Getting up to date!

After the excitement of the G-W Gull it was back to more normal birding while at work and home. Over the next few days just 4 new year ticks were forthcoming with a Goldcrest in the garden and a fly over Skylark a couple of minutes later. 3 Lesser Redpolls in the council depot in Oxhey were a nice bonus and a Green Woodpecker the next day. But it was the 24th when my brand new feeding station in the garden came up trumps with a fine male Blackcap eating the seed and fat balls.

The 25th saw me in North Norfolk at Titchwell RSPB with the Watford RSPB on one of their coach trips. At last another chance to rack up some year ticks. A Buzzard and a pair of Egyptian Geese on the journey up were added and thankfully by the time we arrived the rain had nearly ceased which helped when writing down all the new species that were coming thick and fast. The highlights were 3 Twite in with a small flock of Linnet, the wintering Water Pipit which was my 100th species for the year and regular Black Brant, whilst on the sea along with a couple of Harbour Porpoises a group of Eider and Common Scoter held a nice Velvet Scoter and a bit further along a distant Black-Throated Diver. Just before we got back on the coach a lovely Barn Owl was seen hunting.

By the months end i'd reached 114 species for the year after adding both Kingfisher and Treecreeper in Cassiobury Park and a surprise Woodcock that flew over the car when down visiting the in-laws in Kent.