Year Review

(File Photo)

2013 has been another good year on the birding front. I've seen some fantastic new birds, visited some superb habitats and met some lovely people.

As I write this blog I have seen 226 species during 2013 and whilst a high percentage were within a small drive from home I've also spent a good few pound on diesel on reaching some of the more harder places to reach given my midlands base.

A few highlights include :-

Slimbridge - Remained a favourite reserve and produced some great birds and spectacles throughout the year. Spoonbill, American Wigeon, Green Winged Teal, Spotted Redshank, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and not forgetting the fantastic Bewick swans. I enjoyed their advanced birding morning and also the Land Rover safari.

Norfolk - thousands of Pink Footed Geese flying over when at Snettisham and the waves of Knot avoiding the Peregrine, Short Earled Owl's hunting at Holme, Little Terns & Eider at Titchwell, Stone Curlews at Weeting Heath, Hawfinch, Turtle Dove, Snow Bunting seeing Common Cranes completely wild. The roost at Hicking Broad was probably the best moment of the year watching 40 Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Cranes, Merlin, Barn Owls all within the same pasture.

Avalon Mashes - An amazing places where I saw Little Bittern, Bitterns, Great White Egret, Garganey and a Woodchat Shrike (Chew Valley) on the way home.

Anglesey - Cremlyn is definitely a place to visit annually to see breeding Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns. South Stack was brilliant to see the Puffins, Clough and sea birds. As a family we had a great trip.

Other notable sightings were a Black-cowned Heron in Leicestershire, Glossy Ibis at Lower Moor, Red-Footed Falcon at Lakenheath on a day of fantasy birding with Craig, Gert and Andy, Temminck`s Stint at Grimley, White-winged Black Tern in Nottingham, Desert Wheatear on Severn Beach, Ring Ouzel at Shenstone and Pied Flycatcher at Baggeridge. Whilst all are not rare for me its about seeing nice birds in attractive habitats.

Closer to home Upton Warren continued to attract a superb range of birds all year round and it's great to have such a superb reserve close to home. I really enjoyed my work party and will hoping to support more this year.

My own find of the year on the local patch was a Common Redstart which was a real delight for a Tuesday morning. Waxwings also made a local visit.

Many people have helped throughout the year in terms of tip off's, advice and photos so would like to mention the Gull expert Craig Reed who has a been a good navigator on a few twitches, Chris Mills of Norfolk Birding who showed some fantastic places in Norfolk, Brian Stretch of Worcestershire Birding, Vern Wright for his blog photos and of course the family for their partial understanding of why I fancy driving 2 1/2 hours to see a bird smaller than a sparrow.