The Cambridgeshire Bird Club Roving Atlas Day: 10 January 2009

Short-eared Owl © Garth Peacock

Overview

The Cambridgeshire Bird Club Roving Atlas Day is designed to generate large numbers of roving records for the BTO/Cambridgeshire Bird Atlas in areas where coverage is poor or lacking. Participants can choose to either work within the three 10-km squares TL58, TL67 and TL68 in the northeast of old Cambs or the following three squares: TL17, TL18 and TL28 in Hunts. From 4.30pm there will be a gathering and socialising at Old Beach Farm, 91 Green End, Landbeach, CB25 9FD, with soup, food and drinks to warm up after a cold day of birding.

Rules and Recording

Teams of 2 or 3 are required to record as many species as possible during the 8hr period from 8am to 4pm within one of the two areas, each consisting of the three 10-km squares indicated above. Species can be recorded in as many tetrads as the team chooses to visit; these tetrads can be located in one, two or all three of the 10km squares as above. Teams can use a species recording sheet produced for this day and are asked to load their data onto the BTO Atlas webpages for roving records. The CBC offers help in cases where this proves to be difficult.

Resources

The following resources will be available to be used on the day.

Teams are invited to register by e-mail with Duncan Poyser. They will then be provided with further information.

On Saturday 14th June 3 teams of enthusiastic surveyors undertook a “birdrace” around four 10km squares in the under recorded central and eastern Fens. Over 1000 roving records were generated and the BTO applauded the Club’s initiative in producing such a large number of roving records and breeding status data. The racers enjoyed some great, if at times hectic, birding and highlights included sightings of Quail and Bittern. Other Fenland specialities recorded included Corncrake, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Harriers and farmland species of conservation interest such as Turtle Dove, Corn Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow, Skylark and Yellowhammer. A similar Atlas event to generate roving records in under watched squares during the winter period is being planned and will be announced soon.