Join in the fun of the Isle of Man Christmas Bird Race 2023!

The Isle of Man ChChristmas Treeristmas Bird Race is an island-wide collaborative effort. It isn’t a competition between individual birdwatchers. The aim is for birdwatchers across the Island to work together to see as many species as possible.

The rules are simple:

- You can spend as little or as much time as you wish looking for birds on, above and around the Island within Manx territorial waters;

- Sightings must be made in the 7-day period from Christmas Day to New year's Eve inclusive (i.e. 00:01 on 25th December to 23:59 on 31st December);

- It isn’t a competition! The aim is for everyone collectively to see as many species as possible.

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See the sightings table below which will be updated regularly during the Bird race period.

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Christmas Bird Race 2023 Recording Sheet
Download your free Manx BirdLife Christmas Bird Race recording sheet 2023

Submit your sightings:

For all observations, please send your name, date, location (including OS Grid Ref. if you know it), what you saw (species, how many) and any interesting aspects of what you saw.

Please note: Taking part does not imply or grant permission to enter onto any private property. Please consider the welfare of birds and other wildlife when taking part. Thank you.

Christmas Bird Race League Table

Last updated: 21:23 Sun 31 Dec 2023

A terrific bird race last year produced a record-breaking 120 species! Can we beat that record-breaking total in 2023?

Christmas Day 2023 produced 98 species, including a new bird for the CBR in the form of a Greenshank. Boxing Day yielded another 12 species, with Jack Snipe, Waxwing and Tree Sparrow among the highlights.

Wednesday's appalling weather limited the finds to Barnacle Goose and Red-breasted Merganser, taking the total to 112.

Little Auk, Kingfisher, Pintail and Lesser Redpoll take the closing tally on Thursday to 116. And a late report of Red Grouse makes it 117!

Friday's Red-legged Partridge takes the tally to a teasing 118! Two days to go and two species needed to match the record.

Saturday is Day 6 and the penultimate day of the bird race. No new birds spotted today, but three earlier reports have now been verified - Whimbrel, Long-eared Owl and Crossbill - taking the tally to a record-breaking 121! With one day left, can we add any more...?

Final day, Day 7 and no new species reported, so 121 it is! Thank you for all your reports and photographs. Remember, you can continue to submit your records throughout the year. The data you provide helps to inform our conservation efforts and to protect Manx wild birds.

The bar is set high for 2024!

#Common name2023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011
1Mute Swan25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
2Whooper Swan25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
3Pink-footed Goose26-Dec29-Dec25-Dec30-Dec30-Dec-27-Dec27-Dec-----
4Greylag Goose25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
5Canada Goose25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec29-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
6Barnacle Goose27-Dec26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec31-Dec28-Dec-28-DecY-YY-
7Brent Goose25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
8Shelduck25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
9Wigeon25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
10Gadwall25-Dec27-Dec31-Dec30-Dec28-Dec-28-Dec28-DecYYYYY
11Teal25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
12Green-winged Teal--25-dec----------
13Mallard25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
14Pintail28-Dec25-Dec26-Dec----28-DecY-Y--
15Shoveler25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec28-Dec27-Dec27-Dec28-Dec28-DecYYY-Y
16Pochard25-Dec27-Dec29-Dec28-Dec28-Dec27-Dec26-Dec28-Dec-YYYY
17Tufted Duck25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
18Scaup-----------YY
19Eider25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
20Long-tailed Duck25-Dec29-Dec---30-Dec29-Dec----Y-
21Common Scoter25-Dec-27-Dec25-Dec26-Dec29-Dec29-Dec28-Dec---YY
22Velvet Scoter-------------
23Goldeneye25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
24Smew-------------
25Red-breasted Merganser27-Dec27-Dec28-Dec30-Dec25-Dec26-Dec28-Dec25-DecYYYYY
26Goosander25-Dec27-Dec31-Dec27-Dec28-Dec27-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYYYY
27Red-legged Partridge29-Dec27-Dec26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec28-Dec-30-DecYY-YY
28Red Grouse28-Dec29-Dec31-Dec27-Dec28-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYY-Y-
29Grey Partridge-------------
30Pheasant25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-DecYYYYY
31Red-throated Diver26-Dec26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYYYY
32Black-throated Diver25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec27-Dec-26-Dec-27-DecY-Y--
33Great Northern Diver25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec27-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-DecYYYYY
34Fulmar25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
35Gannet25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
36Cormorant25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
37Shag25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
38Bittern-------------
39Little Egret25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
40Grey Heron25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
41Little Grebe25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec27-DecYYYYY
42Great Crested Grebe-26-Dec----------Y
43Hen Harrier25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
44Sparrowhawk25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
45Buzzard25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec28-DecYYYYY
46Water Rail25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec-27-Dec26-Dec28-DecY?---
47Moorhen25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
48Coot25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
49Oystercatcher25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
50Grey Plover26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
51Golden Plover25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-Dec27-DecYYYYY
52Ringed Plover25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
53Lapwing25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec30-DecYYYYY
54 New!Whimbrel26-Dec------------
55Curlew25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
56Bar-tailed Godwit25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYY--
57Black-tailed Godwit-28-Dec-----------
58Turnstone25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
59Knot25-Dec-29-Dec25-Dec31-Dec27-Dec-30-DecY----
60Sanderling26-Dec26-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-Dec28-Dec27-Dec26-DecYYYYY
61Dunlin25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecyYYYY
62Purple Sandpiper25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec25-DecYY-YY
63Grey Phalarope-------------
64Redshank25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
65 New!Greenshank25-Dec------------
66Jack Snipe26-Dec31-Dec28-Dec25-Dec30-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYY-Y-
67Woodcock25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-Dec30-Dec27-Dec27-Dec28-DecYY-Y-
68Snipe25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
69Puffin--------Y----
70Black Guillemot25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
71Razorbill25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec29-Dec29-Dec28-DecYYYYY
72Little Auk28-Dec------------
73Guillemot25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec31-Dec29-Dec28-DecYY-YY
74Sabine's Gull-------------
75Kittiwake25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
76Black-headed Gull25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
77Little Gull------29-Dec------
78Mediterranean Gull-------------
79Common Gull25-Dec26-Dec28-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
80Lesser Black-backed Gull-25-Dec-26-Dec----YY---
81Herring Gull25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
82Yellow-legged Gull----30-Dec--------
83Iceland Gull-------------
84Glaucous Gull-----30-Dec-------
85Great Black-backed Gull25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
86Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
87Stock Dove26-Dec26-Dec26-Dec--27-Dec27-Dec------
88Woodpigeon25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
89Collared Dove25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
90Barn Owl26-Dec28-Dec28-Dec-27-Dec26-Dec28-Dec-Y-YYY
91Long-eared Owl29-Dec29-Dec27-Dec26-Dec28-Dec27-Dec-------
92Short-eared Owl--------Y----
93Kingfisher28-Dec29-Dec31-Dec27-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-DecY--Y-
94Great Spotted Woodpecker25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec30-Dec26-DecYY-YY
95Kestrel25-Dec29-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec27-DecYYYYY
96Merlin26-Dec25-Dec-26-Dec28-Dec26-Dec27-Dec26-DecYYYYY
97Peregrine25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
98Chough25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
99Magpie25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
100Jackdaw25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
101Rook25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
102Carrion Crow25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
103Hooded Crow25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
104Raven25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
105Goldcrest25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
106Blue Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
107Great Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
108Coal Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
109Skylark25-Dec25-Dec28-Dec25-Dec31-Dec27-Dec28-Dec28-Dec-YY--
110Long-tailed Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
111Chiffchaff-25-Dec28-Dec28-Dec25-Dec31-Dec30-Dec--Y-Y-
112Blackcap25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
113Lesser Whitethroat--30-Dec----------
114Waxwing26-Dec------26-Dec---Y-
115Treecreeper25-Dec28-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
116Wren25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
117Starling25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
118Dipper-------------
119Blackbird25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
120Fieldfare25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYyYY
121Song Thrush25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
122Redwing25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
123Mistle Thrush25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
124Robin25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
125Black Redstart-25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec31-Dec25-Dec-27-Dec-YY--
126Stonechat25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
127Dunnock25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
128House Sparrow25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
129Tree Sparrow26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec31-Dec26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec25-DecYY-YY
130Grey Wagtail25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
131Pied Wagtail25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
132Meadow Pipit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
133Rock Pipit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
134Water Pipit---------Y---
135Brambling25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec-28-Dec-26-Dec-YYY-
136Chaffinch25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
137Greenfinch25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
138Linnet26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYYYY
139Twite25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec31-Dec-25-Dec28-Dec27-DecYYYYY
140Lesser Redpoll28-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYY-YY
141Mealy Redpoll-------------
142Common Crossbill28-Dec26-Dec--31-Dec-26-Dec------
143Goldfinch25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
144Siskin25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
145Snow Bunting--28-Dec28-Dec--27-Dec------
146Lapland Bunting-------------
147Yellowhammer------------Y
148Reed Bunting26-Dec25-Dec28-Dec29-Dec30-Dec29-Dec27-Dec-YYYYY
SPECIES TOTAL*121*120119116113116113113111108100109103

Notes

Black Swan

As of December 2016, Black Swan Cygnus atratus has been removed from the Christmas Bird Race list. The species totals from previous years have been adjusted to reflect that this Category E species is no longer included in the counts.

2017

Please note that for 2017 we have updated the taxonomic order of both the recording card and results table.

2016 summary

On 1st January 2017, Mark Fitzpatrick wrote:

'Well, unless any new sightings come to light, we've ended this year's Manx Christmas Bird Race with the magnificent total of 113 species. This is a new record.

The last two species to be discovered were: Black Redstart and Black-throated Diver. Both seen by Keith Johnson in Peel/Peel Bay.

The total number of species seen compares with totals of 111, 108, 100, 109, 103 for each of the previous five years.

Despite the fantastic efforts of Manx birdwatchers, there were some species that could be called 'the ones that got away':

- Reed Bunting; reported in all 5 previous races, but not this year.
- Barn Owl: seen in 4 previous races. No owls seen this year.
- Black Swan: seen in 3 previous races. Not wild birds, but still interesting. Have they all died?

At the other end of the scale, one new species was reported this year that had never been seen during a Bird Race before, namely Pink-footed Goose.

Three species were seen this year that had only been seen during one of the previous Bird Races, which were Water Rail, Knot and Waxwing.

There there were 88 species that have now been seen in all six Bird Races: Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Eider, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Pheasant, Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Grebe, Fulmar, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Magpie, Chough, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet and Twite.'

2013

The ‘ones that got away’ included ten species that had been recorded on the Isle of Man in December 2013 before the Bird Race, but weren’t seen during it: Pink-footed Goose, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Water Rail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Kingfisher, Swallow, Lesser Redpoll, Snow Bunting; a Ross’s x Barnacle Goose hybrid was also recorded. There were also eight species that breed on the Island and were likely to have been present somewhere on the Island but weren’t seen during the Bird Race: Red Grouse, Grey Partridge, Woodcock, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff and Tree Sparrow.

The weather during 2013’s Christmas Bird Race did not help at all. On Boxing Day Ronaldsway Met Office recorded gale force winds, increasing to Severe Gale Force 9 on 27th. The maximum wind recorded on each of the other dates was Force 6. On both 30th and 31st there was significant rainfall during daylight hours – enough to dampen birds as well as birdwatchers!

2011

The ‘ones that got away’ include nine species that had been recorded on the Isle of Man in December 2011 before the Bird Race, but weren’t seen during it: Barnacle Goose, Pintail, Black-throated Diver, Manx Shearwater, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Brambling, Common Crossbill and Snow Bunting. This list also includes 8 species that breed on the island and were likely to have been present somewhere on the Island but weren’t seen during the Bird Race: Red Grouse, Grey Partridge, Woodcock, Stock Dove, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Skylark and Chiffchaff.

103 species is a good result. If the ‘ones that got away’ are taken into consideration, along with various other possible species such as Knot and Waxwing, it suggests that it may be possible in a good year to get over 110 species - possibly closer to 120. But for that to happen a certain amount of luck is needed (good weather and co-operative birds!) as well as a considerable amount of hard work by birdwatchers.