Highest species count in UK in 2009

[Hobjob]

Record year for Britain's twitchers


Birds from Asia and US among highest number of species spotted in a single year

By Lewis Smith


Record year for Britain's twitchers - Nature, Environment - The Independent

Twitchers look set to break the record for the most species sighted by British birdwatchers in a year.


Figures released today show that in 2008, 407 different species are confirmed. Up to 11 more are likely to be added to the list. The total of 418 bird species recorded in Britain in a year beats the previous high of 412 in 2004. Many of the winged visitors sighted, some for just a few minutes, included exotic visitors from across the globe.

Three had never been seen before in Britain: the Alder flycatcher from North America, the Yelkouan shearwater from the Mediterranean and the citril finch, from the Alps.

............... etc

[pliers]

The Eastern-crowned warbler at South Shields was another first for Britain.

However, both Spring and Autumn , were quieter than in previous years with expected migrants such as Goldcrests, Fieldfares, etc not in large numbers.

Last winter was quite harsh up here in Northumberland, and devastated the wintering Goldcrests, wich undoubtably has had a knock on effect.

[pegasus]

Thanks for that.Very interesting.
Felt sorry for the black-bellied storm petrel---long way to come to get eaten.!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by pegasus

Thanks for that.Very interesting.
Felt sorry for the black-bellied storm petrel---long way to come to get eaten.!

Who said the petrel was eaten? It may have been but the bird disappeared out of sight to be never seen again, bit like the Tufted Puffin.

Certainly a few Leach's Petrels were predated but the probable Black-bellied Petrel (unlikely to get accepted to species level) wasn't observed to be.

[pegasus]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Who said the petrel was eaten? It may have been but the bird disappeared out of sight to be never seen again, bit like the Tufted Puffin.

Certainly a few Leach's Petrels were predated but the probable Black-bellied Petrel (unlikely to get accepted to species level) wasn't observed to be.

Mr Evans said so!---[In the Independent article]

[solus]

I believe the last sighting was with it "surrounded by gulls" - in the same way as had previously been seen when a Leach's Petrel was gobbled up. Circumstantial evidence but sadly the likely outcome.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by pegasus

Mr Evans said so!---[In the Independent article]

Must be true then

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Record year for Britain's twitchers


Birds from Asia and US among highest number of species spotted in a single year

By Lewis Smith


Record year for Britain's twitchers - Nature, Environment - The Independent

Twitchers look set to break the record for the most species sighted by British birdwatchers in a year.


Figures released today show that in 2008, 407 different species are confirmed. Up to 11 more are likely to be added to the list. The total of 418 bird species recorded in Britain in a year beats the previous high of 412 in 2004. Many of the winged visitors sighted, some for just a few minutes, included exotic visitors from across the globe.

Three had never been seen before in Britain: the Alder flycatcher from North America, the Yelkouan shearwater from the Mediterranean and the citril finch, from the Alps.

............... etc

More than three British firsts this year. Off the top of my head you can add Eastern Crowned Warbler and Tufted Puffin.