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










Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Kensington Gardens

I didn't go into work today as not feeling too great, however I started to feel a little house bound and decided a touch of fresh air was required. I headed over to Kensington Gardens for an hour and managed to add a few species to the year list.

A guarantee was always going to be the Egyptian Goose, quite large numbers in the park now, the flock outnumbering the Canada Goose and Greylag Goose.

Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Geese (Squabble or Courtship?)
 
There were small flocks of both Canada and Greylag goose grazing by the Round Pond, Greylag were 'new for year' for me.
 
Greylag Goose
 
It was nice to see a couple of cheeky Jackdaw up close and the lovely colours of a Starling when they are caught in the right light.
 
Jackdaw

Starling

Starling (bathing)

Starling (bathing)

Starling (bathing)
 
I managed to find the Greater Scaup amongst the Tufted Duck although I was unable to get a decent photo as he was always into the Sun.
 
Scaup
 


I then took a walk over to the old Oak tree to search for the resident Tawny Owl which I've never managed to find despite the daily reporting of by Ralph on his amazing blog HERE, an inspirational example of true patch birding.  Needless to say I was unable to find the Tawny Owl...
 
I headed on over to the Leaf Garden in search of Coal Tit's as this was another bird I needed for this year, on route over I was treated to some great views of Jay and found a couple of Redwing and a Song Thrush.
 
Jay

Redwing

Song Thrush
 

I found a Coal Tit 'pitchoo-ing' in the Leaf Garden along with Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit, I also had Pochard and Shovelar on the main lake by the Peter Pan statue.  On my way back I thought I'd chance one last look for the Tawny Owl, I decided to try other trees from the one I'd worked out it would be in according to Ralphs directions which, on revisiting I'd gotten wrong.  My perseverance was finally rewarded (about 8 visits) and there he was sat in the exact pose as in his daily appearance on Ralphs blog..  Thanks to Ralph for directions...

Shovelar

Tawny Owl
 
Having called it day and heading back to the tube I managed to add Great Spotted Woodpecker to the year list.  I grabbed a few photos of the Ring-necked Parakeets as they looked dazzling in the sunshine today.
 
Ring-necked Parakeet
 
I also couldn't resist this Grey Squirrel soaking up the sun, he looked like a hunters pelt...

 


All in all an hour well spent I think, I managed to get some well needed fresh air whilst adding 8 species to my 2015 Year List - Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, Greater Scaup, Shovelar, Pochard, Coal Tit, Tawny Owl and Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Location: Kensington Gardens, London W2 2UH, UK

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