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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jonno52" data-source="post: 3502816" data-attributes="member: 72350">Thanks very much Nutcracker and Hotspur. Only problem is (as my profile explains, though there's no room there to describe it fully) there's no way I can go anywhere for Gos. Five years ago maybe, but since then I've developed demyelinating sensorimotor polyneuropathy (trips off the tongue, doesn't it?) which has left me flatbound. As you can imagine, this is a distinct disadvantage as far as birding is concerned. This year I did manage on 3 occasions to get to a good local place for birds, South Norwood Country Park, with my brother driving. I have a wheeled walker which enabled me to get around quite well for some year ticks (Mallard, Grey Heron, even Canada Goose! and a few others). Years ago, it was there I had my only sighting of one LGRE... he asked where the "rare grebe" was, and not recognising him, I thought "oh, a beginner" and told him only GCGs were present. Turned out later he had meant to go to South Norwood Lake for the Pied-billed, but I was then unaware it was on my doorstep. I'd been to Kenfig for what is believed to have been the same bird the previous year - lo and behold, I could have saved myself a 400 mile round trip and waited for it arrive on my local patch :C) Once I knew, I did go and see it at SNL as well of course, together with my brother (a nice tick for him).I've been stable for 3 years with no sign of trouble on the horizon (tw) and am perfectly happy birding from the windows of my flat. Also I'm lazy by nature and in some ways this situation is quite agreeable. The rules of the game have changed, but no way am I giving up birding. Had a Song Thrush yesterday which brought the 2016 species tally to 50 (imagine!!) and I'm still basking in the afterglow. Thanks for listening to this spiel and reminiscing, and here's to 2017, may it bring you good birding B <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />Edit: one reason for this special interest in Goshawks is Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk. A wonderful book, which I'd recommend to anyone. It changed my attitude to falconry: if it's done properly, and if the bird has not been taken from the wild, I now think it acceptable.</blockquote>

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