PBC Mini Bird Race Ferry Meadows 7-9pm 11 May 1999
by Gordon Hamlett
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PBC Bird Race Report PBC Mini Bird Race Ferry Meadows 7-9pm 11 May 1999 by Gordon Hamlett |
Unfortunately, due to the non-appearance of the appropriate news letter, there was no real advance publicity for this fun event and so only eight participants turned up. These were quickly divided into two teams - memories here of picking football teams in the school playground. Fortunately, there was no 'spare' player that neither side wanted and by mutual consent, the teams headed off in different directions with a view to birding until dusk and then retiring at great speed to the pub to check scores and explain away those embarrassing missed species.
For those who had never been on a bird race before, the experience was a real eye-opener. You need sharp eyes and a very good ear for bird song. What is perhaps worst of all is that you have no time at all to stop and enjoy the birds you encounter - time is of the essence and a House Sparrow counts for just as much as something a lot rarer.
Both teams met at the visitor centre, convinced that they had lost, though in the end, there was only one bird in it. Routes chosen were quickly found to be less than optimal and plans have already been considerably revised for next year's rematch.
It is worth noting that a bit more time, care and luck should result in a possible total at Ferry Meadows of over 70 species, worth considering when you think that the winning total in the GPOG 24 hour bird race was 108 species. Maybe we can all have a longer lie in next time round.
| Team A | Team B |
| Bob Titman | Trevor Williams |
| Janet Darke | Mike Williams |
| Derrick Sulch | David Saunders |
| Gordon Hamlett | Chris Hamlett |
| Total 46 species | Total 45 species |
Grand Total seen in two hours = 54 species
| Species | Team A | Team B |
| Great Crested Grebe | X | X |
| Cormorant | X | X |
| Grey Heron | X | X |
| Mute Swan | X | X |
| Greylag Goose | X | X |
| Canada Goose | X | X |
| Gadwall | X | X |
| Mallard | X | X |
| Shoveler | X | X |
| Pochard | X | X |
| Tufted Duck | X | X |
| Sparrowhawk | X | X |
| Hobby | X | |
| Pheasant | X | |
| Moorhen | X | X |
| Coot | X | X |
| Black-headed Gull | X | |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | X | X |
| Common Tern | X | X |
| Feral Pigeon | X | |
| Woodpigeon | X | X |
| Collared Dove | X | |
| Swift | X | X |
| Green Woodpecker | X | |
| Swallow | X | X |
| House Martin | X | X |
| Yellow Wagtail | X | |
| Pied Wagtail | X | |
| Wren | X | X |
| Dunnock | X | |
| Robin | X | X |
| Blackbird | X | X |
| Song Thrush | X | |
| Sedge Warbler | X | X |
| Reed Warbler | X | X |
| Garden Warbler | X | |
| Blackcap | X | X |
| Chiffchaff | X | |
| Willow Warbler | X | X |
| Goldcrest | X | |
| Long-tailed Tit | X | X |
| Blue Tit | X | X |
| Great Tit | X | |
| Magpie | X | X |
| Rook | X | |
| Carrion Crow | X | X |
| Starling | X | X |
| House Sparrow | X | X |
| Chaffinch | X | X |
| Greenfinch | X | X |
| Goldfinch | X | X |
| Linnet | X | |
| Bullfinch | X | |
| Reed Bunting | X | X |
| Grand Total 54 species | 46 | 45 |
Non-counting birds - strange wigeon hybrid (both teams), Barnacle Goose (Team B)
