End of year review

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

RE: End of year review

Bernard McGurrin · Status: Offline

Bernard McGurrin wrote:

my personal 2013 favourites would be a tie between the glossy ibis and the pectoral sandpiper mainly for the superb close views that these relatively rare ( for GM ) birds allowed.
my 2014 target has to be to see a little owl in the wild, i know it's a reasonably common bird but i have never seen one in the wild, i must target one in 2014 hopefully in the Wigan area, but if not anywhere in GM.
my favourite site is probably my own patch Bickershaw Rucks because i am there every single day walking my Rotty Charlie, i am also fortunate to live within a few miles of Penny Flash.

Managed to see my 2014 target bird of Little Owl, thanks to some superb help from Jon Bowen thanks mate, biggrin

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Oh, there's another topic considered added - Favourite birding moment of 2013 - I mean, that single-span of a second where we get that rush and just think: "Wow, this is why I do this."

I have two examples. Out of country I was in a woodland right on the banks of Zagreb's Sava river when I heard and then saw Nightingales - there were at least a dozen around - whilst trying to get on to one individual with my binocs, as I did a Wryneck jumped right into the field of view, two lifers in a split second, but that's foreign birding :PPPP

In county, that moment when that first Water Rail came out right of Pengy's - more relief than 'owt - and when walking up that hill in dire cold weather almost a year to the day towards Dove Stone when I heard and then locked onto my first self-found Waxwings, the first of four self-found batches smile

Paul Richardson · Status: Offline

Thanks John for getting us all thinking!!

Still being a novice birder, I have had a real blast this year. So many fabulous experiences "out there with nature". The specifics are REALLY hard to decide:

2013 Personal Favourite - The pair of Tawny Owls that roosted regularly in the trees just beyond our garden in summer, sounded great, and one evening, perched large as life together on our TV aerial!

Favourite new tick - Probably the Redstart we saw in Bowland completely out of the blue on a hike rather than a "birdwatch" as such. He was a pristine, fabulously marked male, and was relatively close to us on an oak tree - just gorgeous. I think what was special was seeing it for ourselves, rather than "just" rushing off to see something noticed by somebody else. That's what makes it a favourite, but doesn't mean I didn't relish the Lesser Scaup, the Ibises, etc etc.

2014 target species - Dotterel would be great (as I love hillwalking too), Woodcock (current bogey bird!), Long Eared Owl, and, as we are bound for Uist in summer, Black Throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe in summer plumage, and Arctic Skua.

2014 resolution - Strangely, I do want to re-balance the time I spend birding with the time hillwalking. The walking has suffered a bit with so much birding. As I am reducing my working hours this year, I hope I can actually do a bit more of BOTH!!

2014 site of the year - It's just got to be Penny Flash. Less than 10 minutes from my house, always worth a mooch, and full of surprises. Added to that the morning and evening light around the water gives some really stunning photo opps!

GM birding target - to explore Astley Moss/Rindle Road/ Croxden's and perhaps beyond into the scary uncharted territory beyond the railway (Little Woolden etc) and to see a woodcock there!!

PS: Other highlights too many to list - the White Storks in autumn in Bavaria, when we expected they'd be long gone - the Hen Harriers, Whinchats, Corncrakes, and Choughs of Islay - the Choughs of Craig yr Aderyn in mid Wales and the Red Kite feeding at Nant yr Aryan - many encounters while birding with Roe Deer, early in the morning mist, and a beautiful Red Deer hind and calf and a red fox at Leighton Moss - Marsh Harriers at Leighton and at Dungeness - I could go on!

Happy New Year to all and a big thankyou again to Ian and to Manchester Birding for the priceless info and encouragement always available here.

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

This is a great thread. For the record, I started birding properly in March/April this year, I'm sat on 145 species for the year and hence for life.

2013 personal favourite bird: Its a dead heat between Ring Ouzel at Dove Stones and Purple Sandpipers in Brixham. Also diving Gannets get a mention

2013 fave new tick: Waxwing (the first one on the list, because when I saw them that made me start my list)

2014 target species: Short Eared Owl, Red-throated Diver, Hawfinch

2014 birding resolution: Get to the sea again

2013 site of the year - Stenner Woods, first place that made me realise the birds are there if you know how to look. Also Broadsands Beach down in Devon. So many childhood days there in the sun, if only I'd known it was a great birding site too...

2014 GM county birding target: Sunbank Lane and environs, now I work near the airport.

Doh! Happy New Year!

-- Edited by Simon Gough on Tuesday 31st of December 2013 08:57:15 PM

Joe Wynn · Status: Offline

My county highlights have got to be the autumnal Bolton duo of Glossy Ibis and Pectoral Sandpiper along with the penny Lesser Scaup. Out of county my highlights have to be, as always, from north of the board in the form of White Tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, summer plumage Snow Bunting, Ring Ouzel, Dotterel, Red Throated Diver and the experience that is breeding season on Handa Island. Out of country it's definitely gotta be feeding Alpine Chough from the hand, an absolute dream bird for me and so characterful at close quarters. Been a good year and hopefully the brilliant summer of it may be repeated in 2014, but I'm not holding my breath.

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Andy Bissitt wrote:

And now we can add Black throated Diver to the list too

Dennis,

I've also found one of those in the past. God I'm hard to please!!

Andy,

next year you may have to look for something more difficult then, maybe a Millenium Falcon, Groan, i know, smile

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

And now we can add Black throated Diver to the list too smile

Dennis,

I've also found one of those in the past. God I'm hard to please!! biggrin

Bill Myerscough · Status: Offline

One organisations view on how wildlife in general has fared in 2013 can be found at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25523879

On a more specific birding note the BTO's review page of the year, as follows, has many interesting links.

http://www.bto.org/news-events/news/review-of-year-2013?dm_i=IG4,216O5,39GIKZ,7BJ6Z,1

In my opinion, perhaps the two most interesting and thought provoking links are halfway down the above page link and are as follows:-

http://www.bto.org/news-events/press-releases/nesting-birds-turn-clocks-back-50-years-after-cold-spring

http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ringing/surveys/ces/ces-results/ces-preliminary-results-2013

Cheers,

Bill.

Charles Farrell · Status: Offline

My objectives for 2013 had been
1) See/hear 200 species in the UK
2) Record an average of 1000 sightings a month in Birdtrack
3) See Merlin, Garden Warbler and other species that constantly evade my best efforts to see them

The first objective was met although a few species were heard only (Grasshopper Warbler, Bittern, Turtle Dove). Taking several birding holidays helped considerably, so I wouldnt dream of taking credit for finding all of those species.

Work and other pressures combined with the lousy weather of the last few months have meant that I've fallen short of the second target by about 75 records a month, but it is still my best ever year, numbers wise. Garden Warbler, Brambling continue to elude me, as does Merlin, though they at least do seem to have been thin on the ground this year.

Highlights
- Dipper and Hobby on my Middleton patch + Kingfisher & Siberian Chiffchaff seen at Wince Brook
- Bullfinch and Siskin in my mum's Alkrington garden
- the Glossy Ibis

out of county
- Hobby, Red Kite, Buzzard, Black Redstart and Woodcock on one of my London patches
- Amazing breaks in Norfolk, mid-Wales and Scotland which contributed a lot of species to my yearlist
- An impressive Goshawk in Wales
- low-flying Woodcock and Peregrine in the street close to the office in Aldgate in London
- Several close-ups of Barn Owls that I accidently flushed
- Some great views of both Eagles and other raptors in the Findhorn Valley

out of the UK
- a fabulous Black Woodpecker in Paris (Forest of St Germain)

Next year I would like more of the same plus some of those annoying blockers - in GM of course, but a lot depends upon whether I end up working in this country or in Sweden and I wont know the answer to that until next month. Holiday-wise I have a trip to Portugal lined up and I plan to expand my Euope-list at the very least.

-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Friday 27th of December 2013 11:36:27 PM

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

It's hard to know where to start with this one so I'll break it down a bit. Firstly, highlights from my own patch of Highfield Moss were my first Spotted Flycatcher down there plus Little Owl. Other great birds down there for me were Green Sandpiper, Goosander, Barnacle Goose(feral) and Merlin(on several occasions).

Great county birds for me were pretty much as what's been mentioned already. Glossy Ibis, Great Skua, Great Grey Shrike, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Scaup, Black Redstart, wild Barnacle Geese at Penny and my massive garden tick of a Gannet.

I had some great out of county birds too. Greenish warbler at Egerton; Wryneck, Red Backed Shrike, Red Breasted Flycatcher, Icterine Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Mealy Redpoll and Barred Warbler at Spurn. A three day trip to Norfolk gave me a self found Red Backed Shrike plus fantastic views of three Montagu's Harriers, Red footed Falcon at Lakenheath with the Hobbies and the ever invisible Golden Orioles.

Probably my favourite birding experience of the year was on holiday in Majorca. It was the first time I'd ever birded abroad and the birds I saw certainly whetted my appetite for more. Highlights were a colony of Pallid Swifts, Nightingales, Sardinian Warblers, Turtle Doves, Stone Curlews, Hoopoes, Thekla Larks, Short toed Larks, Woodchat Shrikes, Serin, Cirl Buntings, Icterine Warbler, Booted Eagle and probably others that I've forgotten.

My main mission for 2014 has got to be to increase my GM list. By my reckoning I'm on about 185 or so and I aim to add a few more to it for next year. I also hope that I'll finally score with a couple of bogey birds too. These being a GM Little Egret (can't believe I've not got this one yet as I've even seen two separate Great White Egrets in county) and also a Highfield Moss Barn Owl.

All the best for 2014 and let's hope for some great birds and birding.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Rob Creek wrote:

Dennis atherton wrote:

Was there anything else?
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Tuesday 24th of December 2013 10:16:16 PM

The Great Skua was a particularly good bird for me as I only live round the corner and I almost bonded with that bird. The Pectoral was worth the trip to Rumworth. The Lesser Scaup was an absolute gem of a bird when it came to within a few feet of me near Penny's East Bay Hide, the (single) Greater Scaup at Penny too was a good bird. The 4 Glossy Ibis and the Black Redstart at Horwich were also worth an afternoon out!
Other birds not mentioned were the Red Necked Grebe at Audenshaw Res, the long staying fem Red Breasted Merganser and the Channel Wagtail also at Audenshaw earlier in the year. The Wood Sandpiper at Wigan Flash, the Green Sandpipers at Penny and 1 at Dunham, and an Osprey I had over Brushes, made up a fairly eventful county year.

A lot of O-O-C stuff for me aswell including the Baikal Teal at Marshside, Hawfinches at Sizergh Castle, Green Winged Teal at Martin Mere, and Long Tailed Ducks at both Marshside and Leighton Moss.

Other birds cropped up for me around the country that I've not seen in a while, including Green Woodpeckers near Lancaster, Cornwall, and Dovedale, a pair of Cuckoo's and Rock Pipit's also in Cornwall, a lovely Bittern at Leighton Moss (1st was at Minsmere), Redstarts and a Ring Ouzel at Dovedale, and a Spoonbill at Marshside after a long wait since my 1st a long time ago at Walney Island. There's probably some more I can't remember but all in all a good birding year!
Cheers and all the best for 2014,
Rob

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 07:36:16 PM

I knew I'd forgot some...

The Siberian Chiffchaff at Middleton's Wince Brook early year, a Lesser Whitethroat at Pennington Flash, a Cetti's Warbler (twice) and a Great White Egret both at Leighton Moss, and a quick glimpse of what I think could've been my first Grasshopper Warbler at Wigan Flashes (or do I still swallow my pride and let it be the one that got way?)
Who cares, it was a good year birding wise!
Cheers
Rob

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

yeah the price of petrol is not on, far too high, i totally agree, i think the Greenish warbler was actually officially in Lancashire though you could hear it singing from in manchester, it was that close, cry

just a strong wind away,

lets hope next year is as good,

And now we can add Black throated Diver to the list too smile

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Dennis atherton wrote:

Was there anything else?

Loads more, Hows about Greenish warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Scaup, Red Throated Divers, Cetti"s Warbler at penny, And the first Records of a county Barnacle Goose, i'm sure i am still missing some too, it's been a great county year

Edit due to another, How can i forget Dave's Great Grey Shrike,

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Tuesday 24th of December 2013 10:16:16 PM

Dennis,

You'll have to forgive me, but I do get blase about things I've seen before in the county (I've actually self-found two of those you mention in the past). Was the greenish warbler in the County. I know it was near the boundary? In any case, I'd just seen dozens abroad, and they're not that exciting a bird to see. I'd have loved to have seen the barnacles, but I didn't. With the price of petrol, I consider it a waste of money travelling too far to see anything unless it's a new bird in the UK for me, otherwise I stay fairly local. Therefore my BIGGER hope for 2014 is that I can still get into Audenshaw, otherwise I'm stuffed!!

Bernard McGurrin · Status: Offline

my personal 2013 favourites would be a tie between the glossy ibis and the pectoral sandpiper mainly for the superb close views that these relatively rare ( for GM ) birds allowed.
my 2014 target has to be to see a little owl in the wild, i know it's a reasonably common bird but i have never seen one in the wild, i must target one in 2014 hopefully in the Wigan area, but if not anywhere in GM.
my favourite site is probably my own patch Bickershaw Rucks because i am there every single day walking my Rotty Charlie, i am also fortunate to live within a few miles of Penny Flash.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Dennis atherton wrote:

Was there anything else?
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Tuesday 24th of December 2013 10:16:16 PM

The Great Skua was a particularly good bird for me as I only live round the corner and I almost bonded with that bird. The Pectoral was worth the trip to Rumworth. The Lesser Scaup was an absolute gem of a bird when it came to within a few feet of me near Penny's East Bay Hide, the (single) Greater Scaup at Penny too was a good bird. The 4 Glossy Ibis and the Black Redstart at Horwich were also worth an afternoon out!
Other birds not mentioned were the Red Necked Grebe at Audenshaw Res, the long staying fem Red Breasted Merganser and the Channel Wagtail also at Audenshaw earlier in the year. The Wood Sandpiper at Wigan Flash, the Green Sandpipers at Penny and 1 at Dunham, and an Osprey I had over Brushes, made up a fairly eventful county year.

A lot of O-O-C stuff for me aswell including the Baikal Teal at Marshside, Hawfinches at Sizergh Castle, Green Winged Teal at Martin Mere, and Long Tailed Ducks at both Marshside and Leighton Moss.

Other birds cropped up for me around the country that I've not seen in a while, including Green Woodpeckers near Lancaster, Cornwall, and Dovedale, a pair of Cuckoo's and Rock Pipit's also in Cornwall, a lovely Bittern at Leighton Moss (1st was at Minsmere), Redstarts and a Ring Ouzel at Dovedale, and a Spoonbill at Marshside after a long wait since my 1st a long time ago at Walney Island. There's probably some more I can't remember but all in all a good birding year!
Cheers and all the best for 2014,
Rob

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 07:36:16 PM

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Was there anything else? smile

Loads more, Hows about Greenish warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Scaup, Red Throated Divers, Cetti"s Warbler at penny, And the first Records of a county Barnacle Goose, i'm sure i am still missing some too, it's been a great county year

Edit due to another, How can i forget Dave's Great Grey Shrike, cry

-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Tuesday 24th of December 2013 10:16:16 PM

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

In the county- Glossy Ibis & Great Skua. Was there anything else?

Outside county. Stilt sandpiper was the only new bird for the UK I went to see. So that's it!

In the world:- Ibisbill was head and shoulders the best.

Hope for 2014. That by some miracle migrant songbirds are recorded in much healthier numbers, especially in the east of the county. I felt that we were seeing some scary futuristic event unfolding last summer. Sleep well!!

Davidcaron62 · Status: Offline

Hi John

2013 personal favourite bird: was Marsh Harriers at Blacktoft Sands (RSPB) in November. Lots of them.

2013 fave new tick: was a Hen Harrier also seen at Blacktoft.

2014 target species: Peregrine falcon, will perhaps visit Rochdale town centre. Also Puffin.

2014 birding resolution: To get to a decent reserve at least one Sunday a month.

2013 site of the year: Has to be Blacktoft Sands with Leighton Moss a close second.

One for the county, 2014 GM county birding target: Has to be a visit to Pennington Flash. Have heard a lot of good things.

Have a great Christmas

Regards

Dave

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Just a little bit of fun as we head towards tomorrow's chaos, present opening, wine corking, etc!

Just made up a few categories from 2013's birding - you can answer regarding the county or outside the county, it's all for fun/discussion.

2013 personal favourite bird: Has to be the Rudyard Lake Caspian Tern for me....!

2013 fave new tick (if any, you 200 clubbers :P) Hen Harrier at Parkgate for me was special!

2014 target species: Any owl, any diver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2014 birding resolution: Get out twice a week, committed

2013 site of the year - It would be hard to deny RSPB Leighton Moss for me, since the quality is there and I made two further visits to 2012's one - but strictly talking GM-wise, it's hard to deny Pennington Flash, tbh, the birding is always good.

Finally, One for the county, 2014 GM county birding target - I should think for me it's to make my first appearance at Wigan Flashes ;)