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The Top Year Listers of 2002
Whatever your opinions of listing, you can't help admire the sheer commitment of some of the year listers below. Whether it was renting Lear jets and helicopters to try to smash the 24 hour world record, destroying a rental car in the Argentinian mountains or finding a rarity on their local patch, you have to respect the stamina and determination of some of these individuals when many of us might have given up long ago and retired to our hotel rooms.
If to be a top lister requires the combination of stamina, commitment, skill and determination then listing brings birding as close to a sport as possible. These were some of the top birding sportsmen and women of 2002.
 Enter yourself or have a look at all the listers of 2003. See 2002 archives and also a 2001 review of the year. Click Here
>> Silver-breasted Broadbill by Marc Guyt |
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2002 World Year List Title
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No. 1 Ian Sinclair (Total 2261) - South Africa
I started off in Costa Rica with a few hundred lifers and then straight on to Brazil with another 300 new birds. Chile was fairly tame in comparison with only 150 newies but some class action.
A few weeks on a ship to Antarctica got me nothing new except some new additions to the Indian Ocean list. A 24 hour bash in South Africa in December with 5 helicopters and a lear jet failed to break the world record but did notch up 316 spp. Mind benders of the year were Puna and Diademed Plover, Brazilian Merganser, Dwarf Tinnamou, Hyacinth Macaw, Magellanic Woodpecker and a pile more. Most boring new bird for Africa was Kipengere Seed-eater…the proverbial turd with wings!! Best birds for the Malagasy Region were Moheli Scops Owl and Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel. |
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No. 2 Michael Knoll (Total 1850) - Germany
After a boring beginning of 2002 I quit my job and set off on a 7-month world trip on my 30th birthday in May. The first 3.5 months, I travelled through SE-Asia including Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Northern Borneo (Sabah), Java and Bali. Unfortunately, the monsoon rains already started shortly after my arrival, one month earlier than expected, especially affecting the birding in Thailand. Disappointingly I missed some of my most-wanteds e.g. Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo, Gurney's Pitta or Bornean Bristlehead, but the highlights still outweighed these lows by far. Among my personal favourites were Siamese Fireback (a pair with 3 chicks feeding along the trail), Giant Nuthatch, Purple and Green Cochoa (2 nesting pairs of the latter) in Thailand, Malaysian Rail-Babbler in Malaysia and Borneo, the so-called "Whitehead's Hattrick" (Whitehead's Trogon, Broadbill and Spiderhunter) in Borneo, Salvadori's Nightjar, Javan Cochoa, Sunda Thrush and Bali Starling in Indonesia. I finally left SE-Asia with a total of c.600 species (plus fantastic non-bird bonusses like Asian Elephant and Orang-Utan in Borneo).
During the following 6 weeks I visited Australia (northern Northern Territory and Western Australia) and New Zealand (North, South and Stewart Island). The bigpoints in down under were Red-tailed Tropicbird, Asian Dowitcher, Hooded Parrot, White-throated Grasswren and Gouldian Finch. Not surprisingly, NZL offered the best seawatching I've ever had, but I had never expected to see most of the possible endemics (except Fiordland Crested Penguin, NZL Falcon and Rock Wren) within just 2 weeks! Among the most outstanding birds due to their extremely low world populations were Takahe, Black Stilt and Shore Plover, but I'll also never forget some Keas enjoying a ride on top of my car, or spotlighting a Brown Kiwi snuffling around my feet...
The last two months of my journey belonged to South America. Peru (especially Manu NP) produced gems like Pale-winged Trumpeter, Sungrebe, Blue-headed Macaw, Sand-coloured Nighthawk, Bearded Mountaineer, Golden-headed Quetzal or White-bellied Cinclodes, to name just a few. It also presented the bird of the trip - a Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, not easy to find, but absolutely worth every effort, like nearly destroying the rental car on a dirt track at 4800m a.s.l.! In Argentina I birded all the major sites including Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, Iguacu and the Salta area. I can't imagine a greater combination of terrific landscapes and fantastic birds (e.g. rarities like Hooded Grebe, Ruddy-headed Goose, Horned Coot, Magellanic Plover or Canary-winged Finch) than in this beautiful country...
Therefore I really didn't look forward to returning to Germany, but twitching a Hume's Warbler and a Long-legged Buzzard in December was a nice end of an incredible year.
Happy birding in 2003!!! |
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No. 3 Dollyann Myers (Total 1800) and No. 4 Ron Hoff (Total 1795) - USA
We both feel very fortunate to have traveled and birded some of the places that we have this past year. Our travels started out with a trip to Namibia and theWestern Cape Province of South Africa. Both places are some of the finest placest places we have ever been to.
Next up was a trip to the Philippines that was nothing short of fantastic and brutal at the same time. I had just had minor knee surgery and had not fully recovered by the time we got there. It seemed like I was in pain the entire trip, but somehow managed to muddle through. The environmental devastation there was the worst we had ever seen. It was heartbreaking. Our next trip was to Northern Peru and the Maranon Valley region. It was also fantastic (as Peru always is)and we saw many endemic and restricted range birds.
In August we took a trip to Uganda, concentrating on the Albertine Rift endemics. We eventually ticked 23 of 26 of them, plus we got to see the Mountain Gorillas. Our last trip of the year was a double trip to South Africa again. The first part was the 17 day pelagic trip on the S. A. Agulhas to prince Edward and Marion islands, and then on down to the Antarctic pack-ice, where we ticked Emperor Penguin and Leopard Seal. I can't even describe how unique this trip was. Perhaps the best sighting of the trip was a full body view of a Minke Whale right under our eyes at the bow of the ship. I still shiver when I think about it. When we got back to Cape Town, we flew to Johannesburg for a 3 week tour of eastern South Africa, that tallied over 475 species.
That was our big year. Our economy has turned to molasses over here in the states, so this year will be slower than the past two, but my husband and I will keep trying to bird this wonderful planet until we are no longer able. We would like to say thanks to all the wonderful guides and trip mates that we have been fortunate to meet. We feel like we have the best hobby in the world. |
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No. 6 Marc Guyt (Total 1535) - Holland
A long time dream was realized when I got permission to take a 7 month non-paid leave from my work. I decided to visit countries with good infrastructure, low daily living costs and lots and lots of good birds. First I decided to visit Thailand for two months and then Malaysia for two weeks for its Palearctic migrants and its resident beautiful Pitta's.
The first highlight came early as I was watching a superb Spoon-billed Sandpiper just outside Bangkok the first morning of my trip! The bird to see in Thailand is, off course, the highly endangered Gurney’s Pitta and 5 full days were invested to see this gem, and I needed them all! After five days of hearing males daily I finally saw a female on the trail. Absolute highlight of Northern Thailand was a trip to the summit of Doi Chiang Dao where at the same moment that was I photographing a male Humes Pheasant, that walked straight up to me, my first Giant Nuthatches were calling right above my head!
After a short break in the Netherlands, where I saw Collared Pratincole and Woodchat Shrike, both rarities in the Netherlands, I headed at the end of May for Costa Rica for a period of 5 weeks. Cotinga’s where high on the wishlist and although Three-wattled Bellbird took me a while to see, the views at the end of my stay at Monteverde where excellent as three males where calling in a fruiting tree.
After getting used to Neotropical birding again it was time to go to the more serious countries: Ecuador was next on the agenda. The most memorable place that I visited in Ecuador was Bilsa, one of the last remaining tracks of Western lowland rainforest full of special and rare birds. The bird to see here is Long-wattled Umbrellabird and in Bilsa they are not too difficult to find. Our first was the third bird on the trail on the first morning.
The last leg of my trip was spent in Southern Peru. With the guide, Wim ten Have I visited the Salinas, a huge salt lake near Arequipa were we saw all three occurring flamingos. The two rare ones, James and Andean Flamingo, species that I didn’t see last time because of limited time.
The last nine days of my trip were spend in Manu, with most of time spend in the superb area of Pantiacolla. The trails here, especially the Tinamou Trail, must be among the birdiest forest trails on the planet. This time I still saw lifers daily and, worse, missed new species daily!
The last morning at Pantiacolla I was picked up by boat by a passing group of Pantiacolla tours, and after three hours in the boat drove straight to Cusco were we arrived late in the evening. The following morning I got to the airport, took the plane to Lima, changed planes and headed off for Europe. Basically, I went straight from the Amazon to Amsterdam! Two days later I was already watching a new lifer as I watched my first Lesser Yellowlegs in the Netherlands, that happened to be my 400th species for my Dutch list. The fun was over, I had to go back to work... |
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No. 7 Vaughan Ashby (Total 1522) - UK
2002 was a great year for me. As a bird tour company owner (Birdfinders) and leader, I am of course in the privileged position of being able to bird around the world all year. 
Following my third visit to Goa in January, I made my second visit to Costa Rica in March with the excellent Tony Nunnery as my main leader. Costa Rica is always great although the weather was rather unkind to us at La Selva with 3 days of rain. Nevertheless we recorded nearly 500 species of which 50 were lifers for me. April was my usual (9th!) Texas trip which I extended to visit an Attwater's Prairie-chicken lek (some of the last genuine wild birds). In May I made an extended visit to Kazakhstan. Highlights there were the first Lesser Sandplover for 17 years, the amazing Altai Falcon, both Black & White-winged Larks, Meadow Buntings and superb views of a Relict Gull. The only disappointment in Kazakhstan was finding a Pander's Ground-jay nest which had been deserted with no sign of the adult birds!
In June I was off to Colorado & Wyoming again where the highlights were an amazingly co-operative Flammulated Owl and Gunnison Sage-grouse in amongst all of the usual specialities such as Chestnut-collared & McCown's Longspurs, Black & Brown-capped Rosy-finches, Mountain Plovers and Ferruginous Hawks. Scilly was quieter than normal in 2002 but it's not the rarities and lifers that many people go for these days, it's the excellent social scene. November saw me making my 7th visit to The Gambia where everything was very dry and there was a fuel crisis!
Nevertheless, we managed a creditable 310 species including 6 species of cuckoo, 2 of which were lifers for me. Finally, in December, I made my first visit to Thailand, where with the expert help of Kamol our guide, we achieved an excellent 352 species. Highlights there included Green Peafowl, Giant Nuthatch and Spoon-billed Sandpiper. So in 2002 I achieved a world year list of 1522, slightly down on 2001, but with about 200 lifers so I can't complain! Importantly to me, I added another 4 new species of owl to my list. 2003 has already started well with 280 species in Goa and I'm off to Sri Lanka and Costa Rica in the next few weeks! |
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No. 8 Claes-Göran Cederlund (Total 1454)  - Sweden
The year started in earnest with a 3 week camping trip to Uganda with a few friends. It was my first trip there so obviously all Albertine Rift endemics were thrilling to see, most notably Ruwenzori Turaco and Shelley´s Crimsonwing. The Gorillas were out of this world as were the Shoebills at a couple of locations. Other highlights included Lots of nightjars at Murchison´s Falls (Standard-winged,Long-tailed and Plain) and Puvel´s Illadopsis, Ituri Batis and the only Ugandan endemic; Fox´s Weaver elsewhere. March saw me in Western Mexico from Baja California south to Colima with 10 species of Owls (incl. Cape Pygmy, Colima Pygmy, Balsas Screech and wing-clapping Stygian!) and nightjars (Eared Poorwill, Mexican Whip-Poor-Will, Buff-collared Nightjar) all seen axtremely well. The Cape endemics gave themselves up including San Lucas Robin and Baird´s Junco.
Other interesting thing was Grayson´s Thrush (a potential split) near San Blas and cracking views of Red-breasted Chat near Colima. In July went to Kenya mainly for game-viewing with my wife but managed to fill up some annoying gaps on the coast. Got splendid views of Sokoke Pipits, Clarke´s Weaver and Spotted Ground Thrush at Sokoke Forest. In Nov-Dec I saw all endemic birds of Southern India incl. Broad-tailed Grassbird and Yellow-throated Bulbul and also things like Mottled Wood-Owl and a phyllosc.-flock containing Greenish, Yellow-browed, Large-billed, Tickell´s, Western Crowned and Tytler´s Warblers. S. Andaman Island produced 10 out of 12 endemics with vagrants like Pied Harrier and Red-rumped Swallow as an added bonus.
I got home in time to witness an unusally large influx of Two-barred Crossbills to Southern Sweden. |
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2002 British Year List Title
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 The Lincolnshire Lesser Sandplover features as one of the biggest highs of 2002 for British listers. Photo posted to the galleries by Jim Lawrence |
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No. 1 Adrian Riley (Total 380 (UK400) 368 (BOU) )
I have been asked that I write a few lines describing the highs and lows of last year’s adventure and I am pleased to oblige as it may be of interest to my fellow birders. My goal was not only to win the competition but to do so without falling out with my then putative friend Lee Evans. As most of you will have learned, only half of my ambition was achieved and this both saddens me and constitutes the lowest point of the year. Lee and I shared many wonderful times together including one which will remain as the highlight of 2002, namely the Scops Owl in Cornwall. The torch lit memory of that vulnerable little creature shall forever stay with me. I may have lost one friend but have gained many more and I hereby thank Jason Chapman, Phil. Gould, Richard Bromliow, Gary Thorburn, Alex McLennan and Ian Burrows for their continued support. I am indebted to Les. Holliwell and Adrian Webb for teaching me again that birding can be fun. Best bird of the year? Without doubt my wife Vanessa. If I can find a publisher, I hope you will buy the book. Good hunting, everyone, in 2003. I hope to see you around but I shall be chasing butterflies: like me they prefer good weather. |
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No. 7 Chris Wilkinson 317 BOU species
Highlights of 2002 were many and varied. Outstanding memories range from Corncrakes in the endless twilight of June on Iona to a freezing January evening at Horsey watching Cranes and Raptors come to roost. There was the gruelling but rewarding trek up the Cairngorms for Ptarmigan and there was the Geese spectacle of Islay in November. I always find the best birds are the ones that are self found and during 2002 my best finds were: a Great White Egret at Pagham, a Temminck's Stint at Grove Ferry, A Montys on Salthouse Heath and a Roseate Tern in Argyll. The worst moment came when leaving a Cornish campsite for the rearranged pelagic only to find the farmer had locked the gates. He wasn’t happy to be woken at 4am!! The best bird of the year for me was the male Pallid Harrier at Elmley - simply stunning. However, there were big misses – Elegant Tern, Snowy Egret (twice), Lesser Sandplover & Alpine Accentor amongst them. All in all, I’ve met some wonderful people, been to fantastic places and have seen some superb birds. Well done to Adrian Riley and John Pegden for their tremendous totals and to all of the other birders who did well in 2002. |
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No. 8 James Brown (Total 315)
2002 was a brilliant year with me acheiving my highest ever total of 315. Living on the coast near Lowestoft, Suffolk I was able to spend a lot of time in the field before and after work. The highlight was finding a Great Snipe at Corton on one of my daily autumn after work visits to my local patch. I also co-found the Black-headed Bunting at Gunton. My 2002 local patch list of 205 was below the 218 set in 2001 but such patchwork strongly helped my Suffolk yearlist of 240. With all this local birding it was a surprise to break 300 in Britain, helped by my first visit for the Scottish specialities. National highlights for the year were the confiding Snowy Egret and the Lesser Sand Plover. |
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 The Cornish Scop's Owl was many British birders' most memorable moment of the year. Photo posted to the galleries by Dave Read |
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No. 9 tied Alan Clewes (Total 313)
My 2002 total of 313 was achieved without concentrating specifically on a year list, the main priority being additions to my UK life list. This was largely successful with over 20 additions including such rarities as Lesser Sandplover, Lesser Kestrel, Pallid Harrier White-throated Sparrow & Rufous Turtle Dove.
Highlight of the year goes to 2 Alpine Swifts that gave incredible views as they flew low over St Just, Cornwall on the afternoon of March 26th. March in the South West being particularly memorable with other additions being Scops Owl, Black-eared Wheatear & Little Bittern.
A good supporting cast kept me busy in between the lifers, which included such highs as adult Ivory Gull & Little Swift, topping off what was already a really quality year. |
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2002 ABA Area Year List Title
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No. 2 Brandon Percival (Total 515)
Brandon Percival is from Pueblo West, Colorado.
I was able to spend a lot of time birding in the ABA Area in 2002. I ended up seeing 515 species in the ABA Area. 340 of those were in Colorado. Besides for CO, I birded in CA (Jan., Oct., and Dec.), NE (Feb.), AZ (Apr./May, Sep., Oct), NM (Apr., Jul., Aug., Sep., Oct), KS (May, Aug/Sep.), MO (May),WA (Jul/Aug), BC (Aug), TX--panhandle (Aug), & OK (Aug). My totals for each state follow: CO - 340, AZ - 250, CA - 250, KS - 237, WA - 195, NM - 140, OK - 100, MO - 83, TX- 80, BC - 60, NE - 60.
I went on several pelagic trips in 2002, including an unforgettable one out of Westport, WA in August. I was able to get a few rarities this year, including Flame-colored Tanager and Rufous-capped Warbler in AZ, Emperor Goose in WA, and Arctic Loon in CO. It was a fun year of birding, and my best year for species ever. I hadn't ever ended over 500 species in one year, so that was really exciting to do. I starting birding when I was six years old, when my uncle Van Truan took me out birding around Pueblo, Colorado. I have been birding pretty much ever since, and now I am 27 years old. 2003 should be interesting as well for me, even though 500 species probably won't happen, I will be making my first trip to Florida in April. I am very exciting about this trip, and should see quite a few life birds. |
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No. 7 Mikael Bauer (Total 451)
Being a exchange student in Ottawa, Canada I had time to do some nice birding in E Ontario with, Harlequin Duck and Saw-whet Owls. Did a week-long trip down to Texas in february where I caught up with Whooping Cranes, Red cockated Woodpecker and most of the lower Rio Grande valley birds like Hook-billed Kite, Brown Jay and some goodies like Blue Bunting. After finishing my semester in U of Ottawa I went down to Point Pelee and birded there for 3 weeks (Painted Bunting, Harris Sparrow and lots of Warblers). Then started a trip hitchhiking/busing to Vancouver stoping along the way for various stuff (Kirtlands Warbler, Ross's Gull, 4 Longspurs etc.) and then did some birding in BC + a pelagic from the Washington coast. Then headed back east and birded Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (Seabirds, Auks & Rock Ptarmigan). Went home to Sweden in begining of August. A great big thanks to all the birders who helped me in Ottawa and along the coast to coast trip! |
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No. 10 Mike Creese (Total 431)
Had a busy year in 2002 with trip in January to Cape Cod and New England Coast. Trip to Alaska in July and two trips to Central California, one in June to Sierra Mountains and later to coast and Monterey Bay. Ended year with quick trip to Texas Valley for Golden-crowned Warbler in December. Birds I missed were the Woodcock and missing the Wrentit on the two CA trips. |
