Successfully told myself that I could not justify the time or money or carbon footprint of travelling to Rochdale, but unsuccessfully tried to avoid Hartlepool. And pleased I did.
You cannot whack getting to a new location and first time and finding a birder already there and so seeing the quarry without delay. Today was one of those days, with the Red-necked Grebe at Hartlepool Marina.
And the weather was breezy and sunny and clear and the views outstanding. And what a spectacular place too! Eight Red-breasted Mergansers on the water as well - which was nice!
And now the shitty-shotties:
Oh bugger! I think you are counting these birds twice. I can't believe you didn't get RN Grebe off Stag Rock early in the year. All I added today was a dodgey Ross's Goose. I failed to get RC Pochard at Cresswell.
ReplyDeleteThe Ross's is a belter! Nice one. My one and only RNG was 2006, distant, East Chev beyond the islands so today's was superb. The light was excellent and the views great. If it's there tomorrow, it's well worth a trip (78 miles return from Crammers). Better pictures here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33013&page=498
It was just a bit far for my lens and diving too regularly to focus with the digiscope. Smart juvenile though.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing with Ross's Goose is that it's not on the British list. So it's as dodgey as your Egyptian Goose. Off to Leighton Moss tomorrow on family birding trip. So I might pull one or two back on you.
ReplyDeleteI keep looking on here expecting to see 230 Green-Winged Teal.
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ReplyDeleteNope - 28/2/10 @ Druridge Pools.
ReplyDeleteMy quests for the year (Year Ticks remaining) are (and some are not possible/likely):
American Wigeon
Balearic Shearwater
Bearded Tit
Black Guillemot
Bonaparte's Gull
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Caspian Tern
Firecrest
Glaucous Gull
Glossy Ibis
Golden Eagle
Golden Oriole
Great Shearwater
Great White Pelican
Grey Phalarope
Hooded Crow
Iceland Gull
Icterine Warbler
Isabelline Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Lesser Scaup
Raven
Red-breasted Goose
Richardson's Canada Goose
Roller
Sabine's Gull
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-toed Lark
Water Pipit
White-rumped Sandpiper
White Stork and
The other Redpoll!!!!!!!!