Tuesday 23 November 2010

Making your listing count

Hi

I'm Phil Espin, BTO Regional Representative for East Lincs and this is my first blog post. Most birders keep a list of what they've seen on their local patch and your list can have enduring scientific value. Our winter atlas is based on lists of species seen in each 10km square during the months of November to February and the winters of 2007/8, 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Since we've now been going 3 years we have already built up good information for many 10k squares from the efforts of our team of dedicated volunteers. However there are many species that can still be added in most squares and some squares are not doing so well. Our central team at BTO HQ at Thetford have come up with a new graphic to focus on these areas which can be seen at http://blx1.bto.org/atlas-results/rich_gaps_map.html . This brings up a map of the UK showing all tetrads with significantly less species than recorded in the 80s winter atlas.

There is only one hilited square in Lincs; TF47 which is centred on Alford. If you have a patch in that square we really need your records! Everyone can see what is missing from their local 10km square by going to http://blx1.bto.org/atlas and clicking on "Winter Priority Square" under "My Atlas Options" on the right of the page. This throws up a grid showing how many species have been recorded where you live and what species are missing from your square, based on whats been found in adjacent squares. When you've looked at yours, have a look at TF47 and compare and contrast!

Hopefully you'll feel like me that when you buy that big new Atlas book in early 2013, the last thing you want is to look at a species and see it absent from your square when you know darn well that it occurs and you even have a record in your note book. So please click on "enter roving records" at the top of the Winter Priority squares page and enter what you've got.

I feel bad about TF47, it seems to lack much in the way of habitat to attract wildfowl like Wigeon, waders like Curlew and farmland birds like Grey Partridge the 3 commonest birds missing. If you know a good site there, perhaps you'll join us on Sunday 12 December when a few of us intend to blitz the square and then meet up afterwards from 1pm onwards at the Blacksmith Arms , Skendleby (Tom Woods) to compare notes. The more the merrier, please drop me an email if you intend to come.

Phil

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