What are some 'most species in a day' birding records? (1 Viewer)

[aadesh1233]

I'm just curious for the records as it would be interesting to see the records.

My records are:

Waimakariri District: 36 (Ashley Estuary)
Christchurch City: 39 (Quail Island and Avon-Heathcote Estuary)
Timaru District: 33 (Otipua Wetland and Caroline Bay)
82 birds on my life list since 17 June 2020.
61 birds on my 2021 year list as of 18 January 7:10am.

Why can you seagulls, but you can’t herons?

 

[YuShan]

I had 72 species yesterday in Pennington/Keyhaven Marshes and that could have been a lot more if I had not dipped on many of the common species that I see almost every time like Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Jay, coal tit, even Wren!

Many people do a "big day" every now and then (especially New Years Day). I have never done that, but I would like to do that some day, really trying to get 100+ or so.

Most lifers in one day was 28 in Ethiopia, birding on foot by myself (no guide)

 

[pbjosh]

I think the most impressive single "one day birding record" I know of is a little heralded but stunning 345 species solo effort, walking only, in one site (Los Amigos Research Station in SE Peru) - https://ebird.org/checklist/S24475056. Pretty mind blowing in my opinion.

 

[Farnboro John]

My personal best is 126 in Norfolk and Suffolk with a few in Cambridgeshire years ago, but the UK record I think is in the 160s?

100 in a day is fairly easy in May and not that difficult on 1 January if you prepare carefully and the weather is kind - though running out of daylight is a risk!

John

 

[Andy Adcock]

My personal best is 126 in Norfolk and Suffolk with a few in Cambridgeshire years ago, but the UK record I think is in the 160s?

100 in a day is fairly easy in May and not that difficult on 1 January if you prepare carefully and the weather is kind - though running out of daylight is a risk!

John

Not in an inland County?

 

[Mike Crawley]

My personal best is 149 in Cheshire as part of a national bird race in May in the early 90's, I think we were joint first with a team from Norfolk. That was the Cheshire day list record for a while.

 

[Farnboro John]

Not in an inland County?

Probably not. That's what the internal combustion engine is for.

John

 

[Andy Adcock]

Probably not. That's what the internal combustion engine is for.

John

Funny that, always imagined you in a hot air balloon.

 

[birdboybowley]

138 is my personal UK best.....still the Sussex record too 😁 Worldwide I think is150-something in Ethiopia

 

[Farnboro John]

Funny that, always imagined you in a hot air balloon.

Good for raptors!

John

 

[opisska]

I think the most impressive single "one day birding record" I know of is a little heralded but stunning 345 species solo effort, walking only, in one site (Los Amigos Research Station in SE Peru) - https://ebird.org/checklist/S24475056. Pretty mind blowing in my opinion.

Meanwhile, I have seen 204 species in Peru in a month

 

[Paul Chapman]

My best patch day total is 102. Big patch.... I think on foot from the house is 82 in May 2000.

My best Avon day list is 110's in the early 2000's.

I also did a couple in the early 90's with Dorset 130's and East Anglia on a really unsuitable day a slightly higher amount that I cannot remember....

I have had a plan in my head for beating the UK record for over a decade that I have never tried. I may try and put a team together one day. 😀

Anyone who knows the exact total, I would be I interested. I read the Big Bird Race recently having bought it second hand as I have known one of the participants for years.

All the best

Paul

 

[Andy Adcock]

I have had a plan in my head for beating the UK record for over a decade that I have never tried. I may try and put a team together one day. 😀

Anyone who knows the exact total, I would be I interested. I read the Big Bird Race recently having bought it second hand as I have known one of the participants for years.

All the best

Paul

A lot of variables Paul,
you need a good year for 'accessible' vagrants, i.e not all on Unst or similar, I'd enjoy seeing you have a crack at it. What is the current record, Adrian Webb has it or not? Would we get a contemporaneous account or would it be on the 'DL'?

I attempted the 300+ once, just made it with 302 but not sure if people know how draining it is, very tiring.

Go on mate, take a sabbatical, not too late, start with the 'Mocker'

 

[Paul Chapman]

I confess I was referring to daylist. I did 330's in 1994 whilst working full time but I doubt I'd UK year list again. Day lists though retain some interest as does a WP year list after the excellent Swedish effort in 2017. I bumped into them in Kuwait in the spring:-

Big Year WP 2017 – Birding the Western Palearctic

All the best

Paul

 

[Andy Adcock]

I confess I was referring to daylist. I did 330's in 1994 whilst working full time but I doubt I'd UK year list again. Day lists though retain some interest as does a WP year list after the excellent Swedish effort in 2017. I bumped into them in Kuwait in the spring:-

Big Year WP 2017 – Birding the Western Palearctic

All the best

Paul

What were you after in Kuwait?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Socotra Cormorant and Basra Reed Warbler mainly & successfully:-

https://ebird.org/checklist/S36020032

https://ebird.org/checklist/S36019903

I didn't get a photo of Basra Reed Warbler so I will go back.

All the best

Paul

 

[Andy Adcock]

Socotra Cormorant and Basra Reed Warbler mainly & successfully:-

https://ebird.org/checklist/S36020032

https://ebird.org/checklist/S36019903

I didn't get a photo of Basra Reed Warbler so I will go back.

All the best

Paul

Good stuff Paul, logistically easy?

I keep saying to myself that I'l have a weekend in Belgrade for Pygmy Cormorant but never seem to get around to it.

 

[Paul Chapman]

You need to be in contact with local birders really but certainly not the complexity of some of your foreign trips. For Pygmy Cormorant, I would get a cheap deal into Burgas in Bulgaria and do the Poda Reserve. I've done a couple of Bulgaria spring trips:-

https://ebird.org/checklist/S29835377

All the best

Paul

 

[opisska]

Kuwait is such a funny destination - it's main draw was definitely being the corner of the traditional WP, meaning that a lot of species could be gotten in WP only there, especially with the conditions in Iraq being what they were - Indian Roller, Afghan Babbler, Red-Wattled Lapwing might be the most prominent ones on top of what was already mentioned, but there were also other such as Hypocolius, Crested Tern, Red-tailed Wheatear, Daurian Shrike etc.. that were just easier than elsewhere and some repeating rarities on top of that. Nowadays if you consider WP including the entire Arabian Peninsula and Iran, it's not that clear cut, but still Kuwait has the advantage of being very easy to travel to.

 

[Andy Adcock]

You need to be in contact with local birders really but certainly not the complexity of some of your foreign trips. For Pygmy Cormorant, I would get a cheap deal into Burgas in Bulgaria and do the Poda Reserve. I've done a couple of Bulgaria spring trips:-

https://ebird.org/checklist/S29835377

All the best

Paul

Thanks Paul,
Pygmy, winter in Belgrade in their thousands and are almost in the City centre at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. You can view them from some lovely, floating, barge, restaurant bars. I've been a couple of times but never at the right time.