New Year Fun
For a bit of fun, today I had a go at seeing 100+ species in one day. Not the normal thing I do but thought it might be fun.
I left London at 03:45 and 2 hours later I was in the Brecks. First bird of the day was a Barn Owl quickly followed by a second one, in the Hilborough area another Barn Owl and 4 calling Tawny Owls and it was only 06:15. I then moved on to Lynford Arboretum. It was still dark on arrival so coffee and a bite to eat while more Tawny Owls called. I checked the lakes first, pretty dead there apart from Little Egret, Chiffchaff, a few Teal, Gadwall and fly over Redpolls. No sign of the Goosanders that I saw last week. The Arboretum didn't produce much apart from the normal woodland birds. Total so far 42
Next on my list was Santon Downham, 20+ Bramblings in the St Helens car park and the Great Grey Shrike was playing ball by sitting on top of a tree for all to see. I then done a quick driving tour of a few locations that produced female Goshawk, Red Kite, Tree Sparrow and Grey Partridge my total was now up to 60 and it was 11:00, 30 mins behind schedule. Time to head for the coast.
Burnham Overy was my next stop, and I am glad I did. Not much to see on the walk down to the dunes apart from a couple of Ruffs and a nice flock of Golden Plovers. I found a high spot overlooking the marsh and out of the ever increasing wind, poured a coffee and started to scan. A distant Red Kite over Holkham Park was first up. Next a big-ish all white bird landed distantly on the marsh, I scoped it thinking it might be an iffy Snow Goose but was surprised to see a Great White Egret (Brucey Bonus) whilst watching the Egret a ringtail Hen Harrier flew through my field of view. Then a Buzzard was heard calling, looking up 2 R L Buzzards were almost right above my head. I love crazy 5 minutes birding like that. A quick scan of the sea produced 2 Velvet and several Common Scoters and a small group of Sanderling scurrying along the beach as if they were late for a date.
I arrived back at the car, a bit cold and with very muddy boots, it was 14:40 the light was going fast and the wind was really blowing hard now, I was on 87 for the day. Could Titchwell deliver 13 more birds? I arrived there at 15:00 I almost sprinted through the car park and along the bank. Coot and Pochard was new for the day as were Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Reed Bunting, Grey Plover and Avocet by the time I got to the last set of pools by the beach I needed 3 more, where is that Spotted Redshank when you need him, nowhere! A pair of Pintail were close to the bank but nothing else. The sea would produce something wouldn't it? No, just a pair of R B Mergansers.
That was it, 99 for the day, one short. Hang on didn't I see a Feral Pigeon in London at 04:00...no. Could I count the hybrid Black Brant/Brent Goose at Burnham Overy....no.
I dipped on a few easy birds like Green Woodpecker, Linnet, Bullfinch and Sparrowhawk. Maybe if the sun shone and wind less windy I might have reached 100.
Over six hours of driving, 330 miles and car full of crumbs and coffee stains on the seats! Was it worth it - you bet, a fantastic day. And I am number 1 on both lists on BirdTrack- just for one day at least:king:
Chris
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