The Not Very Big Year

What's happening?

2006-10-27T22:04:00.000+01:00

... not a lot, at the moment.

Autumn is here, but we still need some British breeders!

So, where have we cocked up and where do we still have a chance? A summary...

Red-necked Grebe. Still possible, but we'll probably have to twitch one somewhere inland.
Storm-petrel, Leach's Petrel. Looking decidedly unlikely...
White-tailed Eagle. Dipping in Scotland in May means we've virtually no chance.
Ptarmigan. Definitely no chance.
Quail. Too late now... but where were they all?
Golden Pheasant. Not beyond the realms of possibility.
Spotted Crake, Corncrake. Left it too late. Doh.
Crane. Still in with a chance. Need to go to the right places.
Stone-curlew. Ballsed that one up. Failure to visit right part of Brecks at the right time.
Dotterel. Spring passage in Cambs went unnoticed this year, and dipped in Cornwall.
Temminck's Stint. Too lazy to go and twitch any (anyway, they don't really breed, do they?).
Purple Sandpiper. Hopefully will still see these...
Roseate Tern. Lack of finance meant trip to the North not possible.
Ring-necked Parakeet. Will have to go to London. Yuck.
Bee-eater. Failed to twitch any, or find any nesting in the quarry at The Lodge...
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Didn't get any in spring; will need some jam.
Savi's, Marsh and Icterine Warblers. Never seriously on the cards.
Willow Tit. Should still be possible.
Serin. Never had much chance.
Twite. Not on Llanfairfechan seafront, so we'll have to head east.
Parrot Crossbill. Always going to be a bit ropey.
Common Rosefinch. Well, you never know...
Snow Bunting. Likely to get this, I think...

There you have it. We're rubbish twitchers, you see.

Speck Sand

2006-09-11T22:13:00.000+01:00

After the heartbreak of missing the pectoral sandpiper at my old local patch at Willington, I subjected Katie to psychic chinese burns all day today in the hope she would psychologically collapse and go to Grafham Water with me for the 8,147th pectoral sandpiper to appear in the UK this autumn.

She did.

''It's only a f*cking pec sand!'' she said of the last one.

''But a very smart looking individual'' I countered, eyebrows arched knowingly, but secretly thinking ''Yes, but we both need to see it for it to count. Even though it won't because we're only counting UK breeders''

We arrived, I scanned. Katie watched f*cking mallards on the bird table. But i guess thats better than watching mallards f*cking on the bird table.

I got onto the bird. By the time Katie got there it had disappeared behind the most stupidly positioned tree since the death of Marc Bolan.

(If you've ever been to the Valley Creek Hide at Grafham, you'll know what I mean).

I scanned again for another 30 minutes. A small, long-winged wader with pale underwings flew across and alighted at a distance of about four and a half miles.

Thank f*ck for that. Katie gets on to it and concurs with my now somewhat desperate identification. A pec sand alright, but hardly crippling views.

I wonder if I can persuade her to go back tomorrow? ;-)

Easy Ticks

2006-09-10T21:45:00.000+01:00

We went sea-watching at Weybourne this weekend. God, its bloody hard.

I consider myself to be a careful birder, but the number of birds that went unidentified was staggering. What I can report is that around a thousand terns - mainly Sandwich - flew east in little under two hours. Five skuas were positively identified: two arctic and three great. The bonxies couldn't be arsed with the terns but the arctics put on a superb display of elegant thuggery.

A distant red-throated diver gave itself up along with a few guillemots. I couldn't string a pomarine for the life of me.

It made me think how easy some people have it - they never seem to dip. I wish I had such a god-like prowess in the field.

Bird 'A' seen at location 'B' in bush 'C' means that the first bird that observer 'X' sees flitting about in bush 'C' must be bird 'A'

Well, in my experience, it just doesn't work like that. And if it did, this birding business would be a boring waste of time and you may as well just log on to BirdGuides for your daily fix.

F*ck 'em.

We also saw a very attractive and rather showy barred warbler. Sometimes things don't pan out as you anticipate...

Species added today
188. Great Skua
189. Arctic Skua

Norfolk

2006-08-27T22:03:00.000+01:00

From my other blog, Bogbumper

It's a bit silly to go to the north Norfolk coast on a Bank Holiday weekend and then moan because there are lots of people about...

Anyway...

Lots of birds at Titchwell, too. Mixed flock of Dunlin and Curlew Sandpipers

Curlew Sandpiper with Phragmites in the way...

Bathtime for Ringed Plover

Redshank

Teal dabbling

Snipe probing

Will Bowell and David Roche had counted 24 species of wader on the lagoons and beach, which I think would have been...

Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Lapwing
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Temminck's Stint
Little Stint
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Curlew
Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Ringed Plover
Turnstone
Greenshank
Ruff
Knot?
Wood Sandpiper?

Before hitting Titchwell, we took a walk along the hedgerows at Burnham Overy Staithe, only to find it congested with dog-walkers and a selection of eccentrically-dressed birders, and devoid of birds. Nice Migrant Hawkers, though.

Lunch was had at The Chequers Inn, Binham, and was very good. I can recommend the steak and ale pie. Am I getting middle-aged?

Nearly forgot to mention that I had a Titchwell tick - a small boy having his bum wiped by his mother, on the main path to the beach, fully exposed to the cold north-westerly wind. Poor sod. No wonder he didn't look very happy. Is there anything people won't do on nature reserves? It seems not...

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece

'crest

2006-08-04T21:58:00.000+01:00

Darren's now heard a Firecrest at The Lodge so we're having it for our year list (I saw one there back in April).

That's a relief... thought I'd never hear the end of it...

Species added today:
187. Firecrest

Spangles

2006-08-02T20:54:00.000+01:00

Steve Blain, fellow Lodge lister, see here: http://www.birdingthelodge.blogspot.com/ found a juvenile Wood Sandpiper at Broom GP's on Sunday. So for the last three lunchtimes, I've been back and forth to Broom to look at this elegant, smart and spangly beauty.

Nice birdy...

Cley

2006-07-22T18:11:00.000+01:00

This morning, the Spoonbills at Cley were doing what Spoonbills like best - sleeping.

Instead, we enjoyed the close-up Marsh Harriers, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and, especially, the pristine, breeding-plumaged Knot.

Why is rusty red so popular among Arctic-breeding waders?

Species added today:
185. Spoonbill
186. Yellow-legged Gull

RnP

2006-07-21T18:04:00.000+01:00

The phalarope was miles off but the Avocets looked lovely

Female Red-necked Phalarope reported at Titchwell.
Drive there after work.
See it swimming about distantly.
Have to leave quickly as it's dusk and we have to put the tent up at Stiffkey, 15 miles along the coast.
Get to campsite (the one that had the overwintering Yellow-browed Warbler the other year) in a rush.
Put the tent up.
Go to the Stiffkey Red Lion for dinner.
They've stopped serving food, so eat some nuts and drink some more Aspall's.
Regulars give rousing rendition of first verse of Bohemian Rhapsody with beautiful piano accompaniment.
Bedtime.

Species added today:
184. Red-necked Phalarope

BnG

2006-07-17T18:02:00.000+01:00

Black-necked Grebe reported at Grafham Water.
Drove there after work.
It was swimming about just off the car-park.
Watched it for 15 minutes.
Went home.

Species added today:
183. Black-necked Grebe

Suffolk cyder and other treats

2006-07-16T17:48:00.000+01:00

This weekend we headed to the Suffolk coast and all its delights. En route, we dropped in at a few Breckland sites. RSPB Lakenheath Fen (pictured above) was where we heard a distant Golden Oriole singing. It was horribly hot so we didn't hang around to try to see it - we're setting the rules for this year's list attempt so we don't care if we don't see stuff. Well, I don't, anyway...

Since we bought a tent to take on the Exmoor Dartford Warbler survey weekend, camping has been the name of the game. It's cheap and fun (most of the time). This time we ended up in a farmer's field in the hamlet of Eastbridge.

Though the facilities in the field were limited to two loos and a tap (good, for £3 per night, you could say), the Eel's Foot pub just down the road provided magnificent Aspall's cider and top food.

(The campsite at the back of the pub would have been the ultimate in convenience camping, but they were fully booked.)

We went to Minsmere, where we had our first Bittern of the year (after a bit of a struggle) and the nuclear power station at Sizewell, where we saw Black Redstarts frolicking in the relative safety that the razor wire, high fencing and surveillance cameras offer.

On the rigs just off Sizewell beach, Kittiwakes were breeding at one of only two colonies in Suffolk

Species added this weekend:
180. Golden Oriole
181. Black Redstart
182. Bittern

How not to twitch a bird after work

2006-06-12T23:37:00.000+01:00

This was an evening of mixed success.

17.15. Leave work accompanied by Messrs Ward and Peters.
17:25. Car windscreen wipers stop working.
17:30. Car starts making slightly odd noise.
17:49. Car indicators stop working.
17:50. Arrive at destination, Millbrook Station, with very odd noises indeed, for a car...
17:52. Decide that car is knackered but go off to see the bird anyway, since we'd got there.
18:00. Watch Red-footed Falcon for a while. It never gets close.
19:45. Get back to car, discover it won't start and ring RAC.
19:50. Walk to Marston Moretaine to obtain sustenance.
21:00. Hear Grasshopper Warblers reeling on the walk back to the wretched car - year tick!
21:15. RAC man arrives.
21:25. RAC man gives us a tow-start and we're away!

Didn't get to bed til late, but at least we saw the Red-foot and the walk to Marston meant we heard the Gropper.

Every breakdown has a silver lining.

Species added today:
[Red-footed Falcon]
178. Grasshopper Warbler

Exmoor Dartford Warbler survey

2006-06-03T19:37:00.000+01:00

In hindsight, it would have been better to have left Bedfordshire at lunchtime on Friday, and taken a leisurely drive down to Somerset, but we had to do a full day's work. So we arrived at the campsite in Porlock some time after 10pm, when it was dark and we had a tent to put up - a new tent which we'd never used before.

Spent Saturday and Sunday mornings looking for those pesky Dartford Warblers in the wilds of Exmoor.

Saturday afternoon was spent chilling out and reading the papers in the sunshine; Saturday evening was spent in the pub and Sunday afternoon was spent packing the tent back up and getting home.

And yes, we did find some.

Species added today:
177. Dartford Warbler

Pernis apivorus

2006-05-29T19:36:00.000+01:00

Today was slightly less dramatic and we didn't run into any shady characters.

We began our day's bird-spotting at Great Ryburgh Raptor Watchpoint, which sounds grand but is a roped-off piece of a farmer's field on a hill overlooking some woodland. We weren't the only people there - about 50 others were standing in a row in front of a hedge, too.

To keep us occupied until the stars of the show - Honey Buzzards - arrived for their performance, a variety of Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Egyptian Geese provided a warm-up. A few hours later than predicted, a single Honey Buzzard made its way across the sky, accompanied by a [Common] Buzzard.

It was good to see the key characteristics: funny, sticky-out head, slightly 'pinched-in' wings, long tail. The last time I saw a Honey Buzzard was at Haldon Forest in Devon, in 1993...

Went to Titchwell later on and managed to get another year-tick in the form of a female Reeded Beardling disappearing into the reedbed by the path. After that there was a vile rainstorm and I was glad we'd made it to the hide, from where we could watch the Avocet chicks hiding under the parents.

Titchwell is great.

Species added today:
174. Honey Buzzard
175. Bearded Tit
176. Little Tern

Interesting experiences in Norfolk...

2006-05-28T19:34:00.000+01:00

Bank holiday weekend + good weather, so we went to Norfolk on Sunday/Monday, staying for B&B at The Ship Inn in Brancaster (which comes highly recommended).

After checking in, we headed out in search of our target bird - Montagu's Harrier. I've seen loads of 'em abroad but never any in the UK (but I've never tried, so I don't really consider it a bogey bird), but the species is already on Darren's UK list.

Found the spot and started scanning. After about an hour, no joy, so we went off for lunch. Came back mid-afternoon and after not too long a wait, all was revealed...

The grey male harrier came in with a tasty morsel of food for his lady-friend. As he approached, she flew up to greet him and, as a mid-air collision began to look likely, she flipped over onto her back (all while flying, of course) to receive the food item. Who says girls can't catch? It was masterful.

After that, the female disappeared into a field to consume the gift, while the male floated about like they do.

The really funny thing was that, two minutes prior to this jawdropping display, a car full of birders had left the site. They drove away down the lane, and for a few seconds, the female Monty's was flying down the lane after them, and would probably have been visible in the rear-view mirror, had they bothered to look. Sweet.

In the evening, we had an appointment with some Nightjars. That was even funnier, in a bizarre way. To start with, we were in the wrong part of the site (though Darren did see and hear his first roding Woodcock). MAW must be thanked (again) for giving us directions to the right place.

As we pulled up, I was suspicious of the occupiers of a clapped-out red van which was already in the car park. The lights were on and it was pretty clear they were up to no good. Paranoia set in and we decided not to leave our car unattended while the unsavoury characters were there. So we got out and listened to the churring (another first for Darren, incidentally) for a few minutes.

After a while, one of the red van geezers got out and approached Darren cautiously.

Geezer: 'scuse me mate, I ain't being funny or nuffink, but is this where the dogging goes on?
Darren: No, we're here to listen for Nightjars.
Geezer: Oh right. Fanks.

It was pretty funny...

They left immediately and we ventured out onto the heath, where we enjoyed good views of at least two 'churring' male Nightjars. D was a bit gobsmacked as he didn't realise how close they fly to you, and you can't help but be stunned by the sound.

Video/audio here on the RSPB website, if you're unfamiliar with the delights of Nightjars.

Species added today:
172. Montagu's Harrier
173. Nightjar

Back on home turf

2006-05-25T22:34:00.000+01:00

Year-ticked a purring Turtle Dove on the way to work this morning, while waiting for 15 minutes at a level crossing.

This evening we went to see the Ring-necked Duck at Octagon Farm, Willington. Of course, Ring-necked Duck doesn't breed in this country - not in the wild, anyway - so it wasn't year-tickable, but jolly nice to see all the same.

Weirdly, so far this year, we have managed to avoid wetland sites which contain Little Ringed Plovers and Reed Warblers, so fortunately we managed to bag both of those species this evening, too. About bloody time, too.

But the excitement wasn't over; not by a long stretch. Darren took me to a private site in Bedfordshire to tick off this magnificent beast (left): a male Lady Amherst's Pheasant.

And that wasn't all. Red-breasted Goose, Smew, Goldeneye, Bahama Pintail, Ruddy Shelduck and Golden Pheasant were among the gems on display.

It's a bit of a shame they were all behind an electrified chain-link fence.

Species added today:
169. Turtle Dove
[Ring-necked Duck]
170. Little Ringed Plover
171. Reed Warbler
[Lady Amherst's Pheasant]
[Ruddy Shelduck]
[Bahama Pintail]
[Golden Pheasant]
[Red-breasted Goose]

Bempton Cliffs

2006-05-20T19:25:00.000+01:00

After stopping overnight in Co. Durham, we took a slight diversion down the east coast. I love Bempton Cliffs. I could spend days on end there, watching the seabirds going about their business.

But Darren wanted to get home before dark, so after getting his lifers, he dragged me away.

More photos here.

Species added today:
165. Guillemot
166. Kittiwake
167. Puffin

The big day

2006-05-19T18:52:00.000+01:00

We needed to have another shot at seeing Ptarmigan, so today we embarked on a long journey. First, though, we finally dragged ourselves out of bed to see the CaperWatch at Loch Garten, which was worthwhile for both the Capers and the Crested Tit we saw. Hurrah!

After that, we departed for Loch Gruinard, a site we'd been told had eagle potential. The journey there was damp, grey and misty but incredibly beautiful.

Set up the scope by the side of the road and started scanning the sea. Great Northern Divers were everywhere. A couple of Black-throateds and at least one Red-throated lingered. A flock of Eiders loafed on the island's rocks (one came close to our shore) and seals lounged on the sand. A few Guillemots flew past and one Black Guillemot was on the water.

It was a fabulous site but there were no eagles of any description. Darren took the rather rash decision that it would be a good idea to drive all the way to Applecross (which was also meant to be good for eagles and Ptarmigan). There seemed little point in arguing, so we did it.

The road to Applecross is possibly the steepest in Britain. It is a crazy road for mad people. There is a sign saying something like: 'This road is impassible during winter and people of a nervous disposition should not attempt to drive it.'

Basically, you drive up the side of a mountain, round hairpin bends, and you feel the urge to learn forward in your seat in case you start rolling backwards.

Needless to say, when we reached the summit of Bealach na Ba, we were literally in the clouds and there was very little to see, other than a duck of unknown species on a tiny lochan! No duck has legitimate business up there...

It was on the descent that we stopped again by the road and caught sight of two Golden Eagles displaying... fabulous. We had scope-filling views as they flew right above us in a clear blue sky (apart from when I was taking photos) and every detail was visible. Quite unexpected.

What was even more unexpected was that a car pulled up on the road and a well-spoken chap asked 'Excuse me. Are those Buzzards?'

It seems that the general public is becoming more conservative when it comes to bird identification. Usually, you'd expect every second person you met in Scotland to inform you they'd seen several Golden Eagles before breakfast that day, including one sitting on a telegraph pole. So that was quite nice.

Took the more gentle coast road from Applecross to Shieldaig, with the highlight being a bush full of Stonechats: a pair with four well-grown juveniles, all crossly 'tac'ing away at us.

On the way 'home', an Osprey flew over Garve in the middle of a rainstorm.

Species added today:
163. Crested Tit
164. Eider

Lochindorb and Loch Ruthven

2006-05-18T18:43:00.000+01:00

Fantastic views of two Ospreys at Lochindorb, including one flying - sunlit - into the wind, very low over the loch, which was deep blue (see pic on left).

Also two Black-throated Divers looking very dapper on the water. Tried to string something sitting onto a post into a Short-eared Owl, but it turned out to be... an owl-shaped piece of wood.

Darren saw a female Hen Harrier but I managed to miss it. A female Red Grouse was right by the side of the road.

Moved on to Loch Ruthven via the Farr road (which looked great for raptors but was rubbish...). Two pairs of Slavonian Grebes were on the water, looking very smart indeed.

Species added today:
162. Black-throated Diver

Taking it easy... we're on holiday!

2006-05-17T18:38:00.000+01:00

Back to Garten/Abernethy today in search of more crossbills/Crested Tits. Unsuccessful on both counts, though the Goldeneye nest-cam in the Osprey Centre was most entertaining.

Insh Marshes was quite quiet until an Osprey flew over and all hell broke loose. Redshank, Snipe, Sedge Warbler, Redstart and Tree Pipit seen here.

On the way back to the cottage, stopped at Tulloch Moor and Darren found a distant Whinchat.

Species added today:
161. Whinchat

Higher and higher...

2006-05-16T18:32:00.000+01:00

The view from part-way up Cairn Gorm

... but not high enough. Today we walked part of the way up Cairn Gorm in search of Ptarmigan. Didn't really go high enough as the weather looked dodgy and we were ill-equipped. Plus it was too bloody steep for a wimp like me. We did add Red Grouse to the year-list and also saw a pair of Wheatears and some Meadow Pipits. However, the view was cracking.

Species added today:
160. Red Grouse

Grantown Woods

2006-05-15T18:22:00.000+01:00

Didn't get much time in the field today, but what we did have was good. Mid-afternoon, we went for a walk around Grantown Woods to look for crossbills. We duly found crossbills - 21 in total including a couple of singing birds.

Rubbish record shot is on the left - we think it's Scottish (if it is possible to ID them in the field...?). Draw your own conclusions...

Red Squirrel was a lifer for me, too!

We'd stopped along one of the footpaths to listen to an unidentified sound when an enormous, black, turkey-sized thing leapt out from high up in one of the pines, crashed through the twigs and flew away from us.

Oh... right... That'll be a male Capercaillie, then... There was a slight feeling of anti-climax but at least we'd found our own...

Species added today:
157. Scottish Crossbill
158. Capercaillie
159. Hooded Crow

Strathspey

2006-05-14T17:54:00.000+01:00

Now for something completely different. Scotland is quite insanely far north (well, it is if you live in the Midlands).

We stayed at the superb, self-catering Grianan cottage at Balliefurth Farm near Grantown-on-Spey. Top farm, top cottage, bargain price, and a bottle of wine in the fridge when we arrived. Recommended!

Started off nice and easy with a quick stop in Nethybridge - Dipper and Grey Wagtail on the River Nethy. Next stop, RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre at... Loch Garten. It has to be done. I was pleased to see that, after an absence of 38.5 hours, Henry the gentleman Osprey had delivered an 18" trout to EJ, his lady friend, and taken over nest duties. Good.

Went for a wander around the forest and heard a couple of crossbills (note usage of lower-case 'c') but unfortunately didn't get a look at them. Also the usual selection of Common Sandpipers, Goldeneye, Wigeon and Siskins on/around the loch.

We were both eager for eagles so the next destination was the mighty Findhorn valley. Having been to Wales a couple of weeks previously, we're now old hands at upland birds, though singing Ring Ouzels and Wheatears are still the business.

It's a bit like birding in mainland Europe, as you can just pull up anywhere safe by the road, scan around and see good stuff.

By a small burn, two Spotted Flycatchers (year tick!) and a male Redstart fly for insects while a Tree Pipit breaks into song. An Arctic Tern dips into the Findhorn itself in search of fish, catches one and heads off downstream. Rock Pipits flit around the boulders and Curlews and Oystercatchers inhabit the meadows.

Big herd of Red Deer (Monarch of the Glen etc etc). Summer-plumaged Common Gulls pottering about. Very noisy Peregrine calling constantly... Darren catches sight of a big, dark thing which turns out to be a Golden Eagle, but I only got onto it as its tail vanished over the ridge. It was a big tail, mind you - couldn't have been anything else!

Flushed a Woodcock from the roadside on the way out of the valley.

Good start.

Species added today:
154. Spotted Flycatcher
155. Arctic Tern
156. Golden Eagle

Nearly Dipper-dipped

2006-05-02T20:59:00.000+01:00

Our last day in Wales and we were in danger of missing Dipper. Disastrous. Fortunately, local knowledge came to the rescue in the form of a text-message tip-off from Alan Davies: try walking upstream in Betws y Coed. We did just that and lo and behold, there was a pair of Dippers. Phew!

Time to clear off back to England.

Darren moans about me using my phone to access the Internet, but now all I need say to him are two words:

Woodchat Shrike

Browsing the sightings on BirdGuides, it was very lucky indeed that a Woodchat had turned up - at Trent Meadows, Derbyshire - within a couple of miles of where we'd be driving to get home. I had no idea where the site was exactly, but joy of joys, with the aid of Multimap I managed to guide us to the spot. It worked like a dream and Darren saw his first-ever shrike.

Useful links:
Birding Conwy
BirdGuides
Multimap

Thanks to Alan Davies and Ian Peters for useful info.

Species added today:
150. Dipper
151. Lesser Whitethroat
152. Garden Warbler
[Woodchat Shrike]

Land of the Super Feathery Animals

2006-05-01T07:25:00.000+01:00

Tried some seawatching at Llanfairfechan today. Not bad: Gannet, Red-breasted Merganser, Razorbill, Shag, Cormorant and Red-throated Divers.

Having 'dipped' on Ring Ouzels yesterday, decided to try Snowdonia again and eventually succeeded near Llanberis. A bird which flew quickly across the road nearly caused a domestic incident between us (I saw it and couldn't call it quickly enough for Darren to see it before it disappeared against the boulders) but we decided that hearing its calls afterwards was sufficient...

Along a back road between Capel Curig and Betws y Coed, we stopped to scan for Dippers. No sign of those (though it looked right), but we jammed in on a singing Tree Pipit, a gorgeous male Redstart sitting in a flowering hawthorn bush, a female Pied Flycatcher and an endearing Common Sandpiper on the river.

On a beautiful sunny evening, stopped at Caerhun church (above) to scan the Conwy valley.

Still need that Dipper, though...

Species added today:
147. Gannet
148. Ring Ouzel
149. Tree Pipit

Ynys Môn

2006-04-30T19:22:00.000+01:00

... that's Anglesey to non-Welsh speakers.

A good start today before we even reached the island. Stopped at a likely-looking spot in the Ogwen valley near Bethesda, and found a singing male Redstart (Brit-tick for Darren) and a couple of scrapping Peregrines just by the road.

Having to learn songs as I go along - just don't hear things like Pied Fly or Redstart anywhere near often enough to get used to them. But I think I've got them sussed now. It helps that I realise I don't know something pretty quickly... (if that makes sense).

The first planned stop was Fedw Fawr, in the north-eastern corner, for Black Guillemot. Finding it was easier said than done. No signposts and lots of very narrow roads meant it took a very long time indeed to reach the spot, as we didn't have the right OS map.

However, once we were there, the Black Guillemots performed rather nicely on the sea. There was a lot of chasing and calling as they went about their courtship. Shag, Peregrine, Raven, Fulmar and Rock Pipit also seen here.

Next, on to RSPB South Stack on the westernmost part of the island. We dropped into Holyhead to grab something for lunch, which was a bit of a mistake. Wandering in search of a Co-op or similar, a crying teenage girl nearly bumped into me. I'm a kind person so I asked 'Are you OK?'

As she walked past me I noticed:

she had lost one of her shoes

she was seriously out of breath

her T-shirt had a big shop label still attached to the back

Shoplifter!

Hmmmm. Let's get out of here...

It was a bit more civilised at South Stack, with Choughs diving over the cliff-edge, Razorbills and Guillemots on the cliffs and Stonechats perching on the gorse.

Had to do a quick bit of twitching before we left Anglesey. American Golden Plover at Cemlyn. A scattered flock of 138 Goldies to pick through in the murk made it not-very-straightforward... bumped into LGR Evans ('Britain's top twitcher') who had just seen it as we were arriving and there it was on the beach.

A tad underwhelming, if you ask me...

Species added today:
142. Redstart
143. Black Guillemot
144. Chough
145. Razorbill
146. Sandwich Tern
[American Golden Plover]

Mountain birds

2006-04-29T19:20:00.000+01:00

An early start today. Woke up at 4am to leave for our date with some lekking Black Grouse. Hard work, but ultimately worth it.

At 5.15 we met with a group of other would-be grouse watchers and walked up through the dark, dark forest to the 'purpose-built hide' [an old shipping container with slots cut in it and clad with tongue-and-groove], overlooking some dark, dark moorland. It was a bit foggy.

I was starting to wonder whether the grouse would remain invisible all morning when they finally emerged through the gloom.

The wind wasn't in the right direction for us to be able to hear their weird, weird sounds, but with the aid of a scope you could see them nicely. Lots of macho posturing, strutting, dancing, kung-fu fighting and jumping in the air above the grasses.

Wheatear displaying, Horseshoe Pass

After refuelling at the excellent Coed Llandegla cafe, we departed to the Horseshoe Pass. We'd been told the slate quarry was a good place to see Ring Ouzels. We failed on that count but found some very nice Wheatears, a spectacular fly-through Peregrine and singing Rock Pipits.

Pied Flycatcher hole-prospecting, Coed Hafod

Back in the Conwy valley, took a wander around Coed Hafod, an oakwood that I'd been to before. Didn't see anything on that occasion, but it's beautiful and looked promising.

Within a few minutes we were watching a male Pied Flycatcher serenading a female and trying to entice her into his love nest (see above). Then the first of several Wood Warblers started singing...

Ended the day in the bar of the Castle Hotel, sampling the wares of the Conwy Brewery (Bragdy Conwy). It's always important to sample local delicacies.

Species added today:
140. Black Grouse
141. Pied Flycatcher

Croeso i Gymru

2006-04-28T19:18:00.000+01:00

Roosting waders: Black-tailed Godwits, Knot and Spotted Redshank

Took a slight diversion to the shores of the Dee to visit RSPB Inner Marsh Farm. A very pleasant, secluded location. Walking down the hill, we heard our first Sedge Warbler of the year in the reedbed and were surrounded by Whitethroat song from the hedges.

Once at the lagoons, we were greeted by more than a thousand Black-tailed Godwits interspersed with Knot, Dunlin, a few Spotted Redshank and a handful of Bar-tailed Godwits. A large immature Peregrine came through, scattering all the waders but only making a very half-hearted attempt to catch any of them - another year-tick as Darren hadn't seen one previously.

Llyn Crafnant

After a rather convoluted journey which took us through Flintshire and Denbighshire, we finally finished up in Conwy - county first, then the walled town where we I'd booked four nights in the Youth Hostel. Cosy, basic and squeaky of bunkbed - but comfortable enough - it would be ideal for anyone who loves sauna-style wood panelling...

Headed out up the Conwy valley and ended up going along a single-track road to Llyn Crafnant, for no real reason other than it looked like it might be interesting. Over the rush of water downstream from the lake, there was a trilling which turned out to be a Wood Warbler - the first of our Welsh target birds.

Species added today:
137. Sedge Warbler
138. Peregrine
139. Wood Warbler

Cheshire smells of silage

2006-04-27T19:16:00.000+01:00

We paused in Cheshire on the way to north Wales to facilitate a meeting with Tom McKinney.

To mark this momentous occasion, we visited Sandbach Flashes. There were lots of Black-tailed Godwits feeding (which was nice) and a few other bits and pieces: Buzzard, Tree Sparrow, Kingfisher...

After that, Tom guided us to a nearby pub, The Green Fox in Elworth. Except it wasn't really called The Green Fox - it's just that the sign had faded and the fox had ended up a greenish colour. It's just the Fox Inn. It was gloriously sunny so we sat outside at a picnic table for lunch and pored over the road atlas, gathering extra gen for forthcoming trips.

Species added today:
136. Swift

Bedford Ps again

2006-04-23T17:30:00.000+01:00

Darren has fallen for Bedford Purlieus so we went back again this morning. I think it makes all the difference when the sun's out, but when we arrived, it was grey and overcast.

We had a pleasant stroll around and managed to bag a year-tick in the form of Cuckoo (my first for the year; D heard one at The Lodge the other day). Unfortunately no Garden Warblers in action or anything else more exotic.

A flock of Lesser Redpolls feeding high up in big birch trees were interesting - they largely 'disappear' from this area during the breeding season.

Last week's interesting weedy field produced the same flock of mostly Linnets plus Goldfinches, Chaffinches and Yellowhammers. No Wheatear or Golden Plover this time.

When the sun did eventually emerge, there were Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Post-It note-yellow Brimstone butterflies on the wing. The Wood Ants were pretty impressive, too.

A selection of photos can be seen here.

To finish, we saw two Red Kite soaring together in the blue sky.

Species added today:
135. Cuckoo

Into the uplands

2006-04-16T19:19:00.000+01:00

For some reason, I have a soft spot for Bedford Purlieus NNR, despite having seen rather little there (with the exception of a drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker one morning in 2002).

It was for this reason that I suggested we visit this morning. There are also some nice pastures nearby which look good for Ring Ouzel or perhaps Wheatear, so why not?

To be honest, the time we spent in the wood itself was pretty uneventful. Lots of nice wildflowers out, though, especially Primroses, and plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in song. A grotty-looking field to the east of the reserve proved slightly more interesting, however.

Darren picked up a distant Hobby to the south, which was a year tick and one of the first to be seen locally. Nice work. Prolonged scanning of the field produced a selection of Yellowhammers, Linnets, Goldfinches and Fieldfares. Common birds, but good ones. Finally, Darren found a male Wheatear with some Pied Wagtails (no Whites here). A nice bird to find, I always think.

With Buzzards soaring high above the wood, it was a good morning, and we rewarded ourselves with lunch at the Black Horse in Nassington, which is highly recommended.

Species added today:
130. Hobby

He doesn't want to talk about it

2006-04-13T21:36:00.000+01:00

Received a slightly garbled message from Darren, mid-morning, about one of his colleagues having seen a Firecrest.

Lunchtime found me at the correct location with MAW, and by a stroke of luck (or perhaps skill), we managed to see the elusive, flame-feathered beast - for about three seconds. For most of that time I was looking at its backside but did manage to get a glimpse of white supercilium.

But where was Darren, you may ask? He'd made the schoolboy error of going to the building society at lunch, instead of searching for the Firecrest. To compound matters, his mobile was out of range, too, so the first he got to hear about it was when he saw Mark and me enjoying lunch in the canteen. He wasn't very happy.

You have to learn from these sorts of mistakes.

Not to worry, I said, one of Mark's mates has found a Hoopoe at Fowlmere - we can go and see that after work. It was understandable that Darren wanted to spend time after work looking for the Firecrest, but unfortunately it was an hour wasted.

By the time we got to Fowlmere, the Hoopoe had gone to roost and was barely visible in a thick hedge.

Sometimes, things just don't go your way.

Another post on this topic at bogbumper

Species added today:
128. House Martin
129. Hoopoe

Post-work birding

2006-04-05T19:22:00.000+01:00

It's that great time of year when you can go birding after work's finished. Tonight we stopped at Grafham Water to see a Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava which had been hanging out at the dam all afternoon.

There was a spectacular hatch of flies which was obviously what had drawn the 'Blue-headed' to that area, along with about ten other Yellow Wags, a couple of Grey Wags and some Pieds. Didn't manage to identify any Whites conclusively, though.

The Great Northern Diver that we'd seen before (at Diddington) was visible, too.

Species added today:
125. Blackcap
126. Willow Warbler
127. Yellow Wagtail

Chiffchav

2006-04-04T21:31:00.000+01:00

Species added today:
124. Chiffchaff

The Lodge Grapevine

2006-04-03T20:44:00.000+01:00

Today, the biggies finally dropped.

Katie had a singing Blackcap from her office window, a first for The Lodge this year, but despite being in exactly the spot she heard it no more than five minutes later, the bird had shut up. Another tick for K which I hadn't seen; to go along with the Tawny Owl and Peregrine she's seen from the grounds recently- not to worry, I'll catch up with them eventually.

Then, during my coffee break later this morning, I was out on The Plateau with colleagues when a raptor caught my attention flying away from us to the north-west: not easy but definitely not the usual Buzzards we see almost every day. This bird did not carry it's wings in a shallow 'V-shape' and when accompanied by a mobbing crow was clearly bigger than a buzzard. When the bird banked in an effort to avoid the crow, all became very clear; structure, underwing pattern and visible necklace confirmed it: Osprey. The third year in succession that I've seen the species in Bedfordshire. A Lodge tick for me but as it drifted off further, I wanted to get Katie and Mark onto the bird.

Mad dash to desk. Katie on voicemail, Mark on voicemail. Wankers!

But they aren't really wankers, they were in a meeting. Still, my two companions got a lifer and it transpired that the bird had been seen earlier by two other colleagues over The Lodge and was seen later in the day at nearby Southill.

This afternoon at around 4:30, Katie phoned. ''Ravens now over the carpark.''

Nice one K- the bird I most wanted to see at The Lodge.

Mad dash out of office back door and upward gazing begins; Buzzard, another Buzzard..........ah......Raven, another Raven............nice.......

At which point three colleagues were standing alongside me. The birds were drifting perilously towards the sun but thankfully, they all got onto the birds as they drifted off high to the west and before retinas were in danger of being singed. The Ravens were accompanied by an amazing six Common Buzzards (all carefully checked).

Clearly some serious raptor passage today......

Even the construction workers who are building on site came over and asked what we had been looking at and seemed genuinely interested. ''Bloody hell, Ravens and Ospreys..nobody told me!''

I'll make sure I give them a shout next time a Lodge mega turns up.

Species added today:
123: Raven

We're conservationists, you know

2006-04-02T18:53:00.000+01:00

We did lots of conservation work this morning.

It was jolly hard.

Clearing vegetation off two islands in preparation for the coming breeding season isn't exactly glamorous, but it was quite rewarding - or it will be if something decides to nest there.

Together with Mark, Jenny, Andy, Robin and two dogs, we spent the morning at Willington gravel pits (Darren's old local patch), getting the tern islands ready for the returning Common Terns. They're currently en route from west Africa but are expected back anytime now, so by clearing excess vegetation from their nesting islands, we aim to make them feel at home.

Armed with shears, loppers, rakes, various bits of wood and some all-important lifejackets, we got across to the islands in a small, white, plastic dinghy (easier said than done, given the strong cross-winds which made landing in the right place quite hard) and set to work. On the smaller island we cleared off some topsoil which now looks rather nice for waders, too...

Despite it being seriously windy, the sun was out and numerous Skylarks were singing while we worked. Around 20-30 Sand Martins buzzed over the water and there were a few Redshanks and Ringed Plovers lurking around the pits.

On the way out, EagleEyed Oakley-Martin picked out a Wheatear in a field and we then adjourned to The Crown at Northill for a cracking Sunday lunch.

It's a hard life.

Species added today:
121. Sand Martin
122. Wheatear

'Let us go then, you and I...'

2006-03-28T18:18:00.000+01:00

... to tick a thrush in Peckham Rye.

(Yes, that's more TS Eliot)

Last Monday, I received some photographs of a ''strange bird'' in someone's garden in Peckham. Usually these 'strange birds' turn out to be Fieldfares, but this was indeed a first-winter male American Robin. Big news, so after putting news out and begging my line manager, me and a colleague went down to London on the train to see the bird and interview the finder (Katie couldn't make it).

We didn't see the bird, but had a good enough day anyway - the finder was a charming lady who offered us teas and biscuits. Birds of the day for me were the six Sand Martins just before we pulled into Sandy on the way home. For Mark, the best bird was the one standing on the platform at Welwyn North.

After Katie picked us up from the pub, we moved on to Grafham where Kittiwakes had earlier been seen: again no joy but we did get the first Swallow of the year as we drove home on the A1.

Species added today:
120. Swallow

Local twitching

2006-03-26T18:34:00.000+01:00

Today we went twitching with Weedon's World of Nature, alias Mike Weedon, Peterborough's most avid year- and area-lister.

The reason was that he was car-less and there were good birds to be seen in the north of our local area. Because I'm kind, I offered him a lift.

Our first stop was Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve, where, that morning, there'd been a Little Stint and a Sandwich Tern. Little Stints are annual in this part of the country, as are Sandwich Terns, but the terns are far less reliable. This point was proved yet again as the bird had scarpered by the time we arrived at the scene...

For a while, it looked like we were going to have a double-whammy of dipping (i.e. failing to see target bird), but the day was saved when a tiny wader flew into view and landed on an island in front of us. It was very small indeed, and not particularly close, but undoubtedly an interestingly-plumaged Little Stint (click here to see Mike's photo).

A wander around to The Lake and its hide brought us a few Goldeneye and Darren picked out a redhead Smew. Nice work...

A visit to Baston & Langtoft gravel pits was next, as there'd been a few migrants hanging around there that morning, too. Typically, there was nowt to be seen - except one of the 'famous' Red-crested Pochards which breed there (deemed self-sustaining). And that was a year tick for us all.

After a quick stop at Maxey, where we saw very little, with the exception of the Yellowhammer pictured above, and a Green Sandpiper, we gave up - partly because it was starting to rain, and partly because it didn't seem worth carrying on. That's local, inland birding for you, sometimes...

Species added today:
Little Stint
119. Red-crested Pochard
Green Sandpiper

Nene Washes

2006-03-25T21:44:00.000Z

Conditions weren't ideal on the windy Nene Washes today, but the birds didn't seem to mind too much. We shared the area with something in excess of 5,000 Golden Plover and numerous Redshank, Lapwing and Meadow Pipit.

There were a few 'ticking' Snipe but no drumming could be heard. It looks fantastic for waders - breeding and otherwise - at the moment, but there's a good chance most of the water will evaporate before passage really gets underway.

We were hoping for a few Garganey or a Wheatear, but the swirling, rushing flocks of Goldies overhead made up for their absence. The Lapwings were in full display mode and there was much aerial flirting/fighting. Meadow Pipits 'parachuted' over the meadows and flocks of Wigeon were still around. The calls of Marsh Harriers echoed from higher up.

But the best stuff is yet to come.

Do not disturb

2006-03-22T21:49:00.000Z

At 4:30 this afternoon the news broke, a mega had dropped at The Lodge. Local birder Phil Hasell was photographing redpolls from the hide on the meadow and a pair of Mandarin had dropped in - a site first.

Well, at least since the previous owner of The Lodge kept them in his swimming pool in the early 1900's.

The news was quickly disseminated, and as I rushed to the hide after asking the wonderful receptionists to put me on DND for a few minutes and considering the possibility of an early April Fool, a mass twitch was in progress, conceivably the first time any of the four of us had ever undertaken a 400 yard twitch for Mandarin.

There they were; the female prospecting and the male standing guard as she inspected the hole and cleared out any debris. Handsome birds, male and female both, and thankfully an introduced species that is not of conservation concern. If they take up residence and breed, I hope they won't be disturbed too much.

Species added today:
118. Mandarin

Cock up

2006-03-21T20:37:00.000Z

Driving to work this morning, a fat bird with a long bill flew overhead as we sped down the A1. Me, being half asleep offered ''Snipe?'' to which Miss Fuller replied ''Snipe? My arse, you big monkeyhead, it was a Woodcock.''

Flushed with pride at my hopeless hangover-induced misidentification I went for a bracing stroll on Biggleswade Common with a colleague. Not much apart from a displaying Sparrowhawk, a Common Buzzard, 112ish Fieldfares and a nicely singing Yellowhammer- well, thats what I called them as.

Four-point plan

2006-03-19T19:10:00.000Z

We had quite a successful day today.

1. Helped with a Wildlife Watch walk at Ferry Meadows. None of the hoped-for migrants, of course (everything is late this year), but showed the kids (and their parents) some nice birds - two Kingfishers, some displaying Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, Snipe, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Ducks and Pochards. Enjoyable.

2. Lunch at The Ship in Oundle (superb and good value), en route to...

3. Twitching at Eyebrook Reservoir. I got back some year ticks on Darren - Smew, Goosander and Grey Wagtail - while he got a lifer - Green-winged Teal.

What was once a Black-throated Diver appeared to have morphed over the weekend into a Great Northern - which we don't need for the year-list but it was good to see all the same.

[Ironically, another Green-winged Teal was found at Woodwalton Fen NNR this afternoon, plus some Garganey]

4. And finally. We paid homage to the Iceland Gull at CEGB Reservoir, Peterborough, which has been roosting there recently.

I would like to say in a very smug way that I was the first person to get onto it, beating four blokes. HA! I'm not the world's biggest gull fan (in fact, I'd go as far as to say I actively avoid them) and usually I'm rubbish at spotting these things.

Luckily, Icy stood out among the throngs of Black-headed Gulls. It wasn't even too hard to age - it's a second-winter starting to get adult pale grey feathers on its mantle.

However, I can confirm you won't be finding me at the tip searching for Caspian Gulls anytime soon. Yuck.

Species added today:
116. Goosander
Smew
Green-winged Teal
117. Grey Wagtail
Iceland Gull

Hello?

2006-03-18T18:44:00.000Z

We didn't go birding today- I slept for most of the afternoon. I guess it must be work catching up with me. Interestingly however, I invented an entire mythology whilst asleep. Not sure if you can invent mythologies but I did.

It was about a village called Puddlewick St.Christopher where there was a pub called The Lion and Lamb. They served real ale and home-cooked fayre that was served to you by giant squirrels, one of which was called Benjamin; he wore a bowler hat, smoked a pipe and had a slight limp, in his left leg if I remember correctly. The limp was a legacy of the Great Squirrel War of 1967, when villagers rioted over the uneven distribution of acorns. Despite this brutal history, Puddlewick St.Christopher seems such a peaceful village.

If you are thinking how strange a place my head is, consider me, I have to live there.

Toodle-pip.

My manners are tearing off heads.....

2006-03-11T21:26:00.000Z

That's from Ted Hughes's poem The Hawk Roosting. You are probably unaware that I am a poncey poetry-reading nonce but you don't know me, and this post is about the hawk, not me.

Dick Forsman gives a great tip for separating distant flying Sparrowhawks and Goshawks; very helpfully he suggests- ''Corvids react very differently towards Sparrowhawks and Goshawks: Sparrowhawks are often chased and mobbed in flight, whereas at the appearance of a Goshawk, the birds shit themselves with fear, then drop dead from the sky like H5N1-infected Pochards.''

Great stuff- my type of bird. So Miss Fuller and I drove off somewhere very, very secret where these arch-assassins are known to breed, because we need to see it for this year-list thing we're doing.

There were other species we wanted to see along the way and we met with varying levels of success- in other words, we either saw the birds or we didn't.

I'll let Katie tell you how we did because Match of the Day is about to start.................

Sparrowhawk on steroids

2006-03-11T21:25:00.000Z

Yes, as you may have guessed, we went to the Brecks today - that odd, pine-forested locale on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. You can tell when you get near because you start seeing Americans in obscenely large, left-hand drive vehicles.

We were only partially successful today. We had a few target birds we hoped to pick up in the area - Stone-curlew, Golden Pheasant, a wintering Great Grey Shrike, Woodlark and Goshawk.

Stone-curlews weren't around (they weren't showing in the fields we looked in, and Weeting Heath NWT doesn't open until 1 April!), creeping very quietly around Wayland Wood (see left) failed to find us any Golden Pheasants, and the Great Grey was nowhere to be seen.

So it's just as well that a Woodlark burst into song while we were looking for thick-knees, and that we struck it lucky on a visit to another site for raptors.

Darren saw his first Goshawk today. An adult male, it dashed across a clearing and away into the depths of the forest through a snowstorm. No doubt about it - it was a heavy, substantial bird that moved with real power in its wingbeats - none of your scrawny Sparrowhawk rubbish.

For once, there was no need for debate over 'bird of the day'.

It was about the only bird we saw!

Species added today:
114. Woodlark
115. Goshawk

Scatter my Ashes on The Lodge Plateau

2006-03-03T14:23:00.000Z

It's good to be back. As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I love the place. As Spring draws near, my sense of anticipation grows; it's hard work birding there, harder work than the work itself, but the setting is simply beautiful.

Every afternoon, I eschew the delights of the staff canteen and go for a stroll instead. A viewing point at The Lodge looks out over the Greensand Ridge on to disused gravel pits known as Warren Villas- and it is here that I hope, one day, the biggie will drop.

On Thursday I wandered over and was lucky enough to find a Little Egret coming in to roost. I was fortunate to pick it up at eye level (about 100 feet up) as it circled the pit before dropping in- I was grilling a Common Gull as it came fortuitously into 'scope view.

Friday afternoon I was there again with my colleague Richard, who commented ''We haven't seen much this week apart from gulls and geese'' when almost immediately I picked up a Barn Owl hunting over the rough grassland- a good record for The Lodge. Certain birds always lift my spirits and Barn Owl is certainly one of them. Sometimes I wonder if I get more pleasure seeing birds myself or helping others see them and sharing their excitement.

Back at my desk I sent Katie and Mark an email, but unfortunately they were in a meeting about birds sneezing so couldn't get out to see it. Barn Owls are creatures of habit so hopefully next week they will be able to add the species to their Lodge lists.

So that's two different Barn Owls this week, three bird days in total. And to round it off, 23 Siskins flew overhead in the Garden and settled obediently in a silver birch.

I wish every week could be like this one. Birds of the week:

Gtr White-fronted Goose (35)
Little Owl (2)
Barn Owl (2)
Green Sandpiper
Male Sparrowhawk in undulating display-flight
Little Egret
Siskin (23+ other fly-overs)

Wonders will never cease

2006-02-28T20:32:00.000Z

Wow! This year-list is coming on a treat! Today we nipped out at lunchtime to Broom gravel pits. It was spectacularly free of birds, with the exceptions being:

a small number of Tufted Ducks
two Little Grebes
two Mallards
two Coot
two Mute Swans

Just as well a Green Sandpiper called to save the day, getting itself onto the year-list at last.

We saw the Barn Owl on the way home, too.

Species added today:
113. Green Sandpiper

More Y-fronts

2006-02-27T19:53:00.000Z

White-fronts at Hatley St George

White-fronted Geese are everywhere at the moment. The beauties above are in Cambridgeshire, at Hatley St George, but it's well within reach for a lunchtime twitch from Beds.

The small lake at Hatley doesn't really look like it should be the haunt of wild geese, but they were there anyway - 35 White-fronted Geese grazing, bathing, preening, dozing, wing-flapping and generally doing the things that geese do. Very enjoyable.

As we pulled up at the roadside, Darren said 'This looks just like the kind of place you'd expect to find Little Owls'. As we got out of the car, two yelped from across the road in Hatley Park. I missed the one Darren saw in Norfolk in January, so it's a bit of a belated addition to the year-list. Better late than never...

Oh, and on the way home, we were fortunate to come across a Barn Owl hunting the roadside. By slowing down (nobody else about), we watched it floating along like a big, pale butterfly only ten feet away from the car. After a couple of minutes, it dived headlong into the grass and looked around for the vole it thought it had jumped on. No joy, though, so it got up again and headed off on its evening's hunting.

Fabulous.

Species added today:
112. Little Owl

Sandblasted

2006-02-25T22:06:00.000Z

Ringed Plover on the beach at Hunstanton

It was my idea, I admit it. We ended up getting sandblasted on the beach at Titchwell today because of me. Windspeed was about 20mph coming straight off the North Sea and seeing anything was out of the question. It was just very unpleasant indeed, so we left.

The seawatching session at Hunstanton earlier was a bit more productive. A Rock Pipit flew over calling and there was an adult Mediterranean Gull on the beach - both year-ticks - so it wasn't a dead loss. A Carrion Crow repeatedly dropped a cockle from a great height onto the shingle, the Fulmars provided good entertainment, as usual, and we bumped into the Michals and Daniel.

There were the usual waders trotting about on the beach - Grey and Ringed Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Oystercatcher - and a handful of Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea.

Later, we stopped between Great Massingham and Grimston to try to see the Rough-legged Buzzard. We didn't, of course, but a distant battle between a Merlin and Skylark was undoubtedly the most entertaining thing I saw all day.

Species added today:
110. Rock Pipit
111. Mediterranean Gull

Tramp!

2006-02-22T18:17:00.000Z

For the last few days an adult male Blackbird has been frequenting our compost heap.

Oddly, it has been flying off with random bits of vegetables; yesterday it was Broccoli, today it was carrot shavings.

That observation has nothing to do with anything but thought I'd mention it anyway.

Coming of age?

2006-02-21T20:33:00.000Z

I keep saying to Katie that I am a rubbish birder. Basically because I have birded with some damn fine birders and also because I have no confidence. But today, I realised I'm not as bad as I think I am.

A Hen Harrier had been reported not far away and just over the border but despite best efforts and checking suitable habitat, we couldn't find it. Three or four Red Kites enlivened proceedings and a Yellowhammer tried to sing- it was a bit half-hearted but with snow lashing almost horizontally, I wouldn't be in the mood for singing either.

Only other birds were a covey of Red-legged Partridges, 14 Skylarks, 87 Golden Plover and a partial albino Blackbird eating ivy berries. Best sight however was a herd of eight Fallow Deer at close range. There's something almost primaeval and melancholy about deer, their nervous demeanour makes me think of the age when wildwood covered half the country, how we've raped the countryside for centuries and how this mindless destruction continues. I'm depressing myself now so I'll shut up.

After lunch, I dragged Katie kicking and screaming to Woodwalton Fen. ''We won't see anything in this weather,'' she said.

No, we saw nothing apart from Marsh Harrier, a superb ringtail Hen Harrier, Woodcock, Siskin, Marsh Tit, hundreds of winter thrushes, a Sparrowhawk and a Great-spotted Woodpecker excavating a nest hole.

Great stuff. And for locating the Hen Harrier, Katie has agreed that I can have a birding proficiency badge, although she very nearly didn't see it because I am rubbish at giving directions-

Me: ''Ringtail! In front of the barn! Going right!''

Katie: ''Which f*cking barn? There are four of them!''

She bought me a roadmap for my birthday. But what good is that if I don't know where I am?

Today's marks:

Birding: B+
Directions: D-

Species added today:
108. Woodcock
109. Hen Harrier

Wild Goose Chase

2006-02-15T21:46:00.000Z

Right, let me make this clear - I am not proud of chasing around the minor roads of Bedfordshire looking for geese. But I had to, you understand don't you? If you are reading this, Father McKinney, I seek your forgiveness. I promise never to be an eco-terrorist again... until the next time a county tick turns up or I win a 4x4 in a prize draw.

Greater White-fronted Geese have been seen in my home county for the last week or so, two flocks no less; one at Roxton and one at some bourgeois old git's place at Southill Park.

I don't live in my home county now, and have been unable to get there until today. Katie had seen both flocks and after hearing of her adventures during her lunch hours I had to go. Today was the day.

So this morning, after dropping her off at work with some Cheestrings, a can of Tizer and an apple, I nicked her car from The Lodge carpark and headed north up the A1 to Roxton where there was f'all but a pair of Shelduck and a couple of those really annoying flyover zhu-zhu-ing redpolls that just won't sit down nearby for you to examine closely.

Bugger it, off to Southill. F'all again during three visits apart from a grumpy old sod of a gamekeeper who looked at me, standing on the roadside with bins and scope as if I was a terrorist planning to assasinate the occupants of the aforementioned stately spread.

Bollocks to this.

After a haircut (superfluous information), I called back into Roxton on my way to Paxton Pits. Amongst the hundred or so Greylags were 27 W-F's. Dainty little things compared to the humungous, noisy, aggressive, hissing shit-beasts they have as cousins. One had the good grace to preen and flap for me, showing its attractive belly markings.

I've changed my mind about wildfowl - the real ones are really quite cool. A day well-spent, and an hour well-spent reacquainting myself with a species I haven't seen for nearly three years. I even checked them for erythropus.

Yankee Wigeon doodle dandy

2006-02-11T20:30:00.000Z

The American Wigeon evaded us last weekend at the Ouse Washes, but we finally caught up with him today, at Needingworth gravel pits (photo left).

Boy, was it worth it.

Today's twitch wasn't straightforward. We arrived at the site, parked by the road and bumped into some fellow twitchers on their way out. They'd seen the American Wigeon 'but there ent no Smew or 'owt'. And the wigeon had flown off towards the river (Great Ouse) 15 minutes earlier.

Bugger.

Undaunted, we carried on. We walked right round to the far side of the lake and viewed the river. A flock of Wigeon was visible (distantly) on the water, with some more on the meadows, but picking out the American at that range wasn't going to be possible.

As we went back to view the lake again, the flock got up and landed in front of us. A few seconds later, we were watching a gorgeous drake American Wigeon. Got to be the most beautiful bird I've seen this year... pinky body, iridescent green behind the eye, cream reaching from above the bill towards the back of his head.

A bird worth getting excited about.

Not like the two Pink-footed Geese hanging around with the Greylags, which must surely be of dubious origin (similar to the Bar-headed Goose and Canada x Greylag hybrid also there).

A reason to go birding?

2006-02-10T20:50:00.000Z

Darren: "We've got to get some year-ticks or we'll drop off the first page of the Surfbirds year-list rankings."

Y-fronts?

2006-02-07T19:50:00.000Z

NO! not the rather out-moded style of mens' undergarment, but White-fronts.

You know, White-fronted Geese.

There's been an influx into the south-east (Bedfordshire, at least) and I twitched some at lunchtime. Here they are, pottering around in what was a game cover strip at Roxton. Aren't they smashing?

Fenland birding

2006-02-05T18:08:00.000Z

There are good birds over at the Ouse Washes at the moment, so today we decided to pay that particular locale a visit.

Getting there would have been considerably quicker were it not for Darren's lamentable map-reading skills. How hard can it be to keep track of where you are on a big road atlas?

Me: Are we going the right way?
DOM: I suppose so
Me: Does that mean 'no, not really'?
DOM: Er, maybe
Me: I can't map-read and drive, you know!

Anyway, on with the birding. First stop, Welches Dam and the RSPB Ouse Washes reserve. It's like the Nene Washes but with hides, more water and more people.

On arriving in the car-park, the good numbers of Tree Sparrows were noticeable, as they hung out in a guelder rose bush (still laden with berries just begging for a flock of hungry Waxwings to come along and eat them). They're always nice birds to see.

The presence of a first-winter male Lesser Scaup was what really attracted most people to the Ouse Washes today. Everyone in the first hide seemed to be looking for it but nobody had seen it all day. It looked like we were probably going to 'dip out' (that's silly birders' slang for failing to see a bird).

We decided to press on and try our luck in the second hide along, Rickwood. This proved to be a good move as the bird had just flown in and was actually awake! However, it wasted little time in getting back to sleep again - fortunately, it left just enough time to allow the assembled birders to check out its important features.

Peering through the viewing screen by the visitor centre, I managed a quick glimpse of a female Brambling, but failed to get Darren onto it...

Though it was tempting to spend all day there and check out all the hides (there are ten!), we opted to head off to Woodwalton Fen to try our luck with the redpolls once more. The weedy field by the entrance is really coming into its own now - it was littered with birds. Redpolls, Chaffinches, Reed Buntings, Starlings and Fieldfares were augmented by Linnets and a single female Brambling. I didn't manage to see the latter but Darren did, so it's even-stevens for Bramblings now.

The 40-odd redpolls were quite flighty but scopable, and we managed to pick out at least two Mealies (Common Redpolls, if you prefer the BOU's rather unsuitable name). Comparison with the many Lessers on show made them look grey and... well... rather pasty.

After that, we walked right around the reserve, which was pretty fruitless apart from a nice, close encounter with a Marsh Tit by the hide. They're vastly underrated.

It's been ages since we actually added anything to our special year-list, and we only managed a couple today. Still, it's better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick...

Species added today:
106. Ruff
Lesser Scaup
107. Brambling
Common [Mealy] Redpoll

Pain in the neck

2006-02-01T21:08:00.000Z

Yes, a Firecrest at The Lodge and so I went off to look for it today. Well, in honesty I was going there anyway to see some old friends.

I love The Lodge- a magical place- so spent a happy six hours in the field sifting through more than 100 'crests in several flocks, darting about maniacally and hovering like overgrown hummingbird hawkmoths amongst the pines- but not a sniff of anything vaguely calling ''zuuu-zu-zi-zi!!''

I couldn't kick up a Woodcock amongst the leaf litter (another target bird) but scores of Redwings were evidently finding something edible amongst the leaf litter before flying off to cover, giving their sibilant contact calls. The finch flock which had yielded Redpolls and Yellowhammers in recent days contained 130 birds- all Chaffinches it transpired after an hour's close scrutiny.

The muscles in my neck are begging for mercy but I don't mind, I don't think I've ever enjoyed looking through single-species flocks more in my life. The Lodge really is a magical place.

I did manage to get Katie and her colleague Mark a Lodge tick- a handsome Barnacle Goose amongst the Greylags at Warren Villas (which can be viewed from the Plateau at The Lodge). This bird almost certainly came from the nearby feral Willington/ Roxton flock- so is now tickable according to the BOU.

Days like today make me appreciate the worth of just being out there......observing and reacquainting myself at close quarters with familiar species. Every night after a day in the field I think I have a few more answers to our bird mysteries, but upon reflection I actually have far more questions.........

Roll on tomorrow................

Birds are all around...

2006-01-31T23:00:00.000Z

Borrowed from my other blog, Bogbumper...

There's a male Firecrest hiding somewhere at The Lodge at the moment, so this lunchtime I spent some time looking for him.

'Looking' suggests some sort of active searching, but to be honest, I spent more of my time standing dead still and waiting for something to happen.

It wasn't entirely fruitless, though. I found an area among the rhododendrons and sweet chestnuts where there seemed to be a lot of bird activity, and stood there in hope.

I don't think it was too unreasonable, to hope that I could just bump into the Firecrest. And staying still was much quieter than tramping about among all those dry, rustly chestnut leaves and noisy twigs.

I've thought for a long time that time spent standing in one place, listening and looking around you, is actually time well-spent, especially in woodland. If you wait for long enough, birds don't notice you, they forget they're supposed to be afraid of humans, or decide you're not worth bothering with.

Looking down to a small woodpile about six feet away, a Wren flew from a bush and perched on top of a log. I'd already been standing there for five minutes when it arrived, and it carried on its business, poking about for insect food, even though I was only a short distance away. Yes, only a Wren, but I enjoyed the encounter. I heard the leaves rustling as it moved about on the ground.

From ahead of me, on the hill, came a sound like children kicking autumn leaves for fun. A litter-picking gang of Blackbirds, searching for food among the fallen leaves.

On a horizontal branch a short distance away, an upside-down Treecreeper inched its way along. With its stiff tail propping it up against the tree, it inspected the bark for moth eggs or something equally microscopic (but obviously nutritious).

High up in a tall, dead tree in front of me, a flash of black, white and red came into view - a male Great Spotted Woodpecker. Working his way quickly to the top, he selected a chunk and began some gentle, exploratory pecking - perhaps auditioning it for a possible drumming post for a few weeks' time. To my untrained ear, it sounded good and rotten.

Some slightly less heavy-duty pecking sounds were those of Nuthatch on chestnut. Always a fantastic bird to watch - like a mini-woodpecker. I heard some quiet song (or sub-song?) that I didn't recognise from the top of a pine tree... Coal Tit the likely culprit, I think. A Goldcrest - yes, just a Goldcrest - appeared in a holly bush to taunt me.

No Firecrest, but not a waste of time, either.

photo taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

What are you looking at?

2006-01-31T14:48:00.000Z

Another morning at Ferry Meadows and a disctinct sense of déja-vu whilst I was counting Snipe. An elderly couple enquired what I was looking at and again, I asked if they would like to have a look for themselves. That's now three people in the last week that I've managed to get Snipe on their yearlists for them. They were all terribly impressed by the birds though- and why not- they are handsome creatures.

A little further on, a group of three (elderly) ladies asked me: ''Excuse me, what is that duck? Its different.''

''They are Shoveler.'' I replied. ''So-called because of their shovel-like bills.''

After thanking me and upon everyone agreeing what a fine-looking bird the male is, one lady proceded to ask if I'd seen all the 'Ring-necked Ducks' on the main lake. I politely corrected her and pointed out that they were Tufted Ducks, despite what her bird book may have indicated. Ring-necked Ducks.......flocking in North Cambridgeshire.........as they do.

I really don't mind being questioned by folk if it adds a little extra dimension to their walk and perhaps provokes an interest in the birds around them. I just wish the same were true of the majority of today's youths. They just don't seem inquisitive and wander around smoking, spitting, littering and swearing- the **** ing little shits.

My small act of kindness was duly repaid a while later as I managed to relocate the long-staying Hawfinch, sitting majestically sentinel-like atop a tree as all the other lesser finches hurried about in the branches and leaf litter below- he certainly did seem to have a haughty look about him.

Woodwalton Fen

2006-01-29T16:53:00.000Z

Woodwalton Fen is a great place, but visiting it can be somewhat hit-and-miss. Yesterday, Richard Patient found an Arctic Redpoll in a finch flock which also contained Lesser and Mealy (Common) Redpolls, plus a load of Siskins. I thought a visit might be useful - not only to try to see the scarce redpoll species, but there could also be a chance of Woodcock, Bittern, Hen Harrier or even Goshawk...

Of course, we didn't see any of the latter four species, but we did find a big flock of finches. It comprised mostly Siskins (which were really, really hard to find last winter, incidentally) with a few Lesser Redpolls along for the ride. Then there was a bird which we thought might have been a Mealy, but the views we had weren't good enough to clinch it.

Hmmm. At least we don't need it for the year-list! I keep telling myself, but it's a bit annoying not to have seen it well enough. It's hard work, craning your neck to look in the treetops, but even harder to see the birds when they fly off out of view entirely.

It was a nice, frosty morning, though.

Wader of the woods

2006-01-24T20:11:00.000Z

It's true, I've had a year-tick today, too. One that would have counted for the year-list effort as well, had we both been present.

I was pottering about in the leaf litter during my lunchbreak, as you do, looking for something interesting to photograph. It was obviously very cold last night, and it stayed that way, so all the leaves on the ground wore a coating of ice, even in the middle of the day.

Anyway, I was squinting at a frosty branch when there was a sudden rustle of leaves from behind the tree and then something biggish and brown shot low across the ground and down the hill. It moved fast.

So that's how I've got Woodcock on my year-list and Darren hasn't. Yet. All in good time...

Enough blue to make a pair of Dutchman's britches

2006-01-24T16:51:00.000Z

It was almost Spring-like today: no wind to speak of and as the day wore on, the sky was filled with enough blue to make a pair of Dutchman's britches. So, with Katie working, I walked down to Ferry Meadows Country Park, hoping the overnight frost would have tempted something good in and that the blue skies would have tempted whatever it was I was hoping for to stay put. I had no idea what.......

It started off promisingly with the first Chiffchaff of the year, calling constantly (a female?), my highest count of the winter for both Wigeon and Great-crested Grebe- the lakes were like glass and it was interesting to observe the grebes in their various winter plumages.

I stopped off at Heron Meadow for the habitual counting of Snipe. I'd reached twelve when a voice behind me asked ''Hello, may I ask what you are looking at?'' I turned round to be greeted by a lady of advanced years and answered ''Hello, Snipe.''

''How exciting!'' she observed, clearly excited. ''Have you seen one before?'' I asked. ''No! I haven't!'' she replied, excitedly. ''Let me get them in the 'scope for you.....''

She was only about 4 foot four, so I lowered the scope and got three birds in view for her. ''Here you go......''

''Oh yes! aren't they striking!'' she noted a few seconds before the whole lot got up and flashed off east on account of the female Sparrowhawk that had just decided to wake up from a nearby tree.

This made counting them easier- 21 in all, another high count, but the highlight was certainly the expression on this venerable old lady's face. ''Oh, Snipe!'' she said, as if to confirm to herself that she had actually just seen them. ''Well, thank you so much young man.''

''My pleasure.''

''Well, I say, Snipe! Good day, I must continue my walk now.''

''Good day.''

I continued round the lake, scanning frequently, but not very much was happening on the larger of the two lakes. 33 Lapwings fed in an area known as Coney Meadow and I scanned the distant scrub, which I think looks good for a Great Grey Shrike- I say that about a lot of habitat I visit, and lots of areas do indeed look like a good place for a G-G Shrike but this winter visitor has yet to reveal itself to me. Continuing on, a few more Tufted Ducks were feeding in sheltered bay area and as I watched, two birds flew in. At first I thought they might be small grebes, but when I had them in sight, there was no mistaking......two superb redhead Smew. They had clearly just arrived because for the next ten minutes or so they preened constantly, submerging heads and flapping wings. A shame perhaps that a drake wasn't accompanying them, but still a very beautiful bird, and a nice bird to find oneself, especially as I'd managed to miss the species during 2005.

Its a non-breeder so wouldn't have counted for our list, but I think Katie may have seen a species today that I do need to catch up with. Watch this space.......

Woodston Ponds Nature Reserve

2006-01-19T12:42:00.000Z

There's a sign as you approach the reserve that says Warning - Dangerous Ponds. Using the word dangerous is a bit misleading: it implies a certain excitement.

In truth, it really is rubbish. The only danger is of losing your footing on the boardwalk or seeing a Reed Bunting. You could hardly fall into one of the ponds as they are surrounded by barbed wire fencing and patrolled by guard dogs.

OK, I made that bit up but it has to be one of the most pointless public safety warnings ever. I'll take some photos next time and you can see what I mean for yourselves.

But hey, I've chosen it as my local patch, and that is where I'll go as often as possible to monitor populations.

Yesterday, an incredible 12 Bullfinches were recorded there - the highest ever total of Bullfinches ever recorded at this site since time began and since Bullfinches speciated from Archaeopteryx.

Probably because I am the only person who ever goes there. But that's the way I like it.

Today there were only 11. Which may have something to do with the Sparrowhawk that was calling and displaying over the reedbeds. I watched for ten minutes or so as the bird went about its flap-flap-stoop-rise-flap-flap-stoop-rise routine. The local Black-headed Gulls were clearly unimpressed.

I've changed my mind. Woodston Ponds rules!!

Tu-whit to-whoooo

2006-01-16T19:40:00.000Z

Got a year tick up on Darren - Tawny Owl heard from the car-park at work this evening. I think I'm only three behind him now... he saw Shag (suppressed) and Little Owl (missed because I was driving) in Norfolk and I didn't, and got his Grey Wag/Green Sand fix in Bedford.

Arse over tits

2006-01-15T15:24:00.000Z

As K said, no surprises that there were no Willow Tits but some great views of up to five Treecreepers together, several Marsh Tits and a Nuthatch were almost enough compensation. Looks a likely spot for Nightingales so we are sure to return. The surrounding fields (rather downs-esque IMHO) might also hold a passage Ring Ouzel, Wheatear or Black Redstart in Spring- we look forward to finding out.

Seeing her fall on her arse would have been amusing, but as it was, I was walking in front, saw only the aftermath and thought ''What are you doing down there?''

She then proceeded to kick mud at me like an embarrassed child.

Aversley Wood

2006-01-15T13:27:00.000Z

Didn't fancy going far today so we decided to visit a site I'd been meaning to for a while - Aversley Wood, near Sawtry. I thought we might see Woodcock there, and the mythical Willow Tit (believed to be extinct in Cambridgeshire).

Well, we might have seen a Woodcock - something big got up off the ground as we approached. Inconclusive views. Definitely no Willow Tits. No surprises, but plenty of Marsh Tits.

For Darren, the highlight was probably seeing me fall on my arse on the walk back down the very muddy, steep hill...

Secret site

2006-01-14T15:18:00.000Z

Short-eared Owl

As the above image shows, Saturday has been yet another grey, miserable day. We've been to a top-secret site in Bedfordshire, which shall remain nameless, to look for a few year ticks and stuff... We were only partially successful but managed to add two more species to the year's list. It's a shame it never really got light...

Species added today:
104. Stonechat
105. Short-eared Owl

Chip allegation

2006-01-10T13:44:00.000Z

that shouldn't be too difficult if she stands by the swimming pool during her lunch break instead of stuffing chips in her face in the staff canteen.

I haven't eaten chips at work for months.

Dole Scum

2006-01-10T12:13:00.000Z

Katie was back at work yesterday. I am, for six months of the year at least, and in the words of Pauline from League of Gentlemen, dole scum.

K was able to drop me off and pick me up in Bedford so I had the whole day for birding and decided on a visit to a couple of the old haunts, Priory CP for Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, Willington for Common and Green Sandpipers and then Fenlake Meadows for a general mooch around. This also gave me the opportunity to grip off Katie as we both have to see the bird for it to count towards our target.

But what else am I supposed to do? Spend my afternoons sitting in front of the TV flicking myself off to Tricia and not looking out of the window or not going out in case I see a bird that K can't?

...k'off...

Eight hours in the field and some nice birds in the bag. No wintering warblers but a couple of super close-ups of the resident Grey Wagtails on the canoe slalom at Priory- my favourite bird by a country mile and these birds are incredibly confiding, so used are they to dog walkers I was viewing down to 20 feet or so. I just wished that K were there to get some pics.

A flyover ''vwist''-ing Water Pipit at Fenlake and a wintering Green Sandpiper in exactly the same spot that I saw one last year at Willington. The last two are non-breeders and don't count anyway so K only needs to find a Grey Wagtail before we can add it to the list. Working at The Lodge, that shouldn't be too difficult if she stands by the swimming pool during her lunch break instead of stuffing chips in her face in the staff canteen.

There's nothing to see here

2006-01-09T22:50:00.000Z

Due to work commitments, no birding done today by me and definitely no additions to our joint list... Roll on the weekend.

Cruising for Crossbills

2006-01-08T15:56:00.000Z

Male Crossbill, Southey Wood

With news of Crossbills a few miles away, the opportunity to catch up with these notoriously difficult birds in our home county was too good to resist. So after breakfast, we headed for the gay-cruising capital of north Cambridgeshire - Southey Wood.

It was disappointingly easy locating them - we could hear them crunching on the pine cones - so for an hour, we enjoyed very good views of up to eight birds, at least five of which were males. They are amusing birds to watch as they clamber parrot-fashion along branches and are surprisingly acrobatic for such chunky finches.

First Kingfisher of the year! Ferry Meadows

After lunch, went for a quick walk around the nature reserve at Ferry Meadows as it would be our last opportunity to go birding together until next weekend. We were duly rewarded with our first Kingfisher of the year. This species is especially vulnerable to cold spells so the recent freezing conditions will have claimed a few lives. It was good to see that this bird (a male) had survived.

Species added today:
101. Common Crossbill
102. Coal Tit
103. Kingfisher

Kite Country

2006-01-07T21:26:00.000Z

The sun hasn't shown itself for about three weeks now, it seems.

Took a drive into the rolling hills of east Northamptonshire - Kite Country - in search of raptor action. Hadn't reached Oundle when the first Red Kite of the day drifted over the road, with a Carrion Crow in hot pursuit. Nice...

Between Upper Benefield and Deenethorpe we came across several more kites - sitting in trees together and flapping lazily around in the sleet. At Blatherwycke Lake, there were good numbers of Teal and Lapwing on the mud (the lake has been drained again), and a Common Buzzard in flight close by, but nothing else.

Species added today:
99. Red Kite
100. Common Buzzard

Norfolk

2006-01-06T19:45:00.000Z

Hunstanton Cliffs - home to Fulmars and Feral Pigeons

Sometimes, when it's cold, grey and miserable, I wonder why it is I bother to go birdwatching. Wednesday was a good [bad] example. Crap weather and no birds.

I think the setting must make all the difference, because today Norfolk was cold, grey and miserable - the sun never came out - but there were some great birds to be seen and I wasn't quite as grumpy as normal.

We hadn't even reached our first planned stop when long skeins of Pink-footed Geese began crossing the skies above us. Birds going from their night-time roost sites to their daytime beet-field feeding hang-outs. It's a Norfolk birding cliche, but always an awesome sight, not to be sniffed at.

On a cold January Friday morning, it was quiet on Hunstanton seafront and Turnstones scuttled around in the gutter, in the manner of Starlings, while Herring Gulls lurked in gardens and car-parks.

But they weren't our 'sunny-Hunny' target birds. No, we wanted Fulmars, and we got them, as they glided stiffly around the cliffs on their mini-albatross wings.

Below, family parties of Brent Geese indulged in a little breakfast-time surfing and pecked at the seaweed which encrusted the boulders below the cliffs. More Turnstones, Oystercatchers and Redshanks there, but sadly no Purple Sandpipers.

Time to look out to sea. Well, into The Wash, anyway. With no wind, seawatching conditions weren't exactly ideal, but it made it a lot more comfortable.

It wasn't too long before one Red-throated and one Great Northern Diver came into view. Not close by normal birding standards, but good for seawatching. Much closer was a Guillemot, to Darren's great delight. They don't get many in Bedfordshire so he hadn't seen one before.

Darren's first Guillemot

I think that means he owes me a pint.

Darren is quite derogatory about 'Titchwell Zoo', as he calls it, but I reckon you can't knock it too much. Wander down the track to the beach and there are Spotted Redshanks feeding, unperturbed, virtually within spitting distance.

Spotted Redshank

On the sea, a slick of Common Scoters was forming. Trails of birds from further offshore made up a flock of around 3,000 birds - another impressive sight which included about eight Velvet Scoters. Slightly closer, a couple of smart, piebald Slavonian Grebes (another lifer for DO-M, and it wasn't even lunchtime) pootled about, and a small group of Red-breasted Mergansers bobbed around on the waves.

The scoter flock off Titchwell beach

A drive up to Choseley found a flock of around 400 Corn Buntings and some very pleasant, canary-yellow Yellowhammers. Titchwell drew us back again, with news of a Bean Goose with a flock of Pinkfeet on fields by the entrance. More than an hour's scrutiny of the flock, in terrible light, failed to nail the bird conclusively... Still, it's not a British breeding species so we don't need it for our list anyway.

Species added today:
Pink-footed Goose
78. Herring Gull
Turnstone
79. Oystercatcher
Brent Goose
80. Fulmar
Bar-tailed Godwit
81. Guillemot
82. Red-throated Diver
Great Northern Diver
Sanderling
83. Shelduck
84. Curlew
85. Little Egret
86. Cetti's Warbler
87. Egyptian Goose
Spotted Redshank
88. Black-tailed Godwit
89. Ringed Plover
90. Dunlin
Knot
Grey Plover
91. Common Scoter
Velvet Scoter
92. Slavonian Grebe
93. Red-breasted Merganser
94. Avocet
95. Corn Bunting
96. Grey Partridge
97. Merlin
98. Barn Owl

Nene Washes etc.

2006-01-05T13:10:00.000Z

This morning we got out to Eldernell, on the Nene Washes. It's still very cold and overcast today, which might be why there was a distinct lack of raptors on the wing. We only saw one Kestrel, which is pathetic by the Washes' usual, high standards... Peregrine, Marsh and Hen Harriers, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Merlin are all possible, plus Barn, Little and Short-eared Owls.

Moving on...

On a more positive note, we did see Tree Sparrows around the feeding station. About five birds eventually revealed themselves - they like to hide in thick cover, out of sight.

We took a walk to just west of Lord's Holt and looked over the floods on the end of the RSPB reserve. Plenty of Pintail, Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler there, plus a lonely-looking juvenile Bewick's Swan. A herd of nine Whooper Swans flew east towards March Farmers, whooping as they went.

Possibly our best find was a Water Pipit on the edge of the floods by Morton's Leam. Picked it up on call as it flew in, and then watched it paddling around among the reeds and grasses - pretty good, prolonged views of a species that can often be hard to see well.

But it's not a British breeding species so it's not going on the year list!

Chilled to the bone, it was time to leave. Darren decided that he hadn't had enough of being cold for one day, so he forced me to take him to Serpentine Brick Pit (otherwise known as Orton Pits SSSI) for a trudge around in the mud. Those wily Polish lads have had good stuff there lately - Short-eared Owls and Peregrine - but we saw sod all. Wrong time of day, I suppose.

Species added today:
75. Tree Sparrow
76. Pintail
Water Pipit
77. Whooper Swan

America Farm, Eggs and Chips

2006-01-04T20:17:00.000Z

"Where today then, Katie dear?" says I.

"America Farm'' says she. ''Last time I went I had Tree Sparrow, Short-eared Owl, oh yeah, and Merlin!''

"Sounds cool" says I.

So off we set via the petrol station, ostensibly to grab some lunch but with the baguettes retailing at a rage-inducing £3.19, we decided on a pub lunch at a little establishment we had found a few months back - the fabulous Three Horseshoes at Wistow. But first some birding.

Katie was right about America Farm: it looked superb for Tree Sparrow, Short-eared Owl and Merlin. The shame was that there was bugger all there save a few Yellowhammers, Skylarks, Kestrels, about 1000 Woodpigeons and about the same number of corvids. We couldn't even string a buzzard-shaped object that was sat in a distant tree into a Buzzard. We left.

Next stop: Polebrook Airfield Nature Reserve... or so the map said. Upon arrival, the following sign greets us:

''Anyone found picking flowers will be prosecuted. Entry by appointment only. Trespassers will be executed.'

I could go on to tell you about our visit to Woodwalton Fen, where we hoped for owls, harriers or Bitterns, but we saw none of those and I really can't be arsed. In fact, we saw nothing but Redwings and Reed Buntings. 17 fat 'finch/buntings' flying over in the gloaming and circling in the nervous manner of Corn Buntings were surely Corn Buntings, but the little bastards couldn't even be arsed to call for us so we couldn't confirm this.

Lunch was very good and excellent value. Katie had the Thai Fishcakes (and Chips) and I had Egg and Chips and some of Katie's chips. Unfortunately, now she has a headache and has gone to bed without eating the Tesco's Finest Milk Chocolate with Praline that I bought her (lunch and headache are unrelated). This is strangely ironic because I promised to give up smoking on New Years Day (and haven't smoked since) if Katie promised to give up chocolate as of tomorrow. Hahahahahahaha!!

Species added today:
73. Yellowhammer
74. Jay

Rain stopped play

2006-01-03T20:31:00.000Z

We didn't get out today. Lousy weather...

Willington was wubbish

2006-01-02T21:43:00.000Z

Green Woodpecker, Willington.

So, not a bad start to the year, with the notorious Hawfinch safely in the bag, along with a good selection of common stuff. Today, since we were in Bedfordshire anyway, we paid a brief visit to Willington GP, where Darren used to trudge around endlessly (aimlessly?) in search of good birds.

Jackdaw (at last!) and Red-legged Partridge were added to the list on the way to Willington, but a detour down Wood Lane did not bring us the hoped-for Yellowhammer, Little Owl or Grey Partridge.

Sadly, Willington itself was not much more productive, in terms of the year list effort... No sign of the recently-reported Water Pipit, Common Sandpiper or even a Kingfisher. A Water Rail squealed from the settling lagoon (where the Great Reed Warbler was last year) and a handful of Skylarks flew over - none of those seen or heard in yesterday's murk.

The main lake held good numbers of wildfowl (Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard etc), but the only new additions were a Great Black-backed Gull and a Redshank.

Obviously, the highlight of the visit was the magnificent sight of around 280 grazing Barnacle Geese - tickable now they've been recognised by the BOU as self-sustaining! A sight and sound to lift the spirits of any birder...

Best bird of the day was probably the Red Fox which ambled across the meadows, ignored by Barnacles and sheep alike, before disappearing, followed closely by the white tip of his tail, into the undergrowth.

Species added today:
64. Jackdaw
65. Red-legged Partridge
66. Linnet
67. Stock Dove
68. Barnacle Goose
69. Skylark
70. Great Black-backed Gull
71. Water Rail
72. Redshank

Starter for ten...

2006-01-01T21:30:00.000Z

Tame Robin, Bluebell Wood.

Happy new year, everyone. Let the listing commence.

Unsurprisingly, Robin was the first in the notebook for 2006, with one singing in the wee small hours.

Several hours later, the first proper birding destination of the year was, predictably, Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough. With Hawfinches on offer - a species which could be devilishly hard to catch up with later in the year - there was no competition.

We gathered common species as we walked from the car-park to the Hawfinch site. So far, so good. Would the target bird play ball? The answer was a resounding 'YES!' - and it was the first finch species on our list for the year, with Siskin and Lesser Redpoll hot on its heels. Amazing...

After enjoying good views of the Hawfinch, as it perched in the treetops, we took a walk around other parts of the park, adding new stuff all the time. Isn't January 1 great?

A visit to the Bluebell Wood feeding station was in order, where the tame Robins tried to scrounge crumbs from us and Nuthatches made lightning-fast raids to the bird table. A Marsh Tit pitchood and a Treecreeper... crept up a tree. So far, so good.

Later, a visit to Orton Brick Pit and a good scan through the assembled wildfowl got us Ruddy Duck and Goldeneye, while a rather dull Eldernell had Wigeon and Marsh Harrier for the list (and also Bewick's Swan, but that's not a British breeder).

Species added today:
1. Robin
2. Blackbird
3. Starling
4. Black-headed Gull
5. House Sparrow
6. Magpie
7. Woodpigeon
8. Carrion Crow
9. Mute Swan
10. Green Woodpecker
11. Moorhen
12. Long-tailed Tit
13. Common Gull
14. Coot
15. Canada Goose
16. Greylag Goose
17. Mallard
18. Great Crested Grebe
19. Song Thrush
20. Great Tit
21. Blue Tit
22. Hawfinch
23. Siskin
24. Lesser Redpoll
25. Goldfinch
26. Feral Pigeon [Rock Dove]
27. Bullfinch
28. Redwing
29. Goldcrest
30. Cormorant
31. Wren
32. Chaffinch
33. Fieldfare
34. Greenfinch
35. Great Spotted Woodpecker
36. Mistle Thrush
37. Grey Heron
38. Shoveler
39. Pochard
40. Pied Wagtail
41. Snipe
42. Lapwing
43. Teal
44. Pheasant
45. Rook
46. Gadwall
47. Kestrel
48. Little Grebe
49. Dunnock
50. Marsh Tit
51. Nuthatch
52. Treecreeper
53. Sparrowhawk
54. Meadow Pipit
55. Tufted Duck
56. Golden Plover
57. Reed Bunting
58. Goldeneye
59. Ruddy Duck
60. Lesser Black-backed Gull
61. Collared Dove
62. Wigeon
63. Marsh Harrier
Bewick's Swan

The list so far

2005-12-31T09:48:00.000Z

The rules: British breeding birds only, seen by both of us.

Robin, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
Blackbird, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
Starling, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
Black-headed Gull, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
House Sparrow, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
Magpie, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
Woodpigeon, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
Carrion Crow, 1 Jan, Peterborough, Cambs.
Mute Swan, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Green Woodpecker, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Moorhen, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Long-tailed Tit, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Common Gull, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Coot, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Canada Goose, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Greylag Goose, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Mallard, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Great Crested Grebe, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Song Thrush, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Great Tit, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Blue Tit, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Hawfinch, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Siskin, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Lesser Redpoll, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Goldfinch, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Feral Pigeon [Rock Dove], 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Bullfinch, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Redwing, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Goldcrest, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Cormorant, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Wren, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Chaffinch, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Fieldfare, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Greenfinch, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Mistle Thrush, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Grey Heron, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Shoveler, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Pochard, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Pied Wagtail, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Snipe, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Lapwing, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Teal, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Pheasant, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Rook, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Gadwall, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Kestrel, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Little Grebe, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Dunnock, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Marsh Tit, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Nuthatch, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Treecreeper, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Sparrowhawk, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Meadow Pipit, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Tufted Duck, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Golden Plover, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Reed Bunting, 1 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Goldeneye, 1 Jan, Orton BP, Cambs.
Ruddy Duck, 1 Jan, Orton BP, Cambs.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Jan, Eldernell, Cambs.
Collared Dove, 1 Jan, Eldernell, Cambs.
Wigeon, 1 Jan, Eldernell, Cambs.
Marsh Harrier, 1 Jan, Eldernell, Cambs.
Jackdaw, 2 Jan, Sawtry, Cambs.
Red-legged Partridge, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Linnet, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Stock Dove, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Barnacle Goose, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Skylark, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Water Rail, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Redshank, 2 Jan, Willington, Beds.
Yellowhammer, 4 Jan, America Farm, Northants.
Jay, 4 Jan, Polebrook Airfield, Northants.
Tree Sparrow, 5 Jan, Eldenell, Cambs.
Pintail, 5 Jan, Eldernell, Cambs.
Whooper Swan, 5 Jan, Eldernell, Cambs.
Herring Gull, 6 Jan, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Oystercatcher, 6 Jan, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Fulmar, 6 Jan, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Guillemot, 6 Jan, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Red-throated Diver, 6 Jan, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Shelduck, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Curlew, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Little Egret, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Cetti's Warbler, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Egyptian Goose, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Ringed Plover, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Dunlin, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Common Scoter, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Slavonian Grebe, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Avocet, 6 Jan, RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Corn Bunting, 6 Jan, Choseley, Norfolk
Grey Partridge, 6 Jan, Titchwell, Norfolk
Merlin, 6 Jan, Titchwell, Norfolk
Barn Owl, 6 Jan, Stanhoe, Norfolk
Red Kite, 7 Jan, Elmington, Northants.
Common Buzzard, 7 Jan, Blatherwycke, Northants.
Crossbill, 8 Jan, Southey Wood, Cambs.
Coal Tit, 8 Jan, Southey Wood, Cambs.
Kingfisher, 8 Jan, Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs.
Stonechat, 14 Jan, Bedfordshire
Short-eared Owl, 14 Jan, Bedfordshire
Ruff, 5 Feb, RSPB Ouse Washes, Cambs.
Brambling, 5 Feb, Woodwalton Fen NNR, Cambs.
Woodcock, 21 Feb, Woodwalton Fen NNR, Cambs.
Hen Harrier, 21 Feb, Woodwalton Fen NNR, Cambs.
Rock Pipit, 25 Feb, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Mediterranean Gull, 25 Feb, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Little Owl, 27 Feb, Hatley St George, Cambs.
Green Sandpiper, 28 Feb, Broom GP, Beds.
Woodlark, 11 Mar, Weeting, Norfolk
Goshawk, 11 Mar, Suffolk
Goosander, 19 Mar, Eyebrook Reservoir, Rutland
Grey Wagtail, 19 Mar, Eyebrook Reservoir, Leics.
Mandarin, 22 Mar, RSPB The Lodge, Beds.
Red-crested Pochard, 26 Mar, Baston & Langtoft GP, Lincs.
Swallow, 28 Mar, Stilton, Cambs.
Sand Martin, 2 Apr, Willington, Beds.
Wheatear, 2 Apr, Willington, Beds.
Raven, 3 Apr, RSPB The Lodge, Beds.
Chiffchaff, 4 Apr, RSPB The Lodge, Beds.
Blackcap, 5 Apr, RSPB The Lodge, Beds.
Willow Warbler, 5 Apr, RSPB The Lodge, Beds.
Yellow Wagtail, 5 Apr, Grafham Water, Cambs.
House Martin, 13 Apr, RSPB The Lodge, Beds.
Hoopoe, 13 Apr, RSPB Fowlmere, Cambs.
Hobby, 16 Apr, Bedford Purlieus NNR, Cambs.
Common Sandpiper, 17 Apr, Dog-in-a-Doublet, Cambs.
Whitethroat, 20 Apr, Everton, Beds.
Nightingale, 20 Apr, Orton BP, Cambs.
Common Tern, 21 Apr, Broom GP, Beds.
Cuckoo, 22 Apr, Bedford Purlieus NNR, Cambs.
Swift, 27 Apr, Peterborough, Cambs.
Sedge Warbler, 28 Apr, RSPB Inner Marsh Farm, Cheshire
Peregrine, 28 Apr, RSPB Inner Marsh Farm, Cheshire
Wood Warbler, 28 Apr, Llyn Crafnant, Conwy
Black Grouse, 29 Apr, Denbighshire
Pied Flycatcher, 29 Apr, Coed Hafod, Conwy
Redstart, 30 Apr, Ogwen Bank, Gwynedd
Black Guillemot, 30 Apr, Fedw Fawr, Anglesey
Chough, 30 Apr, RSPB South Stack, Anglesey
Razorbill, 30 Apr, RSPB South Stack, Anglesey
Sandwich Tern, 30 Apr, Cemlyn, Anglesey
Whimbrel, 30 Apr, Cemlyn, Anglesey
Gannet, 1 May, Llanfairfechan, Conwy
Ring Ouzel, 1 May, Llanberis, Gwynedd
Tree Pipit, 1 May, Caer Llugwy, Conwy
Dipper, 2 May, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy
Lesser Whitethroat, 2 May, Long Eaton, Derbyshire
Garden Warbler, 2 May, Long Eaton, Derbyshire
Osprey, 14 May, RSPB Abernethy Forest, Highland
Spotted Flycatcher, 14 May, Findhorn valley, Highland
Arctic Tern, 14 May, Findhorn valley, Highland
Golden Eagle, 14 May, Findhorn valley, Highland
Scottish Crossbill, 15 May, Grantown Woods, Highland
Capercaillie, 15 May, Grantown Woods, Highland
Hooded Crow, 15 May, Grantown Woods, Highland
Red Grouse, 16 May, Cairn Gorm, Highland
Whinchat, 17 May, Tulloch Moor, Highland
Black-throated Diver, 18 May, Lochindorb, Highland
Crested Tit, 19 May, RSPB Abernethy Forest, Highland
Eider, 19 May, Gruinard Bay, Highland
Guillemot, 21 May, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire
Kittiwake, 21 May, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire
Puffin, 21 May, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire
Turtle Dove, 25 May, Everton, Beds.
Little Ringed Plover, 25 May, Octagon Farm, Beds.
Reed Warbler, 25 May, Willington, Beds.
Montagu's Harrier, 28 May, Norfolk
Nightjar, 28 May, Roydon Common, Norfolk
Honey Buzzard, 29 May, Great Ryburgh, Norfolk
Bearded Tit, 29 May, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
Little Tern, 29 May, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
Dartford Warbler, 3 Jun, County Gate, Devon
Garganey, 6 Jun, Summer Leys LNR, Northants.
Grasshopper Warbler, 12 Jun, Marston Moretaine, Beds.
Golden Oriole, 14 Jul, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, Suffolk
Black Redstart, 15 Jul, Sizewell, Suffolk
Bittern, 15 Jul, RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk
Black-necked Grebe, 17 Jul, Grafham Water, Cambs.
Red-necked Phalarope, 21 Jul, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
Spoonbill, 22 Jul, Cley, Norfolk
Yellow-legged Gull, 22 Jul, Cley, Norfolk
Firecrest, 4 Aug, RSPB The Lodge, Beds.
Great Skua, 10 Sep, Weybourne, Norfolk
Arctic Skua, 10 Sep, Weybourne, Norfolk
Red-backed Shrike, 17 Sep, Burnham, Norfolk
Wryneck, 24 Sep, Porthgwarra, Cornwall
Manx Shearwater, 24 Sep, Porthgwarra, Cornwall
Cirl Bunting, 30 Sep, Berry Head, Devon

It's not big and it's not clever

2005-12-30T16:05:00.000Z

When Katie mentioned she would like to embark on a 2006 yearlist, my first thought was ''What have I done to her?'' Until very recently, she neither knew nor cared what her life, county or patch list totals were. I, on the other hand, was a meticulous lister: even keeping monthly lists of birds seen on my local patch.

K's idea was that our yearlist should be the antithesis of the bitching, back-stabbing hobbyism that often rears its ugly head in the Surfbirds rankings.

Rather than travel 100 miles to see a fine 2nd-winter Caspian Gull in the murk and grime of a January rubbish dump, we will attempt to observe the 221 species that breed regularly in these isles - in their natural environment. No wind-blown accidentals, no poor, lost and bewildered creature doomed to perish in the North Atlantic.

The majesty of the Golden Eagle against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Cairngorms, Choughs wheeling effortlessly over rocky Welsh cliffs, drumming Snipe on misty Spring mornings on the washes and Woodcock calling mystically over woodland rides.

In addition to the 221 species above, we'll add a few more. Species which have bred in the UK (and may indeed still do so) - very special species that will add a certain romance and nostalgia to our quest: the Hoopoe, Red-backed Shrike, European Bee-eater, Serin and Common Rosefinch. Inevitably, this will involve some twitching (and we are not anti-twitching), but this is our list, and most importantly, our adventure.

Wish us luck.

What's this all about?

2005-12-24T16:59:00.000Z

Many birdwatchers are bird-nerds at heart and enjoy keeping lists. County lists, patch lists, life lists, birds-seen-defecating lists, birds-heard-from-the-loo lists - you name it, and a birder somewhere is keeping a list of it.

While for many people it's a way of retaining interest (after the initial flush of excitement on 1 January, when everything is new and shiny), keeping a year list can soon become a millstone around your neck. Or, perhaps more appropriately, an albatross.

Feeling compelled to go and see birds is bound to make you grumpy. Year-listers would do well to remember that birding is supposed to be fun and enjoying what you see is what it's meant to be about. Not keeping up with the Joneses.

Check the Surfbirds UK year list rankings to see what I'm referring to. People chasing around after semi-rarities that they've seen dozens of times before - not because they're interested in seeing it, but because they neeeeed it for the year list, and so-and-so above them in the rankings has been for it, so...

So, in 2006, we're going to subvert the birding listing establishment, by trying to see (or hear) as many British breeding species as possible. Not twitching freakish vagrants that really shouldn't be here, but exploring our own British avifauna in a slightly different way.

With a bit of luck, this will also get us to some interesting parts of the UK that we haven't been to before, or that deserve a repeat visit.

Birding abroad is all very well - and often great fun - but there's a lot to be mopped up on home turf yet. Life's too short to spend it doing things you don't really enjoy...