Well done indeed Mark on your doggedness and stamina in achieving 178 in a year in which you had to really earn every species.
I had a tentative aim to try to keep my modest but growing Gr. Manchester life list abreast of your annual effort when we were both in the 160's, but you left me for dead quite easily in the end.
I see from my data on "Tickem" that I managed 20 days (or partial days) in the Gr. Man. area during 2010 and added 8 new G.M. species, recording 121 during the 12 months (109 of which were in May). With hindsight, I really should have made an effort to visit in September (which had at least 20 potential Gr. Man. lifers recorded in that month alone), though many of these didn't really stick around and there were never 3 or 4 around at the same time to really justify a trip down, (bearing in mind the cost at about £50 per trip).
Anyhow, thanks to this vibrant and stimulating website, my obsession continues, and I look forward to some brilliant birding down there in 2011, (esp. in May!)
Best wishes to all of you for 2011! Cheers, Mike P.
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Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.
Karen Foulkes wrote that's unless of course anybody owns a Nimbus 2000 (ref Harry Potter for those of you who don't know) they are willing to sell to me...............
Dont know about Nimbus, but I think the RAF may have a few Nimrods for sale after the latest government cull. Saying that, there is also a fleet of Harriers too! Could be pretty useful for those tricky Moorland landings!!
Heard a rumour that three well known county birders are going for the County List next year in a head to head to rival the book and forthcoming film 'The Big Year'.
I believe that bus passes will be heavily used by two of the entrants...............
There is no truth in the rumour that I am one of the bus pass users (no I am not over 60, before anybody dares say it)! Yes, I will admit I have chatted to one or two users of this site about having a go at my own unique take to do a county list, mainly by using public transport, but after being driven mad on several occasions because I couldn't even make it for a county rarity I have decided against it, that's unless of course anybody owns a Nimbus 2000 (ref Harry Potter for those of you who don't know) they are willing to sell to me...............
And not wanting to urinate on Mr. Rigby's parade but that'll be a third place I think you'll find. Following national listing guidelines, in the event of a tie, he who achieves the total earliest in the year goes in front
Class answer pal
Well done Riggers a very good effort, of course all made possible by the folk out there finding them for you. Good luck with the Oldham borough list, you may need abit. Apparently some folk are doing borough lists again next year.
And not wanting to urinate on Mr. Rigby's parade but that'll be a third place I think you'll find. Following national listing guidelines, in the event of a tie, he who achieves the total earliest in the year goes in front
How does that ryhme go? First the worst, second the best, third the dirty don...
May just be a rumour! You will have to wait for Decembers instalment to see! There may yet be a surprise. As I am on call for a week (no beer for me) would trawling the moors after dark in the hope of a Shorty by headlight be a little desperate?
Rumour has it, in the last few hours of daylight Mr Riggers ran into Elton res and the Brent Goose slipped onto the year-list, giving him a well deserved 2nd place.
A stirling effort, and a fantastic 178 year list .
A big congratulations should also be extended to all those borough listers too for their efforts especially all boroughs that are not Wigan, cos birding there is easy!!
Anything's easy when you know how, and us wiganers obviously know how!
Happy New Year to all!
Haha! Its easy with all your brilliant habitat!! Still at least us East Side massive have da Red Grouse!!
Heard a rumour that three well known county birders are going for the County List next year in a head to head to rival the book and forthcoming film 'The Big Year'.
I believe that bus passes will be heavily used by two of the entrants...............
A big congratulations should also be extended to all those borough listers too for their efforts especially all boroughs that are not Wigan, cos birding there is easy!!
Anything's easy when you know how, and us wiganers obviously know how!
" A big congratulations should also be extended to all those borough listers too for their efforts especially all boroughs that are not Wigan, cos birding there is easy!! "
We've been rumbled. It is a doddle indeed. I did in fact not use any optical equipment all year, seeing most species with the naked eye while queuing outside t'pie shop. The other species was a fluke, as I flushed a Jack Snipe from t'cobbles while waiting for the rag and bone mon.
May I tie the whippet to a gas lamp, so I can doff me flat cap to all fellow Manchester Birding web-site and forum users for 2011.
Well done Mr Rigby on your 2010 GM list. Also to all the Borough year-listers. Hopefully it helped the discovery/re-discovery of some good local patches. Keep it going and submit those records for the Atlas and county report!!
As the last day of the year hits us, huge congratulations should be given to Mr Rigby for his efforts this year in trying to beat the County list record with a very impressive list of 177 birds seen within the County.
He came very close to acheiving the objective of seeing the 2008 tally set by Paul Heaton of 183 birds. Unless today becomes a very productive day, Riggers will be joint third with Rob Adderley who also made 177 in 2006. Second in place is Mr McKercher on 178 gained during 2002.
I have been with Riggers on a small number of his twitches this year, however I couldnt be on many of them, as I seem to work normal hours whereas Riggers seems to have hours to suit birds!!
The odds were starting to stack against him after a rather quiet November and December. As it happens, when I met Riggers and Chorley in the pub the other week for a catch up drink, we tried to count up what had been in county that Riggers had not seen and we think that there were only around 182 birds on the list in total for the County this year. Presumably this will be verified. Two birds on the list that were not seen were Warfy Jr's Common Crane and the Elton Short Eared Owl.
Anyway, it was an amazing effort which saw him clock up many many miles in his car, catch up with 177 birds, have several silent days with Mrs Riggers and be on standby when we were on birding trips in Norfolk to get back to Manchester should something turn up!
So a big pat on the back to Mark for this years attempt and good luck for the Oldham Borough list attempt! Which as an ex Oldham Borough Resident, I know it will be a toughy! But I do know a few hotspots!
Good luck also to the next idiot.... sorry volunteer for the next County Year List attempt!
A big congratulations should also be extended to all those borough listers too for their efforts especially all boroughs that are not Wigan, cos birding there is easy!!
Cheers and Happy New Year to all and enjoy your birding!!
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