Scanning the sea off Fort George (Jon Clarke)
What a day! The weather was mostly glorious but very cold and frosty, and it definitely played a positive role in ensuring that a record number of birds were seen on this annual January romp to see as many birds as possible in Highland between the hours of 0000 and 1700.
16 teams braved the challenge, with teams hailing from Strathspey, Inverness, Glen Urquhart, Cawdor, The Black Isle, Dingwall, Rum and Eigg.
With teams gaining an extra 3 points if they included someone under 30, there were a record number of ‘young persons’ taking part. 7 teams benefited from these bonus points.
Teams planned their own route and stayed out as long as they liked, so long as they remained in the Highland recording area. In a spirit of camaraderie (as opposed to competitiveness) we set up a whats app group for the day so that folk could keep in touch with photos and locations of birds seen. Several teams bumped into each other at the local birding hotspots to share biscuits, but this was clearly impossible for our island teams on Rum and Eigg who could possibly have waved to each other across the Sound of Rum!
16 teams braved the challenge, with teams hailing from Strathspey, Inverness, Glen Urquhart, Cawdor, The Black Isle, Dingwall, Rum and Eigg.
With teams gaining an extra 3 points if they included someone under 30, there were a record number of ‘young persons’ taking part. 7 teams benefited from these bonus points.
Teams planned their own route and stayed out as long as they liked, so long as they remained in the Highland recording area. In a spirit of camaraderie (as opposed to competitiveness) we set up a whats app group for the day so that folk could keep in touch with photos and locations of birds seen. Several teams bumped into each other at the local birding hotspots to share biscuits, but this was clearly impossible for our island teams on Rum and Eigg who could possibly have waved to each other across the Sound of Rum!
Left to right: I'm assured there's a Jack Snipe there! (Holly Page); Snow Goose (Josh Allan); Long-tailed Duck (Josh Allan)
Some great birds were seen during the day, including a single Snow Goose in a large flock of Pink-footed geese, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Great White Egret, Great Northern Diver and Water Rail. The total birds seen during the day was 124.
C:\Users\Carol\Documents\birds\SOC\Bird race\SOC Highland Winter Bird Race 2024 Total Birds.docx
C:\Users\Carol\Documents\birds\SOC\Bird race\SOC Highland Winter Bird Race 2024 Total Birds.docx
| The Strathspey Four (part of flock) (Sue Sykes) |
The Eigg Dippers (Norah Barnes)
The Pleasant Pheasant Pluckers (Blair Whyte)
We met in the evening over Zoom to swap stories and to award some virtual prizes. The team that saw the most birds, ‘Tweaty Blinders’, of Peter Stronach, Emma McBride and Holly Page, saw or heard an incredible 105 birds which was 12 more than their own total from 2023. Very well done!
Special mention to W Coast birders on Rum & Eigg who got top scores of 41 and 40 birds, The Eigg Dippers of Norah Barnes, John Chester, Bob & Logan Wallace, just nudging ahead with 3 bonus points.
Best Team Name – Happy Smew Years, Alison Fraser & Robert Urquhart
Best Bird – Snow Goose, seen by several teams
Bogey Bird – House Sparrow, NOT seen by Al and Jenny McNee
Most birds per mile travelled – The Snipers on Rum, Sean & Ali Morris
Best photo – Long-tailed duck by Josh Allan
A fun day out!
Carol Miller
Special mention to W Coast birders on Rum & Eigg who got top scores of 41 and 40 birds, The Eigg Dippers of Norah Barnes, John Chester, Bob & Logan Wallace, just nudging ahead with 3 bonus points.
Best Team Name – Happy Smew Years, Alison Fraser & Robert Urquhart
Best Bird – Snow Goose, seen by several teams
Bogey Bird – House Sparrow, NOT seen by Al and Jenny McNee
Most birds per mile travelled – The Snipers on Rum, Sean & Ali Morris
Best photo – Long-tailed duck by Josh Allan
A fun day out!
Carol Miller
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