What was that list?

Mark 7 Comments

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I posted this list of birds yesterday and asked you what you thought it signified.

  1. Mute Swan
  2. Greylag Goose
  3. Canada Goose
  4. Wigeon
  5. Teal
  6. Mallard
  7. Tufted Duck
  8. Pheasant
  9. Cormorant
  10. Grey Heron
  11. Great Crested Grebe
  12. Little Grebe
  13. Buzzard
  14. Kestrel
  15. Coot
  16. Oystercatcher
  17. Lapwing
  18. Black-headed Gull
  19. Common Gull
  20. Herring Gull
  21. Lesser Black-backed Gull
  22. Stock dove
  23. Woodpigeon
  24. Collared Dove
  25. Green Woodpecker
  26. Great Spotted Woodpecker
  27. Swift
  28. Magpie
  29. Jackdaw
  30. Rook
  31. Carrion Crow
  32. Raven
  33. Blue Tit
  34. Great Tit
  35. Skylark
  36. Swallow
  37. House Martin
  38. Nuthatch
  39. Chiffchaff
  40. Wren
  41. Starling
  42. Blackbird
  43. Fieldfare
  44. Song Thrush
  45. Dunnock
  46. Robin
  47. House Sparrow
  48. Pied Wagtail
  49. Meadow Pipit
  50. Chaffinch
  51. Greenfinch
  52. Goldfinch
  53. Linnet

Now what does the list of birds tell us?

There are very few summer migrants – just Swallow, Chiffchaff, Swift and House Martin.  Hmmm?

But there aren’t that many winter visitors either – Wigeon and Fieldfare qualify and some other species are easier to see in winter (eg Lapwing).  Hmmm?

There are quite a lot of large birds and not many small birds – which might mean that these birds were seen from a car or train or were maybe from an area not that rich in birds (except fly-overs) or that I just wasn’t concentrating very much. Hmmm?

Waterbirds are quite well represented (this surprised me when I put the list together). Hmmm?

I did say that the birds were seen in more than one location, though.  RSPB reserves – hardly?!  Grouse moors – I think not?!  Where might I visit regularly enough to compile a bird list?

Yes, these are the birds I have seen at British racecourses since Birdtrack (the excellent and very wonderful Birdtrack) came into existence.

Lots of you guessed, I’m sure – was it knowledge of  birds or knowledge of me that helped the most, I wonder?

I hardly ever go Flat racing and so although one visit to Glorious Goodwood is included in this list it made no difference to the overall composition (ie every bird I saw at Goodwood I saw somewhere else too).

This list was compiled at Cheltenham (48 visits and 38 species), Towcester (6 visits, 31 species), Huntingdon (5 visits, 36 species), Aintree (two visits), Leicester (one visit), Exeter (one visit) and Stratford (one visit).  I wish I had records stretching back before Birdtrack which would cover the other 17 racecourses that I have visited in the more distant past.

Anyway, tomorrow I am paying my first visit to Newbury for many years, for the Hennessy meeting.  Loads of winners? Loads of birds? I remember some of each in the past – Golden Plovers  and Suny Bay (trained by Charlie Brooks – whatever did happen to him?) (although looking back through the years I seem to have backed an awful lot of rewarding placed horses rather than winners).

 

 

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7 Replies to “What was that list?”

  1. I kinda got it in the end and whilst I was typing the reply out so that is why I hedged my bets (pun intended). It was your Intranet profile at the RSPB I remembered while I was typing but I decided not to cheat and re-write my post.

    I think I should have an airport/airfield list, which would include red kite (at Old Warden) and an unconfirmed black redstart (at Manchester Ringway – Runway Visitor Park). Common buzzard are often visible from Level 13 car parking as they circle over Hale Top at the end of the cargo ramp with pied wagtails, swallows, house sparrows, starlings, meadow pipits being common behind the engine test bay. It seems at odds with the aims when birds are attracted to airfields but it can work and Stansted had a specific nature area (is it still there?) drawing birds away from airside operations.

    1. Quite often in winter we flush Short Eared Owls off the in-field at Luton airport. but Mark where is the Redkite for Towcester I saw one the day you were there? Did you get the Housemartins at Towcester as they often nest under the eaves of the pavillion/office

  2. I see you’ve never been to Haydock Park ? I don’t blame you, it is a dull track. However you may have a half decent chance of adding Grey Partridge and Tree Sparrow to your list (field above the car park).

    Other courses that might add birds to your list:

    Uttoxeter (lovely racecourse) – good area for Tree Sparrows as well.

    Bangor on Dee – a fair chance of adding a Curlew and maybe some other waders to your list.

    Cartmel – surrounded by native woodland and the area is teeming with birds. Its a summer track as well.

    Enjoy Newbury tomorrow, I have very fond memories of watching Teeton Mill trounce the field back in 1998. I was on anti-post and my not insubstantial winnings came in very handy as a first year undergraduate who was living well above his means.

    1. Ernest – I have been to Haydock and Uttoxeter in the past. I don’t remember any good birds. Cartmel is not on my list – and not sure when it might be. It’s a long way from here.

  3. Hmm, what about the famous Cheltenham waxwings? They are missing from your list. I think a Red Kite is a near certainty at Newbury tomorrow. You couldn’t have said that when Suny Bay won.

    1. Allen – crikey! You are right. New Year 2011. Missed them off the list.

      I’ll look forward to seeing you and a Red Kite.

  4. Chepstow will give you a good chance of Hawfinch, several breeding woods nearby and I’m sure they must regularly overfly the racecourse.

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