Helenelizabeth2
What?!?
Another year, another thread.
I had considered giving this a theme - mainly local birding, say. Or a target - a low 150, maybe. But I think we all know by now that the likelihood of me sticking to a theme or pursuing a target with any kind of consistency for a whole year is about as high as the likelihood of Joe McElderry covering 'Killing in the Name' and taking it to No. 1 next Christmas. (I wish he would though)
So, here is a thread with no particular theme, no targets, no promises. I might post regularly, occasionally or once and never again. Who can tell? For that little bit of uncertainty that adds the spice to your life, check in here. (Though I reserve the right to consider you really blooming sad, dear reader, if this is the best you can do for a bit of spice.
)
Today the sun shone and having collected Euan from a sleepover in Huntingdon and put him to bed to sleep off the all-night Wii games, I headed off with my beloved for a yomp over the fields of Blatherwycke. But before I got that far, the list already contained:
1. Pied Wagtail, Corby
2. Magpie
3. Carrion Crow
4. Rook
5. Jackdaw
6. Woodpigeon
7. Black-headed Gull, all en route to Huntingdon
8. Kestrel, several roadside tween Peterborough and Blatherwycke
9. Red Kite, flying off over the icy fields by the A47.
OS map in hand we set off to follow a footpath round the lake and over to Fineshade Woods. I'd never walked round here before and I really must do it more often - this is a lovely part of Northamptonshire with pretty villages, rolling fields, hedgerows, ancient woodland and the odd lake or pond. We passed a couple of small patches of unharvested corn hoaching with grateful birds. Blatherwycke Lake itself is lovely - shame it's surrounded by private land.
In the order I remember them rather than the order I saw them, here is what I saw:
10. Greylag Goose
11. Canada Goose
12. Sparrowhawk
13. Pochard
14. Mistle Thrush
15. Goldfinch
16. Chaffinch
17. Bullfinch (nice pair in the hedgerows of the lane up to Fineshade)
18. Redwing
19. Fieldfare
20. Blackbird
21. House Sparrow
22. Wren
23. Tufted Duck
24. Mallard
25. Coot
26. Moorhen
27. Wigeon
28. Mute Swan
29. Yellowhammer
30. Reed Bunting
31. Collared Dove
32. Blue Tit
33. Great Tit
34. Long-tailed Tit
35. Gadwall
36. Dunnock
37. Robin
38. Red-legged Partridge
39. Pheasant
40. Little Grebe
41. Grey Heron
42. Starling
My lowest ever New Year's Day count but so much still to aim for. The gull roost, for example.
I had considered giving this a theme - mainly local birding, say. Or a target - a low 150, maybe. But I think we all know by now that the likelihood of me sticking to a theme or pursuing a target with any kind of consistency for a whole year is about as high as the likelihood of Joe McElderry covering 'Killing in the Name' and taking it to No. 1 next Christmas. (I wish he would though)
So, here is a thread with no particular theme, no targets, no promises. I might post regularly, occasionally or once and never again. Who can tell? For that little bit of uncertainty that adds the spice to your life, check in here. (Though I reserve the right to consider you really blooming sad, dear reader, if this is the best you can do for a bit of spice.
)Today the sun shone and having collected Euan from a sleepover in Huntingdon and put him to bed to sleep off the all-night Wii games, I headed off with my beloved for a yomp over the fields of Blatherwycke. But before I got that far, the list already contained:
1. Pied Wagtail, Corby
2. Magpie
3. Carrion Crow
4. Rook
5. Jackdaw
6. Woodpigeon
7. Black-headed Gull, all en route to Huntingdon
8. Kestrel, several roadside tween Peterborough and Blatherwycke
9. Red Kite, flying off over the icy fields by the A47.
OS map in hand we set off to follow a footpath round the lake and over to Fineshade Woods. I'd never walked round here before and I really must do it more often - this is a lovely part of Northamptonshire with pretty villages, rolling fields, hedgerows, ancient woodland and the odd lake or pond. We passed a couple of small patches of unharvested corn hoaching with grateful birds. Blatherwycke Lake itself is lovely - shame it's surrounded by private land.
In the order I remember them rather than the order I saw them, here is what I saw:
10. Greylag Goose
11. Canada Goose
12. Sparrowhawk
13. Pochard
14. Mistle Thrush
15. Goldfinch
16. Chaffinch
17. Bullfinch (nice pair in the hedgerows of the lane up to Fineshade)
18. Redwing
19. Fieldfare
20. Blackbird
21. House Sparrow
22. Wren
23. Tufted Duck
24. Mallard
25. Coot
26. Moorhen
27. Wigeon
28. Mute Swan
29. Yellowhammer
30. Reed Bunting
31. Collared Dove
32. Blue Tit
33. Great Tit
34. Long-tailed Tit
35. Gadwall
36. Dunnock
37. Robin
38. Red-legged Partridge
39. Pheasant
40. Little Grebe
41. Grey Heron
42. Starling
My lowest ever New Year's Day count but so much still to aim for. The gull roost, for example.
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