tish tish all this banter ,must be hiding some more commitment from entrants? i,ve just found out that my eco day plan has a serious challange from thorpe jnr and senior,we seem to have to come up with the same route but the thorpes must be a tadge fitter than me cos they include some uphill pedalling on their route,not that i,m trying or really bothered 'just a day out for me'
rumour has it Riggers and mr Chorley have a nailed on guaranteed 119 for the 24 hour birdrace mr riggers has apparently been spotted at various recent big twitches with a variety of nets (ala mr Adderleys large little auk net) catching an array of rarities all to be released at castleshaw on the 14th may
craig i,ll save ian typing this up ,full details of the rules are on the main site under lists and listing,and as i read it if your doing any of the 'day' events heard only,s count but the marathon event require you to see it during the month,best of luck with the bee eater cheers geoff (were,s all the carrington moss lot gone)
If (during the Montly Marathon) I decide to head down to Pearsons to listen for the Cettis, and eventually HEAR it, will that count in the Marathon totals, even though I've never actually SEEN one in GM?
I know general bird race rules would allow it, so I'm presuming it would count, just that I (obviously) couldnt add it to my GM list without seeing it.
(Just need to check as I've booked Bee-eater over Pennington, and Scops Owl in the reserve when I do the 24hr site race, and if heard only dont count I'll have to cancel them)
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
As the beginning of May fast approaches this is my final enquiry as to if there are any other entrants to this event before I pull the plug on the whole thing due to apparent lack of interest.
Considering the amount of active birders out there in the county and the fact that you'll all be out at some point in May, I was a little surprised at the lack of support for the event. It's not meant to be competative, perhaps a little for those going for the same event or same site but it's underlying reason is simply to get everyone out looking, to create that birding community that has been my goal (and to be fair we appear to be achieving), to get out and meet the people we're chatting to on this forum and to make the most of our little county, which when you look at it isn't as bad as it might first appear for somewhere in inland north-west England It would also be nice to get a list of achieved figures for as many sites as possible which can then be compared and perhaps competed against annually.
This website and forum is and always has been funded directly from my very own pocket (not to mention the time it all takes) and I ask for (and require) absolutely nothing more than to see the enjoyment and use birders get from it, so for those who haven't joined in yet, give a little back and enter the May-hem, combine it with your Atlas TTV, throw your gauntlet down for your or indeed someone else's patch but have a go, you never know what you might find and your efforts can contribute towards the breeding bird Atlas via the roving records at the very least. At best, you could win your event, get bragging rights with your mates or on this forum , find a county mega, dig out some species you never knew occurred at your site, contribute towards the breeding Atlas, support this website and what it is trying to achieve (which is something no other counties in the UK have) and god forbid...enjoy yourself
Give it a thought anyway, before it dies a rather undignified death
Dear me they sound like fighting words, it appears the gloves are off, as Mr McKerchar would say the gaunlet is down Now young Mr Warfy your dads not going to be happy with your manners young man So i suggest you get your padding on as I will except your challenge and will kick your little bottom into june with one more bird than you just to make it a sweet victory put my name down as well. keep birding
As im feeling like spring is here after this weekend, im adding my name to the "monthly marathon" roll on May bring it on.. wheres the challengers? can hardly see Woosey being a threat. No Mr Mckerchar? Mr Heaton? Adderleys? (ill take on you both), Riggers? the young Thorpey? (dont worry raptor watchpoints are allowed) Mr Campbell and anyone else i forgot.
.... but to defend themselves from air rifle wielding maniacs, reed-dwelling glue-sniffers, general hords of plonkers and what will appear to be the all the contestants from Kickstart (anyone remember that programme?).
Well remembered Dean! And Magpie, that had a really crap opening credits tune too, one for sorrow, two for joy, blah, blah...maaaaaaaagpiiiiiiiiiiiiiie.
Class and just how off topic is this too Brilliant
Ah yes, this is the sort of thread I had in mind when paying cold hard cash to build and run this forum and well worth it it is too
As for Kickstart, times when 'health and safety' were unheard of and I (shamefully) long for one again, note there is no flippin health and safety on the rugby pitch on saturdays
As a very off topic note (it's my forum so I can ), Takeshi's Castle (Sky channel 124, cable 152, weekdays from 5pm) is fantastic for those who long for/never experienced the un-health and safety days of the late 70's and early 80's 'it's a knock out' type programme. I am forced to watch it (honest, it's all dark at the gull roosts by then) by my 9 year old son and have come to the conclusion that Japan is where I should be moving to and some would say good riddance too
Of course the Wiganners need a team of 4 for their 'big day' and not only to haul around their cart full of pies (no doubt only to be re-supplied at midday by Chinnook helicopter) but to defend themselves from air rifle wielding maniacs, reed-dwelling glue-sniffers, general hords of plonkers and what will appear to be the all the contestants from Kickstart (anyone remember that programme?).
Bring it on
Now I cant really call anyone from Wigan, being a born and bred Wiganer myself, but thats one of the best/funniest things I've read on this site in quite a while.
-- Edited by Craig Higson at 21:00, 2008-01-18
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
now that was a tv show. Reading all these post about the manc mayhem think people will need kevlar body armour and shotguns rather than bins and scopes.
Pennington also has swings, a sand pit and perhaps a round of golf (not to mention the chance of a Cattle Egret whilst you swing your golf cue around ) to offer during those quiter moments, not that there's many what with Bunting Hide always full of Marsh Tits (well, that's what they keep getting claimed as, I given up putting people right now ) and the possibilities of just sitting in the car park and seeing good birds (I've seen Ring-billed Gull, Kittewake, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-necked Grebe and Lesser Scaup all from the car park but of course didn't manage the Cattle Egret , do I keep mentioning that?). I know, I know, Wigan Flashes has some reeds, a feeding station (of sorts), some reeds, more reeds, areas for mototrbikes to 'razz about', some reeds, er, some reeds...oh and Geoff Hargreaves of course
Of course the Wiganners need a team of 4 for their 'big day' and not only to haul around their cart full of pies (no doubt only to be re-supplied at midday by Chinnook helicopter) but to defend themselves from air rifle wielding maniacs, reed-dwelling glue-sniffers, general hords of plonkers and what will appear to be the all the contestants from Kickstart (anyone remember that programme?).
Oh look how the Wigan Flashes 'band-wagon' is filling up now they've had a little purple patch , soon be back to normal, staring at reeds, counting Willow Tits, avoiding motorbikes and 'head-cases' (and I don't just mean Geoff ), oh and scoffing pies of course
When The Mersey Valley Megalisters won the inland county Birdwatch magazines bird race we got about 108 species in 24 hours(time dims the memory of the exact number).Our strategy was to be in a good woodland habo at dawn (we chose Compstall as it has all common species plus all 3 Peckers, Pied Fly,Redstart and Wood Warbler and hopefully roding Woodcock.You'll need to get all the owls staked out,plus some good moorland habo for Red Grouse etc.etc.etc.and then all thats required is to go without your bed for a night.Good luck to anyone who is doing it,you'll need it. Pete Berry
just to bolster mr woosey,s comments our team has been strengthend by the able bodied rob thorpe and in true wigganers tradition a certain A N Other on the team sheet, only to be fielded in unforseen circumstances.
cheers geoff
craig,i,ve had a look on e bay there,s no cetti,s or bittern on offer just yet??
Woosey you are a cad and a villain and I will challenge you on my own if necessary.
On a more serious note I think my best ever tally in one day at PFCP was round about 65-70, and all easy ticks, so if I could nail that many again on one site I'd be confident of over 100 in the county. I'd imagine you'd have a similar chance at the good (but slightly inferior ) wigan flashes!!!
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Why don`t you head a team of Pennington lunatics, with perhaps Mr McKerchar and Mr Tymon as team-mates ? We, (Mr Meadows, Mr Hargreaves, and myself - the Wigan Flashes boys) will take you on and cordially thrash you to smithereens, in the 24hr Site Race. Likewise, we will take on all-comers from Audy, Elton, and anywhere else who fancies their chances !
The gauntlet is well and truly slapped in your faces, and thrown down ! !
As someone who has previously entered the national Birdwatch Birdrace (and won best new team in 2003 I might add ) I'm quite keen to get involved in this May-hem mullarky, particularly the full blown 24hr race. But my previous counterparts have lost interest over the past years so I find myself teamless.
If anyone is looking for someone to make up a team and would consider such a lowly soul as I, who would be honoured , for inclusion in their elite team of expert birders please get in touch(work and holiday commitments allowing).
Cheers.
-- Edited by Craig Higson at 22:22, 2008-01-16
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
Absolutely acceptable as far as I'm concerned (and that makes it the Manchester Birding website too), if you should happen upon a certain spot for seeing into any private sites without tresspassing or causing any damage/disturbance/nuisance, then fair play to you (they exist at a number of current permit only sites) as long as teams/entrants don't actually utilise their permit and enter said sites. One of the large points to a full 24 hour GM bird race will be reconnaissance, finding out exactly what's where and what you can see then those that do their homework deserve the rewards
Ian, I notice that one of the rules is that you cannot count birds from private sites with no public access to give everyone an even playing field,fair enough.However if you just happen to be stood on public land and accidentally glance through say a fence into a private site and a rare breeding bird happens to swims through your field of view,can you then count it?Answers on a postcard please.You can tell its raining outside and I've got nothing better to do on a Sunday morning!!. Cheers Pete
check the main site for details,but us wigganers are on to it already,maps,flipcharts target birds sycronised spotting pratice every thursday,sounds like the warfords but with pies.
the wigganers
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves at 20:58, 2008-01-11
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mr riggers has apparently been spotted at various recent big twitches with a variety of nets (ala mr Adderleys large little auk net) catching an array of rarities all to be released at castleshaw on the 14th may
It would also be nice to get a list of achieved figures for as many sites as possible which can then be compared and perhaps competed against annually.
