I will once more focus on local birding and day trips within North Rhine-Westfalia. Thought about a trip to Nepal but have to push back the trip for another year. Hopefully I will manage some shorter trips within Europe. Thinking about Spain for birds and to try for Iberian Lynx. Definitely want to go to Heligoland in autumn for bird migration.
Targets for 2023
- owls: haven’t seen Pygmy, Boreal and even Long-eared owl (shouldn’t be too hard to do short a day trip to see one this winter). Boreal probably the hardest to find. Even if it’s not a lifer I finally want to see the Eagle Owl I heard a couple of times in walking distance from my apartment.
- Grey-headed woodpecker and Spotted Nutcracker. I remember seeing them during family holidays during childhood but I haven’t seen ether since I started listing 2 years ago. Both plus Pygmy owl could be possible on a weekend trip to the Sauerland area (ideally Boreal owl too)
- Tick the three missing “easy“ waders from my Düsseldorf list (Ruff, Jack Snipe, Woodcock) and at least one of Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel, Curlew, Temminck‘s and Little stint (all rarely seen in Düsseldorf).
- Hazel and Garden dormouse
- Found a LEO and the Eagle Owl in Düsseldorf. Didn’t manage to try for Pygmy and Boreal Owl in spring.
- Did see Grey-headed Woodpecker and Spotted Nutcracker
- Didn’t manage to find Jack Snipe and Woodsnipe locally. But found Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff
- Did see Garden Dormouse. Hazel Dormouse is still on my target list but received some good insights where to look for them. So hopefully will find one in 2024.
Overall I am quite happy with my birding/ wildlife year 2023.