Last week in March, 2008, I was on 125 (inc 17 'elites'). Year total: 189
Last week in March, 2009, I was on 131 (inc 22 'elites'). Year total: 187
Last week in March, 2010, I was on 126 (inc 15 'elites'). Year total: 177
Last week in March, 2011, I was on 130 (inc 18 'elites'). Year total: 182
Last week in March, 2012, I was on 134 (inc 21*(22) 'elites'). Year total: 183
Last week in March, 2013, I was on 128 (inc 20*(21) 'elites'). Year total: 187
Last week in March, 2014, I was on 124 (inc 17*(18) 'elites'). Year total: 187
Last week in March, 2015, I was on 114 (inc 11*(12) 'elites'). Year total: 172
Last week in March, 2016, I was on 127 (inc 13*(14) 'elites'). Year total: 188
Last week in March, 2017, I was on 134 (inc 23*(24) 'elites'). Year total: 186
Last week in March, 2018, I was on 124 (inc 14**(15) 'elites'). Year total: 195 (NEW record)
Last week in March, 2019, I was on 136 (inc 22**(23) 'elites'). Year total: 192
Last week in March, 2020, I was on 131 (inc 19**(20) 'elites'). Year total: 190
Last week in March, 2021, I was on 149 (inc 33** (32)'elites'). Year total: 195 (equal record)
Last week in March, 2022, I was on 137 (inc 23*** 'elites'). Year total: 189
Last week in March, 2023, I was on 132 (inc 16*** 'elites'). Year total: 187
* () Modern counting with Smew as an 'elite'
** () Modern counting with Smew as an 'elite'; plus (starting 2018) following changes:
Demoted from 'elite' to 'core': Turtle Dove, Raven and Great White Egret
Promoted from 'core' to 'elite': Hen Harrier, Yellow-legged Gull and Arctic Tern
2022 elite changes: Great White Egret, Raven and Turtle Dove demoted to 'core' status; Arctic Tern, Hen Harrier and Yellow-legged Gull promoted to 'elite'
Here, once again, is the traditional state of my personal PBC (Peterborough Bird Club area) year list summary, as of the end March (2021).
In contrast with the last couple of years, year listing progress has been very slow with a very 'average' (i.e. disappointing) total, especially with regards to 'elites'. Sure, things would look better if Raven, Crane, Egyptian Goose, Cetti's Warbler and Great White Egret were still counted as elite birds; but they aren't (then again, Jack Snipe, Hen Harrier and Barnacle Goose are)! Highlights have included a couple of Tundra Bean Geese, seven White-fronted Geese, winter Grey Plover and Spotted Redshank, the last(?) of the PBC area Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and my first ever PBC Wood Lark, a heard-only bird in mid-March, singing as it flew east over Bedford Purlieus NNR. I had what I believe is my first ever March Yellow Wagtail on 31st.
