Join in the fun of the Isle of Man Christmas Bird Race 2022!

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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Manx BirdLife Christmas Bird Race Species Checklist 2022
Download your free Manx BirdLife Christmas Bird Race recording sheet 2022

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: 22:44 Sun 01 Jan 2022

A terrific bird race this year produced a record-breaking 121 species! Thank you to all who contributed sightings over the seven-day period; and huge thanks to Mark Fitzpatrick once more for compiling the daily totals.

#Common name202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011
SPECIES TOTAL121119116113116113113111108100109103
1Mute Swan25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
2Whooper Swan25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
3Pink-footed Goose29-Dec25-Dec30-Dec30-Dec-27-Dec27-Dec-----
4Greylag Goose26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
5Canada Goose26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec29-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
6Barnacle Goose26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec31-Dec28-Dec-28-DecY-YY-
7Brent Goose25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
8Shelduck25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
9Wigeon25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
10Gadwall27-Dec31-Dec30-Dec28-Dec-28-Dec28-DecYYYYY
11Teal25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
12Green-winged Teal-25-dec----------
13Mallard25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
14Pintail25-Dec26-Dec----28-DecY-Y--
15Shoveler25-Dec25-Dec28-Dec27-Dec27-Dec28-Dec28-DecYYY-Y
16Pochard27-Dec29-Dec28-Dec28-Dec27-Dec26-Dec28-Dec-YYYY
17Tufted Duck26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
18Scaup----------YY
19Eider25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
20Long-tailed Duck29-Dec---30-Dec29-Dec----Y-
21Common Scoter-27-Dec25-Dec26-Dec29-Dec29-Dec28-Dec---YY
22Velvet Scoter------------
23Goldeneye25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
24Smew------------
25Red-breasted Merganser27-Dec28-Dec30-Dec25-Dec26-Dec28-Dec25-DecYYYYY
26Goosander27-Dec31-Dec27-Dec28-Dec27-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYYYY
27Red-legged Partridge27-Dec26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec28-Dec-30-DecYY-YY
28Red Grouse29-Dec31-Dec27-Dec28-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYY-Y-
29Grey Partridge------------
30Pheasant25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-DecYYYYY
31Red-throated Diver26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYYYY
32Black-throated Diver25-Dec27-Dec27-Dec-26-Dec-27-DecY-Y--
33Great Northern Diver25-Dec27-Dec27-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-DecYYYYY
34Fulmar25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
35Gannet25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
36Cormorant25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
37Shag25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
38Bittern------------
39Little Egret25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
40Grey Heron25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
41Little Grebe26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec27-DecYYYYY
42Great Crested Grebe26-Dec----------Y
43Hen Harrier25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
44Sparrowhawk25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
45Buzzard25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec28-DecYYYYY
46Water Rail25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec-27-Dec26-Dec28-DecY?---
47Moorhen25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
48Coot26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
49Oystercatcher25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
50Grey Plover25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
51Golden Plover25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-Dec27-DecYYYYY
52Ringed Plover25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
53Lapwing25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec30-DecYYYYY
54Curlew25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
55Bar-tailed Godwit25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYY--
56Black-tailed Godwit28-Dec-----------
57Turnstone25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
58Knot-29-Dec25-Dec31-Dec27-Dec-30-DecY----
59Sanderling26-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-Dec28-Dec27-Dec26-DecYYYYY
60Dunlin25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecyYYYY
61Purple Sandpiper25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec25-DecYY-YY
62Grey Phalarope------------
63Redshank25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
64Jack Snipe31-Dec28-Dec25-Dec30-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYY-Y-
65Woodcock26-Dec26-Dec26-Dec30-Dec27-Dec27-Dec28-DecYY-Y-
66Snipe25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
67Puffin-------Y----
68Black Guillemot25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
69Razorbill26-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec29-Dec29-Dec28-DecYYYYY
70Little Auk------------
71Guillemot26-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-Dec31-Dec29-Dec28-DecYY-YY
72Sabine's Gull------------
73Kittiwake25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
74Black-headed Gull25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
75Little Gull-----29-Dec------
76Mediterranean Gull------------
77Common Gull26-Dec28-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
78Lesser Black-backed Gull25-Dec-26-Dec----YY---
79Herring Gull25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
80Yellow-legged Gull---30-Dec--------
81Iceland Gull------------
82Glaucous Gull----30-Dec-------
83Great Black-backed Gull25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
84Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
85Stock Dove26-Dec26-Dec--27-Dec27-Dec------
86Woodpigeon25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
87Collared Dove25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
88Barn Owl28-Dec28-Dec-27-Dec26-Dec28-Dec-Y-YYY
89Long-eared Owl29-Dec27-Dec26-Dec28-Dec27-Dec-------
90Short-eared Owl-------Y----
91Kingfisher29-Dec31-Dec27-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-DecY--Y-
92Great Spotted Woodpecker25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec30-Dec26-DecYY-YY
93Kestrel29-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec27-DecYYYYY
94Merlin25-Dec-26-Dec28-Dec26-Dec27-Dec26-DecYYYYY
95Peregrine25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
96Chough25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
97Magpie25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
98Jackdaw25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
99Rook25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
100Carrion Crow25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
101Hooded Crow25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
102Raven25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
103Goldcrest25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
104Blue Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
105Great Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
106Coal Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
107Skylark25-Dec28-Dec25-Dec31-Dec27-Dec28-Dec28-Dec-YY--
108Long-tailed Tit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
109Chiffchaff25-Dec28-Dec28-Dec25-Dec31-Dec30-Dec--Y-Y-
110Blackcap25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
111Lesser Whitethroat-30-Dec----------
112Waxwing------26-Dec---Y-
113Treecreeper28-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
114Wren25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
115Starling25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
116Dipper------------
117Blackbird25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
118Fieldfare25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYyYY
119Song Thrush25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-DecYYYYY
120Redwing25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
121Mistle Thrush25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
122Robin25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
123Black Redstart25-Dec25-Dec27-Dec31-Dec25-Dec-27-Dec-YY--
124Stonechat25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-DecYYYYY
125Dunnock25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
126House Sparrow25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
127Tree Sparrow25-Dec26-Dec31-Dec26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec25-DecYY-YY
128Grey Wagtail25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
129Pied Wagtail25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
130Meadow Pipit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec26-Dec27-DecYYYYY
131Rock Pipit25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
132Water Pipit30-Dec-------Y---
133Brambling26-Dec26-Dec28-Dec-28-Dec-26-Dec-YYY-
134Chaffinch25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
135Greenfinch25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec25-DecYYYYY
136Linnet25-Dec25-Dec26-Dec27-Dec27-Dec28-Dec26-DecYYYYY
137Twite25-Dec25-Dec31-Dec-25-Dec28-Dec27-DecYYYYY
138Lesser Redpoll25-Dec26-Dec25-Dec27-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYY-YY
139Mealy Redpoll------------
140Common Crossbill26-Dec--31-Dec-26-Dec------
141Goldfinch25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
142Siskin26-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-Dec25-DecYYYYY
143Snow Bunting-28-Dec28-Dec--27-Dec------
144Lapland Bunting------------
145Yellowhammer-----------Y
146Reed Bunting25-Dec28-Dec29-Dec30-Dec29-Dec27-Dec-YYYYY

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.