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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Allen S. Moore" data-source="post: 1355547" data-attributes="member: 22662">I agree, certainly at home here, with choughs having a poor breeding season and their flock sizes being down. The flocks on wintering sites on the southern beaches haven't been bad, though, inc. 55 at one site last month. I also had my largest count of puffins along the cliffs of Peel Hill for a number of years, 25.The main factor stopping me getting out has been the very wet weather, even in June. Also, I had reasons to devote a bit more time to my family, as my son had his A-levels, with which he did very well, and both he and my daughter have started university degree courses in England. Did I then go out and do more birdwatching here in the Isle of Man? No, I went to Australia for a month. As well as visiting the amazing Lord Howe Island (my daughter Anna says,"What's this with you and small islands, Dad?"), I saw 4 of my 5 target birds. On Lord Howe Island I saw the woodhen and pied currawong, at Cassowary House I saw victoria's riflebird and just north of Perth I saw new holland honeyeater. My "dip" was the cassowary! As compensation, I saw 3 species of bowerbird - tooth-billed at Lake Barrine and regent and satin at O'Reilly's.I also saw at least 30 humpback whales, dolphins, other amazing marine life, a lumholz's tree kangaroo, possums, bandicoots and 2 platypuses. Truly, a great year. I just hope that the Manx weather improves!</blockquote>