This page is intended as a lighthearted look at Fylde birder's lists and the competitive aspect of Fylde birding.

To add your Fylde list to the ranking, click here to download the Fylde Ranking form; attach the completed form to an email and send it to Stuart Piner. Alternatively, print out the form and return completed forms to 2 South View, School Lane, Catforth, Preston, PR4 0HL. After your list has been added to the ranking, email any additions or updates to Stuart Piner.

The Listers                                                                                                The Blockers

Profiles of the top ten lists

Len Blacow's most notable species are Lesser White-fronted Goose (Thurnham 1991), Cory's Shearwater (Starr Gate 1991), Montagu's Harrier (Marton Mere 1995), Bee-eater (Bispham Marsh 1984) and Sooty Shearwater (Bispham 1980 and Starr Gate 1988). Len's most notable omissions are Caspian Tern, Egyptian Goose, Corncrake, Long-billed Dowitcher and Wilson's Phalarope.

Maurice Jones's most notable species are Baird's Sandpiper (Freckleton Sewage Works 1963), Wilson's Phalarope (Freckleton Sewage Works 1973), Sooty Shearwater (Starr Gate 1972), Long-billed Dowitcher (Freckleton Sewage Works 1963) and Hawfinch (Lytham 1953). Maurice's most notable omissions are Common Rosefinch, Savi's Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Whiskered Tern and Honey-buzzard.

Barry Dyson's most notable species are Whiskered Tern (Marton Mere 1983), Sooty Shearwater (Rossall Point 1978), Red-backed Shrike (Fleetwood Power Station 1985), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Fluke Hall 1996) and Woodchat Shrike (Fairhaven Dunes 1987). Barry's most notable omissions are Lesser Scaup, Little Auk, Red-footed Falcon, Mealy Redpoll and Egyptian Goose.

Stuart Meredith's most notable species are Long-billed Dowitcher (Marton Mere 1989), Corncrake (Marton Mere 1996), Red-backed Shrike (Fleetwood Power Station 1985), Red-breasted Flycatcher and Savi's Warbler (Marton Mere 1995). Stuart's most notable omissions are White Stork, Long-tailed Skua, Goshawk, Red-crested Pochard and Dusky Warbler.

Bob Stinger's most notable species are Honey-buzzard (Marton Mere 2001), Hawfinch (Marton Mere 2001 and Fairhaven Lake 2003), Subalpine Warbler (Lytham St Annes Nature Reserve 2001), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Blackpool Pleasure Beach Railway Bushes 2001) and Egyptian Goose (Marton Mere 2003). Bob's most notable omissions are Dotterel, Common Rosefinch, Puffin, Red-necked Phalarope and Night-heron.

Paul Slade's most notable species are Bee-eater (Bispham Marsh 1984), Whiskered Tern (Marton Mere 1983), Long-billed Dowitcher (Marton Mere 1989), Subalpine Warbler (Lytham St Annes Nature Reserve) and Red-backed Shrike (Fleetwood Power Station 1985). Paul's most notable omissions are Velvet Scoter, Turtle Dove, Goshawk, Little Bittern and Red-necked Grebe.

Paul Ellis's most notable species are Long-billed Dowitcher (Marton Mere 1989), Corncrake (Marton Mere 1996), Red-backed Shrike (Fleetwood Power Station 1985), Savi's Warbler (Marton Mere 1995) and Woodchat Shrike (Fairhaven Dunes 1987). Paul's most notable omissions are Shag, Hobby, Yellow-browed Warbler, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Roseate Tern.

Chris Batty's most notable species are Egyptian Goose (Marton Mere 2003), Black Guillemot (Rossall Point 2005), Mealy Redpoll (Marton Mere 2002), Red-necked Grebe (Preston Dock 1996) and Caspian Tern (Knott End 2007). Chris's most notable omissions are Citrine Wagtail, Great Grey Shrike, Bearded Tit, Barred Warbler and Pacific Golden Plover.

Stephen Dunstan's most notable species are Honey-buzzard (Freckleton Naze 2001), Corncrake (Marton Mere 1996), Egyptian Goose (Marton Mere 2003), Black Guillemot (Starr Gate) and Mealy Redpoll (Marton Mere 2002). Stephen's most notable omissions are Green Woodpecker, Hooded Crow, American Bittern, Little Bunting and Pallas's Warbler.

Frank Walsh's most notable species are Hawfinch (Fairhaven Lake 2003), Subalpine Warbler (Lytham St Annes Nature Reserve), Night-heron (Marton Mere 1995), Mealy Redpoll (Marton Mere 2002) and Red-necked Phalarope (Fairhaven Lake 1983). Frank's most notable omissions are Stone-curlew, Desert Wheatear, Ivory Gull, Hoopoe and Wryneck.

The most wanted species

There are 26 species on the Fylde list that have not been seen by anybody on the rankings, including sixteen species not recorded for over thirty years - Surf Scoter, Red Grouse, Purple Heron, White-tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard, Little Bustard, Black-winged Stilt, Sociable Plover, Great Snipe, Gull-billed Tern, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Nightingale, Black-eared Wheatear, Melodious Warbler, Crested Tit and Nutcracker - and one, Macaronesian Shearwater, that was dead when it was found. The remaining nine species that have eluded all Fylde birders listed on the ranking are Red Kite, American Golden Plover, Nightjar, Roller, Tawny Pipit, Bluethroat, Icterine Warbler, Golden Oriole and Rose-coloured Starling.

The main ranking uses BOU taxonomy, but below this there are additional lists of distinctive forms that are sometimes treated as species, species of uncertain provenance, and species pending acceptance.