End of term feeling

#BWKM0 ND&B garden challenge
DAY 46

I'm getting that 'end of term' feeling now, as we are only three days away from the 'wrapping up' of this birding enterprise. I have ear-marked Thursday as an all-day session to say farewell to the competition. Last chance for that big surprise to come along and put the icing on the cake. And somewhere, hopefully, a Whinchat will pop up and be welcomed onto our combined list.

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OUR COMBINED TOTAL (BRITISH ISLES GARDENS) IS 185 SPECIES   Still to be recorded are: Arctic Skua, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Whinchat.

Today's additional species: Arctic Tern (Alastair F)

Our oversea's gardens (New Zealand and Albania) add an additional 26 SPECIES  

You can find the combined #BWKM0 list by clicking on the right-hand tab above.

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ENTRIES
Our 'garden collective' stands at 61

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Garden firsts
Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset) - Hobby
Steve T (Ewell, Surrey) - Redshank, Lesser Whitethroat

There have been 211 garden firsts across the competition.

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Visual interlude - #25 Dungeness Bird Observatory, Kent
I first walked through that front door in April 1976 and have stayed at the observatory for close on 700 nights since. In 1979 I acted as assistant warden to Nick Riddiford, spending some of the happiest months of my birding life. I used to ring back then, and it was an enormous privilege to handle the birds under one of the best tutors around. I've been lucky to also befriend those wardens that came after Nick, namely Dorrian Buffery, Sean McMinn and David Walker. It is one of my happy places, not just the shingle itself, but the modest building at 11 RNSSS, Dungeness, Kent.
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How are we getting on?
Alphabetical order by first name. The first figure is the garden score as on March 20th. The second is since then (as up to date as I am aware).

Alastair F (West Mainland, Orkney) 100/66; Arjun D (Wallington, Surrey) 74/67; 
Benne A (Tirana, Albania) xx/40; Benno W (Goodnestone, Kent) xx/43; 
Bernard B (Ruckinge, Kent) 107/67; Bob S (Worcester Park, Surrey) 86/37; 
Callum M (Hemel Hempstead, Herts) 64/61; Cheech A (Langley Vale, Surrey) 31/39; 
Chris P (Claygate, Surrey) 43/42; Daniel W (NW London) xx/xx; 
Dave B (Chatham Islands, Pacific Ocean) 30/29; Dave P (Shoreham, West Sussex) 55/45; 
David S (West Raynham, Norfolk) 87/64; Debbie S (Portland, Dorset) 155/50; 
Dylan W (Thanet, Kent) 111/59; Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) 79/83;  
Gavin H (Bridport, Dorset) xx/53;  Geoff B (Chessington, Surrey) 69/30; 
Gill H (Tenterden, Kent) 60/34; Gordon H (Redhill, Surrey) 80/46; 
Ian K (Leigh, Surrey) 62/42;  Ian S (Sidcup, Kent) 113/52; 
Ian W (Merton Park, London) 86/51; Isaiah R (New Malden, London) 76/59; 
John P (Banstead, Surrey) xx/xx; Jono L (Wanstead, London) 83/68; 
Josephine S (Leatherhead, Surrey) 40/42; Justin T (Charmouth, Dorset) 59/32; 
Mark D (Dorking, Surrey) 59/60; Mark H (Littlestone, Kent) 135/80: 
Mark N (Stutton, Suffolk)  77/62; Martin C (Lydd, Kent) 140/92; 
Mathew B (Wrotham, Kent) 33/53; Matt P (Pulborough, West Sussex) 126/113; 
Michael D (Craster, Northumberland) 106/64; Mike P (Malling, Kent) 70/64; 
Mike R (Battle, East Sussex) 97/53; Oscar D (Chiswick, London) 67/64; 
Paul D (London) 84/44; Pete B (Shadoxhurst, Kent) 101/53; 
Phil B (Ramsgate, Kent) 54/30; Rebecca G (Balham, London) xx/15; 
Reuben B (Tufnell Park, London) 45/45; Richard F (Pinner, London) 63/35; 
Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset) 101/86;  Robin S (Cranleigh, Surrey) 101/57; 
Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork) 67/69; Seamus E (Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs) 67/45; 
Sean M (Pinner, London) 50/42; Seth G (Uig, Skye) 64/57; 
Stephen R (Harrogate, Yorks) 66/47; Steve C (Guildford, Surrey) 66/39; 
Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) 92/70; Steve T (Ewell, Surrey) 59/51; 
Steve W (Hawes, N Yorks) 91/64; Stewart S (Howick, Northumberland) 131/77; 
Stuart C (Walkern, Herts) xx/63; Sye W (Aston Clinton, Bucks) xx/45; 
Tony B (Woodford, London) 69/53; Wes A (Capel, Surrey) 96/90

THE CHALLENGE WILL END AT 18.00hrs ON THURSDAY MAY 7th

Comments

Gibster said…
So glad the Dunge Obs has made it onto your interlude list. I didn't know you were a ringer! I've only spent a few nights there (DW rescued my sleeping bag from halfway across The Desert on a particularly windy day, bless him!) which is nothing compared to your 700. That's impressive.

Common Sand for me today, Steve. Garden First, no less! That puts me on 58. Will I manage two more on this home straight??? Still no bloody WT Eagle, I'm sure it's just sitting tight until this wee competition is all over.
4 May 2020 at 23:20
The Hairy Birder said…
Hello Steve,

I've just added Rook, taking me to 47 for the lockdown period.

Cheers,

Seumus

Seumus E Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire
5 May 2020 at 09:05
Steve Gale said…
Seth - I held an A permit but packed it all in quite a while back.

Seamus - thanks for the update!
5 May 2020 at 21:54
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