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, 12 February 2013

Hyde Park Visit

Working in London today so went down early for a walk around Hyde Park to see if the Bearded Tits which have been reported were still present.  It was freezing cold when I arrived at 07:30 but that didn't stop a few lunatics from swimming in the Serpentine!!

As I arrived at the reedbeds adjacent to the Princess Diana Memorial Garden I noticed movement at the end of the reeds which indeed turned out to be one of the Bearded Tits. In the end two individuals were on show.

 Bearded Tit

Bearded Tit
 
On my walk back I managed some great views of Ring Necked Parakeets courtesy of somebody feeding them by hand!  He also had a Robin and Great Tits feeding from his hand too.
 
The Serpentine contained Gadwall, Shovelar, a single Great Black Backed Gull, Tufted DuckMute Swan, Canada and Greylag Geese and a pair of Egyptian Geese.


Sunday, 10 February 2013

Bournemouth Visit

Visiting family in Bournemouth over the weekend but misses allowed me to have Saturday off to go geeking, where to go though with so many great sites to choose from?

The weather wasn't that great but I was determined to make the most of it so I started at Upton CP as a Green Winged Teal had been reported for a few days previous.  Luckily for me somebody with a scope put me on as mine is in dire need of an upgrade.  Other birds present were hundreds of Eurasian Teal and Wigeon, there was about 25 Shelduck, 20 Avocet, plenty of Redshank, a Spotted Redshank, a few Oystercatcher and Curlew.  I then popped over to Holes Bay as 3 x Siberian Chiffchaff had been reported, I managed to find two flitting around with a Goldcrest.

Nuthatch
 
 Avocet
 
 Curlew
 
Little Egret

I then headed over to Radipole Lake to see if I could connect with a Marsh Harrier which I successfully did, photo isn't too great I'm afraid but you can make out this female well enough I think?  Was hoping for Bearded Tit and Cetti's Warbler but only managed to hear a Chetti's Warbler.  5 gull species were present; Great Black Backed, Lesser Black Backed, Herring, Common and Black Headed.

 Female Marsh Harrier
 
 Great Black Backed Gull
 
 Lesser Black Backed & Herring Gulls
 
Robin

The plan was then to pop over to Ferrybridge as plenty of Divers and Grebes had been reported but the day had already come to an end, Dorset definately has a great selection of sites, I'll have to plan a weekend there during migration I think, spend some time around Portland.

Friday, 8 February 2013

Waxwing surprise

10th February 2013 - Photos Added

Just setting off to Bournemouth for the weekend had to quickly pull the car over before I was out of street as I'd seen some birds in a bush which, as I went past came into view as Waxwings. I've taken a few photos which I'll upload upon my return. The misses is letting me out geeking all day tomorrow so need to decide between Arne, Christchurch Harbour or Portland, tough decision...




3 Scaup (2 drake) still on Caldecotte south lake not far from bridge at 11:45, again photos to follow.


Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Slavonian Grebe

After a tip off from a collegue at work, I headed to Tongwell Lake to see if the Slavonian Grebe (82) was still present.  Fortunately I managed to get straight onto it in the northern corner of the lake as reported.  Unfortunately that was all I got to see as I moved position for a better view but was unable to relocate it, plus the darkness set in rather quickly.  I did get to watch a small flock (300ish) of Starlings doing there evening sky dance before dropping from the sky into the reedbeds.
I'd been informed that a Scaup was also present but never managed to connect, I did however notice a female Tufted Duck with a significant white patch around the bill.

5th Feb - If only........

Saw an amazing variety of species today:
 Obliging Grey Heron
 
 Barnacle Goose
 
 Lesser Scaup
 
 Trio of Mandarin
 
 Pink Footed Goose
 
 Shelduck and Bar Headed Goose
 
Smew


Wood Duck
 

Plus others such as Red Crested Pochard, Chiloe Wigeon, Egyptian Goose, Hooded Merganser etc etc... Unfortunately all in the Regent's Park wildfowl collection. Very nice to be able to see and study such species up close but frustrating as you have to presume all wildfowl are part of the collection!
Managed to see my first Siskin of the year though so that was nice.