Abbreviations and terminology

[Ratbiter]

  Any chance someone can take the time out to produce a list of abbreviation and terminology used within the world of bird watchers. (and maybe add it to the drop down menu's)  The Abbreviations being the more needed as the other I can look up but with abbreviation's there is no way to look them up as they are often used solely by a select few to mean something to them and them alone.

Below are a few examples and what I believe they mean

pintail c120  = c = count
Buzzard sp flew high  = sp = Species
cowpen bewley cp = cp = cycle path
ca 120 Oystercatcher = ca = count again?
small gp Kittiwakes = gp = group
Only LTT, Bullfinch = ltt = Long tailed tit
2 pb brent geese = pb = if it was pf I'd guess pink footed but pb ?? (found it as I looked for more examples PB = Pale Bellied)

I'm sure there are many others I've not found after a quick scan of the sightings page and My guess's above maybe correct but I don't know for sure and I'm sure others new to bird watching have the same problem.

[Jamie]

Hi,

the ones you got wrong above are:-

c=circa (ie approximately)
cp=country park
ca=count of approximately

I do not think I have ever seen a list of abbreviations and a lot will be unique to individuals and an educated guess may be necessary. A few more common ones are:-

LRP = Little ringed plover
Gropper = Grasshopper Warbler
Spotshank = Spotted Redshank

If you cant guess any it probably best just to post a question here and someone will tell you what they mean

[steve ly]

The one I pondered over for a long time was 2cy or 1cy usualy talking about Gulls, I take it to mean 2nd calendar year 1st Calendar year, but then Gulls are a big mystery to me, I try not to use "Seagull" though