Ross Ahmed
Well-known member
Right, been meaning to start this since 1st Jan, and I'm now taking the opportunity to do so while I have half a chance. In this thread, I would like to diarise my 2008 self-found list i.e. all birds I find myself this year.
I reckon self-finding birds is a real challenge but one which is very rewarding. It's often quite difficult differentiating between what is a self-find and not, but I use Punkbirder rules as a guideline.
The year started in January with a few decent local birds (e.g. Pomarine Skua and Greenshank), and a trip to Norfolk (WC Sparrow twitch) bumped the list up well. Best 'find' (found out later it had already been seen way back in Nov 2007, but I can still count this according to 'genuine surprise'/'no reports for a period of time' rules) in January was a Water Pipit at St Mary's Island, Northumberland.
February and most of March however, were completely wiped out with work commitments but things are starting to get back at the time of writing with a few new birds in past days. Currently the list is on 131 (I think), with the end of year target somewhere in the region of 210-220 - quite a tall order!
Here's to a good spring!
I reckon self-finding birds is a real challenge but one which is very rewarding. It's often quite difficult differentiating between what is a self-find and not, but I use Punkbirder rules as a guideline.
The year started in January with a few decent local birds (e.g. Pomarine Skua and Greenshank), and a trip to Norfolk (WC Sparrow twitch) bumped the list up well. Best 'find' (found out later it had already been seen way back in Nov 2007, but I can still count this according to 'genuine surprise'/'no reports for a period of time' rules) in January was a Water Pipit at St Mary's Island, Northumberland.
February and most of March however, were completely wiped out with work commitments but things are starting to get back at the time of writing with a few new birds in past days. Currently the list is on 131 (I think), with the end of year target somewhere in the region of 210-220 - quite a tall order!
Here's to a good spring!
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