2007 Year List.

[mark r skinner]

OK folks, here`s a "fun" passtime that anyone can have a go at..... Bird watching, listing, twitching call it what you will. (most of the serious anoraks prefer "birding".) The basic idea is to make a list of all the species observed in Britain during the calender year of 2007. That includes the Scottish isles, Scillies, Anglsey and IOW. But not Ireland, IOM or Channel islands.
A good local place to start on January 1st is Pitsford. There`s bound to be birders on the causeway. Try using the phrase "anything decent about"?
It`s also worth getting a decent field guide. "Collins bird guide" is easily the best. (Black cover with a Barn Owl) About 12 squid in paperback. And a pair of binoculars.

Tony are you ready?

Edited by mark r skinner on Wednesday 27th December 22:17

[pupp]

Serious Q:

Why?

I like wildlife in all its forms, and love to see spectacular birds including buzzards, kites, various raptors etc etc as I do every day. Have no urge whatsoever to write 'em down and tick 'em off... think they'll do me over any meadow pippit ta

[mxdi]

marks trying to brainwash us all

[mark r skinner]

mxdi said:

marks trying to brainwash us all

[mark r skinner]

Serious answer.

Have a look at www.surfbirds.com Then click life and year listers (more lists) The British year list is probably the most hard fought list of all. It even resulted in a TV documentary a couple of years back.
There`s many different catagories of listing- life, year, day, county, world, garden, trip, local patch etc.
A certain LGR Evans even keeps a list of listers! (UK 400 club)


And don`t forget various PH "spotted" threads.

Edited by mark r skinner on Thursday 28th December 02:34

[matt172]

And there was me thinking PistonHeads was a car related website, how wrong can someone be

Edited by matt172 on Thursday 28th December 12:36

[petclub]

Mark, I'm not into bird watching myself :smile:, but at the back of our house is a large area of reclaimed sand/gravel pits that have been turned into a country park, lots of car parking with various hides etc. Happy to give you details of whereabouts etc., but I wouldn't know what types of birds go there other than loads of Canada Geese. Oh, and there's a large mamoth and a statue of King Lear (supposedly he's in the water).

[tonyvid]

mark r skinner said:

Tony are you ready?

[mark r skinner]

petclub said:

Mark, I'm not into bird watching myself :smile:, but at the back of our house is a large area of reclaimed sand/gravel pits that have been turned into a country park, lots of car parking with various hides etc. Happy to give you details of whereabouts etc., but I wouldn't know what types of birds go there other than loads of Canada Geese. Oh, and there's a large mamoth and a statue of King Lear (supposedly he's in the water).

Birstall Meadows ?

www.lros.org.uk

Edited by mark r skinner on Thursday 28th December 15:15

[petclub]

Hi Mark,

www.leics.gov.uk/country_parks_watermead

Yes, that sounds about right!

[mark r skinner]

petclub said:

Hi Mark,

www.leics.gov.uk/country_parks_watermead

Yes, that sounds about right!

You`ve got me confused now! Watermead CP, Wanlip..... I`ve never been there.

Have been on a couple of twitches at Swithland Res though. Is that anywhere near you ? Saw a Red-Rumped Swallow in `04 and a massive (1500 people) twitch in `99 for a Crag Martin. What a day that was!

[mxdi]

have you been to 'sandy' in Beds, RSPB place over there.

also try Priory Park in Bedford, big lake with hides and bird info round the lake.

[mark r skinner]

mxdi said:

have you been to 'sandy' in Beds, RSPB place over there.

also try Priory Park in Bedford, big lake with hides and bird info round the lake.

I am aware of these venues. Not really "twitching grand central" though. Summer Leys NR (Earls Barton) is probably the best sight in Northants. Loads to see all year round.

[petclub]

Red rumped swallow sounds interesting, have I met her? Follow the A46 North of Leicester (about 4-5 miles from the centre), and the A6, look between Birstall and Thurmaston and there it is, mamoth and all!

[mark r skinner]

petclub said:

Red rumped swallow sounds interesting, have I met her?

She`s a spring overshoot from southern Europe. Nice.

[matt172]

PistonHeads......Twitching matters

[petclub]

I believe the Red Rumped Swallow can induce twitching...

[matt172]

petclub said:

I believe the Red Rumped Swallow can induce twitching...

you can get cream for it apparentley....so Mark was saying

[mark r skinner]

[mark r skinner]

RARE BIRD ALERT!
Red Throated Diver @ Pitsford. That`s a lifer for me. I`m off to the causeway in the morning......