CactusD
ἀρχός οἰω
Hello again all, I've decided on another list for the third year in a row.
Things *may* turn out a little more exciting this year, since we are hoping to be in Lesvos in April, and I may be in either Greece or the East Coast of the US later in the year; I also have a little more time on my hands this winter/spring, so we'll see what happens. Certainly I should manage to top the 153 of last year, and am aiming to beat the 209 of 2009; now that I have my own transport, this should hopefully be more easy. As before, and to make things even more exciting I will provide pics wherever possible, usually of birds (!) with my trusty Nikon kit, and also some macros of butterflies etc. when I have the opportunity.
The big plan this year is to hoover up a number of European target birds that have so far eluded me. If I manage to get to Greece in the summer, I'm hoping for more of the high mountain species, e.g. Rock Thrush, Alpine Chough, Shore Lark. If we all manage to get to Lesvos in one piece as a family, I'll be delighted to see lots of herons, crakes, etc., which will make up for dipping on many such lifer goodies in Cyprus in 2009; more raptors would also be most welcome. And who knows what locations closer to home will bring, including from the usual trips to Derbyshire and Scotland. As before, lifers will be upper case.
Edit, end of Jan: Holiday plans have now altered slightly! Due to logistical problems of travelling to Lesvos with baby, he and mother are travelling to Scotland for Easter while I do a solo trial of Lesvos mid-April (with the hope of returning in years to come with the family): the lists of CactusD and Maenad will diverge somewhat around Easter-time - Black Guillemot and Gannet versus Krüper's Nuthatch and Little Bittern?! The family holiday is now likely to be in July instead, so no Greek mainland trip for me this year :-C but possibility of Scandinavia/Iceland? :t:
Jan 1st started out very grey and grim, but we took a tip to Brandon Marsh nonetheless; hoping for Bittern, which we knew was there, but always quite a long shot, even with the ice, so our first dip. However, good to pick up a nice range of winter visitors and residents, and not a bad start to the list; one of these days I'll manage a shot of the Reed Buntings that sit in our neighbour's trees. An afternoon walk through the local park also got me the last two.
1. Wood Pigeon
2. Starling
3. Reed Bunting
4. Blackbird
5. House Sparrow
6. Jay
7. Magpie
8. Fieldfare
9. Black-headed Gull
10. Carrion Crow
11. Jackdaw
12. Rook
13. Redwing
14. Mallard
15. Feral Pigeon
16. Common Kestrel
17. Common Buzzard
18. Pheasant
19. Great Spotted Woodpecker
20. Moorhen
21. Blue Tit
22. Great Tit
23. Coal Tit
24. Chaffinch
25. Bullfinch
26. Dunnock
27. Collared Dove
28. Lapwing
29. Teal
30. Shoveler
31. Canada Goose
32. Cormorant
33. Robin
34. Long-tailed Tit
35. Mute Swan
36. Skylark
37. Gadwall
38. Goldfinch
39. Siskin
40. Lesser Redpoll
41. Marsh Tit
42. Sparrowhawk
43. Song Thrush
44. Wren
Sorry: no photos yet!
Things *may* turn out a little more exciting this year, since we are hoping to be in Lesvos in April, and I may be in either Greece or the East Coast of the US later in the year; I also have a little more time on my hands this winter/spring, so we'll see what happens. Certainly I should manage to top the 153 of last year, and am aiming to beat the 209 of 2009; now that I have my own transport, this should hopefully be more easy. As before, and to make things even more exciting I will provide pics wherever possible, usually of birds (!) with my trusty Nikon kit, and also some macros of butterflies etc. when I have the opportunity.
The big plan this year is to hoover up a number of European target birds that have so far eluded me. If I manage to get to Greece in the summer, I'm hoping for more of the high mountain species, e.g. Rock Thrush, Alpine Chough, Shore Lark. If we all manage to get to Lesvos in one piece as a family, I'll be delighted to see lots of herons, crakes, etc., which will make up for dipping on many such lifer goodies in Cyprus in 2009; more raptors would also be most welcome. And who knows what locations closer to home will bring, including from the usual trips to Derbyshire and Scotland. As before, lifers will be upper case.
Edit, end of Jan: Holiday plans have now altered slightly! Due to logistical problems of travelling to Lesvos with baby, he and mother are travelling to Scotland for Easter while I do a solo trial of Lesvos mid-April (with the hope of returning in years to come with the family): the lists of CactusD and Maenad will diverge somewhat around Easter-time - Black Guillemot and Gannet versus Krüper's Nuthatch and Little Bittern?! The family holiday is now likely to be in July instead, so no Greek mainland trip for me this year :-C but possibility of Scandinavia/Iceland? :t:
Jan 1st started out very grey and grim, but we took a tip to Brandon Marsh nonetheless; hoping for Bittern, which we knew was there, but always quite a long shot, even with the ice, so our first dip. However, good to pick up a nice range of winter visitors and residents, and not a bad start to the list; one of these days I'll manage a shot of the Reed Buntings that sit in our neighbour's trees. An afternoon walk through the local park also got me the last two.
1. Wood Pigeon
2. Starling
3. Reed Bunting
4. Blackbird
5. House Sparrow
6. Jay
7. Magpie
8. Fieldfare
9. Black-headed Gull
10. Carrion Crow
11. Jackdaw
12. Rook
13. Redwing
14. Mallard
15. Feral Pigeon
16. Common Kestrel
17. Common Buzzard
18. Pheasant
19. Great Spotted Woodpecker
20. Moorhen
21. Blue Tit
22. Great Tit
23. Coal Tit
24. Chaffinch
25. Bullfinch
26. Dunnock
27. Collared Dove
28. Lapwing
29. Teal
30. Shoveler
31. Canada Goose
32. Cormorant
33. Robin
34. Long-tailed Tit
35. Mute Swan
36. Skylark
37. Gadwall
38. Goldfinch
39. Siskin
40. Lesser Redpoll
41. Marsh Tit
42. Sparrowhawk
43. Song Thrush
44. Wren
Sorry: no photos yet!
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