Peterborough Bird Club :: GPOG/PBC Bird Race 1999

Peterborough Bird Club

GPOG/PBC Bird Race 1999

Following the success of the first reinstated GPOG Bird race held in May 1998, a ‘re-match’ was arranged for the 8th and 9th May 1999. The original two teams, ‘Just a Hobby’ (Trevor Williams, Jane Williams, Neil Parker and Eunice Parker) and The Dippers (Bob Titman, Martin Coates and Daniel Williams, this year joined by Sue Titman) were challenged by two new teams, ‘Hawkeyes’ (Neil Crossman, Andy Frost, Malcolm Holley and Chris Small) and The Teletubbies (Duncan Poyser, Matthew Webb, Gordon Hamlett and Kevin Wolstencroft).

‘Hawkeyes’ started their bid at Woodwalton Fen where they clocked up 37 species in 2 hours, including Marsh Harrier, Woodcock and Tawny Owl. They then moved on to the Nene Washes where they failed to hear the hoped-for Spotted Crake only adding a further 4 species to their list. A stop at Yaxley for Nightingale brought their total to 42 just after midnight. An early start next morning (4.00) found the team at Eldernell where their total was boosted by the addition of 29 species, including that previously elusive Spotted Crake, Ruddy Duck, Barn Owl and Tree Sparrow. The team then moved on to the Central Drove of the Nene Washes, adding a further 8 species. Flag Fen produced a Wheatear and Milton Park a Mandarin Duck. Ferry Meadows and Bluebell wood added only 3 more species to their list, but a trip to Orton Brick Pits raised their score by 4 species including Hobby and Whinchat. Their journey to Woodnewton added a further 4 birds, and Woodnewton itself saw them achieve their 100th bird, a Buzzard. Their final new bird of the day was a Red Kite, making their total a creditable 101.

The Dippers chose Castor Hanglands as their starting point for the second year running. Here they picked up most of the common woodland species and the less usual Nightingale, Grasshopper Warbler and Woodcock. With a total of 30 birds on their list, they went in search of Owls, and found Little Owl on the Maxey to Helpston road, Barn Owl at the Nene Washes (where they, too, failed to hear Spotted Crake) and Tawny Owl at Deeping Mere, retiring to bed at about midnight with a total of only 39 species. They rose early next morning - 04.30, and at Bainton Pits increased their score to a more acceptable 67, including Treecreeper and Ruddy Duck. Maxey Pits produced a further 6 birds, but the team now hit a slow patch, adding only 10 more birds in the next 4 hours! A trip down to Apethorpe in the early afternoon produced the valuable double of Red Kite and Buzzard, then a second trip to the Nene Washes proved more productive, yielding another 14 species including some quality waders. The team heard Water Rail and saw Spotted Redshank, Greenshank (their 100th bird) and…………Little Egret!!!! A final visit to the Bainton area added their last two birds of the day - Kingfisher and Little Ringed Plover, giving them a final total of 102 species.

The Teletubbies (suggestions as to who is which please) decided that Orton Brick Pits would be a good place to begin their race - and they were right. It produced 47 species in an hour, and got them off to a cracking start. They then moved on to the Nene Washes, picking up another 4 species on the way, and added an unexpected Peregrine to their list, as well as a further 13 species. They, too, decided that Woodwalton Fen might be worth a visit, but although they didn’t add Long-eared Owl, they did hear Nightingale and Grasshopper Warbler. Their final bird of the night was a Tawny Owl ( their 68th bird). Another early rising team, they recommenced their quest at 4.30 the following morning with a visit to Castor Hanglands where 8 woodland species were added, then a trip to Southey Wood where the Crossbills failed to oblige them, but where 3 more species were found. The majority of the quality birds on The Teletubbies’ list were to come during the rest of the day. A ‘pre dog walkers’ trip to Ferry Meadows added 8 species to their list, including a Marsh Harrier (unusual at this location). Milton Park produced the only Lesser Spotted Woodpecker of the day, and Orton Mere added Grey wagtail to their list. Hobby was seen near March Farmers, and Ruddy Duck and Wigeon added at Eldernell. Pondersbridge yielded a useful Wheatear and Farcet Fen a Little Owl. Their trip to Glapthorne also produced the double whammy of Red Kite (their 100th bird) and Buzzard. A return trip to Orton Brick Pits gave them their best birds of the day - a Black Redstart and an Osprey! Their final two birds were a Goosander at Deeping High Bank and a Little Ringed Plover at Welland Bank Pits, a final score of 107 birds.

‘Just a Hobby’ began their race at Welland Bank Pits, notching up a total of 42 species before moving on, via 7 more species including a Goosander at Deeping High Bank and Grey Partridge at Crowland cross roads, to A Dog in a Doublet, where a further 6 species were spotted. The team then travelled south to Woodwalton Fen hoping, but failing, to hear or see Long-eared Owl, but picking up another 9 species -including Grasshopper Warbler, Woodcock and Tawny Owl. The journey home to Market Deeping produced a Barn Owl, bringing their total before retiring to bed at 11.00 pm to a respectable 65. A reasonable 6.00 start the next morning saw ‘Just a Hobby’ heading to the Baston and Langtoft gravel pits adding 6 species, and then on to Bainton Pits where the Ruddy Duck failed to put in an appearance, but where Nightingale was heard and a further 3 species ticked. The team then headed for Castor Hanglands and Southey Woods, where 9 woodland species were collected as well as a Common Gull. The team were at Ferry Meadows by 9.00 where they picked up only one new species, House Martin. The team then spent 2 hours at the Nene Washes, hoping to be lucky and find an Avocet. They didn’t, but did manage to see Marsh Harrier and an unexpected Mediterranean Gull as well as 8 more new species. A visit to Apethorpe was rewarded with a Red Kite and Woodnewton with a Grey Wagtail. Southwick woods gave them their 100th bird (a Nuthatch) as well as wonderful views of Great Spotted Woodpecker at the nest. The team eventually managed to get all three of their scoring members to see Mandarin Duck at Apethorpe, though divorce did seem to be on the cards at one stage as I struggled to locate it! A second trip to Bainton Pits produced not ‘just a’ Hobby, but also the elusive Ruddy Duck and a Treecreeper. A final dash to Baston and Langtoft Gravel Pits added the final two birds - Wigeon and Kingfisher, making a grand total of 108 species.

All teams were back at The Old Rectory by 7.00 for supper, wine and adjudication. Our adjudicator, Andy Brown, removed some birds from the lists ( not included in the above figures), specifically Red-crested Pochard and Barnacle Goose. The ‘Just a Hobby’ team were declared the winners, by just one species, and were presented with the winner’s pewter tankard. A grand total of 122 species had been collected by the four teams during the course of twenty four hours, an amazing achievement.

Plans are already in place for this years Bird Race, scheduled for May 13th and 14th , finishing again at The Old Rectory. We are hoping to attract even more teams this year, so make a date in your diary, and twist the arms of friends/family to join you. It is definitely one of the highlights of my birding year, because even ‘common’ species can be surprisingly hard to find - there can’t be many occasions when a Jay can cause some to leap around performing a jubilant jig because they have found one and some to shake their heads in gloomy disbelief at their failure to locate one. Here’s to the next one!!!