The calculation is quite simple really (in Excel) just divide your self-found list by your patch list.
Wanstead list currently stands on 145
Self-found list currently stands on 128
128/145 = 88% (that's rounded down, 88.28% if you really want to be accurate).
For a patch that is heavily covered by numerous people all day, every day (and this appears to be growing year on year) I'd say having a self-found rating of 88% of my total patch list is quite remarkable, but please let me know if I'm blowing my own trumpet here as I have no idea how this compares to any other birders and their patches.
Here's the list of 17 birds I've not self-found and apart from Rustic Bunting, Ortolan Bunting and Slavonian Grebe all the others, although scarce on the patch are potentially gettable and would help to improve my percentage rating and could even nudge this into the 90% region!
Red-Crested Pochard
Pheasant
Waxwing
Smew
Black Redstart
Cuckoo
Lapland Bunting
Slavonian Grebe
Red-legged Partridge
Cetti's Warbler
Ortolan Bunting
Great White Egret
Black-tailed Godwit
Red-backed Shrike
Rustic Bunting
Garganey
Greenshank
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If I could find an Autumn Garganey on the patch this would certainly help increase my % rating. This male (not found by me) spent the morning on Jubilee pond back in March 2019. |
There is one problem (although it's a very nice problem) If I add a patch tick to the list and I'm not the finder my percentage rating drops, as I say it's not a big problem as everyone loves to add a new bird to their patch list regardless of who found it. I also find that keeping a self-found list does keep me interested and fully motivated when I'm out on the patch, I suppose we all have different motivations and goals when out birding and my little unknown list certainly adds a little dimension and keeps me entertained.