. Acne, Bubonic Plague, Cholera .......

Can I have my £20 now

Thanks Mike. Very thought provoking indeed. I bet there's another 20+ list out there for someone with a better knowledge of world birds than me.
I've only seen 10 of the 24 on that list but I do spend far too long pouring over foreign field-guides to countries i've got no hope of even visiting in the near future!
No worries about the dosh, it was good fun.
Henry.

Didn't see the last post - sorry Mike. I couldn't find Q or Y either. I would have thought there would be a Y.

The competition is already over folks, for the simple reason that Henry Cook has won himself a fiver. He correctly submitted 24 answers before anyone else drew a breath!
The following was his unbeatable submission:

Audouin's Gull, Blyth's Pipit, Cory's Shearwater, Dupont's Lark, Eleonora's Falcon, Fea's Petrel, Guldenstadt's Redstart, Hulme's Yellow-browed Warbler, Ijima's Leaf-warbler, Jouanin's Petrel, Kittlitz's Plover, Leach's Storm Petrel, Montagu's Harrier,
Naumann's Thrush, Olrog's Gull, Pallas's Gull, Q - There is no Q, Radde's Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Temminck's Horned Lark, Upcher's Warbler,
Verreaux's Eagle, Wilson's Phalarope, Xantus's Murrelet,
Y- There is no Y, Zino's Petrel.

Difficult letters normally are I and Z, particularly in a quick fire round. Other alternatives for these are Ihering's Antwren, Isidor's Eagle (the alternative name for Black and Chestnut Eagle) and Zimmer's Woodcreeper.

Well done Henry! Please advise me of your address by private message and a cheque will fly your way.

Congratulations,
Mike

No you can't. It's got to have an apostrophe in the name, so to use "Robin" it would need you to discover a new species at Castleshaw and then name it as (for example) "Robin's Trogon" (or, less ridiculous and more appropriate for up there : "Robin's Moorchat").
- On the other hand, if you discover a species new to science up there, you won't be bothered about winning £20 quid with a daft game, they'll want you on celebrity big brother with Jordan or someone, - perhaps Warfy.

Mike,

Can I have Robin? for "R"

It's raining again in this part of the world, and with the athletics not back on until teatime, I was faced with the choice of doing some Killer Sudokus, or swatting up for a forthcoming birding trip, or submitting this. This won. So here's what's involved: Often, when driving on a longish twitch with pals, or during a lull when away somewhere (a lull being caused for example by a tropical downpour lasting hours, or during an evening "post log" with a few drinks sloshing around), we get into this game. To play it you have to start at the beginning of the alphabet and go right through in turn coming up with a bird's name. It has to be in the format for example "Abbot's Babbler" i.e. "Somebody's Whatever." Lots of names are easy, - "Temminck's Stint" of course; however surprisingly, there are names for all but two letters through the whole alphabet. If anyone were to do the impossible and find an acceptable name for every letter of the alphabet I am pleased to offer a £20 prize. If anyone wants to send me as full a list as possible by private message I am pleased to offer a £5 prize for the first received best answer, which I shall publish here after receipt. The only rules are that the names must be in English (no scientific names), and that my decision as to validity is final, and that John Rayner (who has played this many times) is barred from entry! Cheers, and good luck to any participants, Mike Passant