Friday 22 November 2013

Life Lists now updated - changes at the top

The Life Lists of the Top 1,500 birdwatchers in the UK and Ireland have been updated and there are some very interesting changes in the Top 10, including 3 new arrivals in the Top 5 and a new leader. It has been an incredible autumn with new bird after new bird for many, including Swinhoe's Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Ovenbird, Dusky Thrush, White-rumped Swift, Eastern Kingbird, Myrtle Warbler, American Robin, Sora, Wilson's Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Short-billed Dowitcher, American Mourning Dove, Caspian Stonechat, Hermit Thrush, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Italian Sparrow, Parrot Crossbill, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Orphean Warbler, Semipalmated Plover, Pied Wheatear, Pallid Swift, Thick-billed Warbler, White's Thrush, Isabelline Wheatear, Asiatic Brown Shrike, Sykes' Booted Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Great Snipe, Stilt Sandpiper and Thrush Nightingale; a lot of new taxonomic changes too - won't be long now that the first birder goes through the 600 barrier!