Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Might still need to - if I recall the reports rightly, these are Tundra Beans, whereas Cantley has Taiga Beans :t:
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Twelve targets for 2016 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JWN Andrewes
- Start date
Might still need to - if I recall the reports rightly, these are Tundra Beans, whereas Cantley has Taiga Beans :t:
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Sheesh! Another split I've missed! Armchair tick for me then though, so on balance I'll not mind too much.
Cheers
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Depends on which authority you follow! IOC split them, AERC don't; can't recollect offhand what BOU do with them :t:
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Not split by BOU. Perhaps why they want to give up making taxonomic decisions - file under All Too Difficult?
Seeing for insurance the correct action. Not to mention enjoying seeing Bean Geese of whatever variety!
John
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
October 16th; part III
As the band of rain passed over we tucked into our packed lunches and re-positioned ourselves to the other side of the Humber, to Donna Nook, in the hopes of catching up with one of the most mythical of mega-rarities; Red-flanked Bluetail! Well ok, perhaps times have changed a wee bit of late, but I suspect that birders of a certain vintage will never quite get over just how deliriously desirable these birds were twenty years ago, and I for one intend to continue living in denial, and treat them as several steps above a great many migrants of current matching status. So there.
The sun was shining as we pulled up in the car park, from where the modest cluster of Bluetail admirers could be seen a little way along the bank, and once we'd joined them we had to wait no more than five minutes or so before, after a couple of cobalt edged fly-bys, the bird finally posed shamelessly on a fence post just beneath us, a true beauty. We were treated to excellent views, which, along with it's splashes of colour and definite cuteness factor earned it Sam's vote for bird of the day. (Arch, the eldest, and scarily keen to the point of near obsession, is more influenced by rarity value; for him it was Siberian Accentor all the way.)
A little further on the bank a Siberian Stonechat had been showing, but by the time we arrived it had moved on elsewhere, with the word on site being that it sometimes headed off over onto the marsh, which was where we found it eventually, rather distant, but sitting up often enough for good scope views. Best of the rest was excellent close views of a Merlin steaming past, spotted by Arch while I was searching for the Stonecaht. All that then remained was to pay our respects to the Donna Nook seals, great slabs of blubber loafing on the distant sand banks, it's a bit early in the season for the excellent close views one can achieve at this site, before an easy run home, getting us back at a respectable half past six, not bad for a school night!
So with half term looming, weather systems stirring and week booked off work, watch this space...!
As the band of rain passed over we tucked into our packed lunches and re-positioned ourselves to the other side of the Humber, to Donna Nook, in the hopes of catching up with one of the most mythical of mega-rarities; Red-flanked Bluetail! Well ok, perhaps times have changed a wee bit of late, but I suspect that birders of a certain vintage will never quite get over just how deliriously desirable these birds were twenty years ago, and I for one intend to continue living in denial, and treat them as several steps above a great many migrants of current matching status. So there.
The sun was shining as we pulled up in the car park, from where the modest cluster of Bluetail admirers could be seen a little way along the bank, and once we'd joined them we had to wait no more than five minutes or so before, after a couple of cobalt edged fly-bys, the bird finally posed shamelessly on a fence post just beneath us, a true beauty. We were treated to excellent views, which, along with it's splashes of colour and definite cuteness factor earned it Sam's vote for bird of the day. (Arch, the eldest, and scarily keen to the point of near obsession, is more influenced by rarity value; for him it was Siberian Accentor all the way.)
A little further on the bank a Siberian Stonechat had been showing, but by the time we arrived it had moved on elsewhere, with the word on site being that it sometimes headed off over onto the marsh, which was where we found it eventually, rather distant, but sitting up often enough for good scope views. Best of the rest was excellent close views of a Merlin steaming past, spotted by Arch while I was searching for the Stonecaht. All that then remained was to pay our respects to the Donna Nook seals, great slabs of blubber loafing on the distant sand banks, it's a bit early in the season for the excellent close views one can achieve at this site, before an easy run home, getting us back at a respectable half past six, not bad for a school night!
So with half term looming, weather systems stirring and week booked off work, watch this space...!
Attachments
edenwatcher
Well-known member
Top stuff. Sibe accs causing some annoyance here.
Last week (first of the boys' half term) was spent with my mother in Lincolnshire which gave some birding opportunities.
On 9th we had a splendid day out at Spurn with highlights being a ridiculously showy olive-backed pipit, Pallas's warbler, a couple of yellow-broweds, a red-breasted flycatcher, lesser whitethroat, ring ouzel and a very tame redstart. The first 5(!) of those were lifers for boys.
Next morning Daniel and I tried for the swamphen without success but did see avocet, marsh harrier etc. I went back alone in the afternoon and bagged the swamphen as I was on the point of leaving.
On the Thursday I had a solo trip to Donna Nook for that very showy bluetail and rose-coloured starling. I must have driven past the Humber Bridge turning at about the time the accentor was found. On Friday we came home on the train...
On Tuesday we decided that we would be pushed for time to get to Holy Island (oops!). We went yesterday and had stunning views of the isabelline wheatear plus a firecrest and some twite. Boys had the bonus of being able to construct an elaborate sandcastle while the wheatear wasn't showing! Of course we drove past Thorntonloch in each direction!
So very much hoping for a gettable Sibe acc this weekend, but the boys can't complain at their recent haul!
Rob
Last week (first of the boys' half term) was spent with my mother in Lincolnshire which gave some birding opportunities.
On 9th we had a splendid day out at Spurn with highlights being a ridiculously showy olive-backed pipit, Pallas's warbler, a couple of yellow-broweds, a red-breasted flycatcher, lesser whitethroat, ring ouzel and a very tame redstart. The first 5(!) of those were lifers for boys.
Next morning Daniel and I tried for the swamphen without success but did see avocet, marsh harrier etc. I went back alone in the afternoon and bagged the swamphen as I was on the point of leaving.
On the Thursday I had a solo trip to Donna Nook for that very showy bluetail and rose-coloured starling. I must have driven past the Humber Bridge turning at about the time the accentor was found. On Friday we came home on the train...
On Tuesday we decided that we would be pushed for time to get to Holy Island (oops!). We went yesterday and had stunning views of the isabelline wheatear plus a firecrest and some twite. Boys had the bonus of being able to construct an elaborate sandcastle while the wheatear wasn't showing! Of course we drove past Thorntonloch in each direction!
So very much hoping for a gettable Sibe acc this weekend, but the boys can't complain at their recent haul!
Rob
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
October 24th
Bit of mixed fortune for you there Rob, one sympathises. Here's hoping Accentorfest 2016 isn't over yet...
Five and a half hours today in a fruitless search for American Wigeon at Marshside/Crossens. Had been considering a blast across to Norfolk, but first day off after a busy spell at work I lacked the stamina (although for the right bird I'm sure it would have been forthcoming), so this was a bit of a plan B. Some pleasant autumn birding, and Arch is beginning to enjoy keeping a notebook, racking up day lists (46 today) and scribbling a few sketches when we get home, but nothing stood out, although if the two (of three present) Cattle Egrets had shown a bit closer I guess they might have done so.
Bit of mixed fortune for you there Rob, one sympathises. Here's hoping Accentorfest 2016 isn't over yet...
Five and a half hours today in a fruitless search for American Wigeon at Marshside/Crossens. Had been considering a blast across to Norfolk, but first day off after a busy spell at work I lacked the stamina (although for the right bird I'm sure it would have been forthcoming), so this was a bit of a plan B. Some pleasant autumn birding, and Arch is beginning to enjoy keeping a notebook, racking up day lists (46 today) and scribbling a few sketches when we get home, but nothing stood out, although if the two (of three present) Cattle Egrets had shown a bit closer I guess they might have done so.
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JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
The Wigeon in the attached barely comprise a tenth of what was out there today so no reason why the Yank isn't still around, washing down in a creek, or head under wing, maybe stuffing its beak in some dead ground or just simply pulling off a "Where's Wally" in some corner of one of the bigger flocks.
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JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
October 27th: part I
Cheers MK, it's been an absolute blast and Arch is already discussing candidates for next year's targets, and we've had some great days out. Unfortunately yesterday wasn't one of them!
Things started out well enough. Four and a half hours after our 03:00 depart time we were pulling up at the car park at the south end of the East Bank, our walk out to the shingle lit by a glorious pink dawn. We joined a couple of other birders looking for the Desert Wheatear, and learned one of them had just seen the bird briefly on the fence. Ok, settle down to wait for a reappearance then. Several minutes passed with no sign, and then a couple more birders turned up, having walked in from the east and picked up a dozen Shorelark dropping in a little way back. Judging by the lay of the land we reckoned we could just as easily scan the fence and shingle from where the Larks were as we could from our current location, so decided to go have a look. Another birder was already watching the Shorelarks, and as I swept my bins across the area he was directing me to the Desert Wheatear bombed left through my field of vision! For the next few minutes it flicked about, stopping variously on fence posts, short scrubby weeds and directly on the shingle itself, often enough allowing plenty of time between forays to obtain decent scope views.
We also managed brief distant views of a couple of the Shorelarks, but by now the boys (lacking my slightly more favourable volume to surface area ratio) were feeling the cold so we retraced our steps to the car. After a lemon slice each we checked out Walsey Hills for the Dusky Warbler, but it was non forthcoming and none of us fancied an extended bush-staring session, so it was on to the next target; Egyptian Goose.
Not one to set the pulses racing I agree, but we all have to see our first (I still remember mine, at Minsmere in April 1985), and I was determined to find some. Now, it's been some time since I'd been to Norfolk, and I while I was confident I would find some I didn't really have a handle on how easy it would be, I didn't want to disregard any sites where I'd seen them with ease in the past, so given that I was planning that the rest of the day would be spent a good bit further west I reckoned we should check out the fields behind Salthouse duckpond before heading anywhere else. None were there, but I could see some in the fields between Walsey & Salthouse, but after a couple of passes I couldn't find anywhere convenient to park up, so decided to try my luck at Holkham, somewhere else I'd seen them in the past.
Cheers MK, it's been an absolute blast and Arch is already discussing candidates for next year's targets, and we've had some great days out. Unfortunately yesterday wasn't one of them!
Things started out well enough. Four and a half hours after our 03:00 depart time we were pulling up at the car park at the south end of the East Bank, our walk out to the shingle lit by a glorious pink dawn. We joined a couple of other birders looking for the Desert Wheatear, and learned one of them had just seen the bird briefly on the fence. Ok, settle down to wait for a reappearance then. Several minutes passed with no sign, and then a couple more birders turned up, having walked in from the east and picked up a dozen Shorelark dropping in a little way back. Judging by the lay of the land we reckoned we could just as easily scan the fence and shingle from where the Larks were as we could from our current location, so decided to go have a look. Another birder was already watching the Shorelarks, and as I swept my bins across the area he was directing me to the Desert Wheatear bombed left through my field of vision! For the next few minutes it flicked about, stopping variously on fence posts, short scrubby weeds and directly on the shingle itself, often enough allowing plenty of time between forays to obtain decent scope views.
We also managed brief distant views of a couple of the Shorelarks, but by now the boys (lacking my slightly more favourable volume to surface area ratio) were feeling the cold so we retraced our steps to the car. After a lemon slice each we checked out Walsey Hills for the Dusky Warbler, but it was non forthcoming and none of us fancied an extended bush-staring session, so it was on to the next target; Egyptian Goose.
Not one to set the pulses racing I agree, but we all have to see our first (I still remember mine, at Minsmere in April 1985), and I was determined to find some. Now, it's been some time since I'd been to Norfolk, and I while I was confident I would find some I didn't really have a handle on how easy it would be, I didn't want to disregard any sites where I'd seen them with ease in the past, so given that I was planning that the rest of the day would be spent a good bit further west I reckoned we should check out the fields behind Salthouse duckpond before heading anywhere else. None were there, but I could see some in the fields between Walsey & Salthouse, but after a couple of passes I couldn't find anywhere convenient to park up, so decided to try my luck at Holkham, somewhere else I'd seen them in the past.
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JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
October 26th: part II
So, after coffee & hot chocolate at the visitor centre at Cley we headed west, nipping in for Egyptian Geese (aka Sewage Ducks, so named for that scruffy brown tide mark round their necks that makes it look like they've been, well, you get the picture...) at Queen Anne's Drive, scoring with ridiculous ease, and pitching up at the end of the track out to Gun Hill at around 11:00, pleased to find plenty of space in parking pull-ins, and what do you know, clocking a whole bunch of Egyptian Geese in the fields on the way out, thus rendering our efforts out towards Salthouse and then the stop at Holkham unnecessary endeavours. This wasted time turned out to be costly....
So, after coffee & hot chocolate at the visitor centre at Cley we headed west, nipping in for Egyptian Geese (aka Sewage Ducks, so named for that scruffy brown tide mark round their necks that makes it look like they've been, well, you get the picture...) at Queen Anne's Drive, scoring with ridiculous ease, and pitching up at the end of the track out to Gun Hill at around 11:00, pleased to find plenty of space in parking pull-ins, and what do you know, clocking a whole bunch of Egyptian Geese in the fields on the way out, thus rendering our efforts out towards Salthouse and then the stop at Holkham unnecessary endeavours. This wasted time turned out to be costly....
Attachments
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
October 26th: part III
Ok, let’s get this over with.
On the way out to Gun Hill we enjoyed watching Brent Geese in the fields, Snipe overhead and a small party of Fieldfare in the bushes by the sea wall. And of course we picked up gen from birders walking back from site, the closer we got the more recent the news, so the bird being on “that big bare grass patch” was probably nearly an hour old when we heard it, followed later by “it’s on the beach, feeding on the tide line”, intel probably just twenty minutes old by now , and finally “it’s just flown out of sight” was metaphorical wet ink when delivered to as as we pitched up at the twitch itself, overlooking the beach. See how costly those damn rubber ducks were?! We waited a while staring at the sand and shingle ridge that the bird had disappeared behind, before deciding our time would be better spent attempting a relocate and heading off along the beach to see if it had move along some, followed by heading back to its previous location on “that big bare grass patch”. The boys qiuite enjoyed all this, hiding in the marram, and pressing the dunes into the service of one of their long-running outdoor games.
I was having no luck in my search, and as it had brought us close to where the Desert Wheatear had been we decided we might as well pick up a plumage tick, and settled down to scope it as it perched up on some sort of weird half boat on a pallet type thing. After a wee while it scooted off, round the back of us and as it landed I saw it had done so next to a second, equally pale looking bird. As I tried to get the boys onto it the birds seperated… and I screwed up big time. I followed the wrong one. Thought I was on the bigger of the two but clearly wasn’t, and so for the next few minutes I was getting the boys onto what I though was the Isabelline but was in fact still the Desert. Foolishly I dwelt too much on trying to get photos, and you really don’t look at a bird quite the same way through a camera, I should have been more conscientious about properly watching it first, but there you go. There I was thinking how remarkably similar the two birds are (and to be fair they are), but at the end of the day my judgement was very poor and I have no excuse (although if I think of any I’ll be right back). I realised my gaffe while reviewing pics on the back of the camera when we were almost back at the car (and seeing them now on computer they’re even more obviously Desert), and on sharing the news with the boys Archie in particular was really quite crestfallen. I felt awful.
So, the second bird, when two were briefly together; Isabelline? I think so, but not enough to be sure. I know there’s been Northern about too. Had I realised my mistake sooner would that have made a difference? Can’t ever be sure. I don’t think it stayed on show very long at all, and I don’t know where it went while I was photographing the Desert with an idiot grin on my face. I feel really bad about it, dare say I while for years hence, at least until the boys get a real Izzy Wheat, possibly longer.
Ok, let’s get this over with.
On the way out to Gun Hill we enjoyed watching Brent Geese in the fields, Snipe overhead and a small party of Fieldfare in the bushes by the sea wall. And of course we picked up gen from birders walking back from site, the closer we got the more recent the news, so the bird being on “that big bare grass patch” was probably nearly an hour old when we heard it, followed later by “it’s on the beach, feeding on the tide line”, intel probably just twenty minutes old by now , and finally “it’s just flown out of sight” was metaphorical wet ink when delivered to as as we pitched up at the twitch itself, overlooking the beach. See how costly those damn rubber ducks were?! We waited a while staring at the sand and shingle ridge that the bird had disappeared behind, before deciding our time would be better spent attempting a relocate and heading off along the beach to see if it had move along some, followed by heading back to its previous location on “that big bare grass patch”. The boys qiuite enjoyed all this, hiding in the marram, and pressing the dunes into the service of one of their long-running outdoor games.
I was having no luck in my search, and as it had brought us close to where the Desert Wheatear had been we decided we might as well pick up a plumage tick, and settled down to scope it as it perched up on some sort of weird half boat on a pallet type thing. After a wee while it scooted off, round the back of us and as it landed I saw it had done so next to a second, equally pale looking bird. As I tried to get the boys onto it the birds seperated… and I screwed up big time. I followed the wrong one. Thought I was on the bigger of the two but clearly wasn’t, and so for the next few minutes I was getting the boys onto what I though was the Isabelline but was in fact still the Desert. Foolishly I dwelt too much on trying to get photos, and you really don’t look at a bird quite the same way through a camera, I should have been more conscientious about properly watching it first, but there you go. There I was thinking how remarkably similar the two birds are (and to be fair they are), but at the end of the day my judgement was very poor and I have no excuse (although if I think of any I’ll be right back). I realised my gaffe while reviewing pics on the back of the camera when we were almost back at the car (and seeing them now on computer they’re even more obviously Desert), and on sharing the news with the boys Archie in particular was really quite crestfallen. I felt awful.
So, the second bird, when two were briefly together; Isabelline? I think so, but not enough to be sure. I know there’s been Northern about too. Had I realised my mistake sooner would that have made a difference? Can’t ever be sure. I don’t think it stayed on show very long at all, and I don’t know where it went while I was photographing the Desert with an idiot grin on my face. I feel really bad about it, dare say I while for years hence, at least until the boys get a real Izzy Wheat, possibly longer.
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edenwatcher
Well-known member
Ouch.
Rob
Rob
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
October 27th: part IV
Indeed. I was almost tempted to gloss over events on here, along the lines of "saw the Desert but dipped the Isabelline", but decided to come clean for some reason.
On the way to and from Gun Hill I had been paying close attention to the fields either side in the hopes of picking up Grey Partridge, a tricky bird to get these days (thirty years ago I could have found them in the fields opposite my parents' house, along with Tree Sparrow, Cuckoo & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but alas no more). No luck, so we headed off to Choseley to cruise the roads there, scanning fields as we went. More than an hour later we had seen at least a hundred Red-legs, maybe up to two hundred, the fields were seething with the damn things, but nary a Grey to be had. I was getting pretty dispirited by the time we arrived at Titchwell with the day almost over, and opted to head straight to the beach where I could scan for Velvet Scoter and the boys could continue playing their game. I probably should have sacked off the birding and joined in for all the good I did with the scope; distant Sanderling for a year tick and upgrade views of Barwit is pretty thin as highlights go. Light was getting rather gloomy as we walked back, via a quick look in the hides, where the gathring roost of Golden Plover was nice to see.
As we left I tried once more for Grey Partridge round Choseley (every bit as successful as previously) before cutting across to the A149 at Heacham to head home. In a last ditch triumph of hope over expectation (spoiler alert: expectation won by a knock out) I even diverted round the Wolferton Triangle as we passed!
At least the drive home passed without incident, arriving back at about 22:00.
Life list now on 217, year list 199.
Indeed. I was almost tempted to gloss over events on here, along the lines of "saw the Desert but dipped the Isabelline", but decided to come clean for some reason.
On the way to and from Gun Hill I had been paying close attention to the fields either side in the hopes of picking up Grey Partridge, a tricky bird to get these days (thirty years ago I could have found them in the fields opposite my parents' house, along with Tree Sparrow, Cuckoo & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but alas no more). No luck, so we headed off to Choseley to cruise the roads there, scanning fields as we went. More than an hour later we had seen at least a hundred Red-legs, maybe up to two hundred, the fields were seething with the damn things, but nary a Grey to be had. I was getting pretty dispirited by the time we arrived at Titchwell with the day almost over, and opted to head straight to the beach where I could scan for Velvet Scoter and the boys could continue playing their game. I probably should have sacked off the birding and joined in for all the good I did with the scope; distant Sanderling for a year tick and upgrade views of Barwit is pretty thin as highlights go. Light was getting rather gloomy as we walked back, via a quick look in the hides, where the gathring roost of Golden Plover was nice to see.
As we left I tried once more for Grey Partridge round Choseley (every bit as successful as previously) before cutting across to the A149 at Heacham to head home. In a last ditch triumph of hope over expectation (spoiler alert: expectation won by a knock out) I even diverted round the Wolferton Triangle as we passed!
At least the drive home passed without incident, arriving back at about 22:00.
Life list now on 217, year list 199.
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MKinHK
Mike Kilburn
IMHO your positives (seeing Desert Wheatear, Shore lark, great pix of Desert Wheatear) far outweigh the negative of dipping Isabelline Wheatear.
I'm a big fan of bogey birds because nailing them eventually and being able to tell the back story is laying down very solid capital in birding stories for future car/pub discussions - especially when they can blame Dad for the cock-up!
I l've also realised that I'm also enjoying the thread for the memories it brings up of birding with my Mum or Dad in the mid-80s. Classic memories include the Berry Head Gyrfalcon, the Portscatho Least Sand, the White-tailed Eagle and my not Rough-legged Byzzard and Shorelark(Burnham Overy and thereabouts) plus self found Glaucous and Little Gulls (Plym Estuary and Slapton respectively)and a terrific weekend when my Dad drove me and my best mate all round the Southwest, nailing Rosy Starling, Pec Sand, Temminck's Stint, Buff-breasted Sand and Spoonbills.
Cheers
Mike
I'm a big fan of bogey birds because nailing them eventually and being able to tell the back story is laying down very solid capital in birding stories for future car/pub discussions - especially when they can blame Dad for the cock-up!
I l've also realised that I'm also enjoying the thread for the memories it brings up of birding with my Mum or Dad in the mid-80s. Classic memories include the Berry Head Gyrfalcon, the Portscatho Least Sand, the White-tailed Eagle and my not Rough-legged Byzzard and Shorelark(Burnham Overy and thereabouts) plus self found Glaucous and Little Gulls (Plym Estuary and Slapton respectively)and a terrific weekend when my Dad drove me and my best mate all round the Southwest, nailing Rosy Starling, Pec Sand, Temminck's Stint, Buff-breasted Sand and Spoonbills.
Cheers
Mike
edenwatcher
Well-known member
We rejected the long drive to Newbiggin yesterday, given the uncertainty of access. Instead we had a targeted trip to the Tay reedbeds in search of bearded tits. They gave good views, although were less cooperative than on a recce I did on Tuesday. A nice lifer for boys.
Rob
Rob
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
You're quite right of course, some you see, some you don't, that's always been the game, can't be argued. The thing about Thursday wasn't the dip per se, it was that the wheels came off entirely down to my poor decision making, poor judgement and poor field skills on the day. I'm usually better than this (not top drawer, but a shade better than tolerable at least), but on Thursday I was utterly off my game, and as a result we failed to capitalise on what the area had to offer, which was plenty. I'll lick my wounds, learn from this and hopefully do better next time. Worst of it was the look on Arch's face when I told him I'd made a mistake and cost him a bird, but paternal fallibility and dipping are two things that he's going to have to accept if he continues on his current course.
On a more positive note the boys both had a very enjoyable day, relishing their time in the glorious Norfolk countryside and can't wait to return. Any fears I might have had that they'd been put off by their long day out were dispelled the next day when, on picking them up from the in-laws after lunch and asking "so, what would you like to do this afternoon?" Arch, eyes bright and not missing a beat, asked "what's about?"
I will look forward to the good days....Glad you're enjoying the thread anyhow, I'll do my best to fill it with goodies before the year is out (although now the nights are drawing in we'll be limited; a quick look at the calendar suggests we've only got half a dozen or so chances in 2016 to get out and about).
Your reminisces include a couple (Gyr & Least Sand) I was gutted to miss out on at the time, but which have fallen since none the less. They'll get their Izzy one day.
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Oh boy, Beardies are such pure quality. Was on an early draft of our Twelve Targets list until we scored with the attached birds on the grit trays at Leighton Moss this time last year.
And good luck on the Accentor front, I doubt it's over yet (and as wintering birds start to get discovered, hold out for one with a Pine Bunting nearby...
)Attachments
edenwatcher
Well-known member
A filthy twitching short weekend. After running our local parkrun yesterday we set off up the A9. No joy at Avoch yesterday afternoon but after a night at a Travelodge in Inverness (other accommodation options are available) we were back at Avoch at first light. Excellent views of the Siberian accentor were obtained before it disappeared into the long grass. It then flew off at 8:30. We also had a red kite here, with others on the way back to Inverness. We had excellent views of American wigeon in Inverness (not even a year tick for boys) before going to Loch Garten where we were entertained by crested tits (year tick). We were intending to have lunch in Aviemore but encountered gridlock and a flock of waxwings (another year tick for boys). The rain set in on the way back south but we called in for the ring-necked duck at Pitlochry - a lifer for Andrew and a year tick for Daniel.
Rob
Rob
