2016 Year List

2016 Year List (UK:137) (Total:165):
Key: Bold = Lifer. Red = Overseas Bold Red (Work it out!)

Starling, House Sparrow, Mallard, Eider, Pheasant, Red-throated Diver, Northern Fulmar, Raven, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Robin, Rock Pipit, Rock Dove, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Shag, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Widgeon, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Great Northern Diver, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Purple Sandpiper, Collard Dove, Redwing, Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Red Kite, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Egyptian Goose, Northern Shovelar, Great Crested Grebe, Bittern, Moorhen, Coot, Ring-necked Parakeet, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Wren, Canada Goose, Pintail, Pochard, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Jay, Siskin, Gadwall, Peregrine Falcon, Long-tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Red-legged Partridge, Treecreeper, Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Sardinian Warbler, Audouin's Gull, Osprey, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Yellow-legged Gull, Blackcap, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Stone Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Serin, Common Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Booted Eagle, Kentish Plover, Greater Flamingo, Moustached Warbler, Purple Swamphen, Pied Avocet, Greenshank, Pink-footed Goose, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Grey Partridge, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Lapland Bunting, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Golden Pheasant, Common Snipe, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Wheatear, Dipper, Yellowhammer, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Goosander, Velvet Scoter, Common Scoter, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, King Eider, Whimbrel, Snow Bunting, Capercaillie, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe, Rock Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Black-throated Diver, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Skua, Puffin, Red-crested Pochard










Friday 22 February 2013

Great Grey Shrike

Although the title is Great Grey Shrike, this was hopefully to be a bonus bird but would be my first UK bird having seen them in Iraq, Oman, Turkey and Cyprus etc, the target bird for today was Long Eared Owl representing a lifer for me. It's been mentioned as a side note to Great Grey Shrike reports on Therfield Heath that up to 4 Long Eared Owls have been present - oh and Short Eared Owl, Hen Harrier and Merlin, and that's in addition to Kestrel, Buzzard and Red Kite.......!

Anyway, I did some research on 'tinterweb' and established that the best place to start from was Briary Lane - which I did and the first bird I saw perched high in the tallest tree was the Great Grey Shrike - bonus, I took a whole raft of photos but my lack of experience and photography knowledge show as it was difficult shooting up into the grey light of the overcast sky.


Great Grey Shrike
 
I then walked up and then back down the Icknield Way in the company of a solitary Wren which insisted on following me up the path. I spent a while watch a flock of about 40 Linnet, Therfield Heath is apparently a Mecca for them with flocks up to 1000+ noted.  After a while I decided to head over to Grays Farm as the LEO's have often been reported in that region, however what other blogs/posts have failed to mention is that Grays Farm is private property and public access is not permitted, I had to graciously apologise to the farmer who was actually very understanding and obviously very patient as I can only assume this is a daily occurrence.  The farm is managed perfectly for wild birds for which area sightings are testament, the fields all have abundant wild margins for farmland birds.  I managed only my 2nd ever sighting of Grey Partridge, about 8 of them, my first and only sighting until today was way back in 1990 - 23 years ago!!!  My attention was drawn to their calls which was loud and boisterous, they seem very territorial.  There was also a lot of Red Legged Partridge about.  Around the farm there was a lot of feeders attracting a multitude of finches and a few Yellowhammer which were sometimes permitted a look in from the gangs of Reed Buntings..
 
Grey Partridge
 
I didn't managed to connect with a LEO today but it was still a fantastic day anyway with a 1st and 2nd for the UK.  It was also great to see the work that can be achieved by farmers if they are so inclined, I hope that Grays Farm continue the amazing work they do and fingers crossed that one day they will be willing to allow the public access, even if limited.

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Location: Therfield, Hertfordshire SG8, UK

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