2013 and beyond

It's pretty simple: the most birds seen or heard from one's yard during 2013 will be the "winner". Want in? O.k....then do it despite that.

2013 promises to be a lot less mean but still a carbon-free birding competition, even if slightly less exciting than a MEGA x EPIC hybrid.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Our first Palearctic yardbirder! (Welcome Harry)

Well guys, things are about to get more interesting. I would like to introduce to you my friend Harry Hussey of County Cork, Ireland (!): our newest yardbird blogger! For him, American Robin would be a mega, while Fieldfare, Blackcap, and Black-headed Gull are basically trash.

Also, Harry seems to be much more mature than any of us, but from chatting with him over the past year on all matters birds, it is apparent that his skill level is just as low as ours. So, Harry- let's see what your yard looks like, and then you can start educating us about all things Palearctic!

4 comments:

  1. And by the way, guys, you might note some interesting species showing up in the spreadsheet... Check it out!

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  2. Wow! I'm looking forward to his yard list. Welcome Harry!

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  3. Hi all,
    Fieldfare isn't trash, I only had my first one on Saturday! If it gets any colder this winter, I expect Siberian Jay or Ivory Gull next...
    Blackcap is a decent bird also, annual in my tiny garden, but only 1 individual a year. One put in a brief appearance yesterday, hope it becomes more settled.
    Eurasian Starling, however, is trash! Maybe some year, the post-breeding flock, noisy messy things that they are, might attract a vagrant Rose-coloured Starling: if one can turn up in Cobh town, one can turn up in Cork city. Until then, they're just noisy birds that have a habit of crapping on clothes put out on the washing line!
    Oh, Caleb, mature, me?? I like all kinds of crazy shit where comedy is concerned, it's just that I can't let my quirky sense of humour (Americans, note the correct spelling! ;-) ) loose in a country with such a small birding scene, and where a struggling birder like me can actually be known nationwide!
    As for my skill level...well, I make my share of mistakes, and maybe I'd have a higher garden list than 52 if I was any way better! For more info of my stringy exploits (note the lack of finds in recent years), check out http://www.corkbirding.blogspot.com, and please feel free to offer a correct ID to pics captioned as something else!

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  4. Dave, don't worry, man, I know my place, but be prepared for pics old and new for birds that would cause mass twitches in the US...have some brilliant Blackcap pics from previous winters that I might just post on here...

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