Game of Two Halves

Had a good couple of hours (eventually) this afternoon.

Whilst walking the dog along the burn, a Kingfisher flew off east along the stretch to the west of the fire station, using the tunnel under the B1505 to get to the other side and out of sight.

Walk over, off the Arcot Pond, which was frozen over and ornithologically quiet.  A Common Buzzard was seen several times and a Jay heard in the golf course.  One Woodcock was flushed from the area to the north of the pond.

Next, off the Blyth Staithes, following Crammy Birder's lead from yesterday.

Fieldfare greeted me, and on the larger filtration pond c.45 Tufties and a few Pochard and Moorhen too.

The jetty to the east of the boat club had Oystercatcher roosting along with Redshanks, Turnstones and several of the commoner gull species.

The Red-breasted Mergansers were on the river, two males and a female, as well as a Red-necked Grebe, Eider, Mute Swan, Shelduck and a very nice surprise of a Slavonian Grebe.

A Grey Wagtail walked the shore-line wall, and on the spit, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit and Sanderling.

First Footing

Nice stroll from home to West Hartford and back this afternoon bagged 28 species, with the highlights being GSW and 'Missile' Thrush along the burn, and a lone Lesser Redpoll to the north of the sub-station.

My Way

And now, the end is near, and so I face, the final curtain.....

A super 2010 draws to a close, with some birding highs documented.  Nineteen additions to the Life List is, in itself, pretty good, but within them some birds I have waited a long time to see.  Hobby (and on my door step), Great White Egret, Nightjar, Woodchat Shrike and Rough-legged Buzzard were ornithogasmic!

Regrets, I've had a few.....

And only a few.  Not going for the Whiskered Tern, and dipping on Ring-necked Duck (twice) and Hawfinch (yet again) are but three.

Yes there were times I'm sure you knew, when I bit off more than I could chew.....

Challenging Sir Vipers of Dinnington, who 'won' 236 - 231!

The record shows I took the blows, and did it my way.....

Thanks to all who have assisted, stifled, thwarted, supported and generally contributed to this year - here's to an even better 2011.