Benji's 2023 List (1 Viewer)

[BenjiS]

Now back in England - last few for the list:

132. Silvereye
133. Pied Stilt
134. Royal Spoonbill
135. Eastern Rosella
136. New Zealand Bellbird
137. Fluttering Shearwater
138. Australasian Gannet
139. Spotted Shag
140. Pied Cormorant
141. Little Pied Cormorant
142. Caspian Tern
143. New Zealand Pipit
144. Paradise Shelduck
145. Black Swan
146. New Zealand Scaup

Year Total - 146, Garden Total - 27, Mammals - 7, Herps - 0, Butterflies & Moths - 5

 

[BenjiS]

Final two from NZ

147. Gray Gergone
148. Wild Turkey

And after getting back from NZ, got straight into a british lifer 🤩
149. Garganey

Year Total - 149, Garden Total - 27, Mammals - 7, Herps - 0, Butterflies & Moths - 5

 

[BenjiS]

As well as Garganey now confirmed

150. Common Sandpiper
151. Greenshank (lifer)

Year Total - 151, Garden Total - 27, Mammals - 7, Herps - 0, Butterflies & Moths - 5

 

[BenjiS]

A few more -

152. Spotted Flycatcher - lifer
153. Garden Warbler - lifer

And a great time at Slimbridge added 6 lifers!

154. Pied Avocet
155. Common Ringed Plover
156. Ruff
157. Temmink's Stint - This was a lucky one - just turned up and everyone had their scopes on it!
158. Eurasian Spoonbill
159. Common Crane

Also, a nice meeting with the 'Biking Birder'!

Year Total - 159, Garden Total - 27, Mammals - 7, Herps - 0, Butterflies & Moths - 5

 

[Owene]

That’s how I got my first temmincks stint as well never would have seen it with my binoculars

 

[BenjiS]

Also, (while I think about it)

160. Green Sandpiper

Year Total - 160, Garden Total - 27, Mammals - 7, Herps - 0, Butterflies & Moths - 5

 

[Owene]

Was the green sandpiper slimbridge. Was thinking of going Thursday or Friday

 

[BenjiS]

Yes

 

[Owene]

cool, for some reason i've never gotten a photo of one

 

[BenjiS]

It was right close to the hide when I was there (although I can't remember which hide it was!)

 

[BenjiS]

On having a quick look over this I've realised I've actually managed to add Green Woodpecker twice (103 and 105), so my year list is actually only 159😅

 

[BenjiS]

Finally got my first wild owl!
Seen on 11/09 - while out for a walk at about 7:45 - flew straight towards me before swerving out of the way and landing back in a tree - although I only saw it in flight because it was very dark!

160. Tawny Owl

 

[BenjiS]

A few more lifers
Some from Rainham Marshes a while ago
161. Black Tailed Godwit
162. Cattle Egret - lifer

Some from WWT Slimbridge a while ago
163. Greater White Fronted Goose - lifer
164. Great Black Backed Gull

And my lifer today
165. Great Northern Diver (Common Loon)

 

[Bewick]

Have you seen a bittern yet? Also that's a lot of new birds for one year... congratulations.

 

[BenjiS]

Have you seen a bittern yet?

No, never seen one in my life, so its still on my wish list!

 

[Bewick]

No, never seen one in my life, so its still on my wish list!

You should try the discovery hide on seventy acres lake- with patience you are pretty much guaranteed some great views, the area is also great for nightingales in the spring/summer period.

 

[BenjiS]

Very happy to get
166. Bohemian Waxwing - lifer!
today!

 

[Owene]

Really cool bird. Where did you see it?

 

[Bewick]

Very happy to get
166. Bohemian Waxwing - lifer!
today!

The berkhamsted ones? They turned up while we had already planned on going to Abberton so we sadly missed them, hopefully they stick until the term ends. Even if they leave, its 100% a species im going to get before the year ends.

 

[BenjiS]

The berkhamsted ones? They turned up while we had already planned on going to Abberton so we sadly missed them, hopefully they stick until the term ends. Even if they leave, its 100% a species im going to get before the year ends.

Yes
I went on Wednesday for 3 hours in the evening and completely missed them, then went down again today got there about 8:30 and they were sitting there waiting for me!
Defo worth the 30min bike ride in 5C temp!