The ND&B migrant index

For a bit of fun, and to spice up what could be a long and difficult spring's birding (lockdown, sticking to dry inland patches, etc), I've devised a scoring system for the more notable migrants. It is loosely based on my perceived status of each species at a local level (hence why acrocephalus warblers have a higher score than might otherwise be expected). Being basically dry (only one modest ‘village’ pond) almost all wildfowl and waders will be flyovers and of few species. Each individual bird scores, thus a flock of 5 Yellow Wagtails would score 15 points. I will also score birds as bird/days, so a Black Redstart that stays on site, and which I observe over four different days, will score 28 points in total. All meaningless but a bit of fun - it will, at the very least, amuse me.

The patches that will be covered are all within two miles of home: Priest and Howell Hill; Canons Farm; Epsom and Walton Downs. Plus the garden and anywhere in-between.

1pt Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Brambling, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin

3pt Yellow Wagtail, Common Redstart, Whinchat

5pt Hobby, Tree Pipit, Ring Ouzel, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Crossbill

7pt Cuckoo, Woodlark, Black Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher

10pt Little Egret, any geese (except for Canada, Greylag and Egyptian), any ducks (except for Mallard and Tufted), Mediterranean Gull, Short-eared Owl, Nightingale, Grasshopper Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher

15pt Merlin, Water Rail, any wader (except for Lapwing), any tern

20pt Honey-buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Osprey, Turtle Dove, Corn Bunting

30pt Great White Egret, Common Crane, Quail, Long-eared Owl, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike

50pt Species such as Black Kite, Alpine Swift, Bee-eater

There might be the need for me to assign any big surprises to a relevant category (such as an overflying skua or a Bluethroat), but if such an event comes along I’ll happily wrestle with the problem!

It all kicks off today (March 15th) and will carry on until June 21st, taking me up to (hopefully) the easing of all Covid restrictions and allow those late overshoots to bump up my score. There is method in this madness, as on June 1st 2020, at Howell Hill, I had a Bee-eater sail over my head calling...

Comments

Gibster said…
Oh wow, this seems like fun! I'm surprised Yellow Wag has so lowly a score but you know your area's birds a lot better than I do. Best of luck finding the high scorers (GW Egret and Red-rumped Swallow, I reckon).
15 March 2021 at 21:15
Gibster said…
And are you undertaking any noc-migging Steve, by ear or by mic?
15 March 2021 at 21:19
Steve Gale said…
Yes Seth, noc-migging by ear, although the interesting returns need many blank hours of effort. Yellow Wag expected as a passage migrant albeit in small numbers. Maybe scored to low.
16 March 2021 at 07:23
Stewart said…
This is my kind of spectator sport too Steve, Good Luck, I am cheering and waving a flag with a flying Bluethroat on it.. ;)
16 March 2021 at 10:42
Steve Gale said…
Bluethroat Stewart?.... yes please!
16 March 2021 at 18:30
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