Bird list - How many have you seen????

Hi Nisus and welcome to the RSPB Forum

Birds....too many to mention comes to mind.  It would take me all week to work them out now over a last 2 year period

I did start to write out a list but gave up a while ago.  I know it is a good couple of hundred or so quite easily including the birds that we have seen in abroad in Menorca, and other places.

I was always interested in birds, and now since joining a forum 2 years ago my interest has blossomed in all directions.  I have learned such a lot over the past 2 years from other people and literature of all sorts.  Lots of bird fielding trips too.  So it is only going to get better as time goes on.  It is a great hobby to have, and enjoy.

Luckily, i can go locally for a walk to Putnoe LNR or anywhere that there are birds local to where I stay. I do other trips to the bigger reserves at the weekend. OH works away during the week so that makes things little more awkward - plus the dark nights too.

Not a twitcher at all, just simply a bird lover here. There is such a lot ot learn and we are always learning too.

Last weekend after a trip to Titchwell Marsh I collected another 4 birds I have never seen before so that was a nice result to get and 4 ticks too.

Jack Snipe

Pintail

Bearded Tit

Golden Plover

So pleased!!! {smile}

I think it is the time you have got to go out birding.  If you have a family it is a bit harder and things have to be planned ahead each and every time. So not so easy.  Most people seen to manage a trip out at a push.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Nisus said:

Just out of interest how many different species of birds have any of you seen so far? Ok i am 33 & 3yrs ago i got interested in birds of prey when i was abroad so i bought a few books read them back to front And from there i basically got intetested in all types of birds. When i was on the internet most of the time was researching birds, I joined the RSPB, went to reserve's around the country, i've been reading every book I can get my hand on for the last 3 years everything to do with birds of prey & everyday birds. Now everwhere i go it's like a bug i am always listening & looking i can tell a bird in flight in a second or from a song or call. But i'm no expert, yet :) Ok so here it is my list so far is 80 different bird species. I personally think it should be higher. What do you all think? i wish I had more free time to go birding but my job & family life don't allow it at this moment in time.

 

 

 

Hi blackbird, A couple of hundred that's amazing. How long has that taken you? That's the thing i love about it you never stop learning. And you don't know what's round the corner. The 4 you spotted i haven't got yet, the bearded tit is one ive been looking for too. I try & go out as much as i can family days out are at a forest, nature reserve etc. Ok here's my list so far: Mute swan Canada goose Mallard Pochard Tufted duck Red legged partridge Grey partridge Pheasant Great crested grebe Cormorant Little egret                                     Grey heron Buzzard Red kite Sparrowhawk Kestrel Hobby Peregrine Moorhen Coot Oystercatcher Lapwing                                         Woodcock Black tailed godwit Curlew Black headed gull Herring gull Lesser black backed gull Great black backed gull Common gull Common tern Feral pigeon                                  Stock dove Woodpigeon Collared dove Barn owl Tawny owl Long eared owl Swift Kingfisher Great spotted woodpecker Green woodpecker                           Skylark Swallow House martin Pied wagtail Grey wagtail Meadow pipit Wren Dunnock Robin Stonechat                                     Blackbird Mistle thrush Song thrush Reed warbler Blackcap Chiffchaff Willow warbler Goldcrest Long tailed tit Marsh tit                                     Coal tit Blue tit Great tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Jay Magpie Jackdaw Rook Carrion crow Starling                             House sparrow Tree sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch Greenfinch Bullfinch Yellowhammer

Nisus, I have no idea how many birds we have seen. We started our records in the late 70's when we got married. We have always started new records for each house we have lived as it is very interesting to note the different species in various areas (eg. Hampshire, Kent, Berkshire, Cheshire, and now E. Sussex.) and that is not to mention those birds we see when abroad. We are definitely not twitchers but just enjoy watching or even just spotting them unexpectedly. 

Hi Nisus

Your species list is very good if you have only been birding for a few years and it will only get larger with time.

My birding spans over 35 years and like Blackbird, I have seen several hundred British species and a number of European species here and abroad.

There is also many, many species that I have never seen. Again I'm not a twitcher and don't dash and trample around the country in search of bird ticks.

I read with interest your comments about identification of birds in flight and bird call identification, if you are able to indentify birds in flight and by their song and calls again this will improve your list. As a lot of birds are heard and not seen.

The other key factors are the time you have available to go birding and were you live relating to bird habitat.

Are you near the coast, upland, lowland rural or urban areas etc.

If you are near the coast then waders, ducks and geese should increase your species list, things that you can look out for. Are they Gadwall among'st Mallard are they Pink Footed Geese, White Footed Geese in among'st the Greylag Geese, Barnacle with Canada etc.

This is just the tip of the iceberg! are you looking at a Migrant or a Vagrant bird in among'st hundreds or thousands of others.

Been able to identify the difference between the various species of Waders including Knot, Sanderling, Stint, Dunlin, Sandpiper etc would also be of  benefit.

If you frequent woodlands and forests then the passerines will be at the forefront of species you should encounter.

Again been able to tell the difference between such species as a Marsh Tit and Willow Tit, Chiff Chaff & Willow Warbler are key. These birds are in your list were you certain of the species?

How do you start  identifying birds?

Learning the parts of the body and feather tracts will help!

Been able to identify a bird by using some of  the following

1. Forehead
2. Crown
3. Rear Crown
4. Cheeks (ear coverts)
5. Side of Neck
6. Nape
7. Shoulder
8. Scapulars
9. Upper Back - Mantle
10. Lower Back - Mantle
11. Rump
12. Upper tail-coverts
13. Tail
14. Outer Tail Feathers
15. Under Tail Coverts
16. Vent
17. Belly
18. Flanks / Sides
19. Breast
20. Upper Breast
21. Throat
22. Chin
23. Bill
24. Lesser (Wing) - Coverts
25. Median (Wing) - Coverts
26. Greater (Wing) - Coverts
27. Alula
28. Primary Coverts
29. Tertials and Secondaries
30. Primaries
31. Thigh Leg/ Tarsus
32. Toes and Claws
33. Hind Toe
34. Eyestripe
35. Supercilium
36. Lateral Crown Stripe
37. Central Crown Stripe
38. Crown
39. Eyering
40. Loral Stripe / Lores
41. Malar Stripe

This will also assist you not only in identifying the species but also distinguishing between Adults and Juveniles.

I remember many years ago, I was sat at a local estuary with my binoculars an old pair of 8x40's watching turnstones and ringed plover & little ringed plover.

When I was joined by this young chap with a scope, after several minutes of  watching him scribbling things down in his notebook I asked what he was writing down.

He replied "the ring numbers off the large flock of Curlew" 

I replied "Curlew, what Curlew"

I'm sure you realise the point I'm making!

Also having the most expensive equipment doesn't gaurantee you will see more birds!

The other thing with birding is timing, when are birds most active!

Early, very early in the morning especially during the spring and summer months or an evening when coming into roosts.

Have you done any guided walks, things like dawn chorus or bird song breakfast.

Most of the walks I have done has always resulted in 40 - 60 species been recorded, I also participate in a number of field surveys run by the R.S.P.B. and the British Trust For Ornithology, which can give you access to more private, secluded areas.

Finally feeding stations at home, do you have any?

If so what are you feeding them as again this can give you huge rewards to what species you attract.

Good luck, but most importingly enjoy your birding.

Regards Paul

 

 

 

 

Welcome BTO_birdman! What a wonderful post!! Thanks! Hope it's the first of many more! Definitely couldn't easily tell the difference between those waders (although I do know curlew!) and neither would I be any good with the warblers (except hearing the chiffchaff of course!!)

As for bird counts - never thought to tally them up actually! Just pleased to see birds (and other wildlife) whenever and wherever possible and if I can get a photo, even better! :-D

Welcome BTO_Birdman from me also. Thank you for an extremely helpful post - must have taken you ages to type!

Like MarJus I don't tally them up, I just look and enjoy and photograph and identify (where I can). A few years back I recall seeing a (not cheap) hand-held gadget which was basically a mobile version of the RSPB Bird Identifier. Have you tried this and is it a good product?

When I say not cheap, it wa somewhere in the region of £100!

Thanks for the kind comments MarJus.

I like you, get great enjoyment just by watching birds from Bluetits to Golden Eagles it doesn't matter I find them all remarkable. :-D

Rockwolf said:

Welcome BTO_birdman! What a wonderful post!! Thanks! Hope it's the first of many more! Definitely couldn't easily tell the difference between those waders (although I do know curlew!) and neither would I be any good with the warblers (except hearing the chiffchaff of course!!)

As for bird counts - never thought to tally them up actually! Just pleased to see birds (and other wildlife) whenever and wherever possible and if I can get a photo, even better! :-D

:-D

 

I don't really keep lists, but thought I'd check my BirdTrack records for the last five or six years (see attached). The BTO/ RSPB/ BWI BirdTrack website is a great way to keep track of what you have seen, where and when.

http://blx1.bto.org/birdtrack/

Best wishes,

Darren

Squirrel B said:

Welcome BTO_Birdman from me also. Thank you for an extremely helpful post - must have taken you ages to type!

Like MarJus I don't tally them up, I just look and enjoy and photograph and identify (where I can). A few years back I recall seeing a (not cheap) hand-held gadget which was basically a mobile version of the RSPB Bird Identifier. Have you tried this and is it a good product?

When I say not cheap, it wa somewhere in the region of £100!

 

Hi Squirrel,

thanks for the kind comments.

My species list is based on my memory which I don't tally them up!  Albeit I did record them when I was young.

With regards to Bird Counts!  These are something completely different and I do them for scientific reasons.

They can relate to a specific species or can be totally diverse to habitat. area, region etc.

With regards to the gadgets.

I'm afraid that I'm old school! and the only thing I carry is a pocket bird guide and my bins.

Regards Paul

Hi Nisus

What an interesting post!  I was thinking only recently that I ought to make such a list and may well do so now for the sake of curiosity.  I certainly don't race around the country twitcher style but it is interesting to note where you have seen certain birds.  I did make a list of the ones we saw in the garden when we moved to our current house 12 years ago and was staggered at how many there were in just a few months.  If I can find it it will make a starting point for my tally list.  Mind you, I might have to sit down with a field guide to jog my memory a bit!

Welcome from me too BTO_Birdman and thanks for your very helpful tips on what to consider when trying to make an ID. 

This is such a great place for learning new things and making new friends :-)

p.s.  Isn't it irritating when people call you a twitcher just because you like watching birds? Grrr!