Bladerunner plus six

I'm pretty sure that most of us measure our lives in blocks of time, based around the calendar year. I know I do. Always have done. There's something cathartic about December 31st giving way to January 1st, a cleansing of negatives which are now going to be turned into positives - at least, that is the hope. And this is no more true than when it comes to our natural history recording - think year lists, resolutions, plans - all that scheming and plotting that bouys us up during the dark nights of early winter. When I used to year list (some time way back when, before mobile phones and the internet) I would forgo an alcoholically infused New Year's Eve to ensure that I was out of the door, pre-dawn, on New Year's Day, ready to add species to the brand new notebook (always a brand new notebook), to start to populate that shiny new year's list. Madness really, rushing around celebrating each species even though I'd seen most of them 24-hours previously...

What of now? Well, the premise of what a year is has shrunk a bit. They seem to rush by. What happened in 2019? Haven't a clue. 2022? No idea. But I could give you a pretty good account of every year between 1968 (when I was ten) and 1984 (the year when everything seems to have melted into one unidentifiable time-line). Yes, there are events that I can tell you precise dates for since 1984 - the big life events - but as for my natural history records? No chance. Pre-1984, still spot on still. Even other people's grand moments in the sun (I will sometimes be asked by my oldest birding mates to remind them on what date they saw such-and-such a bird, and be able to furnish them with the details.)

2025. Sound positively futuristic, doesn't it. Bladerunner was set in 2019 for goodness sake! But, parking to one side the replicants, 2025 is soon going to be upon us, and even though my time-line is now one long continuous reality, the pretence of its year long blocks as a measure is still adhered to. I do have vague plans for its coming, a means to hang my observations on, a system, a spur, a reason to get out there beyond the sheer joy of being able to do so. And my plans are numerical, based around the Uberpatch (you can see a map of the Uberpatch by clicking on 'Uber Patch?' above this post). Apart from sticking to semi-green credentials by keeping fairly local, I've been wandering this area (and least parts of it) for over 50 years now, so it has resonance and a spiritual hold on me. And what are the numbers?...

2024 targets for Uberpatch

Species totals - 140 Birds, 700 Plants, 400 Moths, 38 Butterflies, 18 Dragonflies

1,000 miles (1,600km) on foot.

There are also two other targets, to get my UK moth list over 1,000 and my UK pan-list above 4,000.

All doable, all of little consequence in the grand scheme of things but something to have as a multi-faceted project throughout the year that will be 'Bladerunner plus six'. To keep me moving, both physically and mentally. A chance to finally crack grasses, sedges and rushes. To become a bit more proficient in micro moths (and even remember their names). To find a truly rare bird close to home. 

Sometimes it's good to dream as well as plan.

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