Well, I just took a photo of a random feral pigeon to get the 199 out of the way. And then managed (only just, due to camera playing up) to add a very welcome Alpine Swift to my Photographed 200. Although not the best (or rarest), my favourite just has to be this one. Great memories associated with this bird.

-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 1st of April 2023 09:04:46 PM

I've been going through a lot of old photos recently and compiled a list of bird species I have photographed. Worldwide about 1150. More interestingly, I have managed 198 in GM - and I still haven't got one of a feral pigeon! I had better rectify this lapse soon. I don't want a feral pigeon to by my 200th!

The GM200 Club Library has this week added to it shelves the excellent ISLES OF SCILLY Bird and Natural History Review/report , this has to be one of the best publications in the country.

The forward is complied by one of our very own, Judith Smith only the second ever female to write a forward , she is one of the quiet GM200 club members but we are extremly proud of her achievements .

An excellent  forward and a outstanding bird report, the recorder John Headon was in his youth a Manchester Birder, perhaps GM birders are taking over the islands .

I for one would love to be the resident ST Agnes birder... one day perhaps .

Keep Birding and looking out for those Rare GM Birds and reports ....

 

Mike Passant wrote:

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Well done and congratulations to Vicky Harper with a fine milestone species as well;- also its great to have another woman in the ranks of the unhinged!

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Thanks Mike

It appears birders are still listing and having excellent adventures in the county addding new birds to their lists Vicky Harper has added the stunning Rose Coloured Starling to her list and its her 200th  bird welcome to the legendary 200 club .

What an excellent bird to get into the club and i hope 201 will be just as good .

keep birding 

Hi Chris,

Its quite a while since the 200 club gained a new member; - in fact over a year or more, so well done and welcome!

Best Wishes,

Mike P.

Thanks John very helpful. I'll draw up a list and send it in. I reckon about 190 currently so a bit to do to make the 200 club. Nice to see you on Saturday as ever.

Sorry to be a pain, but I was looking at creating a GM list. Is there a link to which birds are accepted and which are not? I note the listing section about using the BOU guidelines. Thinking about birds like Greylag Goose, Mandarin Duck, Muskovy Duck etc. which breed in the county.

Any help gratefully received 

Good evening fellow birders and members, what a lovely evening to be sat on the club balcony drinking cold beer, and chatting about birds books and listing ..

It appears a number of GM birder have been showing off their list on a site called Bubo.org... 18 birders on the Greater Manchester Life List top four all life members, well lads and lassies get your list on there if you want.

I love the birders who has a life list of 1 haha class .

 

Keep Birding 

 

Its 18 months since I last pondered over the composition of the 200 club. It presently comprises 30 members, (2 ladies and 28 gents). It would be rather nice if we could see more women in the ranks; I should try to get Mrs. P involved as she already has some good species under her belt as I write this (e.g.- Manx Shearwater, Osprey, Bittern, Smew, Kentish Plover, Temmincks Stint, Roseate Tern, Two- barred Crossbill, and Snow Bunting)

What has undoubtedly increased though is the number of closet members (possibly 10 or so) who quietly enjoy progressing in their own way;- nothing at all wrong with that.

What has materialised over the last year or so is the emergence of a really tough club - the 250 club, with 4 very keen birders presently there as members, followed by 4 or 5 aspirants in close pursuit; - some of us though can only ever aspire to be spectators?

Its all great fun!

Good Birding!

Mike P.

 

thank you very much fellow birders
keith, have sent you a pm.

Mr Burke what an excellent way to get your GM200 bird a double seen on Merseyside and GM borders, I wonder how many times the Hoodie has done this, I have done the same as well, seen it on both location, as it is a lovely bird, I have a  soft spot of corvids.

So Welcome to the oddest club in the birding world, I hope you enjoy your birding from now and add the the most sort after list in GM.

 

Keep Birding 

steven burke wrote:

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Rob Creek wrote:

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Well done Steve ... but ... didn't you have Hooded Crow (same one?) not so long ago near Haydock when the debate was on if it was in GM or not, when viewed from another road???
Surely not still on 199?

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how mean of you mr creek & here is me thinking you were a really nice man
the hooded crow near haydock back in October when I watched it was clearly not in gm hence the reason I went to see the hooded crow(same one) in ashton -in-makerfield which clearly is in gm
cheers rob
thank you to all who have congratulated me.

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Haha, I am a nice man
Seriously though Steve well done mate, I don't do listing but I know it takes some doing to get 200!

Well done Steve ... but ... didn't you have Hooded Crow (same one?) not so long ago near Haydock when the debate was on if it was in GM or not, when viewed from another road???
Surely not still on 199?

Mr Hargreaves, yes I have found the papers and correspondence regarding the self found rules , and to simplify for the common everyday birds, ie Coot Mallard Pigeon etc its the largest count of that species thats you have seen that year. Now  on the same shelf was the rules from the now defunct UK 250 Club , they had some great self found rules , the re-find rules is very strange , re-finding a bird rare or not , the rule again roughly is... the bird has to have been unreported from some time and believed to have moved on, ( the time is flexible ) then you have to be surprised by the re-find.. hahaha basically it all a load of ...... well whatever you want it to be, listing is listing its fun and challenge , and game one up-manship.

 

I have had some great twitches and kept great day list week list month lists year list holiday lists ect ect, and it was all good fun.

 

I now want to look back on those days with fond memories and move on to a different level, again just for the love of birding.

Have fun which ever way you want to bird, just Keep Birding.

 

ps a birder once told me his mate had a huge Garden list... he rules were he counted anyones garden, or any garden any bird was flying over

 

Feliz Navidad from Madrid !

To all friends in the Manchester birding community, (whether in the 200 club or not); and if its not too soppy, a special Merry Christmas to all those Hawfinches this last few months who brought so much pleasure and fun to many of you; - (candidates for species of the year?)

I havent been in Manchester since last January so didnt have the pleasure myself of bumping into a Hawfinch down there.

Best Wishes for 2018!

Miguelito

Sorry Gentlemen, for the late reply.

Mr Charles Owen, has a list of 200 ! just for Pennington, wow ..now that's a proper list, well done that man, these are the right and proper members of the GM200 Club.

The club was originally going to be called the silent meals club, due to the trouble we used to get in when we got home... however the GM200 Club, seemed to give, a target for people to try and reach, over the years I have often raced out just to add a bird to a list.

I know there has been loads of discussion on the rights and wrongs of listing, twitching etc but deep down it should always be personal, you can list what you want when you want, personally I have given up twitching ? ok Wallcreeper and Male Siberian Rubythroat maybe ones to pay homage to .

I do like the self found list which is open to all sorts of odd rules and anomalies, how do you self find a Coot or a Mallard ? 

So the birders that have a list of 200 for one place are good old fashion proper birders, and I doff my cap to them, for I am well short of finding 200 birds in GM, and in fact recently as I have been on a Hawfinch hunt ( i know thats not PC ) but I mean a figurative hunt, I have seen loads of common birds really well, and it has brought back by real love for birding, which is just watching and seeing birds, really looking at them, watching behaviour, looking a plumage , and just watching birds.

Perhaps Club members should do that in 2018, lets have a return to old school birding, lets just enjoy birds for what they are, lists are fun and a little bit of competition is good. But enjoy your birding for whatever reason you want to.

Keep listing ,Keep Birding, 

 

Another nominee from me - I like to keep things going! Charlie Owen has informed me that he too has over 200 birds on his Pennington List and would like to be considered for membership.

I shall let him know Paul. I'll tell him to dust off his tux for the special medal presentation!

Whilst chatting with Bill Harrison, Pennington Flash stalwart, the other day, he casually mentioned that the Arctic Skua the other day was his 200th species. Not in GM as he doesn't keep a GM list, just at Pennington. He's seen other birds in GM so his total must be well over 200 for the county. However I thought I'd submit his application for him just based on his Pennington total.

Rob, an extra 0, can just add a bit of fun, thought it best to edit it before the someone else does.

keep trying to reach new heights 

Mr John Tromans, how very pleasing that we can now add you as a full member of the elusive GM 200 Club, well done on your latest two ticks, I hope you get many more.

 

Keep Birding.

 

 

-- Edited by Paul Heaton on Wednesday 28th of June 2017 07:15:24 AM

Barry Hulme congratulations on reaching the grand total of 200 for your GM county list.
I had thought you were going to stay on 199 forever, well done,

An excellent bird the Sabines gull to gain you into the hallow halls of the GM 200 club.

Craig Higson, well done sir, what a cracking bird for your 200th. excellent way to become our newest member.

keep birding