Last week I met up with an American birder whom I’d last seen in Rock Creek Park back in May, and took him for a walk in the drizzle around Stanwick Lakes.
He had a list of species that he would quite like to see, and many of them were possible on a visit at this time of year, but I didn’t do very well for him. Where are the linnets, treecreepers and water rails when you need them? I did, rather luckily, find him a yellow-legged gull for his list and we did have a nice walk and chat.
He told me that the record for the number of bird species seen in Washington DC in a calendar year had been broken in 2011 – I think it is now 190 species – and I wondered what the London record would be. Does anyone know?
Let’s guess! I imagine that there have been about 350 bird species ever seen in London and that an awful lot of those are only very occasional. Given the difficulty of seeing everything that turns up in such a large area my guess would be that it would be difficult to see over 150 species in a year in London even if trying hard – but since I tend to underestimate the brilliance of people I will say that 160 would be my guesstimate. I wonder how close I am? Do you know?
And I saw 98 species at Stanwick Lakes last year – although I was away for 6 weeks in the USA at the ‘best’ time of year – and roughly60 species in DC!
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Hi Mark,
Just thought I’d let you know htaqt the current London year list record currently stands at 216, set by Steve Connor in 2003. Birdwatch editor, Dominic Mitchell, had a go in 2010 and managed 213, the second highest total. It certainly takes a substanital committment to attempt to beat 216, as well as a lot of help and the ability to drop everything at once. Looking forward to your next column.
Cheers,
David
David – welcome to this blog and thanks very much!
I can’t give you an exact number, and I don’t know what the record is at the moment, but in 2010, 170 species were recorded just on Crayford Marshes alone, which is just over the river from Rainham RSPB. With enough free time and a lot of hours on the M25 you could possibly hit 200 within the LNHS boundary.
James A – welcome to this blog and thanks very much.
Hi Mark
The London Natural History Society is responsible for recording birds in the London area. Its recording area covers a 20-mile radius of St Paul’s, so is somewhat larger than political Greater London (including sites such as Staines Reservoir, Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve and the Thames down to West Thurrock). Therefore it’s perhaps not a fair comparison with DC. That notwithstanding, your guess about the total species recorded was not far off – it currently stands at 365. However, as you suspected, you’ve wildly underestimated the yearlist record, which is over 200! I can’t remember the exact figure, but I think it’s 206.
John – welcome to this blog and thanks for the info! Glad I got one bit right(ish!).
Relevant today I believe seeing as gamekeeper lost appeal and had to pay £7,000 extra costs(a mere pittance no doubt to his employer who will surely pay)
My point being what a disgusting situation that the National Trust leases this land out to these people.