My Outback (2003 XXI) (1 Viewer)

[birdman]

As I'm back at work tomorrow, I reckon this is the last patch report of the Calendar Year. Although I only started about March time, I'm going to draw a line under 2003 for ease of memory!

This morning was (and this afternoon still) cold, sunny and breezy, with the occasional bluster. Perhaps the wind was keeping the small birds hidden, as we weren't inundated... but the list, the last in this format, was quite satisfying.

Due to the usual excuses, regardhing light and optics and lack of skill, a number of sighting don't make the list for lack of positive id, but the perh. Reed Bunting and pr. Yellowhammer make it to the preamble, if not the final count!

So, final list of the year (23 spp.) as follows.

Black-headed Gull
Moorhen
Magpie
Mallard
Carrion Crow
Pied Wagtail
Coal Tit
Blackbird
Nuthatch
Buzzard
Woodpigeon
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Robin
Green Woodpecker
Kestrel
Great Black-backed Gull
Grey Heron
Starling
Dunnock

 

[pauco]

Nice final count of your outback birdman, lucky
you with the nuthatch! all the best for 2004.
ps really enjoyed your walks.
bert.

 

[birdman]

Cheers bert!

Much appreciated.

As I've worked my patch through the last 9ish months, I have gradually realised that it has been "practice" for the future.

I'm now quite familiar with most of the area in terms of where I can expect to see my "regulars".

I was thrilled earlier in the year to get Whitethroat, and I look forward to their return. They were reliable enough that I began to recognise the call... it will be interesting to find out if I have remembered over the winter months, or whether I will have to relearn.

Also, I've met one or two other locals during the year, and that has given me an idea of what I can look out for in 2004 that has bypassed me in 2003.

Apparently Crossbill (something to keep looking for during the winter months!) and Nightjar are very close by, Sparrowhawk are around and also Woodlark.

It would be nice to turn the heard Turtle Doves into seen Turtle Doves, and also to improve my Gull-iding abilities such as they aren't.

I'll also need to check out my owl calls, to see if I can add to the two on my list for 2003, and if I am lucky enough to get hold of a decent 'scope, mayde some of my "perh."s and "pr."s will turn into "def."s!

Hopefully, I will be able to start my 2004 reports early in January - weather and family commitments permitting! - and as I have said elsewhere, I will try to include numbers.

 

[Karl J]

Yes .... Nuthatch, good one BM. And Crossbill a distinct possibility eh, can't be bad.