It all started with a tweet! A tweet on twitter that is – not a bird call! Last week I posted a comment on twitter something like this: “Decided that from Jan I’ll be a “proper” birder and start listing. Saw Great Bittern xmas day so methinks list has to commence Dec 25th!”
That comment kicked off a conversation with another birder (@birdblogger on twitter) which led to me taking up the challenge to reach a tally of 200 birds species during the next 12 months.
Before we came to Spain I used to enjoy seeing birds in our garden and in the local nature reserve but I would’ve been hard-pressed to name any other than the common birds – blue tits, robins, blackbirds, starlings and their ilk. Nevertheless, when we bought our house here in Catalunya and I realised we were in an exceptional area for birding I thought it would be hobby I could really get into. Bought the Collins Field Guide and a cheap pair of binoculars and away I went! Well, not quite…. I sorted out the Swallows, Swifts and Martins that fly in huge numbers over the river in summer. I delighted in the Bee-eaters and Hoopoes. Was in awe of the huge Griffon Vultures in the mountains. I eagerly awaited the sound of the first Nightingale and Scops Owl – a sure sign that summer is here! And then… well, that was about it really!
To be honest it quickly dawned on me just how much there was to learn. I was totally bewildered by LBJ’s! Half the time I didn’t even know which section of Collins to look in! Was I looking at a warbler, a finch, a tit, a thrush? How were you supposed to ID these birds -they never sat still long enough! So I gave up on the Little Brown Jobs.
Perhaps I’ll do better with waders, shore-birds and wildfowl I thought, I’ll start going down to the Ebro Delta. Well ok – I could tell a grey from a purple heron and a little egret from a great egret. As for the rest – Redshank? Greenshank? Lesser Yellowlegs? Sandpiper? And don’t even get me started on gulls! Juvenile 1st winter plumage, 2nd winter plumage, adult summer plumage? Nah – this was more frustration than enjoyment! So for the next couple of years I didn’t do any “birding” as such, I resolved simply to enjoy the birds I saw -whether I could name them or not.
Then a strange thing happened. I started using Twitter. I started to follow and be followed by lots of folk interested in birds and nature. I read their blogs and looked at their amazing photos. I subscribed to a couple of birding newsletters. After a while I started to realise that I was indeed starting to recognise some LBJ’s and other birds. I’ve also realised that I do in fact birdwatch all the time. From my balcony, walking the dog, from the passenger seat of the car. Birds have got under my skin! I surrender!
Hence a few weeks ago I decided that in 2011 I would start keeping a list and be a “proper” birder. Perhaps I’d be pleasantly surprised at the birds I knew and it would push me to ID the ones I didn’t. That’s when I made the post on Twitter and @birdblogger said that I should be able to make 200 birds in a year. Game on! What a great challenge to encourage me!
And now if you’ll excuse me – it is 3.00pm on Jan 1st and I haven’t yet been outdoors. I’m off out for an hour to get those first birds of 2011 on my list!
Brill Really pleased you have taken the challenge
Thanks! Be prepared though – I may be looking for assistence with ID’s
Brilliant blog Dena. I too started my own list yesterday – up for the challenge with Alan
I’ll keep in touch to find out how you’re doing 
Thanks Maureen! That’s great – we’ll keep in touch and compare lists!
Good Luck Dena from a stranger in Vancouver, British Columbia. I too feel very much in the transition from amateur birder to a ‘proper’ one. Our little journey started a couple of years ago when we bought a feeder for the garden (yard as they call them here!). By the time we moved a year later we had seen around 35 species of birds in our back yard, mainly on the feeder! It was fun!
As for 200 species? Wow, that’s a big number to me. I think my entire life list is only just over 100!! Good luck! I will be following your blog with great interest
Hi Stewart
200 seems a big number to me too! And of course it will get harder to find new species as the year goes on. Challenge is the word and it will be a big learning curve for me. However, we also get some very experienced birders staying at our holiday apartments. I shall be hoping to draw on their expertise when they are here!
Many thanks for reading and for your comment. Delighted that my little blog is reaching Vancouver! Love the www!
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I wish you luck with your “Big year”. 200 bird species… shut be a easy for you in the Ebro lands. This winter months you shut target the most rare birds in the Delta like the Slabonian Greebes, Velvet Scotter, Marbled Teal, Ferruginous Ducks, Moustached Warbler, Divers, Bonaparte’s Gull (Tarragona Harvour)… The common ones will come easy searching for the rare ones… Remember to search in Ports for Wallcreeper, Alpine accentor, Citril Finch, Hawfinch, Brammling,… Happy NEW BIRDING YEAR!!
Thank-you for those tips Cristian! I realise I am very fortunate to live in such a brilliant birding area! 200 birds should be achievable but I have a lot to learn! I may have to book on one of your guided tours of the Ebro Delta! In any case I will probably see you some time around the Delta! Take care and thanks again.
Hi Dena
Great stuff, your doing better than me, but then I have Ian around most the time to help me, well im learning from him. Good luck with your list, I darnt start one. It will be good to see what you get and what we get here in the Alpujarras.
Happy birding for 2011
From your blog I’m sure you know way more than I do! Just seems the right time to to try and push myself a bit and stop being lazy! (you know – ooh that was a nice bird! Wonder what it was?) Wish I had someone experienced to go out with like you do! You are right it would be good to compare what you see down there to what we see here. So go on! Start a list!
Thanks for visiting!