Anyone else out there keep cumulative month lists? I find it can be a great way of having a steady supply of target birds without the gruelling slog of a year list or the occasional lengthy wait for the next UK tick. Over the years Ive built up my month lists to the following
Jan 204 (No. 200 Common Sandpiper)
Feb 206 (No. 200 Black Grouse)
Mar 207 (No. 200 Arctic Redpoll)
Apr 236 (No. 200 Mandarin)
May 239 (No. 200 Barnacle Goose)
Jun 236 (No. 200 Pallid Harrier)
Jul 202 (N0.200 Spotted Crake)
Aug 195 (No. 200 TBA)
Sep 213 (No. 200 Cirl Bunting)
Oct 271 (No. 200 Sora)
Nov 204 (N0. 200 Great Northern Diver)
Dec 170 (No. 200 TBA)
As can be seen December is the pathetic month; I really must save some leave till the end of the year some time and do something about that! This year Ive added Long-eared Owl, Richards Pipit, Laughing Gull, Black Scoter, Hawfinch, Black Grouse and Snow Bunting to my December List (and Im hoping to revisit the Gull and the Grouse soon to increase my January list). My other target for January next year is Hooded Crow. Then in February Ill be paying the Black Scoter and the Richards Pipit another visit as well as trying to track down a Chiffchaff (which would then become the 100th species I'd have seen in every month of the year the most recent addition to that list being Little Egret, when I finally saw some in November at Red Wharf Bay)
So, fun with month lists I recommend it!
James
Hi JWN,
I have been compiling monthly lists for some years now, just adds to the interest and good to look back on, as well as my year and life lists. My totals for the months for this year are as follows:
Jan 137
Feb 75
Mar 109
Apr 66
May 157
Jun 60
Jul 104
Aug 86
Sept 123
Oct 144
Nov 51
Dec 91 (still counting)
Some months were quiet as I was otherwise engaged on work related projects, hoping 2006 will be just as good. Highlights for the year were Norfolk in January, two weeks around the Suffolk coast in May, Isles of Scilly in September and a weeks birding in Scotland.
[QUOTE=JWN Andrewes]Anyone else out there keep cumulative month lists? I find it can be a great way of having a steady supply of target birds without the gruelling slog of a year list or the occasional lengthy wait for the next UK tick. Over the years Ive built up my month lists to the following
Jan 204 (No. 200 Common Sandpiper)
Feb 206 (No. 200 Black Grouse)
Mar 207 (No. 200 Arctic Redpoll)
Apr 236 (No. 200 Mandarin)
May 239 (No. 200 Barnacle Goose)
Jun 236 (No. 200 Pallid Harrier)
Jul 202 (N0.200 Spotted Crake)
Aug 195 (No. 200 TBA)
Sep 213 (No. 200 Cirl Bunting)
Oct 271 (No. 200 Sora)
Nov 204 (N0. 200 Great Northern Diver)
Dec 170 (No. 200 TBA)
As can be seen December is the pathetic month; I really must save some leave till the end of the year some time and do something about that! This year Ive added Long-eared Owl, Richards Pipit, Laughing Gull, Black Scoter, Hawfinch, Black Grouse and Snow Bunting to my December List (and Im hoping to revisit the Gull and the Grouse soon to increase my January list). My other target for January next year is Hooded Crow. Then in February Ill be paying the Black Scoter and the Richards Pipit another visit as well as trying to track down a Chiffchaff (which would then become the 100th species I'd have seen in every month of the year the most recent addition to that list being Little Egret, when I finally saw some in November at Red Wharf Bay)
So, fun with month lists I recommend it!
James[/QUOTE]
I haven't counted up my month lists for ages, so you have made me get on with it!
Jan 237
Feb 227
Mar 247
Apr 259
May 300
Jun 265
Jul 243
Aug 252
Sep 259
Oct 352
Nov 238
Dec 209
December is always the least attractive month for birding - bad weather, Xmas, the fact that by then you've seen everything that year. The great thing about month lists is that it drives you to see birds in every stage of age and moult, so it keeps birding as that wonderful learning experience.
Good game this
John