Saw a Barn Owl yesterday at a site in Gtr. Manchester - for obvious reasons can't say where. This and Sandwich Tern being the biggest GM blockers for me.

This brings my total to 200 in Gtr Manchester (201 really but I just can't count "Streetpeckers" (If I did then Two-barred Crossbill would have brought up the 200).
Living on the edge of Greater Manchester meant that I didn't keep a GM list but had a 10 mile list instead - otherwise I would have many more.
It was only when I checked up 2 or 3 years ago that I realised I was on over 190 that I started pursuing a list. Having to contend with bus, train and on foot meant that I've missed quite a few including the Heaton Park Red-rumped Swallows which I missed by 40 minutes.

Mr Wilson, after very careful consideration, and a double recount of your list, its give us great pleasure to finally accept you as a member of the 200 club.

very good of Simon Johnson to share his excellent find with us all , allowing you to reach the magical 200 .

Perhaps you can repay him with a nice find at Elton.

Great to see so many faces again today.

keep birding your patch and sharing the news.

Paul Heaton wrote:

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Paul Wilson thats very upsetting news, to be one short, but your conduct as a gentleman, in informing us is very topper !

Now dont worry, its only the start of the year, and I am positive you will get that extra bird this year

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Got it - Red-rumped Swallow - not a bad bird to bring up the 200

Recently celebrated reaching the magical (?) 200 at a site recently (getting lots of congratulations from fellow birders). Unfortunately, something had gone amiss in my Excel spreadsheet where I keep my records, and for some reason Common Sandpiper appears twice!

Therefore, I'm still one short. :(

But, looking on the bright side, it shouldn't be too long (hopefully) before I can celebrate all over again :)

It's a 7.30 start , sorry !

Well Gentleman and ladies a chance perhaps to put a face to a name

A Talk regarding the Breeding Birds of Greater Manchester by Steve Atkins.
For the Cheshire Wildlife Group.

Wednesday 26th November in the lounge of St Marys Church Moss Lane Sale M33 6GD.
£3 non Members £2 members.

With perhaps, a tankard of ale! afterwards in the Plough Inn Aston Village.

Keep Birding.

There is only one person who can delete threads on this forum and I have no (nor ever have, despite being asked to do so previously) intention of doing so with this one...

Sorry Craig, had not realised how close you were, dont worry safe for now, had a couple of positive feedbacks, thank you Gentlemen as we all know its is just that, a bit of fun, a benchmark for the heck of it, yet it makes Gm Birders want to go out and find stuff.

I certainly have spent more time birding in Manchester as a result of Ian's website and thank him for it, this thread has given me a great amount of enjoyment and I hope we can continue in the manner it was intended.

Craig,I wish you luck in getting in before the yuletide.

Bernard glad you have come out of the woodwork, and I wish you all the best in your next 9 visits

Keep adding to your GM List

Bernard Hooley, did we meet at the weekend at Binn Green

Sir I am happy you have considered signing up, however I must point out that the whole idea of the GM 200 Club started out as a practical joke between friends, and it has got out of hand, the Club is a imaginary one , a piece of my odd, off the wall sense of humour, I have asked Ian to perhaps close this thread, but as happened on Saturday, fellow birders, encourage me to continue, however please accept my apologies if anyone thinks its real, I am happy that people find it a challenge and a target to see 200 birds in GM, thats got to be good for the county.
I know of one birder taking it to the extreme and trying to see 100 species in each borough, now that a real challenge.

Please keep in touch private message me, as for everyone else, do we continue with the allusion or do we close the doors.

Stay real and as sane as you can, but

keep Birding.

A truly excellent day out today to Dovenstones /Binn Green, many thanks to Steve for alerting us to a wonderful bird, seeing a Rough legged Buzzard, against the craggy backdrops of the dark hills was just splendid. As was meeting Mr Passant in the field, or actually by the side of the road, So nice to finally put a face to the name. I met many other members adding to their list, and a few new members, methinks?

Plus the odd secret member adding the bird as well,

We do have a few secret members, shame really its a proud club.

Sorry the the birders I met today if I fail to mention your names, I am just rubbish with names, again thanks go to Ian McKerchar for putting the news out, and we hope the extra work updating all our list makes you smile.

Keep Birding.

Mike Passant wrote:

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These last two Fridays have produced for me a satisfying "double whammy" in terms of pipits and milestones.
Last weeks Rock Pipit at Audy was of course my no. 200 for GM, and todays superb tail wagging Olive-backed Pipit at Sunderland my no.300 for Co. Durham.

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My birth certificate states "Sunderland, Co Durham" - then I woke up on 1st April 1974 in a different county. Good to see them re-united, and interesting that Durham listing is the pre-1974 boundary. I suppose that coastline between South Shields and Ryhope is useful for keeping the numbers up

Well done

Another down, two to go. What chance before the year is out I wonder.

Cheers Paul.
I was happy with the Phalaropes this week, but now the whip is out I suppose the Marsh Tit beckons...

Belated congratulations, Mike. I look forward to hearing from you, about this special club, when next we meet
at Rumworth.

These last two Fridays have produced for me a satisfying "double whammy" in terms of pipits and milestones.
Last weeks Rock Pipit at Audy was of course my no. 200 for GM, and todays superb tail wagging Olive-backed Pipit at Sunderland my no.300 for Co. Durham.

I really must thank all my friends (both old and new) in Greater Manchester for your many kindnesses, including information passed on, hospitality provided (even running to accommodation and food) since my quest was ignited in Nov. 2008 by Ian's inspirational superb website.
I should also acknowledge a debt of gratitude to all you patchworkers, finders of birds, and of course the phographers, whose talents grace the galleries on the site, as well as Ian's identification articles which I enjoy and often peruse as "refreshers."

Of all the members of the 200 club, I am now very much the humblest and most junior, (and arguably the one who has taken the greatest span of years as a birder to actually arrive here). On that basis, at the Christmas hoot, I shall be content to sit in a corner of the dining hall sipping soup with a large WOODEN SPOON!

Many Thanks,
Mike

Well done Mike. I thought I might catch you a few weeks ago, but everything that came in that you came down for, I already had!

Well done Mike!!

Its is a huge honour to announce that our fellow birder Mr Mike Passant has today, joined the 200 club, in proper style, with I suspect a tad bit of trespass to see a Rock Pipit

I know ian would never agree with the following poem ,but regarding pipits, it has been said


Its a pity that the pipit have no diagnostic features specifically they are the least distinctive of gods creatures
For the naming any one you need five measurements together with a drawing of the wing tip and the length of every feather
Count the spots on breast and back be the sure of which sex is, make a picture of the pattern of the one but outer rectrix
Pay extravagant attention to the hind claw's conformation, none 'weak and long' or curved and strong (or snapped in preservation)
and when you're marshalled all the facts no matter what their sense is if the bird was caught in Europe its ten to one, Pratensis....
B P Hall 1961.

Yet Mr Passant your was not, the mighty Rock Pipit, bagged today, means the next time you go out "a-birding together" as Mr Page said in the Merry wives of Windsor. you can proudly say your a member of the GM 200 Club.

I doff my cap to you sir, your effort have been outstanding.

Well done that man.

Many thanks one and all for your kind congratulations on my milestone however I do not wish to also presume membership of the 200 Club as I have not been confirmed by the Chairman!

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Saturday 20th of September 2014 08:45:45 AM

Tim Wilcox wrote:

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Today I saw my 200th species for GM - Little Stint at Pennington Flash

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Well Done Tim

I've already congratulated Tim via P M on entering the hallowed portals and in winning our own little race which has been great good natured fun at every twist and turn. Nevertheless, a resounding "well done" to Tim; - I'm just sorry I arrived too late to share the moment with you.

Regards,
Mike

Well done Tim, shame it wasn't the overflying Red Kite that you fancied but Little Stlnt will do nicely

Today I saw my 200th species for GM - Little Stint at Pennington Flash

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Thursday 18th of September 2014 05:42:09 PM

Very well done Simon. Myself and Mr Passant will hopefully be following closely. I failed to get there trying to get Quail and Sandwich Tern on one day and got neither