Sick as F@ck!

It was Sir Royston of Grangetown who coined the phrase in his witty ditty!  He can add a line on my behalf that he's 'as short as the Liverbirder's Life List'.

Last night, I was the, if not one of the, first to hear Quail in Cramlington.  For an hour and a half I chased the little bleeders as they called ahead of me then stopped and stooped and metaphorically put their two primaries up at me and then ran off again.

Today, others have invaded my patch and seen the wee game birds.  At least one local has also ticked them.  But after my fourth try, with sore feet (me and the dog), we give up.

Give me a Great White Egret any time.

And there's even more!

West Hartford tonight, never mind the jiz, here's the birding jism!

Walking my lucky charm near the west end of the access road and f*ck me, QUAIL!

Phoned John - The Duke of Cramlington - Malloy and he was already there and thought he had heard one near the brick house (cue The Commodores).

I reckon three to four in the area over the 90 minutes I was there.

Could I see Lifer 255?  Could I f*ck!  At times they were only feet away but completely invisible.

Not A Knot?

Not. 

Two negatives make a positive so not Not A Knot makes it a Knot. 

At WH tonight, an odd looking wader, along with the usual suspects.  I thought it might be a Knot, but in Temminck's-like fashion, poop, scoop, home, Collin's, scope, car, run, view.

It was a Knot, in winter plumage, and confirmed by local wise man Lindsey McDougall, who was equally intrigued.  A good bird for the patch, and plenty of Barn Owl action too.