The Shell Guide (1983) and why I probably can't achieve my ambition

[RobS]

Hands up if you remember the Shell Guide by Tim Sharrock et al from (I think 1983). It was quite a big deal when it came out (I had just started birdwatching) but by today's standards of field guides is a bit rubbish, but I still cherish that book.

The book is divided into two sections 'Regulars' and 'Vagrants' and in the regular section there are 263 species. It is quite interesting to see some of the supposed regulars (breeders even, e.g. Red Backed Shrike) and some that were vagrants and are regulars now e.g. Little Egret and Ring Billed Gull.

Some years ago I read somewhere (possibly Bill Oddie) that he had finally seen all 263 in the UK and this got me thinking as to how many I had seen. I think it was around 250 so I decided I would try (with not a whole lot of effort) to see all 263. I remember getting two in a day at Porthgwarra (Great and Cory's Shearwaters after a business meeting (a birder there told me it was one of the best days' birding he had ever had) last time I got two lifers in a day) and slowly but surely I have managed to get within 5, only to find that one of them is virtually extinct and I will now never be able to see that one - allegedly (I wouldn't mind seeing it even if it is being hand fed, that'll do).

In addition to the 5 there are two that I need to upgrade my views of and they are Grasshopper Warbler (which ought to be easy) and Golden Pheasant (which is also easy with a bit of effort). I have included a dodgy Scottish Crossbill in my 258.

Here's the five:

Lady Amherst's Pheasant (the extinct one)
Quail
Barred Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Snow Goose

It's a bit irritating as I have seen some real tricky ones like Savi's Warbler (last year) and Snowy Owl (also last year) and even went to Benbecula for Corncrake.

So how many have you seen?

I have probably heard Quail, but I have to see them to count!

Rob S

[The Woodman]

Hi Rob
You mention Snow Goose, there was a first winter bird at Skinburness Marsh (Solway) between March 1st and mid April in 2008, I don't have the annual report for 2009 yet. Most years they are seen around Morecambe Bay and the reason I write this is that there are currently five unidentified (by me) white geese with a flock of wilds on Flookburgh Marsh, Cumbria. There's a good chance there may be a Snow Goose there.

[RobS]

Thanks for that, I have noticed myself that there is normally one at Loch of Strathbeg in the winter, or somewhere else in Scotland, and quite often in Norfolk - just too lazy!! SG is certainly the easiest of the five I think.

Rob S

[captaincarot]

there's a single ross goos in norfolk at the mo.

i'm just hoping last years flock come back to leighton moss next month.

they were very obliging last year, i was looking through my scope at some grey lags when they flew over the hill and landed right in the middle of my view.

though i'm no where near the full list of 263.


there's also a barred in norfolk at the mo

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

there's a single ross goos in norfolk at the mo.

i'm just hoping last years flock come back to leighton moss next month.

they were very obliging last year, i was looking through my scope at some grey lags when they flew over the hill and landed right in the middle of my view.

though i'm no where near the full list of 263.


there's also a barred in norfolk at the mo

Ross's Goose won't be on that list of 263 as it still hasn't been admitted on the British list as a genuine wild bird, even though a few must be. I saw one at Holkham a couple of years back.

[accipter]

A mate of mine keeps two quail in his house as pets, does that count, only joking, but he does. Alan

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Ross's Goose won't be on that list of 263 as it still hasn't been admitted on the British list as a genuine wild bird, even though a few must be. I saw one at Holkham a couple of years back.

it's probably the one that's been lurking round barnsley all summer anyway, gone on holliday to holkham.

the leighton ones were actual snow geese fortunately not ross. turned up out of no where in october and disappeared again in march ithink

[RobS]

Ross's Goose are normally thought to have jumped over a fence from a collection although today there looks what might be a real one in Scotland, and as stated it is not in the book at all.

The quail sound good (I saw some in a cage in Portsmouth once does that count?!) is there a pub nearby?!

Rob S

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

it's probably the one that's been lurking round barnsley all summer anyway, gone on holliday to holkham.

the leighton ones were actual snow geese fortunately not ross. turned up out of no where in october and disappeared again in march ithink

It turned up for at least a couple of winters with the Pinkfeet, so I'm hoping it was summering in Iceland/Greenland.

There are a few feral birds undoubtedly as it's rightly popular in collections, but as a native American bird the population has been increasing + expanding, so it would seem logical that some birds would hitch up with south flying Pinkfeet coming down from the breeding grounds.

[thebeard]

theres a ross's goose that hangs about with th greylags near attenborough - nice bird!