tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7719813020594801782024-03-18T09:47:28.712+00:00Randon's Ramblings Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.comBlogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-51598851056877723192020-01-05T13:57:00.001+00:002020-01-05T18:52:01.975+00:00THE 2019 RANDON'S RAMBLING AWARDS<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A special Randon's Rambling Awards this year, because on top of the annual award ceremony, there is the small matter of the decade to deal with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so this year's awards will be split into two posts. There will be a 2019 winner for each category and there will be a special Randon's Rambling's 2010-19 Decade Awards, which will include all the previous winners.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has been another strange year on all fronts, culminating with the general election. I'm not going to discuss it because 1) this is a birding blog, and 2) I want people to carry on reading it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Birds don't have a view, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">they simply are affected by decisions politicians make. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And one aspect of the environment which has been prevalent for decades, is the gradual decline of species that live, breed and visit on our islands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Equally in decline over this decade has been my dedication to birding. I've had my moments, but the long periods of phasing still continue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is not much anyone can do about it when it happens, because in the end, birding is a pastime of choice. You can either head out into the wilds and go birding, or you involve yourself in a whole range of other activities if you so wish. It's your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enjoy it hugely once I've coax myself out of bed for an early walk, and also when on holiday. That seems to be the time when I go for it almost 24/7 and really immerse myself in birding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I have to accept I've really turned down the commitment button, and it is hard to comprehend why. And I know I'm not alone with these thoughts. Jonathan Lethbridge has recently wrote about it on his blog and Gavin Haig has also gone through similar phases. Even Steve Gale has wavered a little here and there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was fully intending of getting the Holmethorpe blog up-to-date this year, but it has fallen by the way side even more. I've neglected my duties badly and I feel immensely guilty about it. But I think that is where the problem sits – it has felt like a duty rather than a joy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully, I can turn this around in 2020.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Part of the problem also lies in the fact </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at the age of 60 (60!!) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have somehow stumbled, almost accidentally, into full-time employment for the first time in 18 years. It wasn't really planned, but it seems the company who own the Daily Mirror </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">et al, </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">having</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> bought Express Newspapers (who I worked for as a freelance) decided they wanted me as part of the team, so I chose to stay on board, for the moment at least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">birds are the focus here. Curiously, I got the impression Surrey birders have had a bit of a flat year overall species-wise, but looking at the list of birds seen in the county this year, it hasn't been that bad at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At Holmethorpe the beginning of the year proved to be the highlight, when I collected two patch lifers in the first couple of months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A <b>Glaucous Gull</b> on the Mercer's Lake roost in January was the first I've seen here, but perhaps even better was to follow with Ian Kehl's discovery of a<b> Black-throated Diver</b> on the lake when he was searching for the Glauc. What a great bird that turned out to be. It stayed for five weeks and plenty of visitors came to see it, which is always satisfying for any patch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My third patch lifer was a <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b> on Spynes Mere in September. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outside of the local area, I've been to Dungeness more than any other site and have enjoyed it as much as previous years. I saw my first <b>Sabine's Gull</b> there in October and I'll be heading to the shingle regularly once again next year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The local birding community has been as dedicated as always and they all put me to shame! And let's face it, birding in a land-locked county is always a challenge because the types of birds we'll see is limited compared to the coastal areas. But despite that, Surrey birders are arguably the most committed group of any county in Britain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And as I have said before, I genuinely feel proud to be able to represent them with these awards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With each year patch watchers, bloggers, tweeters, twitchers and all those in between, come and go, but it is those who have made 2019 memorable who are worthy of a Rambler – the birding Oscar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the list of awards, the nominees and the winners. I hope you enjoy them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE 2019 RAMBLER AWARDS</span></h2>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2019 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY PATCH BIRDER<br />OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In alphabetical order, the nominees are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Beddington <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Farm Bird Group</span> – Beddington Farmlands</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Castell – Stoke Water Meadows</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Gale – Surrey Uber patch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dave Harris – <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walton</span> Reservoirs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Gordon Hay – Holmethorpe Sand Pits</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phelps – Leith Hill/Clandon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dominic Pia – Staines Moor/Reservoir</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ed Stubbs - Thorncombe Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tice's Meadow Birding Group – Tice's Meadow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bob Warden – Staines Reservoir</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">MATT PHELPS</span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGuVxwne68AOi1ZNxaZcrqhN0bRZygcN2NhhG0AremJvwb5SKKrl3mRgSBm0irmkYQW9l4dz78jwKqS-WRz89GEqN3gkxckVvosEfUTbgFmxfW8iWGvcrYsmUbbLyNXeLW8j8lkqIwbYC/s1600/Matt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGuVxwne68AOi1ZNxaZcrqhN0bRZygcN2NhhG0AremJvwb5SKKrl3mRgSBm0irmkYQW9l4dz78jwKqS-WRz89GEqN3gkxckVvosEfUTbgFmxfW8iWGvcrYsmUbbLyNXeLW8j8lkqIwbYC/s320/Matt1.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd place:</b> ED STUBBS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd place: </b>STEVE GALE</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Congratulations to Matt Phelps, who wins Patch Birder of the Year for the first time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This category, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">possibly the most prestigious of all the Rambler awards,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is always a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">difficult</span> one to pick a winner from – and so it was this year. It was virtually the flick of a coin between the top two, almost a dead-heat, which won't make Ed feel any better!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt could be construed as a controversial winner, as it could be argued he is more a Sussex patch birder now he lives at Pulborough these days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But despite that caveat, Matt also covers Surrey at Clandon and Leith Hill, and has had a decent year, with Lapland Bunting, Dartford Warbler and Black Restart being firsts at Clandon, as well as Golden Plover, Ring Ouzel and Osprey amongst others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it wasn't just his patch birding efforts that won him the prize this year. It is also due to some considerable degree to the amount of time and effort he has put into campaigning against the threat of global warming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt embraced Extinction Rebellion with open arms, and while some of its actions this year did not always help the cause, Matt has been a passionate local voice on the need for change, both through talks such as the Heading For Extinction conference at the WWF UK Living Planet Centre in Woking, plus articles on the subject in local papers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And even if you are not a fan of Extinction Rebellion, or do not have the same political views as Matt, he also happens to be a thoroughly nice bloke and great company!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMedKvlpvXd2NFXniQJ6xJzYif73JfwlgHC7y644LyDmH9eAz_N78mrOOcphBMShy0fZFvQP2dzjTuLUkwKxT5QkJUw4cf4c4BRI96NPeZoFf-GduHZrx-nbagpNPLv2R8ByinRms_Kqf/s1600/Matt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1600" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMedKvlpvXd2NFXniQJ6xJzYif73JfwlgHC7y644LyDmH9eAz_N78mrOOcphBMShy0fZFvQP2dzjTuLUkwKxT5QkJUw4cf4c4BRI96NPeZoFf-GduHZrx-nbagpNPLv2R8ByinRms_Kqf/s640/Matt4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt doing his stuff for the climate change cause</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ed Stubbs ran his friend Matt very close after a fantastic year on his local patch at Thorncombe Street with a record patch year list. Honey-buzzard, Turtle Dove, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, numerous Spotted Flycatcher, Black Redstart, Firecrests, Ring Ouzel – all great birds for Surrey. Two noc-mig Ortolan Bunting and Stone Curlew were worthy additions, but</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> best of all was a Red-throated Pipit in October!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Ed is a man who knows his stuff, and regularly writes features for Birdguides. His day will come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Gale finishes third this year. As I have said before, we are lucky to have Steve as part of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surrey's</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> birding team. He works hard on his birding and other wildlife pursuits and while he couldn't repeat the incredible Hawfinch flock of last year, he still had a worthy 12 months, which included Honey-buzzard and Goshawk.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2019 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">PATCH OF THE YEAR</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>LWC BARNES</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Bearded Tit, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Knot, Pied Flycatcher, Wryneck)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>BEDDINGTON <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FARMLANDS</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Bar-tailed Godwit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Caspian Gull, Curlew Sandpiper, Glaucous Gull, Great White Egret, Iceland Gull, Sandwich Tern, Spoonbill</i><i>, Stone-curlew, Wood Sandpiper)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>HOLMETHORPE SAND PITS</b></span></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Black-throated Diver, Curlew Sandpiper, Glaucous Gull)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>LEITH HILL</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Honey-buzzard, Pied Flycatcher, Osprey, Ring Ouzel</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>RICHMOND PARK</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Golden Oriole, Great White Egret, Honey-buzzard, Sandwich Tern, Slavonian Grebe, Whooper Swan, Wood Warbler)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>STAINES RESERVOIR</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Black Tern, Garganey, Great Northern Diver, Little Tern, Red-breasted Merganser, Sandwich Tern, Temminck's Stint</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TICE'S MEADOW</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Knot, Ring Ouzel, Spotted Redshank</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THORNCOMBE STREET</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Black Redstart, Crossbill, Honey-buzzard, </i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ortolan Bunting, </i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied Flycatcher, Red-throated Pipit, Stone-curlew, Turtle Dove</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THURSLEY COMMON</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Golden Oriole, Great Grey Shrike, Hen Harrier, Honey-buzzard, Pied Flycatcher, Osprey, Turtle Dove</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WALTON</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> RESERVOIRS</span></b><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Caspian Gull, Great Northern Diver, Great White Egret, Sandwich Tern, Shag</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">TICE'S MEADOW</span> </h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDV0EiHE7kObK9YPk-FOE3VHma7ukzSNpRgfvfHDgj9ykk77tVCpeINBNLwxd3TZRgASmwXFkvjKzA79mH4ByfztGFUEUkR9C7KdHmASl9OIF7uAscyYtMlxd0iznxjRYIWyndLvDz2xDF/s1600/Tices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1600" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDV0EiHE7kObK9YPk-FOE3VHma7ukzSNpRgfvfHDgj9ykk77tVCpeINBNLwxd3TZRgASmwXFkvjKzA79mH4ByfztGFUEUkR9C7KdHmASl9OIF7uAscyYtMlxd0iznxjRYIWyndLvDz2xDF/s640/Tices.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> BEDDINGTON <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FARMLANDS</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd: </b>THORNCOMBE STREET</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the second year in a row Ti<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ce's Meadow wins the prize. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were arguably better birds seen at other sites in Surrey, but once again the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">west <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>urrey <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">patch</span> won b<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ecause of what the team at Tice's has created by an extraordinary<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> gr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">oup of dedicated volunteers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A second hide, the Hanson Hide, was designed and built and then unveiled in early December. It was officially opened by Dr Carolyn Jewell of Global Biodiversity, Heidelberg Cement, who flew in from Germany for the ceremony. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Tice's Meadow Bird Group were also nominated for a prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Services, which is the volunteer group equivalent of an MBE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Led admirably by 'Patch Commander' Rich Horton </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and ably assisted by Mark Elsoffer among others, Tice's Meadow is a credit to Surrey birding.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Carolyn Jewell opens the new Hanson Hide at Tice's Meadow</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From lowly beginnings, Tice's Meadow has been turned from a sand and gravel quarry into a high-quality nature reserve.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the hide</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The site has received status as a site of Nature Conservation Interest and holds events such as the Tice's Meadow BioBlitz, organised by </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">orton each spring over a bank-holiday weekend. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjQszBUvHwdKUD5KZRg0VXKY4tJBp-QZhyphenhyphenqBoOACfvV0_7Fn5ffqELeZ2u2bbNZ-hCNRlOLL0UOS2zSZEeLy44fsrJ6TbjVpOb91qyUKKmXTONbfeIw0J1oQmxxLYZKHqBvRgw5bEBDGA/s1600/78701066_10217566966738476_2138969369256919040_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjQszBUvHwdKUD5KZRg0VXKY4tJBp-QZhyphenhyphenqBoOACfvV0_7Fn5ffqELeZ2u2bbNZ-hCNRlOLL0UOS2zSZEeLy44fsrJ6TbjVpOb91qyUKKmXTONbfeIw0J1oQmxxLYZKHqBvRgw5bEBDGA/s400/78701066_10217566966738476_2138969369256919040_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People enjoy the social side of birding at Tice's Meadow</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The event is widely r</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ecognised for its bird<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-</span>ringing demonst<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ra</span>tions, guided birdwatching walks, pond dipping, bat detecting walks, moth trapping and small mammal trapping, as well as social events during the evenings<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is, however, not all good news. It was announced in June that the owners of the site, Hanson Quarry Products Europe Ltd, have put the land up for sale. And so this excellent reserve is under considerable threat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The group have a petition in a bid to save the site – even local MP Jeremy Hunt has thrown his support behind it, and you can sign it here </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/hanson-quarry-products-europe-limited-save-tice-s-meadow-nature-reserve">https://www.change.org/p/hanson-quarry-products-europe-limited-save-tice-s-meadow-nature-reserve</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The runner-up, Beddington Farmlands, is another site that has had to battle with its owners, Viridor, for over 10 years, and for the first time, the site has been opened up to the public with the erection of three new hides. A major breakthrough.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new hide at Beddington</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />None of this would be possible without the determination of Peter Alfrey and another dedicated team of birders, and the site continues to enjoy a remarkable list of bird sightings each year. And once again, Beddington finishes second in the Patch of the Year category.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thorncombe Street makes the podium due the the sterling work of Ed Stubbs, who is garnering an impressive list of bird species in one of the most productive areas of Surrey. His website is very good too </span><a href="http://godalmingareabirds.blogspot.com/">http://godalmingareabirds.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2019 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY<br />BIRD OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cattle Egret (<i>Tice's Meadow</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red-throated Pipit </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Thorncombe Street)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Honey-buzzard <i>(Leith Hill, Richmond Park, </i></span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thorncombe Street, </i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursley Common)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hen Harrier (<i>LWC Barnes</i>, <i>Shackleford, Thursley Common</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Golden Oriole </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Richmond Park, Thursley Common)</i></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black-throated Diver</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Holmethorpe)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wood Warbler</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Richmond Park, Thorncombe Street)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pied Flycatcher</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (numerous sites)</i><br />
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BLACK-THROATED DIVER</span></b></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Black-throated Diver at Mercer's Lake was a regular crowd-pleaser earlier in the year</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> RED-THROATED PIPIT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd:</b> HEN HARRIER</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There have been rarer birds seen in Surrey this year, but I had to give the award to the <b>Black-throated Diver</b>, discovered on my Holmethorpe patch on February 3 by Ian Kehl, who had been looking for the Glaucous Gull that had been roosting on the lake during the evenings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And what a great-value bird it was. It was first seen at Frimley earlier that day, it had dropped in on Mercer's Lake in the afternoon, where it stayed for more than five weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was the first Black-throated Diver since the bird Steve Gale found at the site in 1983.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fact it stayed for so long and was enjoyed by so many birders makes it the bird of the year in my book.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2018 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BIRDING<br />BLOGGER OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MARTIN CASEMORE (</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://ploddingbirder.blogspot.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MATT</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> EADE (http://seafordbirding.blogspot.com/)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/</span>)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GAVIN HAIG (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/</span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.wansteadbirder.com/</span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MATT PHELPS (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://pulboroughbirder.blogspot.com/</span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ED STUBBS (http://godalmingareabirds.blogspot.com/) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>PAUL TRODD (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://ploversblog.blogspot.com/</span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">GAVIN HAIG </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">(<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not Quite Scilly</span>)</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd:</b> MARTIN CASEMORE/PAUL TRODD</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It gives me great pleasure to award the 2019 Birding Blogger of the Year award </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to Gavin Haig.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've have to admit I have been willing him on to come up trumps at some point, and in 2019 he duly did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gavin is such a creative writer, a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s stunning a scribe as you will come across anywhere in the birding world</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. The only reason he hadn't won the award before was because he just hadn't written that much – or appeared not to have done anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He admits to going through phasing patches and he even had a few quiet moments this year but in the autumn he suddenly rediscovered his old mojo – and he was off! And never did he fail to fascinate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His Red-throated Pipit post in October was brilliant, but there were others that even matched or surpassed that gem, like The Scilly Log and plenty more, as we will see shortly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I could write half as well as Gavin, I'd be a very happy man. I just keep my fingers crossed his sudden surge of enthusiasm continues well into the next decade!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Gale relinquishes his Birding Blogger of the Year title, as he has his Patch Birder of the Year. But it wasn't anything to do with a dip in quality. Steve is one of the most significant writers and birders in Surrey and we are very lucky to have him. How he manages to conjure up more than 200 posts a year is anyone's guess. But I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say how appreciative we are that he does<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And his paintings are brilliant, too!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've added Martin Casemore into the top three for the first time of asking and Paul Trodd joins him on the final podium spot. As a record of birding in the Dungeness area, these two blogs come as pair. They are extremely invaluable blogs of record. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both Paul and Martin are stalwarts of Dungeness, and if you ever need to know what is going on at this fantastic coastal gem, just go to these two sites and you'll find all the info there</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2019 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BIRDING BLOG POST<br />OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">GAVIN HAIG<br />(Dodgy Birders - Part 5: <br />What to Do About Them)</span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2019/11/dodgy-birders-part-5-what-to-do-about.html">https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2019/11/dodgy-birders-part-5-what-to-do-about.html</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I have rambled on enough I have cut the Birding Blog Post of the Year down to one choice this year, and it is this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gavin Haig not only wins his first Birding Blogger of the Year award, but he also is a double winner this year with Birding Blog Post of the Year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a remarkable story, one I found quite moving in a way, and t</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o my mind, head and shoulders above all other blog posts in 2019.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is about a birder who falls out of favour with the birding community, who is described as a dodgy birder, but in Gavin's eyes is someone completely different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And to add to this extraordinary tale, the man in question sent Gavin a reply, which y</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ou can read it here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2019/11/dodgy-birders-appendix-a-dodgy-birder.html">https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2019/11/dodgy-birders-appendix-a-dodgy-birder.html</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So well done to all the winners and nominees in each of the categories – every one was worthy of recognition and made 2019 all the more rewarding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, that's 2019 out of the way. Let's hope with each day 2020 can make us smile a bit more than we are currently used to!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy New Year one and all and enjoy your birding!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">COMING UP SOON!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THE RANDON'S RAMBLING AWARDS OF THE DECADE 2010-19</b></span></div>
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-26995207464062317452019-11-10T23:37:00.003+00:002019-11-13T09:33:18.437+00:00MALLORCA REVISITEDAnd I say, why not?<br />
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OK, so it was a couple of months since Annie and I were in Mallorca for the second time this year, but with the weather now here so wet and miserable, with at least four months of short, cold days to look forward to, never mind the endless general election campaigning (and as I write this it is only officially day two) to contend with, a brief revisit of a warm, sunny island in the Med certainly cheers me up.</div>
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We were there just for the week, the first of September, in a great villa set back in the hillside not that far inland from the S'Albufereta reserve in between Puerto Pollensa and Alcúdia. It was a great spot, with a great view of Alcúdia Bay. </div>
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And, of course, there were plenty of birds to enjoy. Our position wasn't so great for raptors and vultures, unlike our previous stays near the Tramuntana range, but all the decent spots for bird watching were very close by.</div>
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And from the villa, I managed to see some good stuff.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IWs_6fOzynfO76BEK-T1o6QgDEsbpDxZJep1XBurRk1ULsSFZ9xvMsTPdUIKRkLPDgU-fehXQNQmktF67iOtC0ObWxp7PRQkkdbHkJltYaMTmJs5k8RdLqvqf5L-5sGgeo1cxTd67QEg/s1600/Alcudia+Sept+4+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IWs_6fOzynfO76BEK-T1o6QgDEsbpDxZJep1XBurRk1ULsSFZ9xvMsTPdUIKRkLPDgU-fehXQNQmktF67iOtC0ObWxp7PRQkkdbHkJltYaMTmJs5k8RdLqvqf5L-5sGgeo1cxTd67QEg/s400/Alcudia+Sept+4+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over Alcudia Bay in Mallorca</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCbMg4UDH-zS1u43ldi0tf1CdxS12bA90M_z3W8Zh07PSuJK1p-sj20xT9orQizO0OnnKBbubcFNv6v2E05mZcfBri_Rvsc6itUdZV7uQ0nMq_rkE2QEIlnYjbAjYsdH-12dpOR-aeomb/s1600/Villa+Alcudia+Sept+3+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCbMg4UDH-zS1u43ldi0tf1CdxS12bA90M_z3W8Zh07PSuJK1p-sj20xT9orQizO0OnnKBbubcFNv6v2E05mZcfBri_Rvsc6itUdZV7uQ0nMq_rkE2QEIlnYjbAjYsdH-12dpOR-aeomb/s400/Villa+Alcudia+Sept+3+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our home for a week</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolmYRjXANCQLFAME7Wpdc95Ny8Zw8YZPLTleOlN_i5LVTnNT6UPDhelqjMdjPIrdU71dDQDV2GEDujfe0NxJM2MoIgwUOvlA7NkASokan972szeVQU-9Oq97Qb5_vS5Rtfbx8VkUcFxRR/s1600/Villa+Alcudia+Sept+1+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolmYRjXANCQLFAME7Wpdc95Ny8Zw8YZPLTleOlN_i5LVTnNT6UPDhelqjMdjPIrdU71dDQDV2GEDujfe0NxJM2MoIgwUOvlA7NkASokan972szeVQU-9Oq97Qb5_vS5Rtfbx8VkUcFxRR/s400/Villa+Alcudia+Sept+1+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view for the week</td></tr>
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On day one, Saturday, we stopped off for lunch at our favourite restaurant in Puerto Pollensa, Celler La Parra, run by Alex Gual. Such a lovely man, and his mum originates from Croydon! <br />
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We normally do a few barbecues wherever we stay, but this time, frankly, we couldn't be bothered, and we decided to go for a late lunch every day at Celler La Parra, and will probably do the same the next time we visit the island.<br />
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There's nothing like that familiarity to help you relax and enjoy your stay. It's quite comforting!<br />
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Back at the villa, a trend began which continued all week. Regular bird visitors. The first was a <b>Hoopoe</b>. I saw three in one day here, but there was always one that flew over the villa, and on the very last afternoon, actually dropped down on the grass in front of me, just 10 yards away, to feed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwF27O1fG2e_24mDfqTMdFOkFGifTD0qdHH5qATz4gDt_6vKoxP0gpC8KG4xUzXdrdGBeb1UJVmTNE-hL3GNTMc54SiZfIbLTEOcdC7isZpEKbJdr9-KRSjBOVvMYP9uC7pst93G9mCrf/s1600/Hoopoe+Alcidia+Sept+6+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwF27O1fG2e_24mDfqTMdFOkFGifTD0qdHH5qATz4gDt_6vKoxP0gpC8KG4xUzXdrdGBeb1UJVmTNE-hL3GNTMc54SiZfIbLTEOcdC7isZpEKbJdr9-KRSjBOVvMYP9uC7pst93G9mCrf/s400/Hoopoe+Alcidia+Sept+6+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoopoe in flight from the villa</td></tr>
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The second regular was a juvenile <b>Woodchat Shrike</b>. His parents also paid a visit on and off, but this little chap was always around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow4goNOoHJ4WgAaa2Mt5nF9Xk7rGxxLycU0vz2A73Ool3Ng10jLF92_QTdwuPBzVo-KgcR_UPt_AcjgY-9odjL3o3o3u1ROoD7U_n1KGtdkcSlcT8ESO09FQGWssrBojkHyRjYEI_QREI/s1600/Woodchat+Shrike+Alcudia+Sept+4+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow4goNOoHJ4WgAaa2Mt5nF9Xk7rGxxLycU0vz2A73Ool3Ng10jLF92_QTdwuPBzVo-KgcR_UPt_AcjgY-9odjL3o3o3u1ROoD7U_n1KGtdkcSlcT8ESO09FQGWssrBojkHyRjYEI_QREI/s400/Woodchat+Shrike+Alcudia+Sept+4+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The juvenile Woodchat Shrike spent more time in the villa garden than the adults</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The third was a <b>Spotted</b>, sorry, <b>Mediterranean Flycatcher </b>and its persistent offspring, that hadn't yet quite got the hint it was time to literally flee the nest.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF8I5OA_PwAtuv-VAKVPzC6L60LSf76_PknSWqdU4_qmvvEtZRfAIG54biHxTJCPiemOPFlqNXTVCbUt_P4xHk7rJp4cOOFHGuBGa_gG7hs22KRaku7AfIWWyFEo-n53sr2FVXja6eRyL/s1600/Spotted+Flycatcher+La+Gola+Sept+2019+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF8I5OA_PwAtuv-VAKVPzC6L60LSf76_PknSWqdU4_qmvvEtZRfAIG54biHxTJCPiemOPFlqNXTVCbUt_P4xHk7rJp4cOOFHGuBGa_gG7hs22KRaku7AfIWWyFEo-n53sr2FVXja6eRyL/s400/Spotted+Flycatcher+La+Gola+Sept+2019+.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Mediterranean Flycatcher at La Gola in Puerto Pollensa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The fourth was a <b>Booted Eagle</b>. Pretty sure it was the same one that would arrive most afternoons, circled around towards the bay before cruising out of view.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNCVbl62e-oTY7hbXxY3ywNlDetIphy0g1VDpszwsg3K9naqZh5xbHw-gFC_590hcUbnrwyXuSJIwQII0AfGB1NuilBR3_Iype-I4gu6_4xtnzIdT_9WXgB1gcWYa0DT5hPG3X5_KsxUC/s1600/Booted+Eagle+Alcudia+Sept+3+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNCVbl62e-oTY7hbXxY3ywNlDetIphy0g1VDpszwsg3K9naqZh5xbHw-gFC_590hcUbnrwyXuSJIwQII0AfGB1NuilBR3_Iype-I4gu6_4xtnzIdT_9WXgB1gcWYa0DT5hPG3X5_KsxUC/s400/Booted+Eagle+Alcudia+Sept+3+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7YBP0VvKfeoAzzGX7laDDFNH68ro_JwXSvsiDlD6YiBrMdvzYpayCZqi9GRwjY8Gjt7H_CWX1Y5pdGjQC51V-PdPTTM7tVjkywVk45g77VEvm-4ScxV2UsdbvZbyoDpJLy0DIQHGenAV/s1600/Booted+Eagle+Sept+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7YBP0VvKfeoAzzGX7laDDFNH68ro_JwXSvsiDlD6YiBrMdvzYpayCZqi9GRwjY8Gjt7H_CWX1Y5pdGjQC51V-PdPTTM7tVjkywVk45g77VEvm-4ScxV2UsdbvZbyoDpJLy0DIQHGenAV/s400/Booted+Eagle+Sept+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A regular Booted Eagle circled above the villa - note the trademark 'landing light' markings on the wings</td></tr>
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</div>
The fifth and the best was <b>Bee-eater</b>. Virtually every day from the Sunday onwards, at least 20 would fly over the villa, either in the morning or afternoon. I'm not sure if they were the same group or not, but as soon as I heard the unmistakable call, like someone trying to play a flute under water, it would cause me to leap out of my reclining sun bed to grab the bins.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaOVPumli310gemOcVRjrqTHg2fpR6Ap0taaVvQNhVY_eozxsbzYylzfjwyFDx5-mKsHVcRMGuPdBglggyuW6umsrK5l5L5jbsX_cetnjKFkxS-dS_Mqjlv4MG0pA9vKl-DwSLzlu0sh1/s1600/Bee-eater+Mallorca+Sept+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaOVPumli310gemOcVRjrqTHg2fpR6Ap0taaVvQNhVY_eozxsbzYylzfjwyFDx5-mKsHVcRMGuPdBglggyuW6umsrK5l5L5jbsX_cetnjKFkxS-dS_Mqjlv4MG0pA9vKl-DwSLzlu0sh1/s400/Bee-eater+Mallorca+Sept+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very much a record shot, but the Bee-eaters never hung around for very long!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
And, of course, in the evenings, the shrill cacophony of<b> Stone Curlew </b>in the surrounding fields.<br />
<br />
<b>Stone Curlews</b> were a major contributor to the holiday. I checked the Mallorca Bird Forum for any news on bird sightings, and one post stood out. it was from a guy called Kendalbirder, who had seen more than 40 Stone Curlew in a ploughed field on the outskirts of Puerto Pollensa, on the road to the Hotel Llenaire.<br />
<br />
This I had to see! And low and behold early one morning I managed to see at least 25 <b>Stone Curlew </b>in this field. There were undoubtedly more in the there, but the undulating terrain hid many from view. An amazing sight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRVdqgpVXVLCXhRbuTUv6vLhZynSIEgOBLTgaIbakRLlA6fH1vp56a9DHFMXYQdkyKER-jhcbPMVfSKw0roCILw5vXqAtl5u0SXdsMd3jDfZI_pwY2TUULaLVsTAkoQ_i4V0d1tXjHMF6/s1600/Stone+Curlews+Llenaire+Sept+5+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRVdqgpVXVLCXhRbuTUv6vLhZynSIEgOBLTgaIbakRLlA6fH1vp56a9DHFMXYQdkyKER-jhcbPMVfSKw0roCILw5vXqAtl5u0SXdsMd3jDfZI_pwY2TUULaLVsTAkoQ_i4V0d1tXjHMF6/s400/Stone+Curlews+Llenaire+Sept+5+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone Curlew in ploughed field just outside Puerto Pollensa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Puerto Pollenca is a great spot for seeing <b>Audouin's Gull</b>, as well as<b> Yellow-legged Gull </b>and<b> Shag. </b>The La Gola reserve in the town can also bring up a few decent birds. A <b>Pied Flycatcher</b> was the highlight, with plenty of<b> Mediterranean Flycatcher</b> as a supporting cast.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvirjj6qXwown68064skVBjzRRwmD2d88SAtPZ_KVGLQoISd7zzRiRFtXTAokucmgOwfT1yhrGaebmWuas2EF7daGFma7c0klhJu7Sph-l4vQDw7wJUsZbpuypMqNCDz1rif2uhJFUIimY/s1600/Audouin%2527s+Gull+Puerto+Pollensa+Sept+6+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvirjj6qXwown68064skVBjzRRwmD2d88SAtPZ_KVGLQoISd7zzRiRFtXTAokucmgOwfT1yhrGaebmWuas2EF7daGFma7c0klhJu7Sph-l4vQDw7wJUsZbpuypMqNCDz1rif2uhJFUIimY/s400/Audouin%2527s+Gull+Puerto+Pollensa+Sept+6+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audouin's Gull on the rocks</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRosD8ZcNXi-HCzVticOQ-R8Wl6ZivMrxrS8MsypCF1J3R2o4CDb5U24nYcwoJ3pqz_pCSHsupObzwnzu0UgI-uuE01L2FoHlF5j6NLzHiH-HGptj3YpvVrtN287wrtp1SpfKGdmPnj6L1/s1600/Audouin%2527s+Gull+Puerto+Pollensa+Sept+6+2019e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRosD8ZcNXi-HCzVticOQ-R8Wl6ZivMrxrS8MsypCF1J3R2o4CDb5U24nYcwoJ3pqz_pCSHsupObzwnzu0UgI-uuE01L2FoHlF5j6NLzHiH-HGptj3YpvVrtN287wrtp1SpfKGdmPnj6L1/s400/Audouin%2527s+Gull+Puerto+Pollensa+Sept+6+2019e.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audouin's Gull on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcEE8GB9ipQhfF3BttToQoh8FogOdUr9V-Bym50wI4vc_IrqK9FgVaREQda9tpK8ySaDlmhNitZfmQWeY8T9MQRmOAtZVSLjK8UNiKRnfMObP_rns16bNs6sqSsP4F9AWMYDP7xiAHHKt/s1600/Shag+Puerto+Pollensa+Sept+6+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcEE8GB9ipQhfF3BttToQoh8FogOdUr9V-Bym50wI4vc_IrqK9FgVaREQda9tpK8ySaDlmhNitZfmQWeY8T9MQRmOAtZVSLjK8UNiKRnfMObP_rns16bNs6sqSsP4F9AWMYDP7xiAHHKt/s400/Shag+Puerto+Pollensa+Sept+6+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shag on the rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What else... Well, I went to my usual haunts – the Boquer valley, S'Albufereta and Albufera reserves, plus Annie and I went to our spring patch walk along the valley close to the Tramuntana mountain range, where a S<b>tone Curlew</b> and three <b>Firecrest </b>were the highlight.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJO_LKQb7lg4d61MNC34zbS__6n6MOxWo1ZHPp4rebA-TR6kuO9dflX7ipN6vA1rX60naOzbhWbEUgsAGbl7FQbh0yFtzzmlSDrFF2a4CDCsjU6TdGR4N9FN9Y876_id9Esu3naNf5NuY/s1600/Purple+Swamphen+Albufera+Sept+5+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJO_LKQb7lg4d61MNC34zbS__6n6MOxWo1ZHPp4rebA-TR6kuO9dflX7ipN6vA1rX60naOzbhWbEUgsAGbl7FQbh0yFtzzmlSDrFF2a4CDCsjU6TdGR4N9FN9Y876_id9Esu3naNf5NuY/s400/Purple+Swamphen+Albufera+Sept+5+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Swamphen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCE3TBLbaGPwQz4Vnkpuu6tiQolSL-hslGPqq-7i7Mt3l8GfTN_QZAaoFzWN7ilWkQt57xMn0Jrxl6NsRiHccRqjrkqQVIVj0l2qG9sLAv65YnkcP43We011OYtGHs0ncM8QXYD02bt7D/s1600/Marbled+Duck+Albufera+Sept+5+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCE3TBLbaGPwQz4Vnkpuu6tiQolSL-hslGPqq-7i7Mt3l8GfTN_QZAaoFzWN7ilWkQt57xMn0Jrxl6NsRiHccRqjrkqQVIVj0l2qG9sLAv65YnkcP43We011OYtGHs0ncM8QXYD02bt7D/s400/Marbled+Duck+Albufera+Sept+5+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sleeping Marbled Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0E7a_4jrivmPxXzaBJTQT6me9blyuZRJzviBqivG_lFI1eQ1DvImHLqTMpliSggJ6IZFlOIz90gkSB1gPUHb4ZRG7B0-08A7a9E2L1hpNb7wezIhjOwlhowwQR12kFXdVOef9YDDw7c7/s1600/Red-knobbed+Coot+Albufera+Sept+5+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0E7a_4jrivmPxXzaBJTQT6me9blyuZRJzviBqivG_lFI1eQ1DvImHLqTMpliSggJ6IZFlOIz90gkSB1gPUHb4ZRG7B0-08A7a9E2L1hpNb7wezIhjOwlhowwQR12kFXdVOef9YDDw7c7/s400/Red-knobbed+Coot+Albufera+Sept+5+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-knobbed Coot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqlopPSLi5bCRPxtUd7dILYV0t1fAindYKZ3RkZ3ixRwOmsmrd5b6D8hZBrvRja2lMtih4vzJhUZXHCdYuU9NorwkaOGacNkW8SmatGiBWIM7gwFX6MqO88cSDTmFF-nq6VYAiEVK3xAv/s1600/Albufera+Mallorca+Sept+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqlopPSLi5bCRPxtUd7dILYV0t1fAindYKZ3RkZ3ixRwOmsmrd5b6D8hZBrvRja2lMtih4vzJhUZXHCdYuU9NorwkaOGacNkW8SmatGiBWIM7gwFX6MqO88cSDTmFF-nq6VYAiEVK3xAv/s400/Albufera+Mallorca+Sept+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of Coot life on the Albufera reserve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The S'Albufereta reserve revealed the usual suspects – <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> and <b>Kentish Plover</b> mainly, while the Albufera reserve gave me my first <b>Marbled Duck</b>, along with <b>Red-knobbed Coot </b>and <b>Purple Swamphen</b>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsDTeitC6aGRnTywmKMBNcYWc4QOV2v7e82CB8manH9g8DroM-UWTKKhFRZg5n2_cGpFkmlmaepmIR_AHMXUo9rUBuS_FFi2ITx-qzePMxF8AIgoqlqGw7cK6o77yx89aoIJJtcngBcLp/s1600/Pied+Flycatcher+Boquer+Valley+Sept+5+2019d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsDTeitC6aGRnTywmKMBNcYWc4QOV2v7e82CB8manH9g8DroM-UWTKKhFRZg5n2_cGpFkmlmaepmIR_AHMXUo9rUBuS_FFi2ITx-qzePMxF8AIgoqlqGw7cK6o77yx89aoIJJtcngBcLp/s400/Pied+Flycatcher+Boquer+Valley+Sept+5+2019d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Flycatcher at the entrance to the Boquer valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7g_GhwX1xnFL9beOkH_J-bjFbzFXysGcPZOFNO8gZAdwt_q8WIftWZjMHJ676UDE3CzUdvUhwmw-kY5PjWx8igNcbdZ9dt2mFRF1SqZWS3akylfFOKo5m2j3AyxIWZIyRJl1-Dms2qox/s1600/Blue+Rock+Thrush+Boquer+Valley+5+Sept+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7g_GhwX1xnFL9beOkH_J-bjFbzFXysGcPZOFNO8gZAdwt_q8WIftWZjMHJ676UDE3CzUdvUhwmw-kY5PjWx8igNcbdZ9dt2mFRF1SqZWS3akylfFOKo5m2j3AyxIWZIyRJl1-Dms2qox/s400/Blue+Rock+Thrush+Boquer+Valley+5+Sept+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elusive Blue Rock Thrush in the Boquer Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am always drawn to the dramatic, rugged and sheer rock vista of the Boquer Valley. No Balearic Warbler this time, but two <b>Pied Flycatcher</b>, one close to the car park and the other down in the valley, plus two <b>Blue Rock Thrush</b> close to the two big boulders on the path.<br />
<br />
All in all, as is always the case in Mallorca, a wonderful week.<br />
<br />
Main sightings:<br />
56 species, including:<br />
<b>Marbled Duck</b> (Albufera)<br />
<b>Red-legged Partridge </b>(villa)<br />
<b>Shag</b><br />
<b>Cattle Egret </b><br />
<b>Booted Eagle (</b>over the villa)<br />
<b>Red Kite </b><b>(</b>over the villa)<br />
<b>Marsh Harrier (</b>over the villa)<br />
<b>Kestrel (</b>over the villa)<br />
<b>Eleonora's Falcon</b> (one over the villa)<br />
<b>Purple Swamphen</b> (Albufera)<br />
<b>Red-knobbed Coot</b> (Albufera)<br />
<b>Black-winged Stilt </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Stone Curlew</b><br />
<b>Little-ringed Plover </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Kentish Plover </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Audouin's Gull </b>(Puerta Pollensa)<br />
<b>Yellow-legged Gull</b><br />
<b>Bee-eater (</b>over the villa)<br />
<b>Hoopoe</b> (villa)<br />
<b>Wryneck</b> (heard only)<br />
<b>Woodchat Shrike </b>(villa)<br />
<b>Raven </b>(over the villa)<br />
<b>Firecrest (</b>Tramuntana)<br />
<b>Sardinian Warbler </b>(villa)<br />
<b>Zitting Cisticola</b><br />
<b>Mediterranean Flycatcher</b><br />
<b>Nightingale </b>(heard only - brief sub-song)<br />
<b>Pied Flycatcher</b><br />
<b>Blue Rock Thrush </b>(Boquer Valley)<br />
<b>Stonechat </b>(Boquer Valley)<br />
<b>Cirl Bunting </b><br />
<b>Corn Bunting</b> (heard only)</div>
Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-47609552127932711932019-10-22T19:30:00.001+01:002019-10-22T22:53:24.630+01:00MEMORABLE MERLIN AT DUNGENESS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eqsoO6KXS19oALYgMImTWQARsWeQt4G0V-ty4l5p2S4WRC9vPPXgg449jpxnRpyj_H_yyrC32p0iKifuQg5Tw7BQI4ouevMRfFk4WpUQtIagIPM514pAmaVMEJabkQh_SOcqgvjE1xKy/s1600/Merlin+Dungeness+21+Oct+2019e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eqsoO6KXS19oALYgMImTWQARsWeQt4G0V-ty4l5p2S4WRC9vPPXgg449jpxnRpyj_H_yyrC32p0iKifuQg5Tw7BQI4ouevMRfFk4WpUQtIagIPM514pAmaVMEJabkQh_SOcqgvjE1xKy/s400/Merlin+Dungeness+21+Oct+2019e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE6lZ4xrXq3GHwY2WQ_Po_HfYFEMWaKUtqqzOlXb5uETBfNV0_1Miz-DmhxfBOJXsUPIpaxtnzPwgCOsxP5NDGKP9Kb3txujtKFDqu49ateUlro67bgwdC-Kv6MV56GEhgs8fL1q1kUUc/s1600/Merlin+Dungeness+21+Oct+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE6lZ4xrXq3GHwY2WQ_Po_HfYFEMWaKUtqqzOlXb5uETBfNV0_1Miz-DmhxfBOJXsUPIpaxtnzPwgCOsxP5NDGKP9Kb3txujtKFDqu49ateUlro67bgwdC-Kv6MV56GEhgs8fL1q1kUUc/s400/Merlin+Dungeness+21+Oct+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Merlin after being caught in one of the fishing boats and ringed at the Observatory</td></tr>
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I was going to write a post on a late summer/early autumn visit to Mallorca, but felt that could wait.<br />
<br />
I've predictably not been birding much since early September, only heading to Spynes Mere on the local patch to see my first<b> Curlew Sandpiper</b> at Homethorpe, found by Richard Perry.<br />
<br />
But I was compelled to make a belated autumn visit to Dungeness yesterday, and glad I did. The weather was damp and breezy, with north-easterly winds which had originally tempted me to head to north Kent. But with the temptation of a juvenile Sabine's Gull to see at Dunge, I went south instead. I was also hoping for Ring Ouzel.<br />
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When I arrived, the first bird I saw was a<b> Ring Ouzel</b> that flew into a bush next to the lighthouse, and was followed by a second one later in the morning. I looked around the desert area for the 11 or so that had been in the morning in the desert area near the observatory, but to no avail.<br />
<br />
While twitching is not something I tend to do much these days, I still needed <b>Sabine's Gull </b>for my UK list. There was no guarantee it would still be there, but luckily it remained, flying between the Patch offshore from the power station, and the fishing boats further up the shingle beach.<br />
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I was lucky to get down the Dungeness when I did as there have been no sightings of it today (Tuesday) so far.<br />
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It eventually flew towards the fishing boats, before flying towards the Patch in the afternoon. The sea watch looked promising, but maybe not surprisingly didn't produce the Pomarine or Long-tailed Skuas seen further up the coast at Sheppey and Foreness Point.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jOzzdTrjDY5Jw7C254AhDJdjK2F2p6Cp-RFP_CPPhSvRDAuNvUWG2mLeC1OMDp5ENMu87tpsGMvdIMQyf5P2AXPBSe5YAtcSRaCXeMJ88DOjW9FY_oS3Pqakx6bK5xnDj4k9_puepVwO/s1600/Sabine%2527s+Gull+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jOzzdTrjDY5Jw7C254AhDJdjK2F2p6Cp-RFP_CPPhSvRDAuNvUWG2mLeC1OMDp5ENMu87tpsGMvdIMQyf5P2AXPBSe5YAtcSRaCXeMJ88DOjW9FY_oS3Pqakx6bK5xnDj4k9_puepVwO/s400/Sabine%2527s+Gull+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZk7XfQrFR5BYZkhpPHCOvCdjFufCu3FVDMTOtyr8zLo-GfmuodYGUpqjWP3-KzL_IizohkEtIQcdBee08TqJCoCjDZbHKTKiS_5uC7-FDfIP7MkHmHy7RhV1UMmCO1Hd9JxMMYIrsXQ0/s1600/Sabine%2527s+Gull+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZk7XfQrFR5BYZkhpPHCOvCdjFufCu3FVDMTOtyr8zLo-GfmuodYGUpqjWP3-KzL_IizohkEtIQcdBee08TqJCoCjDZbHKTKiS_5uC7-FDfIP7MkHmHy7RhV1UMmCO1Hd9JxMMYIrsXQ0/s400/Sabine%2527s+Gull+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019g.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT7YLQkWMnBrSJT20q-2sQqblC3rj9gpTDw_OBdriSNtRR5difJ-XIuiZfRkXBc1TPGFPs2l-11voskvxpUOxHmu0EVW0e1mFQHslLCJwGyDMASxWgANEShP8AfLj8HfKwGCJePzFwniZ/s1600/Sabine%2527s+Gull+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT7YLQkWMnBrSJT20q-2sQqblC3rj9gpTDw_OBdriSNtRR5difJ-XIuiZfRkXBc1TPGFPs2l-11voskvxpUOxHmu0EVW0e1mFQHslLCJwGyDMASxWgANEShP8AfLj8HfKwGCJePzFwniZ/s400/Sabine%2527s+Gull+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019j.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The juvenile Sabine's Gull on the Patch at Dungeness</td></tr>
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The best I could come up with were plenty of <b>Brent Geese</b> and three <b>Eider</b>. Walking back to the car a pair a <b>Black Redstart</b> were feeding along the power station perimeter fence to the power station, and I was met by a birder who had been by the fishing boats.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg060G3UbUmbb1K-6sKUTdCGYuta3pcSqawvf6uzHgWnE1-jvYuHPJc-FGu7eA0iFYck2HS0K5x1KkfWWW48hRT4f9bLGvvSEFso1aMiU611PXcDM_yVuNw3hMghyiGMCubAO9_2y08jDzn/s1600/Black+Redstart+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg060G3UbUmbb1K-6sKUTdCGYuta3pcSqawvf6uzHgWnE1-jvYuHPJc-FGu7eA0iFYck2HS0K5x1KkfWWW48hRT4f9bLGvvSEFso1aMiU611PXcDM_yVuNw3hMghyiGMCubAO9_2y08jDzn/s400/Black+Redstart+21+Dungeness+Oct+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of Black Redstart along the perimeter fence to the power station</td></tr>
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He mentioned that a group including assistant Dungeness Observatory warden Jacques Turner-Moss and Martin Casemore had a Merlin they were about to ring at the Obs. The female had caught a Meadow Pipit near the fishing boats and had flown into the wheelhouse of one of the boats to eat it. A fisherman closed the door and alerted the group who were seawatching there at the time.<br />
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And so I dashed over to the Obs, where Jacques and warden David Walker were weighing and id-ing the <b>Merlin</b>. It was concluded the falcon was a female from the larger Icelandic race <i>Falco columbarius subaesalon.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzMIyHjgOOBdgZi98W8d1LQPhYfB_4UyEwtjQeWq5eNRPxbBKRpOfM7NIEyBi6n2ZYAHsZj1VqxBp5gGAnoN-kZx6E8mdGjTGytBVvE3EqNwW5XOKV4M9SZgn10Hb6T-mZHqpf-T2ddsW/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzMIyHjgOOBdgZi98W8d1LQPhYfB_4UyEwtjQeWq5eNRPxbBKRpOfM7NIEyBi6n2ZYAHsZj1VqxBp5gGAnoN-kZx6E8mdGjTGytBVvE3EqNwW5XOKV4M9SZgn10Hb6T-mZHqpf-T2ddsW/s400/unnamed-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studying the finer details (as seen through the shed window)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacques Turner-Moss at work</td></tr>
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After ringing, Jacques brought the magnificent bird outside where she was posed for photos, accompanied by loud alarm calls and the odd nip when fingers got too close.<br />
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She was soon let free to fly off to hunt for more Meadow Pipits, ending a memorable day on the shingle.Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-86961849368040891052019-10-04T11:11:00.001+01:002019-10-08T22:12:04.643+01:00SUMMER IS NOW JUST A FADING MEMORY - BUT IT HAD BEEN FUNThe summer went by in a flash – as it invariably does – and we're now already deep into the autumn and rare migrants/vagrants are dropping in all over Britain.<br />
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Writing blogs hasn't been high on my agenda, as I hadn't been birding much, or at all, now that I'm fully-employed once again (for the first time in 20 years – and it feels a bit odd). I hadn't even walked the local patch at anytime during the summer, which was a first, let alone ventured further afield.<br />
<br />
But from a personal level August, in particular, had been a memorable month.<br />
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A three-day trip to northern France to celebrate(!) my 60th birthday, was followed by four days in Cornwall, including a day trip to the Scilly Isles, and concluded at the end of the month with a week in Mallorca.<br />
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Much of this time off was spent birding, and while the sightings never hit the heights of recent weeks across the country – I seemed to arrive at most places a week too early – I enjoyed it all very much.<br />
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As so, from the top, northern France. To cut a long story short, Annie and I went back to the La Grenouillere, where we stayed for our 25th wedding anniversary two years ago (see <a href="http://www.randonsramblings.com/2017/09/the-frog-and-honey-buzzard.html" target="_blank">here</a>). The two-star Michelin restaurant run by the brilliant Alexander Gautier, produced food even more memorable than our previous visit. A very relaxing way to reflect on 60 years on this currently locally perplexing planet of ours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK67KCtxzFIxdNh8Lt9V9OVz8MeFRn_wE_CalLtA6dMJizow87FKrHqJGiJ2mxekqEUn6JnGARcebEGX28iG4LQeRCjYkK2jSxEGunPi2gov0AFzgoDOU5Qrmu06YVNCdNYnGkm0kg_43v/s1600/Alexander+Gautier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK67KCtxzFIxdNh8Lt9V9OVz8MeFRn_wE_CalLtA6dMJizow87FKrHqJGiJ2mxekqEUn6JnGARcebEGX28iG4LQeRCjYkK2jSxEGunPi2gov0AFzgoDOU5Qrmu06YVNCdNYnGkm0kg_43v/s400/Alexander+Gautier.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexander Gautier in the his kitchen at La Grenouillere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gin drunk, food and wine to come</td></tr>
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Coincidentally, we stayed in the same cabin as we did then, and even sat at the same table for our 11-course tasting menu. All good stuff – and the gin and wine were top notch.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-toed Treecreeper</td></tr>
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In between our extraordinary culinary experience, I managed to go for a walk around the area below the town of Montreuil-sure-Mer, along the River Canche each morning. And while I was looking for (and failing to find) Golden Oriole, I did manage to discover <b>Short-toed Treecreeper</b>, a<b> Turtle Dove</b> and a few <b>Willow Tit</b>, the later showing really well but not long enough for a photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eUayr-F0_Uf8H996nPvRVZx5IOZr_hQ8Ozl6dyz0PoE74u0H9_X_KxKEsrrLIOsOPx4N-4Ktgpee0cJCStlDZAFvk_m6wFrNMugPZlv7HW1HIFqW6mYisuIykxkfFiUn7PanUJ7hIej8/s1600/Black-winged+Stilt+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eUayr-F0_Uf8H996nPvRVZx5IOZr_hQ8Ozl6dyz0PoE74u0H9_X_KxKEsrrLIOsOPx4N-4Ktgpee0cJCStlDZAFvk_m6wFrNMugPZlv7HW1HIFqW6mYisuIykxkfFiUn7PanUJ7hIej8/s400/Black-winged+Stilt+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019g.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Stilt at Parc du Marquenterre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeutpvdXBPsECQCrYTlW5cbTIzWluTLjvEgrAn4mZEgd5Vj_gerhl5MaUjoxcQVdgs0wPZgi971zWLjN22Kd3s9gBC1ePzoq_IRH6Ktk3HEcdnzKQYQEpe2Z1ESFmShr4o0OhkN-FZ_Bkk/s1600/Spoonbill+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeutpvdXBPsECQCrYTlW5cbTIzWluTLjvEgrAn4mZEgd5Vj_gerhl5MaUjoxcQVdgs0wPZgi971zWLjN22Kd3s9gBC1ePzoq_IRH6Ktk3HEcdnzKQYQEpe2Z1ESFmShr4o0OhkN-FZ_Bkk/s400/Spoonbill+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxTovPjzwZdogh33w2HGvwJj2coqshoZNp-6C-euArSTrZ8H01C6isaibyPJ4_81Ce0poIGWMqAvW-l9X9HTtvch1YCHgbvubOf6OVH1a4RW1lcW4jY6N5iB6EM2xgtjzIzjFXjOOgEWs/s1600/Spoonbill+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxTovPjzwZdogh33w2HGvwJj2coqshoZNp-6C-euArSTrZ8H01C6isaibyPJ4_81Ce0poIGWMqAvW-l9X9HTtvch1YCHgbvubOf6OVH1a4RW1lcW4jY6N5iB6EM2xgtjzIzjFXjOOgEWs/s400/Spoonbill+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoonbill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On my actual birthday, we went to e Parc du Marquenterre, where the usual suspects were present, numerous <b>Spoonbill</b>, <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>, <b>Cattle Egret</b> and a <b>Great White Egret</b>, but the highlight of the day was a <b>Hen Harrier</b> that flew through one of the scrapes.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEjpSB7sLojcO32ex7eHUBvsk6_2Pa-yfCPELD2l_Um3iOQDS5-0Mjehp3zglt4Qpd0DPSkYZS5n-5UK0TTwPlFg21_8goYILbPZLeugkMe6EQ2h2Wn9h5_iDxdaSUZHK7q5HgB5JhTaQ/s1600/Great+White+Egret+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEjpSB7sLojcO32ex7eHUBvsk6_2Pa-yfCPELD2l_Um3iOQDS5-0Mjehp3zglt4Qpd0DPSkYZS5n-5UK0TTwPlFg21_8goYILbPZLeugkMe6EQ2h2Wn9h5_iDxdaSUZHK7q5HgB5JhTaQ/s400/Great+White+Egret+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Egret and Great White Egret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObb2ZfE1575aNWeREHKOsAnFpE_F3fVJGd7kt9ysVsPH7_w3ooRCVdFqCHpFIN_SRgMXhrnlT4_rW1c8-H3MXkKKtvLQk6ecV99QOE0BIRYFWq9uxBCWmik2sgiUCteiCA_rSYhXDzb9H/s1600/Hen+Harrier+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObb2ZfE1575aNWeREHKOsAnFpE_F3fVJGd7kt9ysVsPH7_w3ooRCVdFqCHpFIN_SRgMXhrnlT4_rW1c8-H3MXkKKtvLQk6ecV99QOE0BIRYFWq9uxBCWmik2sgiUCteiCA_rSYhXDzb9H/s400/Hen+Harrier+Marquenterre+Aug+7+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring-tail Hen Harrier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A week and half later and I was heading down the A303 to Penzance, where I stayed for three nights.<br />
<br />
I hadn't been to this part Cornwall since I was a five-year-old, so both Pendeen and Porthgwarra were sites I was keen to visit. Seawatching was high on the agenda, as was the hope of seeing a few large shearwaters.<br />
<br />
But while 12 months earlier, Cory's and Great Shearwaters were seen in abundance, it was notable how few sightings of either there had been leading up to that week. And during my four days, none at all.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhzCqsPc1_f3_RsxlaTldy9lS1IW0avDfaygKOiB_L3wZSuqyPHTT-cIxWnnSN9Jp2tbFSXVp1OhsO8niDI30km5gUwZupRp1TzpGuK_vTrDsuMxxpy67d-n0U2gy7lxOt27oSKIfwwrZ/s1600/Pendeen+Aug+18+2019c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhzCqsPc1_f3_RsxlaTldy9lS1IW0avDfaygKOiB_L3wZSuqyPHTT-cIxWnnSN9Jp2tbFSXVp1OhsO8niDI30km5gUwZupRp1TzpGuK_vTrDsuMxxpy67d-n0U2gy7lxOt27oSKIfwwrZ/s400/Pendeen+Aug+18+2019c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-THxE6xvQ63ICFw7lMAJjvzFGUxHtSt4qw6lprhYvlA9lb9-7AmH7-WQB4OlzQJsYDINeIgYdoayu76edphKMQAMTItQo4hbli-Zs-9UB3sRNoPi11sCMsC9SjNxpW_YvcL5z2DvuLnN/s1600/Pendeen+Aug+18+2019d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-THxE6xvQ63ICFw7lMAJjvzFGUxHtSt4qw6lprhYvlA9lb9-7AmH7-WQB4OlzQJsYDINeIgYdoayu76edphKMQAMTItQo4hbli-Zs-9UB3sRNoPi11sCMsC9SjNxpW_YvcL5z2DvuLnN/s400/Pendeen+Aug+18+2019d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pendeen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKOs6n29olW0QtwyUnPz2x2ZiNsHXNRIqxre1SW0fu6a873QZWPJLNxdJYzdXyr_70_ntFm6oDb3ZrpgEf-3Eov_UBLcdE31fF9rKvsFKRt_Pn08zI9guHqeN8l1gzsKGjq1OFHbvbdQo/s1600/Manx+Shearwater+Pendeen+Aug+19+2019e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKOs6n29olW0QtwyUnPz2x2ZiNsHXNRIqxre1SW0fu6a873QZWPJLNxdJYzdXyr_70_ntFm6oDb3ZrpgEf-3Eov_UBLcdE31fF9rKvsFKRt_Pn08zI9guHqeN8l1gzsKGjq1OFHbvbdQo/s400/Manx+Shearwater+Pendeen+Aug+19+2019e.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gannet with Manx Shearwater at Pendeen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Pendeen (two mornings and an afternoon) offered only an handful of <b>Sooty Shearwaters</b>. But the highlight here was actually the huge numbers of <b>Manx Shearwater</b> seen one morning – in their thousands – more than I have ever seen in my life. Streams of them scythed passed this spectacular coastal birding point, probably in the region of 10,000 during the day. A couple of Balearic Shearwater went through, but sadly I couldn't pick them up in the scope.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp8c5T7GH-omvAvhRaIIdBoODb_eLPHgqIQVcugwf_bLO_gxqQsBN_eXZGtFPjZF5i6WzaPfwwie2mt_SDAm5Uc0sZ0J7lsh0wPuCK7GcZDm5RUoZI8meW0mCmbUM59IwOUHhUu4spgGO/s1600/Chough+Pendeen+Aug+19+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp8c5T7GH-omvAvhRaIIdBoODb_eLPHgqIQVcugwf_bLO_gxqQsBN_eXZGtFPjZF5i6WzaPfwwie2mt_SDAm5Uc0sZ0J7lsh0wPuCK7GcZDm5RUoZI8meW0mCmbUM59IwOUHhUu4spgGO/s400/Chough+Pendeen+Aug+19+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other than that, along with the ubiquitous <b>Gannet</b>, the odd <b>Fulmar</b>, I saw a couple of <b>Arctic Skua </b>and two <b>Bonxies</b>. Closer up a pair of <b>Chough</b> were entertaining, as was a solitary <b>Wheatear</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ1EVe7vbNKKfj8Ek8xaGaMOqJlhz9QEcPVhdSr4Q98VPA-Tzcm8AUcA249fcR6g3cbjRV433hyphenhyphenDUv2Z2zADRsx4s6BmC8pHTvGsg591uB7lkqTveknRjQpkzc7J44rRfm1N3WblCakos/s1600/Pothgwarra+Aug+19+2019h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ1EVe7vbNKKfj8Ek8xaGaMOqJlhz9QEcPVhdSr4Q98VPA-Tzcm8AUcA249fcR6g3cbjRV433hyphenhyphenDUv2Z2zADRsx4s6BmC8pHTvGsg591uB7lkqTveknRjQpkzc7J44rRfm1N3WblCakos/s400/Pothgwarra+Aug+19+2019h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl-dkbpKKKnx45AbAJAvnzlJNkPI8VVOZuctHUV9_vrMzuJhdLJBdc0ozWSn567qUXehQRAELFsjAbeFsIvdFZN5t0CCZ1cNlKJIET4iKO5XEWRkKnvcXcIJcIW1gb-yjh-spuenUVZiq/s1600/Pothgwarra+Aug+19+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl-dkbpKKKnx45AbAJAvnzlJNkPI8VVOZuctHUV9_vrMzuJhdLJBdc0ozWSn567qUXehQRAELFsjAbeFsIvdFZN5t0CCZ1cNlKJIET4iKO5XEWRkKnvcXcIJcIW1gb-yjh-spuenUVZiq/s400/Pothgwarra+Aug+19+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porthgwarra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I went to Porthgwarra on my second afternoon but all was very quiet with hardly a breeze, but it was still enjoyable to visit this site. I think Pendeen is my favourite out of the two, if only because there's ample protection from the wind around the lighthouse there.<br />
<br />
For the final two days I spent most of my time on boats. I booked a day trip to the Scilly Isles via the Scillonian III on a glorious day, which was a great experience. I'd never been on the Scillonian or to the Scilly Isles before, so it was a must-do trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS62LIZHr7bTNQMvxiYIziKQcOUBc9GTZBZBGb6Gg_izxkKgVbwjj6XRg2qvAi8eG-3RJoUgLpcuP1potlB6I93fO1IuUQeRiET3ncjLVyzL_72tsxL1U9hcp570eK98aCvViHNTdZg7Z/s1600/Risso%2527s+Dolphin+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS62LIZHr7bTNQMvxiYIziKQcOUBc9GTZBZBGb6Gg_izxkKgVbwjj6XRg2qvAi8eG-3RJoUgLpcuP1potlB6I93fO1IuUQeRiET3ncjLVyzL_72tsxL1U9hcp570eK98aCvViHNTdZg7Z/s400/Risso%2527s+Dolphin+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Risso's Dolphin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The highlight here was the sighting of a <b>Risso's Dolphin</b>, just as the boat entered the Atlantic waters away from Land's End and the Channel.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi6Xnu5p9iL9jHLWQUU3ZhhETr0sOa3uNM00GbRmrqBzuM2JBP4ffCOAdoKpQseORuliQUOaUx4xfrrKT28kl4Iw9rgTyeCqfX8Mt7WyPcf8FHVP7GJ7_9nYIX3nZumerAY1WhXS4nrkL/s1600/Scilly+Isles+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi6Xnu5p9iL9jHLWQUU3ZhhETr0sOa3uNM00GbRmrqBzuM2JBP4ffCOAdoKpQseORuliQUOaUx4xfrrKT28kl4Iw9rgTyeCqfX8Mt7WyPcf8FHVP7GJ7_9nYIX3nZumerAY1WhXS4nrkL/s400/Scilly+Isles+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traffic chaos in Hugh Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1mzlqNmfVQsTaZ9_V5SMa1qpdXsZuThi1znZF6jK9Yt1ZXsLmMF8wfEIXe0UeTJnOsJ5B0rLSG3pQHW2eGEpF3xbAHtphkITHXYDTL4g2VNSVaj11n_Ci3cmyit4yGrHLFIvvSSDa1rh/s400/Scilly+Isles+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scillonian II </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1mzlqNmfVQsTaZ9_V5SMa1qpdXsZuThi1znZF6jK9Yt1ZXsLmMF8wfEIXe0UeTJnOsJ5B0rLSG3pQHW2eGEpF3xbAHtphkITHXYDTL4g2VNSVaj11n_Ci3cmyit4yGrHLFIvvSSDa1rh/s1600/Scilly+Isles+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucretuRQr3AkvHI4lRktDEBY1osmKBJjWCLsEe6CsJN0SReIDZZ6zwfU8jnnyY5wNPA1GgoXymR3v79vSA42ETXA_sxltg2v68DJrRUNwnnN6-GEUGURRbVz_u26YzwfciF-CCCcd5j3j/s1600/St+Mary%2527s+Scilly+Aug+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucretuRQr3AkvHI4lRktDEBY1osmKBJjWCLsEe6CsJN0SReIDZZ6zwfU8jnnyY5wNPA1GgoXymR3v79vSA42ETXA_sxltg2v68DJrRUNwnnN6-GEUGURRbVz_u26YzwfciF-CCCcd5j3j/s400/St+Mary%2527s+Scilly+Aug+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Hugh Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0rTQtzKRgzpDz1Nq887kLVP3DBfgzjwTZzEYi9LRbURSRWeMnsUM8ksJHt3A0ukFGEHgNvNvjDEUkYiV2aEqKnKnYjDNIDwht4g1EzgxD-DQ_S0fEWFaSrvh1gAgGzx2vDD_ahkUs4Bl/s1600/Wheatear+Scilly+Isles+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0rTQtzKRgzpDz1Nq887kLVP3DBfgzjwTZzEYi9LRbURSRWeMnsUM8ksJHt3A0ukFGEHgNvNvjDEUkYiV2aEqKnKnYjDNIDwht4g1EzgxD-DQ_S0fEWFaSrvh1gAgGzx2vDD_ahkUs4Bl/s400/Wheatear+Scilly+Isles+Scillonian+Aug+20+2019.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Wheatear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzxcEFZvOIVZ69OzTQaEszJKnFe0fkPmu2hXhbvwZ7HjD5GMI3hQJDHujTfb9dTf3lR312H2R_kV4WVzAQq7jKp6C_I5AvcxdylDHzh3yQnpn3euuJTI-T2URQlVpsU1uaq1a_LY9BvNu/s1600/Great+Skua+Scillonian+Aug+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzxcEFZvOIVZ69OzTQaEszJKnFe0fkPmu2hXhbvwZ7HjD5GMI3hQJDHujTfb9dTf3lR312H2R_kV4WVzAQq7jKp6C_I5AvcxdylDHzh3yQnpn3euuJTI-T2URQlVpsU1uaq1a_LY9BvNu/s400/Great+Skua+Scillonian+Aug+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonxie on the return journey</td></tr>
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Again not much on the bird front – yet more <b>Manx Shearwaters</b>, and a couple more <b>Bonxies </b>on the journey to St Mary's and back, and on the Isles, I had a walk around the main island locally from Hugh Town, and managed a couple of <b>Wheatear</b>.<b> </b>Again, I wasn't that disappointed, as the weather wasn't really favourable for anything memorable to appear. But I intend to return for a longer visit next year during September, including a boat trip out to see hopefully some Wilson's Petrels and large shearwaters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf5cZuruw90VVkYRkJ2ZPO2k8x9vkZlKa1AUfZT3A-TYHjiaiVyYblfNfcq1zu87DL_IvP_rdOLk3GWfyvm9rarpDeyV1M6zNoLtp608TMc2wvTXDNPL9laOnJyvDi0Eq3eXlUHxM4jt8/s1600/Shearwater+II+Aug+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf5cZuruw90VVkYRkJ2ZPO2k8x9vkZlKa1AUfZT3A-TYHjiaiVyYblfNfcq1zu87DL_IvP_rdOLk3GWfyvm9rarpDeyV1M6zNoLtp608TMc2wvTXDNPL9laOnJyvDi0Eq3eXlUHxM4jt8/s400/Shearwater+II+Aug+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shearwater II in Penzance harbour</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KbKA7rW6wbyWMxpXLIrCm_fW3lIPN1j7_ACutuOW49B33kcMfxBBFWW3vqzZ6g6m2KbCiz-ld3ciEneg77A3EnC-fAF_pSUsaucQCXYirP03eR1hWXMSI0rysXm9bVNZXBrRuhVCwgoo/s1600/Catamaran+Aug+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KbKA7rW6wbyWMxpXLIrCm_fW3lIPN1j7_ACutuOW49B33kcMfxBBFWW3vqzZ6g6m2KbCiz-ld3ciEneg77A3EnC-fAF_pSUsaucQCXYirP03eR1hWXMSI0rysXm9bVNZXBrRuhVCwgoo/s400/Catamaran+Aug+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out at sea with Duncan Jones at the helm</td></tr>
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My final morning was spent on the Francis Joyon-designed sailing catamaran, Shearwater II, skippered and owned by Duncan Jones of Marine Discovery. It was another throughly enjoyable morning, sailing 10 miles out from Penzance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDlsnAsv3pTrBHw-vR3ToWp5qLdJZAI7l3RhnD2B2S2vqa7naLAXvb060iWkmpVxPGeYcLFN5ka5-88AYc5VS7t6iZrpN0OPSnPM_52Z22vjShHXekgSCVdO-v83OukvPBnB4XjzLXCIg/s1600/Kittiwake+Mermaid+trip+Aug+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDlsnAsv3pTrBHw-vR3ToWp5qLdJZAI7l3RhnD2B2S2vqa7naLAXvb060iWkmpVxPGeYcLFN5ka5-88AYc5VS7t6iZrpN0OPSnPM_52Z22vjShHXekgSCVdO-v83OukvPBnB4XjzLXCIg/s400/Kittiwake+Mermaid+trip+Aug+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kittiwake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdFjcaIenXtwZOv1uaW4fKUh81te7nbuYjBnGLweVJdMhm5VrPp_AKRE0sUTz-HmeIsJrz2zje281fxWDrOyQM9h9i4E6ukyCgoq7EHNeJZ3_rl6lINaxeRFVPDkYZuPavJgXo8DII4Kp/s1600/Common+Dolphin+Penzance+Aug+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdFjcaIenXtwZOv1uaW4fKUh81te7nbuYjBnGLweVJdMhm5VrPp_AKRE0sUTz-HmeIsJrz2zje281fxWDrOyQM9h9i4E6ukyCgoq7EHNeJZ3_rl6lINaxeRFVPDkYZuPavJgXo8DII4Kp/s400/Common+Dolphin+Penzance+Aug+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Dolphin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9iQ3jo8FzkJwQNoXBZK7uvcyB52s97sD7asC7ju6S1E4nM0YZ-gK-VRgZvpxY4CqFr6hmlSDV9pT1jzcTa3CqYEhKsGhS2r1nFPNhGwuWgdJUZdNKLOcNiBNFvDKRPSnln8pu_Ij5BD1/s1600/Manx+Shearwater+Shearwater+II+Aug+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9iQ3jo8FzkJwQNoXBZK7uvcyB52s97sD7asC7ju6S1E4nM0YZ-gK-VRgZvpxY4CqFr6hmlSDV9pT1jzcTa3CqYEhKsGhS2r1nFPNhGwuWgdJUZdNKLOcNiBNFvDKRPSnln8pu_Ij5BD1/s400/Manx+Shearwater+Shearwater+II+Aug+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manx Shearwater on the water</td></tr>
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Plenty of <b>Common Dolphin</b> swan alongside and under the boat, including a mother and calf together. Plus plenty of <b>Harbour</b> <b>Porpoise </b>were seen and later<b> Grey Seal </b>on the rocks close to the harbour.<b> </b>Bird-wise, it was relatively quiet, with more <b>Manx Shearwater</b>, along with plenty of <b>Gannet</b>, the odd <b>Fulmar</b>, a couple of <b>Guillemot</b> close-up, <b>Shag </b>and a lone <b>Kittiwake</b>.<b> </b><br />
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I've discovered I love heading out to sea, so will plan more trips doing the same next year.<br />
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<b>NEXT BLOG: MALLORCA REVISITED</b><br />
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-23357162698272856432019-06-11T18:43:00.003+01:002019-11-10T23:38:44.158+00:00MALLORCAN PATCH BIRDINGWell, it's back to the grindstone after another great holiday in Mallorca three years after our last visit there.<br />
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It's amazing how quickly the time goes – somehow the timelords seem to put their foot firmly on the accelerator, and before you know you are hitting old age smack in the face.<br />
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That's how it seems to me, at any rate as I alarmingly approach my 60th birthday. 60! Such a big number in my book – and I don't like it.<br />
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So Annie and I headed off to the Balearic isle for an end-of-spring break. We prefer to go down the self-catering villa-in-the-countryside-with-a-pool route and we headed for the same area we stayed at last time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7XrDPJskWisnAB2nF9toCfkVZ1Ny7IoqVEDt_we1lByOsPdlmACxgBB8Fu26n26ygP-wq0n47KcK2VvoRCqpXALPeIoGLVNIZkngsMmt6HHlqHLP5CmJORHGNm6T6s4RxLvtXWT2R7tI/s1600/La+Plana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7XrDPJskWisnAB2nF9toCfkVZ1Ny7IoqVEDt_we1lByOsPdlmACxgBB8Fu26n26ygP-wq0n47KcK2VvoRCqpXALPeIoGLVNIZkngsMmt6HHlqHLP5CmJORHGNm6T6s4RxLvtXWT2R7tI/s400/La+Plana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOjgEJTRLsmA0HE7oyST9ToWwtnBhzqKX9sMNFjpmOjxyoNZapjPOy7G1wNWJUE8t4-4bIDePhSoi4cnoiZ-uY5beX2dbCma1bCRpxSfgqvtOFUiZQkxb2t7EQ8Y2K_4PVimMuHgpGN88/s1600/La+Plana+23+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOjgEJTRLsmA0HE7oyST9ToWwtnBhzqKX9sMNFjpmOjxyoNZapjPOy7G1wNWJUE8t4-4bIDePhSoi4cnoiZ-uY5beX2dbCma1bCRpxSfgqvtOFUiZQkxb2t7EQ8Y2K_4PVimMuHgpGN88/s400/La+Plana+23+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The villa was in the Marc valley, to the west of Pollença, <br />
before the foothills of the Tramuntana mountain range</td></tr>
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Three years ago we were in a luxury villa (jumped on an amazing deal at the time) just on the edge of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range in the Marc valley, just west of Pollença. It was a mega spot and this time we stayed a just a mile down the road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRhOBwzJA4CE658L6mqMUvwK9rsbC2PbMlx8QNHeynjdUGjaqNRfLIc8_f9kgbkxmPj4ofQWuayvxLd9g02HuzZGlvfY5lqE8n9EAjwsodPbkxvShOnmZFhkrPs3CY_BV4oWCRrmN5yIK/s1600/Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRhOBwzJA4CE658L6mqMUvwK9rsbC2PbMlx8QNHeynjdUGjaqNRfLIc8_f9kgbkxmPj4ofQWuayvxLd9g02HuzZGlvfY5lqE8n9EAjwsodPbkxvShOnmZFhkrPs3CY_BV4oWCRrmN5yIK/s400/Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening sun hits the top of the mountains</td></tr>
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It was in a lovely setting – the villa wasn't as upmarket as the last one but the pool was great and the surrounding countryside suited <strike>my birding</strike> our requirements.<br />
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For the first couple of days it was sunny with a cool breeze, but it got progressively warmer. We then had a couple of days of rain before the sun returned into the second week.<br />
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For any birder Mallorca is one of the must-go-to islands of the Mediterranean, with plenty of great sites around the whole island. The north is the most popular area to visit, with the Albufera Nature reserve one of the highlights, along with the other famous sites like the Boquer Valley.<br />
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This time around I tended to focus on the area surrounding the villa rather than racing around ticking off birding spots, as we will return to the island over the coming the years – probably again this autumn. We really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the fact nowhere is too far to travel to on any given day and the general lack of pretension. Life is simple and straightforward here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivw_E_UhtS0cbzcUkze45R8xW2SCF03_DW4Acvv7cSfU-YPXdsB3DiZSZkvldkFxreKuF9UM_HAS7haGNAci0Ek1bg0C0lWE7XaHFnJOSHySFJIUYjozp-XHSab-6vbt-fFi_VU6v5bkz-/s1600/Nightingale+Marc+Valley+19+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivw_E_UhtS0cbzcUkze45R8xW2SCF03_DW4Acvv7cSfU-YPXdsB3DiZSZkvldkFxreKuF9UM_HAS7haGNAci0Ek1bg0C0lWE7XaHFnJOSHySFJIUYjozp-XHSab-6vbt-fFi_VU6v5bkz-/s400/Nightingale+Marc+Valley+19+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many secretive but tuneful Nightingale along the valley</td></tr>
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The birds, of course, are top quality!<br />
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Like our previous visit, I found I didn't need to travel far to see the majority of the species I wanted to tick. The area of the Marc valley is exceptionally good birding country, but not an area noted on the guides.<br />
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The road outside the villa is on a hiker's route between Pollença and the mountains. Annie and I walked from the villa along the valley most mornings and it was extremely satisfying discovering different species every day.<br />
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What was also satisfying was how much Annie enjoyed seeing, listening to and recognising different bird species.<br />
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I basically created a birding patch from the villa that stretched along the lane west for a mile. Surrounding us was farmland with different habitats and mountains. So a mix is assured.<br />
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Every day was different.<br />
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But the song we woke to every morning until the sun went down was that of the <b>Nightingale</b>. They are everywhere, and was a pure joy to hear as a backing track.<br />
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The other sound, more often at night was the less tuneful call of the <b>Stone Curlew</b>. One made me jump one evening as it flew over the villa loudly calling as it went. <b>Stone Curlew</b> fly-overs would be a common occurrence during our stay.<br />
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By the end of the holiday I had 53 species on the list, with 39 seen on the villa patch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwF7TFjtORNQhkpOEhf1VC7zxIyRWC2Qqv5XzUaStDk0a5iPjS3n-LlCOnd85RdMF9jX8_-UmT8mlVH_yK0OMzF2YbUX8KRZ9UiIBO4S2Cq217UFCd052I2gdvP6LKXOBWVGCyI2aLwOO/s1600/Audouin%2527s+Gull+Puerta+Pollenca+19+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwF7TFjtORNQhkpOEhf1VC7zxIyRWC2Qqv5XzUaStDk0a5iPjS3n-LlCOnd85RdMF9jX8_-UmT8mlVH_yK0OMzF2YbUX8KRZ9UiIBO4S2Cq217UFCd052I2gdvP6LKXOBWVGCyI2aLwOO/s400/Audouin%2527s+Gull+Puerta+Pollenca+19+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audouin's Gull at Puerto Pollenca</td></tr>
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We went out for lunch a lot – often in Port de Pollença – where I added <b>Audioun's Gull </b>to my Mallorca list. These gulls are easy to spot, along with <b>Yellow-legged Gull</b>, particularly hanging around the beach hoping for a few titbits.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs42F4tl-HqVhy8R88soX7vWez80iwo0KmGzVw2yD4UgD3Joj5O_bvs3vQPy0PtnIuoI4q1Ynh6HweMZO26N-IGXYqJWrbYw-d5C39qmmtMbj0PGr_v9yDGwN5hARefyFY0Fsh8YQJEx1/s1600/Spotted+Flycatcher+La+Plana+19+May+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs42F4tl-HqVhy8R88soX7vWez80iwo0KmGzVw2yD4UgD3Joj5O_bvs3vQPy0PtnIuoI4q1Ynh6HweMZO26N-IGXYqJWrbYw-d5C39qmmtMbj0PGr_v9yDGwN5hARefyFY0Fsh8YQJEx1/s400/Spotted+Flycatcher+La+Plana+19+May+2019b.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Flycatcher at the villa</td></tr>
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The fields behind the villa were full of birds. The most common 'uncommon' bird was <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b>. Always fun to watch, they darted around the villa most days and along the fence line on our daily walk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PoX6OsMID4CpKG_S4WLOsjmnUZfq79vDOJQlyChsxD6VNBjzLQS9yOeFkvVftww0SAjmz8uqG5-iA9LBvoKCVadJlcarPLqI1p1a_Qq4wB9fZpmlLVqbjPphOJh2zHJ9CFAxPysMTrkm/s1600/Spotted+Flycatcher+Marc+Valley+25+May+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PoX6OsMID4CpKG_S4WLOsjmnUZfq79vDOJQlyChsxD6VNBjzLQS9yOeFkvVftww0SAjmz8uqG5-iA9LBvoKCVadJlcarPLqI1p1a_Qq4wB9fZpmlLVqbjPphOJh2zHJ9CFAxPysMTrkm/s400/Spotted+Flycatcher+Marc+Valley+25+May+2019b.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many Spotted Flycatchers along our walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fkcOPVM9L0niywR7-Fb0w37RS3WE77y4AnaVsBX6qZp8pMy0D31FSMVyD0VKiic85qxfrcrv8cGJMkQTtyZVhfPACbWpxWQV93L5Sce4I6aVCoM4RKnARgTweUezRiIpP-Z3G_K-BCQG/s1600/Serin+La+Plana+21+May+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fkcOPVM9L0niywR7-Fb0w37RS3WE77y4AnaVsBX6qZp8pMy0D31FSMVyD0VKiic85qxfrcrv8cGJMkQTtyZVhfPACbWpxWQV93L5Sce4I6aVCoM4RKnARgTweUezRiIpP-Z3G_K-BCQG/s400/Serin+La+Plana+21+May+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serin at the villa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdFv8js8FhGvs0-LG1uI70SSlch31r-9Z5RIbLJ2zwxDc5ZMRS3TrxPkr5ehL_cUjUmj6zcFm1vcmjdlKSC3QhuQoVd0VdZsWeVJSGpTu4lh8I0ISAo2J6TN7m6hNgw_mZesvGhRimz6i/s1600/Corn+Bunting+La+Plana+21+May+2019c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdFv8js8FhGvs0-LG1uI70SSlch31r-9Z5RIbLJ2zwxDc5ZMRS3TrxPkr5ehL_cUjUmj6zcFm1vcmjdlKSC3QhuQoVd0VdZsWeVJSGpTu4lh8I0ISAo2J6TN7m6hNgw_mZesvGhRimz6i/s400/Corn+Bunting+La+Plana+21+May+2019c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corn Bunting in the field at the back of the villa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHRKE1TBYXIHhDpygjSW_fSUzng8YG5L8AqS1sOAHc8y0e-gQBtRdh609PQsukOk2S97S6iBYx2EeKNg6HqohcnBIdfGqE9J16ZmazrZ_QZC1OsoxMYrL1YcibvzoezDlom9J117-lb_t/s1600/Cirl+Bunting+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHRKE1TBYXIHhDpygjSW_fSUzng8YG5L8AqS1sOAHc8y0e-gQBtRdh609PQsukOk2S97S6iBYx2EeKNg6HqohcnBIdfGqE9J16ZmazrZ_QZC1OsoxMYrL1YcibvzoezDlom9J117-lb_t/s400/Cirl+Bunting+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cirl Bunting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1Igvg_4DgIucmratDmgV4nnU-PIC3En31ziXTJ_aLny1Pr_XnUrIHhFCg7mrIgtHR8uYuZwcAVAMP4rK5P8uJmBViwM0Ya6myUF95fV9qPh5GGr1UftU9GOBAEExh4vhyT_YIQzD2Rwq/s1600/Booted+Eagle+Marc+valley+27+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1Igvg_4DgIucmratDmgV4nnU-PIC3En31ziXTJ_aLny1Pr_XnUrIHhFCg7mrIgtHR8uYuZwcAVAMP4rK5P8uJmBViwM0Ya6myUF95fV9qPh5GGr1UftU9GOBAEExh4vhyT_YIQzD2Rwq/s400/Booted+Eagle+Marc+valley+27+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark-phase Booted Eagle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnwOtVxHhM2bqxVylQ5dTzLag7eoeBpSPm7nn-aX4V3CYCw7dmUP1Ym8AQhfsR_S5lBKHie76yZtF5W6aOXcQoU_oBStbL0cdj534PYvNdrNAtY-UaoDB7mUnMbMpQC2VgaSXEGIPJ7yz/s1600/Red+Kite+Marc+Valley+20+May+2019c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnwOtVxHhM2bqxVylQ5dTzLag7eoeBpSPm7nn-aX4V3CYCw7dmUP1Ym8AQhfsR_S5lBKHie76yZtF5W6aOXcQoU_oBStbL0cdj534PYvNdrNAtY-UaoDB7mUnMbMpQC2VgaSXEGIPJ7yz/s400/Red+Kite+Marc+Valley+20+May+2019c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Serin</b> were seen often too, as were <b>Corn Bunting</b> and <b>Cirl Bunting</b>. Up in the sky <b>Griffon Vulture</b> regularly circled. For those looking for birds of prey, <b>Booted Eagle </b>were a common sighting, as was a lone <b>Kestrel</b> and <b>Red Kite</b>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3LO2XmSVrkh5zwmDpMhTuLp3-wnLIIIclSie2uSz2XAwQ_rM1nuOy-fL40sVDzLUiyuNY2qf8PRBRI-1kIMBpnXqUR9ONEIqFqCv9YlX2q6KiDWpHTDhm7gaNRPyXwEcb1VEY2A9xtqS/s1600/Eleonora%2527s+Falcon+Marc+Valley+20+May+2019d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3LO2XmSVrkh5zwmDpMhTuLp3-wnLIIIclSie2uSz2XAwQ_rM1nuOy-fL40sVDzLUiyuNY2qf8PRBRI-1kIMBpnXqUR9ONEIqFqCv9YlX2q6KiDWpHTDhm7gaNRPyXwEcb1VEY2A9xtqS/s400/Eleonora%2527s+Falcon+Marc+Valley+20+May+2019d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleonora's Falcon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKXXLHQ4k6YPb1MbR-hWyatgIix5Zu4Bo4t_EP_77_ztkFu1cfaoHzfnt5b4ScG7XFy0mJhUFJgPG_pIvWeXJRGPSrhyphenhyphen9k9lTdgoYPqIx6E5SLn1qxBdljQFmN_OlbTM4KH1FQ412uhUj/s1600/Griffon+Vulture+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKXXLHQ4k6YPb1MbR-hWyatgIix5Zu4Bo4t_EP_77_ztkFu1cfaoHzfnt5b4ScG7XFy0mJhUFJgPG_pIvWeXJRGPSrhyphenhyphen9k9lTdgoYPqIx6E5SLn1qxBdljQFmN_OlbTM4KH1FQ412uhUj/s400/Griffon+Vulture+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffon Vulture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMonUPet8k8b1iQKmNTBnuL4eP3HFrlkRjDTVL25Eaiy0jjwD1g7-4OYtu03u5DyfZk0CGTVteFBA_3AoBnRTHQeDEzrUV2CSd_wW2udPir17InbYbyKz1V701CUvD2E5pTiCyzsnTB04/s1600/Booted+Eagle+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMonUPet8k8b1iQKmNTBnuL4eP3HFrlkRjDTVL25Eaiy0jjwD1g7-4OYtu03u5DyfZk0CGTVteFBA_3AoBnRTHQeDEzrUV2CSd_wW2udPir17InbYbyKz1V701CUvD2E5pTiCyzsnTB04/s400/Booted+Eagle+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale-phase Booted Eagle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ii9T3weQJB-Cp2NR9tyrLwNDvwGcTsIEL4EAnIXDA8xvWwh7KnucV_r35H9GufYVFu1KhxUDrtmsHTwNZ__UmsJ_wQau7xJ_5z6FHwlOdGxukKaT0f_IAAXjPRaNXt2gYSuAeoSytnaM/s1600/Black+Vulture+Marc+valley+26+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ii9T3weQJB-Cp2NR9tyrLwNDvwGcTsIEL4EAnIXDA8xvWwh7KnucV_r35H9GufYVFu1KhxUDrtmsHTwNZ__UmsJ_wQau7xJ_5z6FHwlOdGxukKaT0f_IAAXjPRaNXt2gYSuAeoSytnaM/s400/Black+Vulture+Marc+valley+26+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Vulture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But it really stepped up on the third morning on our walk, as we enjoyed watching four <b>Eleonora's Falcon</b> feeding on insects along the path, swooping fast and low really close by. On the following morning, we saw another couple of <b>Eleonora's Falcon</b>, together with a pale-phase <b>Booted Eagle</b>, <b>Griffon Vultur</b>e and a <b>Black Vulture</b>, all in the space of ten minutes.<br />
<br />
In fact, all four species flew very close by the villa itself on different days.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkwKK0jPetlWYpsuJS2AFC07WcKMtJ2uCXGNeLgEuuoiiIOyR45xQgRx1Ahxj9PHfxSLatyjcP21X_3kXhb0lQ75-jSf_8VvB28aGwrRPLn0X-78ep0-PVXb0b3xnGqf6eEVYxw1gWxhx/s1600/Stone+Curlew+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkwKK0jPetlWYpsuJS2AFC07WcKMtJ2uCXGNeLgEuuoiiIOyR45xQgRx1Ahxj9PHfxSLatyjcP21X_3kXhb0lQ75-jSf_8VvB28aGwrRPLn0X-78ep0-PVXb0b3xnGqf6eEVYxw1gWxhx/s400/Stone+Curlew+Marc+Valley+21+May+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone Curlew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the other highlights was seeing a <b>Stone Curlew </b>in one of the adjacent fields – a lucky discovery, having seen something move on the ground some distance away.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SpUuH3mOnWdkv5AggOyV4Glq42vrOtbKYU-AJhlCo62F_crJeetecz_lILTPFFDT09NZC7L1263oOqICuAAHJw8xY5j6mh8UH8hKit4yp4IPawzOGjVDZ-3qlb3jk70KQr_HGxfb4BTp/s1600/Zitting+Cisticola+Albuferta+22+May+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SpUuH3mOnWdkv5AggOyV4Glq42vrOtbKYU-AJhlCo62F_crJeetecz_lILTPFFDT09NZC7L1263oOqICuAAHJw8xY5j6mh8UH8hKit4yp4IPawzOGjVDZ-3qlb3jk70KQr_HGxfb4BTp/s400/Zitting+Cisticola+Albuferta+22+May+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zitting Cisticola</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Early one morning I headed further afield and out to a reserve, the S'Albufereta, the smaller of the reserves close to Alcudia. I took me a while to get my bearings to be honest, as signposting wasn't that great, but while travelling around the area I saw my first <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> of the holiday, and a<b> Zitting Cisticola</b> singing hysterically in a field.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qhST9JKBcIMOgpyzca-aiWPpj0dOan59Uz9d7vZabehBCb5z1lI_FqaXis_H9x6AC8LYCuPvV-7-g11aCciX7lQfqtrkP6tKxQ8bDNJqZoZAQoZPRW_VRUVjA3TKeEABnDIgW373FEyE/s1600/Kentish+Plover+Black-winged+Stilt+S%2527Albuferta+22+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qhST9JKBcIMOgpyzca-aiWPpj0dOan59Uz9d7vZabehBCb5z1lI_FqaXis_H9x6AC8LYCuPvV-7-g11aCciX7lQfqtrkP6tKxQ8bDNJqZoZAQoZPRW_VRUVjA3TKeEABnDIgW373FEyE/s400/Kentish+Plover+Black-winged+Stilt+S%2527Albuferta+22+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kentish Plover and Black-winged Stilt at S'Albufereta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXReNAI3RDR_WaI0s-KD1o2zWf-mK-7-tkjc49G1Tr_q0RrKBoOPjUA-JA4-pKHy958_5glgH7FBRCKRNkL97yR_Yb0f2VtMnYPjC_mXcUKkiixTbxjRZAH5qYxBYe527iiuK4UJjh-SX/s1600/Yellow+Wagtail+S%2527Albuferta+22+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXReNAI3RDR_WaI0s-KD1o2zWf-mK-7-tkjc49G1Tr_q0RrKBoOPjUA-JA4-pKHy958_5glgH7FBRCKRNkL97yR_Yb0f2VtMnYPjC_mXcUKkiixTbxjRZAH5qYxBYe527iiuK4UJjh-SX/s400/Yellow+Wagtail+S%2527Albuferta+22+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF6iL6UfIrxG-4DKhVI0w80eV7zPPs0cqLdIPtXrRhuMVrv9sp7sHQ9nQ-gJ5S5zfKnngbfWQRbMV95EmQ4EvtI4cIT0UV8XlPWtafGUGKJfOKlaxyFm4JZGqMvXivrZ40dXSc08uc42e/s1600/Yellow+Wagtail+S%2527Albuferta+22+May+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF6iL6UfIrxG-4DKhVI0w80eV7zPPs0cqLdIPtXrRhuMVrv9sp7sHQ9nQ-gJ5S5zfKnngbfWQRbMV95EmQ4EvtI4cIT0UV8XlPWtafGUGKJfOKlaxyFm4JZGqMvXivrZ40dXSc08uc42e/s400/Yellow+Wagtail+S%2527Albuferta+22+May+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the reserve I saw a <b>Purple Heron</b>, a number of <b>Kentish Plover</b> and <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>, as well as a <b>Marsh Harrier</b> and plenty of Iberian species <b>Yellow Wagtail</b> (<i>flava iberiae</i>).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xv0WD3ovlCJunkoYeK-7vYl7oj8ovmlsEUIYpd11VvI8fgTPp8krQDtJlylC8Eeg5F7w_MSa1fKcyZvG3n26G5w7X9M2hr0gc6l4SrWBaMORrjPHSYFdbPltcLbTb3ihY5uxARiVc-i5/s1600/Hoopoe+Boquer+Vally+22+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xv0WD3ovlCJunkoYeK-7vYl7oj8ovmlsEUIYpd11VvI8fgTPp8krQDtJlylC8Eeg5F7w_MSa1fKcyZvG3n26G5w7X9M2hr0gc6l4SrWBaMORrjPHSYFdbPltcLbTb3ihY5uxARiVc-i5/s400/Hoopoe+Boquer+Vally+22+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A flushed Hoopoe in the Boquer Valley - about the best I could come up with of one of these all holiday!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I even had time to walk the Boquer Valley later that morning in hope of a Blue Rock Thrush – but to no avail. I flushed a <b>Hoopoe</b> while walking along the well-trodden Boquer path, while <b>Sardinian Warbler</b> was the most common species spotted along the route.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1qCOMML1nSZUQbsfkuKft0ctszrvjlN09OOMA39cg3AjB-xVHQjjk-w_5vKAaWbNjFwCslvCzvYsqkV91wdTWjyRenJYMtKVblBJZXLZ9USJxhb7j6g4iXLx_jaDot8vYUpV8A14L3IC/s1600/Balearic+Warbler+Boquer+Vally+22+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1qCOMML1nSZUQbsfkuKft0ctszrvjlN09OOMA39cg3AjB-xVHQjjk-w_5vKAaWbNjFwCslvCzvYsqkV91wdTWjyRenJYMtKVblBJZXLZ9USJxhb7j6g4iXLx_jaDot8vYUpV8A14L3IC/s400/Balearic+Warbler+Boquer+Vally+22+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balearic Warbler at Boquer Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did luck into a <b>Balearic Warbler </b>at the end of the valley as the path drops down to the sea. The warbler flew low right in front of me and settled down to feed among the gorse close by – my best-ever views of this endemic Mallorcan species.<br />
<br />
Apart from that though, the Boquer Valley was quiet, with no raptors of any kind. Curiously, I find this popular site can be a bit of a disappointment at times.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rH7eKqi7pze_38WS995loiBh1gQK8a37SA2EA9e8ilv4xqrzSq66WPLmVXTrObGHcs1bcCvoXLPN0wjBSoF2x2-f7YejKwbb3Z8e4Ns5NiX-lQLhf2NqCPO71n3bFM2-30GZTc_8DNnU/s1600/Woodchat+Shrike+La+Plana+27+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rH7eKqi7pze_38WS995loiBh1gQK8a37SA2EA9e8ilv4xqrzSq66WPLmVXTrObGHcs1bcCvoXLPN0wjBSoF2x2-f7YejKwbb3Z8e4Ns5NiX-lQLhf2NqCPO71n3bFM2-30GZTc_8DNnU/s400/Woodchat+Shrike+La+Plana+27+May+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodchat Shrike at the villa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEHr-SupZKyyDZdp_lHlstgskjPaujAuOl3_KiyQGbE2PHGhg72BCGx7rez-H9XsnkEUp4iBAJokveHTJfYhZTXf0wVBKXD4y8_cibdny0shHl5t78tVJ7d-6LsgY5YOGlGStEEHCT1-7/s1600/Woodchat+Shrike+La+Plana+27+May+2019b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEHr-SupZKyyDZdp_lHlstgskjPaujAuOl3_KiyQGbE2PHGhg72BCGx7rez-H9XsnkEUp4iBAJokveHTJfYhZTXf0wVBKXD4y8_cibdny0shHl5t78tVJ7d-6LsgY5YOGlGStEEHCT1-7/s400/Woodchat+Shrike+La+Plana+27+May+2019b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodchat Shrike targets a meal</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2GL_brGPiwC_75HB8p-3qQeON_zmdS6EL0dlmsrihUVh0Obi8YLR6-1xzvEWpSA9RNAbiK_gY4Miz-oeKYW1pcaaAOlzin2AtrlhSQ3wzEstLJ4s1ms16sp2WHl49u4jjQ0pr54vKLsX/s1600/Woodchat+Shrike+Marc+valley+28+May+2019e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2GL_brGPiwC_75HB8p-3qQeON_zmdS6EL0dlmsrihUVh0Obi8YLR6-1xzvEWpSA9RNAbiK_gY4Miz-oeKYW1pcaaAOlzin2AtrlhSQ3wzEstLJ4s1ms16sp2WHl49u4jjQ0pr54vKLsX/s400/Woodchat+Shrike+Marc+valley+28+May+2019e.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uASRgC1U6HxejhxUqnU1DqqkKymk6pUy2IzmffwfPfhRqu7KzbLMqMDUwHfntDGPrK9w_w_nw9SEoAlZSzDLmwN5_OdyqluY_kmyAPbSe7Y4U0lfFn9_vOsidcHcxEuxMa7UXPtSajnu/s1600/Woodchat+Shrike+Marc+valley+28+May+2019i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uASRgC1U6HxejhxUqnU1DqqkKymk6pUy2IzmffwfPfhRqu7KzbLMqMDUwHfntDGPrK9w_w_nw9SEoAlZSzDLmwN5_OdyqluY_kmyAPbSe7Y4U0lfFn9_vOsidcHcxEuxMa7UXPtSajnu/s400/Woodchat+Shrike+Marc+valley+28+May+2019i.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodchat Shrike along the lane from the villa</td></tr>
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<b>Woodchat Shrike</b> sightings were non-existent around my new patch until three days before the end of the holiday when one appeared on a wire behind the villa. We then saw another, probably the same one close up a day later along the lane. The same day I heard and then saw another <b>Zitting Cisticola</b> circling in a field.<br />
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A local <b>Hoopoe</b> was a regular, if fleeting sight, on our walk until the penultimate evening when I heard it calling in a field behind the villa. It immediately flew into a tree where the <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> was perched. In a tree closer to the villa I had my first patch sighting of a <b>Yellow Wagtail</b>.<br />
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Another surprise on a few evenings was hearing a <b>Nightjar</b> churring not that far away.<br />
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I didn't see any firsts for my life list but searching for the real rarities like Bonelli's Eagle and Moltoni's Warbler requires a bit of research and a good map. Despite that you don't always need to go far in Mallorca and make too much effort to find some decent birds. That was more than enough for me.<br />
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2019 Mallorca notable bird list (53 in total, incl. 39 villa patch):<br />
<b>Red-legged Partridge </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Cattle Egret </b>(over motorway heading to villa)<br />
<b>Purple Heron</b> (S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Griffon Vulture</b><br />
<b>Black Vulture</b><br />
<b>Booted Eagle</b><br />
<b>Red Kite</b><br />
<b>Marsh Harrier</b> (S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Kestrel</b><br />
<b>Eleonora's Falcon</b><br />
<b>Black-winged Stilt </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Stone Curlew</b><br />
<b>Little-ringed Plover </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Kentish Plover </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Audouin's Gull </b>(Port de Pollença)<br />
<b>Yellow-legged Gull</b><br />
<b>Common Tern </b>(S'Albufereta)<br />
<b>Scops Owl</b> (heard only)<br />
<b>Nightjar</b> (heard only)<br />
<b>Hoopoe</b><br />
<b>Woodchat Shrike</b><br />
<b>Raven</b><br />
<b>Red-rumped Swallow </b>(Palma airport)<br />
<b>Balearic Warbler</b> (Boquer Valley)<br />
<b>Sardinian Warbler</b><br />
<b>Zitting Cisticola</b><br />
<b>Spotted Flycatcher</b><br />
<b>Nightingale</b><br />
<b>Stonechat </b>(Boquer Valley)<br />
<b>Yellow Wagtail</b><br />
<b>Serin</b><br />
<b>Cirl Bunting</b><br />
<b>Corn Bunting</b>Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-11878296041385436222019-05-15T20:50:00.003+01:002019-05-15T20:54:13.882+01:00THOUGHTS OF POM SKUAS BREAKS THE PHASING BLUES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Apologies once again for the lack of posts since February. Some of the reason has been due to the usual time constraints but predominantly, I have to admit, it has been more because of a total lack of enthusiasm.</div>
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I never thought it would ever happen, but a chronic case of phasing really enveloped me and at the time I couldn't comprehend why.</div>
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I have just recently begun to snap out of it, but even now I really struggle to force myself to get out of bed at the crack of dawn – even during spring migration.</div>
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But then again, I haven't really missed that much. Spring migration this year has been pretty quiet, alarmingly so I would say. </div>
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But even when some of my favourite birds have arrived relatively locally, like Ring Ouzel, for example, I've just shrugged my shoulders and carried on with whatever it was I had been doing at the time. The pulse never flickered.</div>
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Back in February I did enjoy regularly seeing my local patch's long-staying <b>Black-throated Diver</b>. For more than five weeks he stayed on Mercer's Lake – it was a real pleasure to have such a rare visitor on the doorstep.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4tNbK4CPwDKQ71TMt9sUE140Fw380nLoViv3Fmnuf2T_CweM9cGDHcZZa4m6iiIzDKLAO1EhTmr9D7w7U7-XFmQzEFVZXB0Zic-D6uxvyY7JOY7FF0EzdN1G2PCXe1IPGKnAuB-rgPQ0/s1600/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake15+Feb+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4tNbK4CPwDKQ71TMt9sUE140Fw380nLoViv3Fmnuf2T_CweM9cGDHcZZa4m6iiIzDKLAO1EhTmr9D7w7U7-XFmQzEFVZXB0Zic-D6uxvyY7JOY7FF0EzdN1G2PCXe1IPGKnAuB-rgPQ0/s400/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake15+Feb+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holmethorpe's Black-throated Diver</td></tr>
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Deep down I think I have been just plain tired. Last year was draining because any spare time was spent writing, producing and publishing my stock car book, then I had to focus on selling it – often at the venues. After that my mum gradually deteriorated and passed away and the aftermath as the end of the year approached was soul-sapping.</div>
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Work has been gruelling, with a major reshuffle on the cards, and too much to do with less staff to do it. And so I supposed it should have been no surprise to find myself running on empty this spring. </div>
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But one ember of enthusiasm, of hope, continued to glow – the thought of watching migrating <b>Pomarine Skuas</b>. I find sea-watching, whenever I get the opportunity, a true joy. There are few more satisfying things in life (to my mind, at least) than to empty my head of all the crap going on inside it and sit by the sea and stare at it all day. Wonderful.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pomarine Skua (it is there somewhere!)</td></tr>
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And so that is what I did on consecutive Tuesdays at Dungeness earlier this month. While it was relatively quiet on the migration front, on the second visit I got to see my first <b>Pom Skua </b>of the season. Just the one, but it was enough.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdvxxOLEAIHk5TOCGTNm0WPZ7SZGpJyJ6FQl8ouqyc3p9HfHQMmxpS4-UA8JLOA53uVmr0nVvYbhJLLKuGFQfD9uAjnzMuz3JNcMC0AZp-vTaKYrpU_f9mcVbzks7sS1fvLV7n-ym5Khw/s1600/3+Whimbrel+2+BT+Godwit+Dungeness+30+April+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdvxxOLEAIHk5TOCGTNm0WPZ7SZGpJyJ6FQl8ouqyc3p9HfHQMmxpS4-UA8JLOA53uVmr0nVvYbhJLLKuGFQfD9uAjnzMuz3JNcMC0AZp-vTaKYrpU_f9mcVbzks7sS1fvLV7n-ym5Khw/s400/3+Whimbrel+2+BT+Godwit+Dungeness+30+April+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bar-tailed Godwit with Whimbrel</td></tr>
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Added to the list, in no particular order, the other highlights were a pair of <b>Garganey</b>, <b>Little Gull</b>, <b>Black-throated Diver</b>, <b>Whimbrel</b>, <b>Bar-tailed Godwit</b>, <b>Kittiwake</b>, <b>Little Tern</b> (loads of them), <b>Arctic Tern</b>, <b>Arctic Skua </b>and <b>Bonxie</b>. Away from the sea <b>Great White Egret</b>, <b>Wheatear</b> and, in particular, a pair of <b>Black Redstart </b>were spirit-lifting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tKv0r97vdjGBicfh4XN0117l6ArwzYu04AeDo0ujkip-QaR1v6qt_GneP42nBZ7agUehMj-v8pFF9PNHXMFXvosMy0f70DuSSwYgejTkdpaXk05-m78YlqNPpWPmJrUdotILIhUBkILL/s1600/Kittiwake+Dungeness+April+30+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tKv0r97vdjGBicfh4XN0117l6ArwzYu04AeDo0ujkip-QaR1v6qt_GneP42nBZ7agUehMj-v8pFF9PNHXMFXvosMy0f70DuSSwYgejTkdpaXk05-m78YlqNPpWPmJrUdotILIhUBkILL/s400/Kittiwake+Dungeness+April+30+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kittiwake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBT_QJjjCtQYeN9LaxglJVFkJSvtK-t3ODwH24G_f6SmKdMOwI7kjHgDKbTPsnDR_n1S-2JWpwmFyen-0l7MH6AoXfgUmJ6B-bIQZrITQykN0baIujne-R4Mxc3pVkO2-8E44pe9-UDRdf/s1600/Arctic+Skua+Dungeness+May+7+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBT_QJjjCtQYeN9LaxglJVFkJSvtK-t3ODwH24G_f6SmKdMOwI7kjHgDKbTPsnDR_n1S-2JWpwmFyen-0l7MH6AoXfgUmJ6B-bIQZrITQykN0baIujne-R4Mxc3pVkO2-8E44pe9-UDRdf/s400/Arctic+Skua+Dungeness+May+7+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Arctic Skuas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uIz9Ur4laFK1t0gA-TaZ25mDpmmOTBpknEuaVVwDKwlD-UP68Q8pElhZAfmGq2TUUGk1EaKQp0iJQwE3DzqoE2eb0qVNqF66XKCS0u0iWAYhOhg1zeohbB-zM0RLbgZRnfXnc5vuaMUZ/s1600/Black+Redstart+Dungeness+May+7+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uIz9Ur4laFK1t0gA-TaZ25mDpmmOTBpknEuaVVwDKwlD-UP68Q8pElhZAfmGq2TUUGk1EaKQp0iJQwE3DzqoE2eb0qVNqF66XKCS0u0iWAYhOhg1zeohbB-zM0RLbgZRnfXnc5vuaMUZ/s400/Black+Redstart+Dungeness+May+7+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A handsome Black Redstart </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWHhjN40nQ-z4_ff0U71quMNwSy-HDXhUzdhyL9IGyPoRPLpFYeAOvXFGu08Iq0YoqksPH4iswqfEkJ_LFkUEMvIsXcRgOiW4r7UbydhWrDlFphu95IDYCQ-iWnwFGUP3DmsxXgsVgqQ8/s400/Great+White+Egret+Dungeness+April+30+2019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great White Egret</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8_b0bOp3Pjt2lne37ufzhrbSApTST48667MglKEmv3_m-IlCEXKGu8MZrpUrg5kfY8FSdX4hy3Z7EOYgwIQNaofpm0IFoaV1kLHlHQ309NsqqprGUF5kXP_gEbm9m6Qdm8Y_WZFhlcDf/s1600/Wheatear+Dungeness+April+30+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8_b0bOp3Pjt2lne37ufzhrbSApTST48667MglKEmv3_m-IlCEXKGu8MZrpUrg5kfY8FSdX4hy3Z7EOYgwIQNaofpm0IFoaV1kLHlHQ309NsqqprGUF5kXP_gEbm9m6Qdm8Y_WZFhlcDf/s400/Wheatear+Dungeness+April+30+2019.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</td></tr>
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I did managed to miss a Kentish Plover (it would have been a British lifer) that dropped in momentarily by the fishing boats while I was at the sea-watching hide, but I got over that pretty quickly.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWHhjN40nQ-z4_ff0U71quMNwSy-HDXhUzdhyL9IGyPoRPLpFYeAOvXFGu08Iq0YoqksPH4iswqfEkJ_LFkUEMvIsXcRgOiW4r7UbydhWrDlFphu95IDYCQ-iWnwFGUP3DmsxXgsVgqQ8/s1600/Great+White+Egret+Dungeness+April+30+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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This resuscitation of enthusiasm has also coincided with our first real holiday for a while beginning this weekend. Annie and I are off to Mallorca – staying in a villa in the Marc valley to the west of Pollensa.</div>
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If it is half as memorable as the last time we went three years ago, I will be very happy indeed.</div>
Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-55114936072067808692019-02-12T15:53:00.002+00:002019-02-12T15:53:56.971+00:00HOLMETHORPE DELIVERS AGAIN WITH A BLACK-THROATED DIVERHolmethorpe is currently enjoying its moment in the limelight with a <b>Black-throated Diver </b>on Mercer's Lake, with more than 100 visitors to the patch during the past 10 days.<br />
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It was Ian Kehl who discovered it. Ian happened across this first sighting for 36 years over a week ago on a Sunday afternoon while hoping to see the <b>Glaucous Gull </b>roost on the lake, having already dipped the bird a number of times.</div>
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Thankfully, he connected with the Gull too, but the Diver is possibly an even better species for the patch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6VwNrCD7dMpV2NwL_8khVZAuz7KauZsO7YW3wLWlfONAG-GnuQNvLbFNFgkIF6juWcsfKfp8RewZ5BkFCQhkeEg_30rLCP6kykphU2kxUj-PtaR7vIHJ6hzp-zjutuMy2Mgw8SDSfVjF/s1600/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+Feb+4+2019d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6VwNrCD7dMpV2NwL_8khVZAuz7KauZsO7YW3wLWlfONAG-GnuQNvLbFNFgkIF6juWcsfKfp8RewZ5BkFCQhkeEg_30rLCP6kykphU2kxUj-PtaR7vIHJ6hzp-zjutuMy2Mgw8SDSfVjF/s400/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+Feb+4+2019d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Steve Gale was the last birder to see a Black-throated Diver here in 1983. Dave Harris, having looked at photos, confirmed this is the same bird as the Diver seen at Frimley earlier the same day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1ySwD3ZyOKVgP44ddMf6t0FNDGCfjl-flnXpu6Upra-1DR26eCL93B_AFzKUzhr9WsQC76CpyAf8cth7e-g_1Ni7BtaoxAFXHUPyIUOKfQ7uS1h_rLB8udS96Pnl1LGb03Fcsq8TOF2X/s1600/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+Feb+4+2019j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1ySwD3ZyOKVgP44ddMf6t0FNDGCfjl-flnXpu6Upra-1DR26eCL93B_AFzKUzhr9WsQC76CpyAf8cth7e-g_1Ni7BtaoxAFXHUPyIUOKfQ7uS1h_rLB8udS96Pnl1LGb03Fcsq8TOF2X/s400/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+Feb+4+2019j.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Winter always seems to be a good season for me birding-wise. I often get to see a few personal firsts for Britain, Surrey and the patch between December and February, and the <b>Black-throated Diver</b> was no exception, being a Surrey/London/patch first for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2vNZhW_M7DZWNQ6LPvhDtYrQ19gYz0jYxXuuPnBaQbgF-hsFCJy-aHyDTPgcvVtw5CO29us4O23NZdHAKEuaNDMrhFutVOQ9fHSY5WkTc7_nv2DeCtLN8e4ovNXp7r-TjBK6Wnefv9Wz/s1600/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+Feb+4+2019k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2vNZhW_M7DZWNQ6LPvhDtYrQ19gYz0jYxXuuPnBaQbgF-hsFCJy-aHyDTPgcvVtw5CO29us4O23NZdHAKEuaNDMrhFutVOQ9fHSY5WkTc7_nv2DeCtLN8e4ovNXp7r-TjBK6Wnefv9Wz/s400/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+Feb+4+2019k.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Its arrival also allowed Gordon Hay, the stalwart of the patch for the past 30-odd years, to clock his 200th Holmethorpe species, and what a brilliant bird to mark the feat.</div>
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The Glaucous Gull headed to the west London reservoirs to roost and has since not been seen. The Diver apparently flew off earlier last week but saw the error of its ways and returned two and a half hours later and has been enjoyed by local birders ever since. It was still happily preening itself in the sunshine this afternoon during its tenth day on the patch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbx7wIcqpUrstW_lGSalsJ1RNcmARumEzTIsWPKgrRJVWYIdWjo8fyiuBy02JwRw2fDs5MyvnZ194kOqSl6lyFVcANlJjsqYTPMTvG-SsHJ9209AbwGLXEGwQVvaA764NkqOZ7-kkgvgJ/s1600/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+12+Feb+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbx7wIcqpUrstW_lGSalsJ1RNcmARumEzTIsWPKgrRJVWYIdWjo8fyiuBy02JwRw2fDs5MyvnZ194kOqSl6lyFVcANlJjsqYTPMTvG-SsHJ9209AbwGLXEGwQVvaA764NkqOZ7-kkgvgJ/s400/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+12+Feb+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrqzjPR_JjxupcPZbuSrnxwZOxJ0PSG1XiUTttc_Ty4UP_lnuU2kIm3CklcgknFkH8NGx7yVuwzda6FUJXemfkH4ZhjlS-BvRaoFGJm1SjW37B_1_H3hisUir7RiGrEMMRUgk15noSKgW/s1600/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+12+Feb+2018b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrqzjPR_JjxupcPZbuSrnxwZOxJ0PSG1XiUTttc_Ty4UP_lnuU2kIm3CklcgknFkH8NGx7yVuwzda6FUJXemfkH4ZhjlS-BvRaoFGJm1SjW37B_1_H3hisUir7RiGrEMMRUgk15noSKgW/s400/Black-throated+Diver+Mercers+Lake+12+Feb+2018b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Black-throated Diver was still on Mercer's Lake this afternoon – its tenth day on the patch</td></tr>
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It will no doubt be on its way sooner rather than later, but it has been a joy to be able and go and see such a great bird just five minutes away from my house whenever I feel in the mood for a bit of fresh air.<br />
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Having two good birds on the patch recently certainly gives you a lift, as is the knowledge that there are just over two weeks to go until spring arrives.<br />
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Having spoken to Gordon recently, he has a wish list for the patch this year with White-winged Black Tern at the top of the pile. I remember Steve Gale suggesting Alpine Swift a couple of years back, while I would settle for a Red-rumped Swallow to make up for the one I dipped in 2015. Cattle Egret must be another possible at some point, too.</div>
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-30659912182436783372019-01-22T19:36:00.004+00:002019-01-22T19:37:30.036+00:00BEDDINGTON GLAUCOUS GULL ROOSTS AT HOMETHORPE<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxppwwmS-uKBn-GW4v3ETW2W50QjXQRWicAFd17X_8-qQp-Pn-QnqHwBnFZFLF2uWVV_0WVNM7wfOt96r9SeM3SA3uO9uJm-uhC4fTaxmtx88BDr-NKB3WffL_QICkEPD2u73rCyEb1eOZ/s1600/Glaucous+Gull+Holmethorpe+Mercers+Lake+22+Jan+2018d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxppwwmS-uKBn-GW4v3ETW2W50QjXQRWicAFd17X_8-qQp-Pn-QnqHwBnFZFLF2uWVV_0WVNM7wfOt96r9SeM3SA3uO9uJm-uhC4fTaxmtx88BDr-NKB3WffL_QICkEPD2u73rCyEb1eOZ/s400/Glaucous+Gull+Holmethorpe+Mercers+Lake+22+Jan+2018d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sleeping Glaucous Gull stands out in the crowd</td></tr>
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Holmethorpe Sand Pits and Beddington Farmlands have history. Both are in Surrey, with Beddington about ten miles due north of Holmethorpe.<br />
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Both have water as a feature, and both enjoy plenty of gulls – the landfill at both sites draws them in. Beddington is famous for them. Caspian Gulls are a speciality, as are Iceland Gulls and the occasional Glaucous Gull. They even have had Sabine's Gull fly though or drop in on the scrapes in recent years.<br />
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Holmethorpe, on the other hand, tends to encourage all the common species but the rarer gulls are few and far between. We get the occasional Little Gull, always really nice to see, but rarely anything else.<br />
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But then, every year or so, the two sites share birds. The occasional rarity will arrive at Beddington during the week and when the weekend arrives that bird will up sticks and head to Holmethorpe.<br />
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When Beddington had a glut of <b>Iceland Gulls</b> during the first couple of months of 2012, one turned up at Holmethorpe on Spynes Mere one Saturday afternoon.<br />
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Then two and a half years ago (August 2016) a <b>White Stork </b>appeared at Beddington, stayed for a few days and then early one Sunday morning Gordon Hay discovered it on the Water Colour Lagoons. It only stayed for a few hours before heading back to Beddington. Both Gordon and I had independently gone to Beddington to see it, so this outstanding Holmethorpe sighting was just a patch lifer for both of us.<br />
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And now, since Saturday evening, a <b>Glaucous Gull </b>that has been resident at Beddington in recent days has decided to roost on Mercer's Lake. Gordon found it, as is the norm – the first Glaucous Gull sighting on the patch since January 19, 2004 – 15 years ago to the very day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eSniJRlSIWzDsmLuXFZmybUdQoJMu_4dDyf9qJZpOzK4ZBYSsUN285ebq9cjfhqf3luvlmzKd77mX7yS0yNdWUmuwiAst_NQhVhoFKs-siubrhyphenhyphen8YWRpiUpBqMGn-ugPMFZMeuS-Hhym/s1600/Glaucous+Gull+Holmethorpe+Mercers+Lake+22+Jan+2018g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eSniJRlSIWzDsmLuXFZmybUdQoJMu_4dDyf9qJZpOzK4ZBYSsUN285ebq9cjfhqf3luvlmzKd77mX7yS0yNdWUmuwiAst_NQhVhoFKs-siubrhyphenhyphen8YWRpiUpBqMGn-ugPMFZMeuS-Hhym/s400/Glaucous+Gull+Holmethorpe+Mercers+Lake+22+Jan+2018g.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnRRHSU6AM0i9loV7A0U6NMO8pmfB78Yo8Vqwz5sOwjRUGCWwGo1Pg8PC4QYSgvUmNl-HxSiDCtnj13LCFImloIYLZvQYZ13KP5iRx98DmFBfIL0bW9e7s0dWKdd5fjeezRFT5J2IACbD/s1600/Glaucous+Gull+Holmethorpe+Mercers+Lake+22+Jan+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnRRHSU6AM0i9loV7A0U6NMO8pmfB78Yo8Vqwz5sOwjRUGCWwGo1Pg8PC4QYSgvUmNl-HxSiDCtnj13LCFImloIYLZvQYZ13KP5iRx98DmFBfIL0bW9e7s0dWKdd5fjeezRFT5J2IACbD/s400/Glaucous+Gull+Holmethorpe+Mercers+Lake+22+Jan+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Glauc has visited the Mercer's Lake roost each night since Saturday</td></tr>
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I was lucky enough to see it on Sunday evening and again tonight, when it arrived at about 4.25pm, and pretty soon after touch down it fell fast asleep. It is the first for me on the patch, having seen a couple at Beddington in previous years, and a corker at that.<br />
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-74389960126817328332019-01-15T19:27:00.004+00:002019-01-15T19:27:34.213+00:00YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER OFF BRITISH BOGEY BIRD LISTWell, it took some time – but I finally managed to see my first <b>Yellow-browed Warbler </b>and a Surrey one at that. Yes, I know – how on earth have I managed not to see one all this time? It's not like they are mega-rare. In fact, some years they are prolific. <br />
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I wrote about this taxing birding issue in 2016 <a href="http://www.randonsramblings.com/2016/10/blogs-and-bogey-birds.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Anyway, it was on my British bogey bird list until Monday. But even then, the little blighter did its best to test my patience.<br />
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Dave Harris discovered the little warbler at Molesey Heath on Saturday, alongside the river next to Island Barn reservoir. It was an excellent find and it had been showing well. I hadn't an opportunity to go and twitch it until Monday after lunch, but seeing as it was still present I went out for what was my first 2019 birding sortie.<br />
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It only took 35 minutes to get there as the traffic was pretty quiet and after walking along the river bank I came across three fellow birders, including Bill Dyke. Predictably, I had arrived too late, having been told it had been showing well for quite a while but had just flown off down river.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQzJlQukS6OyjtT20SBLbg1Lv7ikpqcdH62gJ6LxHYMslCaGUj4Hv8Yqm84i7rSzn2zzZtUaJIfwzneZIOLhrCiCX1afvJ0-u-XDBYt1e8ba2xFeFoK77V4Vv3qNK7yyGBAWorOVM9pj5/s1600/Yellow-browed+Warbler+Molesey+Heath+14+Jan+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQzJlQukS6OyjtT20SBLbg1Lv7ikpqcdH62gJ6LxHYMslCaGUj4Hv8Yqm84i7rSzn2zzZtUaJIfwzneZIOLhrCiCX1afvJ0-u-XDBYt1e8ba2xFeFoK77V4Vv3qNK7yyGBAWorOVM9pj5/s400/Yellow-browed+Warbler+Molesey+Heath+14+Jan+2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellow-browed Warbler at Molesey Heath</td></tr>
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From that point on it was a case of searching for any bird flitting around the trees and scrub alongside the river banks. We heard it calling, which helped but a possible sighting was only fleeting as it disappeared once again. Once my companions headed off, I had to wait a good hour and was five minutes away from aborting the task and sulking all the way home when I got my first proper view of the <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b>. <br />
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Having noticed a small flock of <b>Long-tailed Tit</b> on the opposite river bank, the flock flew over to my side of the river and next to the footpath. And immediately I noticed the <b>Yellow-browed Warbler </b>among them.<br />
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It didn't always stick with the flock, often going off on its own, calling occasionally, but it was good to have a bit of time to enjoy a decent Surrey bird.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It never stayed still for very long</td></tr>
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So what's next on the bogey list? The first one is Twite. I never got to see the Beddington bird last year but three currently reside at Rye Harbour, and I hope they stay long enough for me to take a trip into Kent. <br />
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There are plenty of others that this year I would like to strike off my British bogey list. Some I almost wince to mention so much so I won't actually mention a couple of them! I've a list of about 40 that should be possible in 2019. They include plenty of seabirds – a trip on a boat off Penzance is in order this year. It is something I really want to do if I have time. Then I would hope to tick off a few Storm Petrels and a couple of Shearwaters.<br />
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Of the others, the most glaring omissions are Ring-billed Gull, Roseate Tern, Honey-buzzard, Montagu's Harrier, Little Auk, Woodchat Shrike, Icterine Warbler and Bluethroat – as well as resident birds such as Chough, Willow Tit and Cirl Bunting. Then there's all the Scottish residents too – but they will have to wait another year.<br />
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Two birds I would really like to see, just because they are two personal favourites, are Sabine's Gull and Golden Oriole. So, as you can see, there are plenty of gaping holes in my British list.<br />
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Should I care? Not really. A bird list is really just a personal thing, that no-one else really gives a toss about. I used to be a bit obsessed with listing but I now only twitch a new bird when the mood takes me, and when it is close enough to home not to be an act of endurance.<br />
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I missed a pair of <b>Goosander</b> on the Holmethorpe patch, found by Gordon Hay on Monday afternoon, as it was dark by the time I got back to Redhill. Strange how things change. Holmethorpe was always a dead cert for <b>Smew</b> each winter, while Goosander was as rare as rocket horse shit.<br />
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But now the roles have reversed and Goosander has appeared for the third year in a row, with Smew missing for the same amount of time.Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-42517454362557334792019-01-02T14:49:00.005+00:002020-01-01T17:19:06.266+00:00THE 2018 RANDON'S RAMBLING AWARDS<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another year passes and so it is time for the most prestigious birding awards of the year – well, I like to think so anyway!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And
for the first time in its history, rather than simply receiving my best
wishes, as Danny Baker would say at the conclusion of the sausage
sandwich game on his Saturday radio show on Five Live, this year the
winners of two categories will get real trophies!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought it was time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I created another awards recently for F1 stock car Photo of the Year (see </span><a href="https://factoruk.com/blog/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">) and added trophies to the winners, who seemed to really appreciate it. So this year, the Patch Birder of the Year</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Patch of the Year will </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">both</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> receive an official Rambler.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What
a strange year it has been. The Brexit debacle never gets any better
and while we normally look to the future on New Year's Eve full of hope
and expectation it is hard to feel that way at the moment. Trepidation,
anger and downright fear are emotions that spring to mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But fortunately birds are blissfully unaware our great </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">country
may crumble around our feet due to the ineptitude of our politicians on
both sides of the political divide. They will migrate to their breeding
grounds in the spring and then leave for their winter vacation in the
autumn, as they always do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And we as birders will spend many hours during the year enjoying this process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully,
I will be doing the same. As many will know, my birding has steadily
been in decline for a number of years, due to family illness and
bereavement, work, writing and publishing a book (as I did this year)
and I must admit, long periods of phasing in 2018.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
I have been out I've enjoyed it, but coaxing myself to actually go out
and bird has often been the issue. Some of it I think is partly a
culmination of all the above. Mentally it has been a taxing year and a
long holiday is definitely required. A good rest would be great.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
for all of that, there have been one or two moments of birding joy.
I've enjoyed my visits to Oare Marshes, including on my birthday, and
watching numerous </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hawfinch</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">around Surrey </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and three </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Wryneck</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at Dungeness, but the highlight for me was undoubtedly the </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White-billed Diver</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at Foreness Point, near Margate.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXHg6fIsSbJdMZXHkko8smphIiQOyGOaAp0ZKiul5h58INDAI8jOjYy5zeBjW5Cq4kb5V3abT8sPZlrcN1ETu2paoD2kc39dpKyYgj249RtZ-X8_eQKaVACJytNLtwv0NcqYtlQn9tMVn/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Foreness+Point+Nov+5+2018b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXHg6fIsSbJdMZXHkko8smphIiQOyGOaAp0ZKiul5h58INDAI8jOjYy5zeBjW5Cq4kb5V3abT8sPZlrcN1ETu2paoD2kc39dpKyYgj249RtZ-X8_eQKaVACJytNLtwv0NcqYtlQn9tMVn/s400/White-billed+Diver+Foreness+Point+Nov+5+2018b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-billed Diver at Foreness Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What
made it special was that I scattered my dad's ashes at the very spot I
saw the Diver only the week before. He died more than three years ago
but my mum kept his ashes at home just up the road in Palm Bay until she
past away in August. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dad would walk the cliffs and along the beach most
days when he was able and so it was fitting that a rare bird should
appear there the following week. A <b>Purple Sandpiper</b> was also
present on that day, which was warm and awash with a bright blue sky. As
it was a week later at Foreness Point when a pair of <b>Pallid Swift </b>turned up. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plans for 2019? I'm keeping my options open. I will have another book project possibly on the g</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
and one of my other objectives is to get the Holmethorpe website back
up to date after a year of neglect on my part. I really hope to get the
birding bug back too.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As
always, I intended to have the awards ready before the end of the
year but ended up going out a week into the following one.
Apologies once again. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
local birding community has been as dedicated as always. Surrey birding
involves some of the finest birders in the country, and I genuinely
feel proud to be able to represent them with these awards.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I always state each year, the Rambler Awards, unlike other official Surrey
bird sighting activity, does include both the Surrey vice county
boundary and Spelthorne as part of Surrey. The Surrey border does open
up lengthy discussion but these are the Rambler Awards – so they don't here!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With each year patch watchers, bloggers, tweeters, twitchers and all those in between, come and go, but
it is those who have made 2018 memorable who are worthy of a
Rambler – the birding Oscar. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year, I believe, has been one of the best in the awards' history.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so below is the list of awards, the nominees and the winners. I hope you enjoy them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE 2018 RAMBLER AWARDS</b></span></h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2018 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY PATCH BIRDER <br />OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In alphabetical order, the nominees are:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Beddington <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Farm Bird Group</span> – Beddington Farmlands</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Castell – Stoke Water Meadows</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mark Elsoffer – Tice's Meadow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Gale – Surrey Uber patch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dave Harris – <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walton</span> Reservoirs </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Gordon Hay – Holmethorpe Sand Pits</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rich Horton – Tice's Meadow</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shaun Peters – Frensham Ponds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dominic Pia – Staines Moor/Reservoir</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rich Sergeant – Tice's Meadow </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ed Stubbs - Thorncombe Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bob Warden – Staines Reservoir </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE</span></span></b></h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMtHtlA_3I1bmzR4P2UJqD8TUjG4etMm9InwIAdYsKS6iZuCkVkh_Qaz3ju0qolnRoSBCP87295DS5ViJODj-YvY_ypkHD0nj945_Je3DJuE246820rYZCJqFe5qdF8my_tVbBphcEmF8/s1600/Steve+Gale1.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMtHtlA_3I1bmzR4P2UJqD8TUjG4etMm9InwIAdYsKS6iZuCkVkh_Qaz3ju0qolnRoSBCP87295DS5ViJODj-YvY_ypkHD0nj945_Je3DJuE246820rYZCJqFe5qdF8my_tVbBphcEmF8/s320/Steve+Gale1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd place: </b>SHAUN PETERS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd place:</b> ED STUBBS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Congratulations
to Steve Gale, who wins Patch
Birder of the Year for the first time! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This category, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">possibly the most prestigious of all the Rambler awards,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is normally a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">difficult</span> one to pick a winner from – but not this year. There could only ever be one winner after what ha<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d</span> been a memorable year for Steve – particularly during the first three mon<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ths!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Gale is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
outstanding birder. I don't think I have ever known of someone more
capable of discovering truly epic birding moments. As he suggests, there
is more to birding than rairities, and he has made a name for himself
because of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">his</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> attitiude.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether
it is a flock of Goldfinch, Redpoll, Brambling or Mediterranean Gull,
Steve manages to come across huge flocks of specific species.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But there was one bird that stood out – and not just as a Surrey sighting, but as a British birding phen</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">omenon.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was Steve who, predictably, discovered a large flock of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">awfinch
around Juniper Bottom in March 2013. Other birders migrated to the area
over the coming days, and a flock of a dozen or so became </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">m</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ore than 100. At the time</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">seeing 100 Hawfinch <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">together</span></span> was <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">regar<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ded as <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an exceptional happening.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ell, Steve, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">knocked that into a top hat <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">last winter/early spring when he returned to the same area in the hope of fi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nding more Hawfinch. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A</span>nd he certainly did. Making regu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lar</span> visits around the area the peak total hit<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>600 at Bramblehall Wood on March 13. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">600! </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojVWz64w59p8QAQ2q_U9DYsdVBXA89Az10oJFacK0dnDCPqK3g3S5zAeMZZ9pzKcW2c28R3TmDDPvB7M0Yc2YUSZwVKig40LsJgjMM6i3FvjKEwpFyZr5gUeEJIgJ6kUxkm1H8MFVXt0/s1600/IMG_6005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojVWz64w59p8QAQ2q_U9DYsdVBXA89Az10oJFacK0dnDCPqK3g3S5zAeMZZ9pzKcW2c28R3TmDDPvB7M0Yc2YUSZwVKig40LsJgjMM6i3FvjKEwpFyZr5gUeEJIgJ6kUxkm1H8MFVXt0/s400/IMG_6005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mere handful of the 600 Hawfinch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was</span> a birding <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">moment like no <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">other. Not just for <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>urrey but the entire UK. Quite staggering.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wrote</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> an exceptional paper on the Hawfinch irruption, which can be read </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTrU6Oo-lzXvWFtEecB7jg9jDHPOoEUR/view" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. An important record.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is well worth </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">looking at</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. He also wr</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ote a fine blog post on the day in March, which can be read <a href="http://northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2018/03/600.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be honest, there is no </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">other</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> birder in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">urrey who deserve</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> this award more than Steve. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hat is abunda</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ntly </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">clear is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hi</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s skill at </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">understanding</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">habit<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">allied</span> to h<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is </span>patience and stamina (it's tough walking <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">terrain around Box Hill) reaped him rewards.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We're lucky to have him as part of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surrey's</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> birding team. He also spends </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">some of his</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> time at his beloved Dungeness, a place I have grown increasingly fond of, and I look forward to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">reading about his next big discoveries in 2019<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shaun
Peters is not a name that appears on Randon's Ramblings that often, but
that is not to say he is an unknown birding figure. Far from it, Shaun
is another highly-skilled </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at his chosen craft</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, who </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">monit<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o</span>rs the Frensham Ponds region. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He had a good yea<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">r which included a Bl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">yth's Reed<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W</span>arbler, and the last-staying Great <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Northern Diver.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ed Stubbs had what he regards as a tough year on his patch at Thorncombe Street, but he still ma</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n</span>aged to dig out a few decent birds. Ed makes the top three because of the fact he <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">carried on resolutely</span> throughout the year despite finding it it hard going <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">on <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">occasion</span></span>. Perseverance pays off sometimes!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2018 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY <br />PATCH OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>LWC BARNES </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Garganey,
Great White Egret, Jack Snipe, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Pied Flycatcher,
Rock Pipit, Ruff, Savi's Warbler, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit,
Whinchat)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>BEDDINGTON <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FARMLANDS</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Avocet,
Caspian Gull, Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Hoopoe, Jack Snipe,
Little Stint, Marsh Harrier, Richard's Pipit, Ring Ouzel, Ruff,
Short-eared Owl, Spoonbill, Tree Sparrow, Twite, Water Pipit</i><i>)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>CANONS FARM</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Hawfinch, Marsh Harrier, Red-breasted Merganser, Ring Ouzel, Whimbrel, Whinchat, Wood Warbler, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>FRENSHAM PONDS</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Arctic Tern, Black Tern, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Garganey, Great Northern Diver, Merlin, Osprey</i><i>)</i> </span><br />
<div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>HOLMETHORPE SAND PITS</b></span></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Hawfinch, Great White Egret</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, Jack Snipe, Rock Pipit, Ruddy Shelduck, Whinchat</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>LEITH HILL</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Great Skua, Hawfinch, Ring Ouzel</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>RICHMOND PARK</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Grasshopper Warbler, Great White Egret, Ring Ouzel, Short-eared Owl, Whinchat</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>STAINES RESERVOIR</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Arctic
Tern, Black-necked Grebe, Black Tern, Great Northern Diver, Grey
Phalarope, Kittiwake, Red-necked Phalarope, Scaup, Shorelark, Temminck's
Stint</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TICE'S MEADOW</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Cattle Egret, Grasshopper Warbler, Great White Egret, Little Stint, Osprey, Ruddy Shelduck, Whimbrel, Whinchat</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THORNCOMBE STREET</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Black Redstart, Grey Partridge, Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Ring Ouzel, Twite</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THURSLEY COMMON</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Great Grey Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Osprey, Whinchat</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WALTON</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> RESERVOIRS</span></b><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Black-necked Grebe, Black Tern, Caspian Gull, Cattle Egret, Gannet, Grasshopper Warbler, Whooper Swan, Wryneck</i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TICE'S MEADOW</span></b></span></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGb56e3t_rB-W6_q8A2Q_ASzvKceuILZYr7a8ACIQZ5nnSBUd8aIJkTppFyvLlhOYEQ-IKdVN0jAsFRS4SBqAZkGUumkpCwKsjp7kNyH0CM2nuv7qAtrc3WSWqepMEpVwovKGS4fuIr58/s1600/49241513_2007680292601149_6334331958436298752_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGb56e3t_rB-W6_q8A2Q_ASzvKceuILZYr7a8ACIQZ5nnSBUd8aIJkTppFyvLlhOYEQ-IKdVN0jAsFRS4SBqAZkGUumkpCwKsjp7kNyH0CM2nuv7qAtrc3WSWqepMEpVwovKGS4fuIr58/s400/49241513_2007680292601149_6334331958436298752_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From
left to right: Mark Elsoffer, Richard Horton. Peter Brown, Dave Baker,
Jort Brough, Leonard Winchcombe, Kevin Campell, Richard Sergeant,
Anthony George and a bloke behind a tree</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1218123208&type=mediatag&media_info=6.2007680285934483&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A1273098826078062%2C%22viewer_id%22%3A1081921711%7D" data-tag="1218123208" href="https://www.facebook.com/anthony.george.1420?viewer_id=1081921711"><br /></a></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> BEDDINGTON <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FARMLANDS</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd: </b>STAINES RESERVOIR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is arguably the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">other</span> prestigious <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rambler <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and one where there could only be <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">winner</span>, Ti<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ce's Meadow.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">west <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>urrey <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">patch</span> won <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hands down, not because of the quality of birds seen there, although they had some fantastic finds<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, notably three Cattle Egret, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">but because of the remarkable work being created there by an extremely d<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">edicated gr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">oup of volunteers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Led admirably by 'Patch Commander', Rich Horton, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and ably assisted by Rich Sergeant and Mark Elsoffer, to name but <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">three</span> (and apologies to the others), Tice's Meadow has developed into one<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of the </span>premier birding sites in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surrey</span>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From lowly beginnings, Tice's Meadow has been turned from a sand and gravel quarry into a high-quality nature reserve.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
site has received status as a site of Nature Conservation Interest and
holds events such as the Tice's Meadow BioBlitz, organised by </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">orton each spring over a bank-holiday weekend. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The event is widely r</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ecognised by many <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>urrey conservationists and enthusiastic members as their <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ghlight</span></span> of the year, where bird<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-</span>ringing demonst<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ra</span>tions,
guided birdwatching walks, pond dipping, bat detecting walks, moth
trapping and small mammal trapping all take place as well as social
events during the evenings<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A bird-watching shelter has now been erected, as well as a swift nesting tower, and there is plenty more development in store</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, including an artificial Sand Martin nesting bank.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it was last month when Tice's <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">M</span>eadow won a prestigious international conservati<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o</span>n award and a cheque for 10,000 euros that highlighted <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">how much work has gone into the site.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The International Quarry Life Awards, run b</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y Hei<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">delberg Cement, showcase the best conservation, research and community projects cond<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ucted in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heidelberg</span> quarries around Europe.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrAabD7xbhyphenhyphen_PmzTsas2zIdJ_F8kUkpGqnopcIj48AB5-8rXR6Qf81Nnz3X14EOzpAnkeH8oeR0mAxQgEX3JXu2z4NvXza8ZW1-TdLa4YLO4fSDAaGAtjKipnKhJcQ7vO-IIHlK9yXIg_/s1600/DuOfSYpWoAAgPOV.jpg%252Blarge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrAabD7xbhyphenhyphen_PmzTsas2zIdJ_F8kUkpGqnopcIj48AB5-8rXR6Qf81Nnz3X14EOzpAnkeH8oeR0mAxQgEX3JXu2z4NvXza8ZW1-TdLa4YLO4fSDAaGAtjKipnKhJcQ7vO-IIHlK9yXIg_/s400/DuOfSYpWoAAgPOV.jpg%252Blarge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich Horton receives the award on behalf of Tice's Meadow at the Heidelberg Cement<br />
International Quarry Life Awards in Brussels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rich Horton and Rich Sergeant were presented with their award in Brussels <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">having faced stiff competition from 100 comm<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">u</span>nity groups from 25 countries. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A truly <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">incredible achievement.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tice's Meadow is now the benchmark for all others to follow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beddington
Farmlands finishes runner-up yet again. If the award for Patch of the
Year was solely a reflection of the quality of birds it encourages,
Beddington would pro</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bably win the award most years. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of all the birding sites in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">urrey, Beddington always delivers</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year is was the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Richard's Pipit</b>, found by the Farmlands passionate<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>leader Peter Alfrey,<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (not a fan<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">C</span>BE awarded Chris Packham – there's no compromising with <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P</span>eter <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">on</span> this issue!)</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>who is another amazing birder (we are <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">very</span> lucky to have so<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> many</span> top-notch birders in the county).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The group led by Peter also do</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> some <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fantastic</span> work to he<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lp make Beddingto<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">one of the most<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> well-known and respected birding sites in Britain, and as <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">birding broadcaster</span> D</span>avid Lindo has said, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the 400-acre site</span> is "the sleeping giant of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">L</span>ondon's natural history world".</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The basins at Staines Reservoir are now back to their normal levels, but that didn't stop the site from luring some top</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">class
birds throughout the year, including the Horned Lark that stuck around
for a number of weeks, as well as Grey and Red-necked </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phalarope</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2018 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY <br />BIRD OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cattle Egret (<i>Beddington Farmlands</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Temminck's Stint </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Staines Reservoir)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red-necked Phalarope <i>(Staines Reservoir)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grey Phalarope <i>(Staines Reservoir)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red-backed Shrike </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thursley Common</i>)</i></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Horned Lark </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Staines Reservoir)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Richard's Pipit </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Beddington Farmlands)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hawfinch</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (numerous sites) </i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twite</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Beddington Farmlands, Thorncombe Street)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">HAWFINCH</span></b></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5I1uqzh1m8aO5mMj085jBK9rPK1IWXgMVPAhfbU78J-ysDYK4aCgH2ZcavKdJQvGha4yfxRlUzbAwSqJ9nBuI9Qxzrcy9ESWgr8qOyLdU0jyv1WdXdPQMHRPjtDYK4OBeM7vjoHsmUD8/s1600/Hawfinch+Capel+Feb+1+2018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5I1uqzh1m8aO5mMj085jBK9rPK1IWXgMVPAhfbU78J-ysDYK4aCgH2ZcavKdJQvGha4yfxRlUzbAwSqJ9nBuI9Qxzrcy9ESWgr8qOyLdU0jyv1WdXdPQMHRPjtDYK4OBeM7vjoHsmUD8/s400/Hawfinch+Capel+Feb+1+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A singular Hawfinch at Capel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> RICHARD'S PIPIT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd:</b> HORNED LARK</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Another year when only the record-breaking finch could possibly pick up the prize. The mighty </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>Hawfinch</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"> grabs the award for the second year in a row. The bulky-billed beaut took the prize last year with unsurpassed numbers flocking to the county.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">But
we could never in our wildest dreams have imagined the numbers that turned up at the peak of the irruption during the winter and spring
months. Quite simply unbelievable. And none of that would have been
recorded had it not been for the perseverance, and downright obsessive
determination of uber patch watcher </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">S</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">teve Gale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be honest, there were few birds that could possibly knock <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H</span>awfinch off the top spot. The next best was, in my view, the Richard's Pipit at Beddington Farmlands. It took<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> r<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">unner-up spot purely for its rarity val<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ue <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">i</span>n Surrey – the first for Beddington since 1970!</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A very</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> rare bird for S<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">urrey<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Hor</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ned Lark was<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> an unusual scarcity for <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>urrey, as it was the Am<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">erican version of the Shore Lark. It<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> was a popular bird to go and see at the begi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nning of the year – including by me.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the Hawfinch was way ahe</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d of any other bird this</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">past 12 months. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We even had sightings <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at Holm<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eth</span>orpe</span>. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span>hey were everywhere.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2018 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BIRDING <br />BLOGGER OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PETER ALFREY (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/</span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MATT<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> EADE (http://seafordbirding.blogspot.com/)</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/</span>)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GAVIN HAIG (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/</span>) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.wansteadbirder.com/</span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MATT PHELPS (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://pulboroughbirder.blogspot.com/</span>)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>PAUL TRODD (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://ploversblog.blogspot.com/</span>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">(<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">North Downs and Beyond</span>)</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd:</b> MATT PHELPS</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Gale again wins the Birding Blogger of the Year title. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span>t is usually a face-off between Steve and<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>Jonathan
Lethbridge, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as it was again this past year.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And so Steve becomes a double Rambler winner. The first-ever in the history of the awards.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I struggle these days to write 12 blog<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> posts a year but <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>teve always </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">publishes at least 200 </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">every 12 months. In the past eight years Steve has written 1,5<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">93 posts...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If anyone can comprehend how he does this, please send <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">me a message. It takes t<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ime, creativity and effort to write anything</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> day in, day out, but Steve </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">manages</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to do this with the minimum of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fuss – and all his post<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s are beautifully written<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. His <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H</span>awfinch posts have been enthralling. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A</span>s ha<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ve been many others.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Annoyingly he</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rather</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> good at anything he </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">decides</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to do. His works of art are also somethi</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ng to behold. This one <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is one of my personal favourites.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jonathan <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lethbridge</span> continues to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">enthral</span> birders with his unsurpassed writings. The most entertaining and skilled of all the bloggers – bar none. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He writes with a freedom and a seem<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ingly effortless use of language. </span>But Steve just <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nicks it because <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the majority</span> of his posts are <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">about</span> wildlife. That is all... </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If it was an award for the most stunningly beautiful photos on a blog, Jono would win hands down every time</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt Phelps is a newbie to the blogger top three – but so well-deserved. His description of finding a Su</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sex </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rarity <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">–</span> only the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">third</span> this century </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">– is a joy to read</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">star blogger who has <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">upped the g<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span>me with </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">his nocmigging posts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2018 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BIRDING BLOG POST <br />OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE (North Downs and Beyond)</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">600</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"><b><i><u>https://northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2018/03/600.html</u></i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The largest flock of Hawfinch ever seen – probably by anyone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> GAVIN HAIG (Not Quite Scilly)</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Axe Caspian Gulls – A Personal History</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"><b><i><u>https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2018/02/axe-caspian-gulls-personal-history.html</u></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A labour of love for all things Caspian Gull.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE (Wanstead Birder)</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why I like hides</span></i></b><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"><u><a href="http://www.wansteadbirder.com/2018/11/why-i-like-hides.html"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">http://www.wansteadbirder.com/2018/11/why-i-like-hides.html</span></b></a></u></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;">The trials and tribulations of sharing time in hides with other people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MATT PHELPS </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Pulborough Birder)</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listening in the darkness</span></span></i></b><br />
<a href="http://pulboroughbirder.blogspot.com/2018/03/listening-in-darkness-new-adventures-in.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><b><i>http://pulboroughbirder.blogspot.com/2018/03/listening-in-darkness-new-adventures-in.html</i></b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">The dark art of Nocmigging. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is: </span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE <br />(Why I like hides)</span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv9P7zTa1eNYLTpIF5VffDpeS1-lqnL_RW6ZllDVyYB8yyGVrJxKv8JAzoVaa_e9kRMwA0Lh3V7-JMLU3gOOSKNNLtqqWToUm6Faag9qNPddzyk-0zFgxWoEjgBRFKIz_wy1IpUaFbDek/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-02+at+13.41.03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv9P7zTa1eNYLTpIF5VffDpeS1-lqnL_RW6ZllDVyYB8yyGVrJxKv8JAzoVaa_e9kRMwA0Lh3V7-JMLU3gOOSKNNLtqqWToUm6Faag9qNPddzyk-0zFgxWoEjgBRFKIz_wy1IpUaFbDek/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-01-02+at+13.41.03.png" width="320" /></a><b> </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MATT PHELPS (Listening in the darkness)</span></span></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">3rd:</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE (600)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At last! someone other than Steve Gale wins <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">something! </span>This year's winner of the Randon's Ramblings Blog Post of the Year goes
to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jonathan Lethbridge</span> for 'Why I like hides'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This award very nearly went to Matt Phe</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">l</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ps, but Jono's post about birding in a hide </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">created such a debate – controversy even – was i<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">snobbish</span>, true or simply funny? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whatever it was, it was probably the most discussed blog post of the year and inevitably deserves to be awarded for it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt Phelps post "Listening in the darkness" is not only a great headline but a brilliant post on nocmigging - recording birds in flight during the night. Fascinating stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Gale makes the podium for a third time during these awards with '600'. Such a remarkable record had to be on here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have res<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">u</span>r<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">r</span>ected Birding <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo</span> of the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Y</span>ear</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">– mainly bec<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">au</span>se there have been so many good ones out there<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in 2018 – usually taken by Jonathan Lethbridge. But I have selected the photo below as my favourite of the year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2018 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BIRDING <br />PHOTO OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi70t93BetPLYSOA4lt_OY9xQeUoGu1lEoItNEWdBbfzJ74JK3J89uhz5nwuPS4CermOMOdxVqc7p1pE9I_NWQTxEn2gM5BLpTNO34qsptVfkIGgPurpbGyzdAaKNEiD1VUP7BN0dIX8lZ/s1600/DsPKON0WoAAIns6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="720" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi70t93BetPLYSOA4lt_OY9xQeUoGu1lEoItNEWdBbfzJ74JK3J89uhz5nwuPS4CermOMOdxVqc7p1pE9I_NWQTxEn2gM5BLpTNO34qsptVfkIGgPurpbGyzdAaKNEiD1VUP7BN0dIX8lZ/s400/DsPKON0WoAAIns6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LYN EVANS</span></span> (Robin in the rain)</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> LETHBRIDGE</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd: </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LETHBRIDGE, etc</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Congratulations
go to Lyn Evans for her lovely photo of a Robin. The Robin can obviously get overused as a photo at this time of year, but Britain's most popular bird is also the bird with the most personality. And it is expressed perfectly here in the rain – a beautifully crafted image.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So
well done to all the winners and nominees in each of the categories –
every one was worthy of recognition and made 2018
all the more rewarding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, that's 2018 out of the way. Let's hope with each day 2019 can make us smile a bit more than we are currently used to!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy New Year one and all and enjoy your birding!</span></div>
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-8420454038284067712018-11-14T22:37:00.001+00:002018-11-15T13:12:45.362+00:00PALLID PRODUCES SWIFT FORENESS FLURRYHot on the heels of the White-billed Diver last week, the latest influx of Pallid Swifts coaxed me back to Kent yesterday morning. I set off for Reculver where a Pallid Swift had been dodging the heavy rain showers most of the previous afternoon.<br />
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I wasn't expecting it to be still around for my latest twitch, and sure enough it wasn't. I met Marc Heath for the first time while I was there, where a lone, flighty <b>Black Redstart</b> gave us something to look at.<br />
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After an hour at the Roman fort I took to the road again and within 30 minutes I was at Foreness Point where a Pallid Swift had been reported earlier that morning and again around midday.<br />
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I parked in my usual spot and walked along the coastline towards Botany Bay and carried on walking towards the Captain Digby pub. Before I got there I came across Lee Evans and a local birder, who were both on the <b>Pallid Swift</b>, as was I moments later. And so within a week Margate had produced the goods yet again. <br />
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We watched it feeding around the Kingsgate Bay area. I took my eye off the bird briefly as Lee walked towards the pub and closer to the bay, when I saw it again flying closer towards me. No-one else was around, which I thought was a bit odd, and I got great views as the<b> Pallid Swift</b> flew immediately overhead, before flying west toward Foreness Point. I followed it along Botany Bay and towards Foreness Point before I lost sight of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ojvYZBL7ko1jQcNbBz20d8nVsLxkgc9_GKMj3o5SdvFIAFWAzayksSPK2My-qvMk2RQfecF3cxLNSbtQjyfjFeOHs0Ay4HaAJiPDGDtAm8e4_JUZh5C5TBRRxXwQKJOiXc8LJfVyh9e/s1600/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ojvYZBL7ko1jQcNbBz20d8nVsLxkgc9_GKMj3o5SdvFIAFWAzayksSPK2My-qvMk2RQfecF3cxLNSbtQjyfjFeOHs0Ay4HaAJiPDGDtAm8e4_JUZh5C5TBRRxXwQKJOiXc8LJfVyh9e/s400/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-e3WxD5DD8FaNKVHa5oxlDjF-hKItnNCie8zos696BL1i568UtP5gqXmbutfevxXW3-Bp7bWFSMPObea_P3ErV9zrxjIxkSyq-quk8L9o2nELtsJN2oLPLqV5CqCOUz8L5BkCSq3-X7b9/s1600/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-e3WxD5DD8FaNKVHa5oxlDjF-hKItnNCie8zos696BL1i568UtP5gqXmbutfevxXW3-Bp7bWFSMPObea_P3ErV9zrxjIxkSyq-quk8L9o2nELtsJN2oLPLqV5CqCOUz8L5BkCSq3-X7b9/s400/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018k.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFFt86jwWZjDm8SnOSEvYONw0bsmg3IbZmVMq3mj8Nze9a3L-OlffuRpw5-lKrRoiKiuX7P_RnydE2DGTJWatd-8aI-l0AgkJcQxJJ0omjORG2d5jsYXaDoOzK-lPDcWzxlCIXT4_bzzy/s1600/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFFt86jwWZjDm8SnOSEvYONw0bsmg3IbZmVMq3mj8Nze9a3L-OlffuRpw5-lKrRoiKiuX7P_RnydE2DGTJWatd-8aI-l0AgkJcQxJJ0omjORG2d5jsYXaDoOzK-lPDcWzxlCIXT4_bzzy/s400/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018l.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second Pallid Swift flew close by</td></tr>
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I put the sighting out on Rare Bird Alert, and moments later a Pallid Swift sighting was up on the site back at the Captain Digby.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxedEMGl-F7J6Ed2pzJ7Qu2RpGkxd-2md5f57Th9j0o769yVn9oiOuaNfEZ1KIgsQ6FgaoWbaAVKrTZmJmb3XlpM8aa6_HQTgq4u3MeHcRyda7VW1nIqx-OSbLSRbKSJco3zbU3jWHGqE7/s1600/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxedEMGl-F7J6Ed2pzJ7Qu2RpGkxd-2md5f57Th9j0o769yVn9oiOuaNfEZ1KIgsQ6FgaoWbaAVKrTZmJmb3XlpM8aa6_HQTgq4u3MeHcRyda7VW1nIqx-OSbLSRbKSJco3zbU3jWHGqE7/s400/Pallid+Swift+North+Foreness+Nov+13+2018e.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first Pallid Swift fed over Kingsgate Bay</td></tr>
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I couldn't work out how the bird could be in two different places, but then realised they were two different birds. The bird I followed was a second <b>Pallid Swift</b>, while the original one had flown in the other direction.<br />
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I wonder what the next seven days will bring? A Pied Wheatear perhaps?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc9X1zEEmwqazEVKAvGn9AGOep4np9tK4OKlf8I-yqf5ASmwEOPTsI8Tt6ONDbTNzuQWWvrZCt3-APKt-jfMHG5CsmppRkNoZIcejR806xhFIoIDjscf5SVXzarsqX-WRuIg71bf3yqET/s1600/Black+Redstart+Reculver+Nov+13+2018c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc9X1zEEmwqazEVKAvGn9AGOep4np9tK4OKlf8I-yqf5ASmwEOPTsI8Tt6ONDbTNzuQWWvrZCt3-APKt-jfMHG5CsmppRkNoZIcejR806xhFIoIDjscf5SVXzarsqX-WRuIg71bf3yqET/s400/Black+Redstart+Reculver+Nov+13+2018c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aEel_eQmEVPkAcanR2sQHou-moPmnBGoE8fOXAPdBf5TT7ahD9hg_HUBQXMB-9gv39ki_fJ8GGTEW9DARNDhNcRkNqq_hiEteK3-bDZiSTD8JihS2mlF7PDlRdUvf4dXt13eXOpqLwuR/s1600/Black+Redstart+Reculver+Nov+13+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aEel_eQmEVPkAcanR2sQHou-moPmnBGoE8fOXAPdBf5TT7ahD9hg_HUBQXMB-9gv39ki_fJ8GGTEW9DARNDhNcRkNqq_hiEteK3-bDZiSTD8JihS2mlF7PDlRdUvf4dXt13eXOpqLwuR/s400/Black+Redstart+Reculver+Nov+13+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Black Redstart on the rocks at Reculver</td></tr>
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-32878646562869372832018-11-12T20:27:00.002+00:002018-11-12T20:39:50.941+00:00SUCH A PERFECT DAY<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD40avZobhj0J_cJ8-ae3CO-Ka1wNY-L5PAnCWBLahHU-n26Px1CQCmWlZFbmu_dR7eidz9W9ot-EQomesBSiRi4jaTlwG8KA52K9TbzuluVKBtlshpgE2ApQwpmkJrzAuYtYLs6c8UWNb/s1600/Foreness+Point+Nov+5+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD40avZobhj0J_cJ8-ae3CO-Ka1wNY-L5PAnCWBLahHU-n26Px1CQCmWlZFbmu_dR7eidz9W9ot-EQomesBSiRi4jaTlwG8KA52K9TbzuluVKBtlshpgE2ApQwpmkJrzAuYtYLs6c8UWNb/s400/Foreness+Point+Nov+5+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The area between Foreness Point and Botany Bay where some of my dad's ashes are scattered </td></tr>
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Some of you will recall that my mum passed away a couple of months ago. She lived in a bungalow in Palm Bay, Cliftonville, which is within walking distance of Foreness Point.<br />
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She originally moved there with my dad back in 2006, when they downsized from a house they lived in just down the road. My dad died in February 2015, and my mum kept his ashes in the bungalow.<br />
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For all the time my mum lived in the bungalow after my dad passed away she never went through any of his stuff or thrown anything away. In fact, his room was pretty much as it was the day he had been taken to hospital before being transferred to a nursing home four and a half years ago. Time had been frozen.<br />
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Annie and I have had go through all her possessions and also those of my dad's during the past month or so. I found it quite difficult, because it brought back so many memories and by going though all of my dad's belongings in particular, many of which I would be forced to throw away, it felt like I was erasing his life.<br />
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I discovered so many poignant items he had kept. Magazines and newspaper cuttings, many of which included interviews I had either written or had been quoted in. His room was very ordered, with everything labelled and filed. Boxes of fuses, plugs, tools, his indoor bowls medals, tickets and passes for Grands Prix I had taken him to, photo albums, maps, books,VHS tapes, CDs logging many of his stories he had written about his life.<br />
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He enjoyed writing. He focused on his early life, when he worked on a farm during the Second World War, and became a very good writer for someone who had only taken it up in his 70s. He even had his articles published in the local paper, as well as the magazine Best of British.<br />
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He also had his writings featured on a BBC website called WW2 People's War - an archive of World War II memories. You can read one of his stories here called <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/42/a1993142.shtml" target="_blank">Doodlebugspotting in Kent - A Near Miss.</a><br />
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Now his room, and in time, my parent's bungalow, will be just a memory. But I still needed to do one more thing to give closure to my dad's life – and that was to scatter his ashes. <br />
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Some of his ashes are now with my mum' in their garden, but it was also important to scatter some along the cliff tops at Foreness Point, where he loved to walk most mornings. He was remarkably fit for his age, and was still walking and playing bowls into his later 80s. And so just over a couple of weeks ago, that is what Annie and I did.<br />
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When most people think of Margate they imagine candyfloss and penny arcades, but to me Margate reminds me of walks along the cliffs and along the sandy beaches near Botany Bay, where you may only see a handful of people. It is a much underrated coastline.<br />
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Foreness Point is a special place for me, too, as when I used to visit mum and dad at Palm Bay, I would often make a point of going for a walk around the area for an hour just in case a decent bird appeared.<br />
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This coastline has a great record for bird sightings. I hadn't see that many, I admit, as I was invariably there at the wrong time and for only a short period, but I have seen Wryneck, Whinchat, Wheatear, Redstart, Rock Pipit and Corn Bunting, as well as Red-breasted Merganer and Eider. Fulmar breed here, and there are plenty of waders and seabirds to see on any given day.<br />
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On any given day, when I was back in Surrey, another great bird would invariably appear in the area, whether it was a Bee-eater, Honey-buzzard, Short-eared Owl, Pomarine Skua, Pallid Swift, Ring Ouzel, whatever. I always felt sad I'd never seen a true rarity here.<br />
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And then, just a few days after scattering my dad's ashes, news broke of a White-billed Diver, in summer plumage no less, happily swimming around the Margate area and showing well to the gathering throng.<br />
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I had to wait a couple of days, but it was still there on November 5. I took the day off and headed to Margate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EgGEdSX6VtPz7FxAFQ_xSC5dp2vljDfrCCB5gIsk3vZOStb_myqF3j6JYNdpwEoU2byEi91WroR4YZNte-0S4E916nJpwtGbcxfqUYLmR3qWmUpjhzHFRq7aLv7LA3jWKqXO5vkmVQaL/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Foreness+Point+Nov+5+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EgGEdSX6VtPz7FxAFQ_xSC5dp2vljDfrCCB5gIsk3vZOStb_myqF3j6JYNdpwEoU2byEi91WroR4YZNte-0S4E916nJpwtGbcxfqUYLmR3qWmUpjhzHFRq7aLv7LA3jWKqXO5vkmVQaL/s400/White-billed+Diver+Foreness+Point+Nov+5+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The White-billed Diver at Foreness Point - a magnificent bird</td></tr>
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It was a beautiful day. I parked in my usual spot along The Ridings, and walked down to the cliff tops, just yards away from my dad's final resting place. And there out on the calm sea was this stunning <b>White-billed Diver</b>. What a striking bird!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Sandpiper sleeping at Foreness Point</td></tr>
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Of all the birds I had missed over the years, this Diver had made up for it. Added to which, down on the waters edge among the rock pools was a single <b>Purple Sandpiper</b>, a bird speciality of this coastline, as well as <b>Sanderling</b>, <b>Ringed Plover</b>, <b>Curlew</b> and <b>Oystercatcher</b>. I even caught up with a few birding friends I hadn't seen for a while<span class="st">.</span><br />
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My dad had been watching over me. It had been the perfect day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Pipit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flock of Gannet flying east</td></tr>
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-59519439624806054392018-10-06T22:10:00.000+01:002018-10-07T10:27:18.337+01:00SEPTEMBER OFFERINGSAnd so Autumn has set it in. The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are gradually dropping. We've had a few decent days, to be fair, that have been warm enough for Annie and I to prepare barbecued Sea Bream to be eaten outside with a nice cold glass of white wine – a top-notch Gavi being our current tipple of choice.<br />
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After my mum's funeral on the 5th a few days later I took myself off to Dungeness for a second visit in a fortnight one morning in search for Cattle Egret and more Wryneck.<br />
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I went for the <b>Cattle Egret</b> first, in fields in amongst cattle at Boulderwall Farm, and managed to see two including one perched on a cow that was lying down on the grass. It was fortunate I went to visit early, as later in the day they were more difficult to see.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret at Boulderwall Farm</td></tr>
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The shingle delivered once again with two <b>Wryneck</b> in the scrub in the Desert area. The birds were quite flighty – no surprise with the number of birders and photographers around – but I managed to get pretty good views, with the help of local birder James Tomlinson. I'd not met James before, but I got on well with him straight away. A really nice bloke.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wryneck at Dungeness</td></tr>
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A few weeks later I was delivering some of my stock car books to a friend in Stevenage who was passing them on to a seller at the tracks for me. The weather on the day was appalling, with treacherous conditions on the M25, but luckily the rain subsided and sun came out early enough for me to go over to Therfield to try for the juvenile female Pallid Harrier. After a bit of a walk I found the spot it had most recently been seen at.<br />
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The only Pallid Harrier I'd previously seen had been at Burpham in West Sussex, for a very obliging juvenile in 2011. Therfield is very similar to Burpham and The Burgh area, with ideal raptor habitat and a local farmer who is in tune with wildlife.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf56WzMNN4-LbniA4fF5aSa6LNtqI75tdOfd815g81lMywMpx1nePIlRNALtFpMcr0h0tBzDqr03ir2v_nADD3xBM-n7WDjZ0GMv3JQeXXloc6e2RASC7iqOJrVU9KAQJcWag9R3K9G59/s1600/Pallid+Harrier+Therfield+23+Sept+2018e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf56WzMNN4-LbniA4fF5aSa6LNtqI75tdOfd815g81lMywMpx1nePIlRNALtFpMcr0h0tBzDqr03ir2v_nADD3xBM-n7WDjZ0GMv3JQeXXloc6e2RASC7iqOJrVU9KAQJcWag9R3K9G59/s400/Pallid+Harrier+Therfield+23+Sept+2018e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qFntgMEpYEISyN2LPOwuYSNkd8hPyuU-MQxggdmiF8D6oJXbkaR-bH2ZcaAzAXzu1lNv4o5Wc72TsHcqXX5g2rOtIbrj4ZMBRfaZENNM4GOMdXCZEtVm_qxhJyXTAOsap5obhKrbjqgb/s1600/Pallid+Harrier+Therfield+23+Sept+2018d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qFntgMEpYEISyN2LPOwuYSNkd8hPyuU-MQxggdmiF8D6oJXbkaR-bH2ZcaAzAXzu1lNv4o5Wc72TsHcqXX5g2rOtIbrj4ZMBRfaZENNM4GOMdXCZEtVm_qxhJyXTAOsap5obhKrbjqgb/s400/Pallid+Harrier+Therfield+23+Sept+2018d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The juvenile female Pallid Harrier at Therfield in Hertfordshire. Note the trailing leg.</td></tr>
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Thankfully, the <b>Pallid Harrier</b> made an appearance, hunting over the fields. Magnificent birds, Pallid Harriers. This female has a distinctive trailing leg, probably an injury of some sort.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWG9Qyh6lAaU4EKvIBdpl3zrKpEPjV9xam_rK_7l4nCmUUAJYQfPi6U3QVrd0uRmdLStGBE96I378hr9aoJQ4J5nnQQggEOEnk2wZDg3ms7xnAxG1BEz98dwjc-XCkV0rEiTh-zJZeKH1/s1600/Raven+Gordon+Road+27+Sept+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWG9Qyh6lAaU4EKvIBdpl3zrKpEPjV9xam_rK_7l4nCmUUAJYQfPi6U3QVrd0uRmdLStGBE96I378hr9aoJQ4J5nnQQggEOEnk2wZDg3ms7xnAxG1BEz98dwjc-XCkV0rEiTh-zJZeKH1/s400/Raven+Gordon+Road+27+Sept+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebDtK6pzjfCgGwRML6FPjBAc0o3eushQdHxJc3I4nk3wRAsDNw3aL0-zZyyajdXhtBFrxDKsnj_otEZBPSTfKzLa-BgbRxl2G4VAhtY_b6oMygw27QuVMr9LddbjxC_kShneCByusCcCn/s1600/Raven+Gordon+Road+27+Sept+2018b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebDtK6pzjfCgGwRML6FPjBAc0o3eushQdHxJc3I4nk3wRAsDNw3aL0-zZyyajdXhtBFrxDKsnj_otEZBPSTfKzLa-BgbRxl2G4VAhtY_b6oMygw27QuVMr9LddbjxC_kShneCByusCcCn/s400/Raven+Gordon+Road+27+Sept+2018b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raven circling directly over urban Redhill</td></tr>
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An added bonus while sitting out eating a meal in our courtyard one afternoon was spotting a pair of <b>Raven</b>. I heard the distinctive "cronking" sound and looked up and there they were circling directly overhead. An unusual garden tick (but not the first, as I saw one fly low over the house a couple of years ago). While more bird species are going into decline year-on-year, Raven sightings are becoming more common in Surrey – and more than welcome they are too.<br />
<br />
Another highlight since August has been the regular visits of a <b>hedgehog</b> in our courtyard garden. It was getting to the point where as soon as we put some food down for him as it was getting dark he would appear, while we sat very close by and watched him feed. A real joy and a first for us in more than 20 years living in Redhill. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscYHhFfek2EGfg4bfpX0MZ8elCEDDS64QPUPfqdgCvPnpiwhNnnf4kMl0aK2DfuGi6YZB2q29f_5ocJRFN7YpPHwzV6PlhEQY1QKGT6jU7sJTIwXeY3S9SOGezb10tbQTXpwdUi12RUiP/s1600/Hedgie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscYHhFfek2EGfg4bfpX0MZ8elCEDDS64QPUPfqdgCvPnpiwhNnnf4kMl0aK2DfuGi6YZB2q29f_5ocJRFN7YpPHwzV6PlhEQY1QKGT6jU7sJTIwXeY3S9SOGezb10tbQTXpwdUi12RUiP/s400/Hedgie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hedgie</td></tr>
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If he didn't turn up before we went to bed, he had eaten up during the night. He'd also often leave a calling card of hedgehog poo in various places around the patio.<br />
<br />
However, for the past two or three nights the food remained on the plate – he has not been. It feels a bit too early for him to be thinking of hibernating – but maybe I'm wrong. Whatever the reason for his sudden disappearance, we hope he (or maybe she) is OK.Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-20787779127663112682018-09-05T23:46:00.001+01:002018-09-06T00:07:45.638+01:00A TIME TO REFLECT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIalzGRoan4vVLsoc0oS51MzjjDZ54f7nfU5UA6CDi6yqq1a3QKudFRLLH7HrCvRVPGgoDIULyHParVu2UmNWRfKijGGWtXmmqHH2bJE1WMpXkHLJMgqBFACRtnl2GA2NaA31PEv9UU57/s1600/Mum+in+her+teens+and+80s.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIalzGRoan4vVLsoc0oS51MzjjDZ54f7nfU5UA6CDi6yqq1a3QKudFRLLH7HrCvRVPGgoDIULyHParVu2UmNWRfKijGGWtXmmqHH2bJE1WMpXkHLJMgqBFACRtnl2GA2NaA31PEv9UU57/s400/Mum+in+her+teens+and+80s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's cut to the point. My mum died, and this afternoon I took her on her final journey.<br />
<br />
It wasn't a shock exactly when it happened on August 22nd, but when it happened it was a shock, if you see what I mean. My mum passed away approaching her 91st birthday (September 14) and had lived a very long, and for the most part, enjoyable life, but the reality was that for the past six years she had been on borrowed time. It was back then that she was diagnosed with cancer. The date I remember well, August 7th – my birthday.<br />
<br />
It turned out to be an unusual form of ovarian cancer that she was not expected to survive soon after it was discovered, but she was a remarkably resilient woman who repeatedly dumbfounded doctors by virtually eradicating the disease not once but four times after four lots of chemotherapy which ended in February this year. At no stage did she ever complain about what she was going through and for most of the time showed little sign she had cancer at all.<br />
<br />
She had been through a lot but was still able to live her life despite it all, and that doesn't include losing her husband of 63 years, my dad, in 2014 after an extraordinary short period of dementia where he went from driving a car to being bed-ridden and unable to communicate in the space of ten months. But my dad was a firework in everything he did.<br />
<br />
My mum, however, was completely different. She was a slow-burner, and a pragmatic and resilient one. She was still living at home when she became too ill to stay there, after a combination of the intense heat of the summer, a chest infection, COPD and progressive cancer took its toll and she went into hospital. Pneumonia got added to the list and even then she rallied and became more lucid and talkative than she had been for weeks previously. Remarkable, she was.<br />
<br />
But, in the end it was her time. Today has been a tough and emotional day, but now I feel a sense of relief and closure. A new period of my life is about to begin.<br />
<br />
Writing about birds after what I have just written sounds completely flippant, but as when my dad passed away, birding has been my savour (apart from dipping Wryneck and Melodious Warbler – it wasn't then) and a distraction to take me away from continual visits to mum's house, the hospital and the funeral arrangements.<br />
<br />
And so I will mention what I have done on the birding front this past month. On my birthday I went to Oare Marshes, as I often do, and saw the <b>Red-necked Phalarope</b>, the <b>Bonaparte's Gull</b>, a couple of <b>Wood Sandpiper</b> and <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fxj_JTIXZBkcGfqqI2u2rcZQByIx3XTSOTpUYgD32FSoqieIfaPOjJRby_B4JZu8GRewxy9T_Lg5rT0mNt5FUqTSrMaXLrBbECsghHHuhz2Ys8T2Xoeexj9G6JL7Ki2Eo3O3Fu_PnUaI/s1600/Red-necked+Phalarope+Oare+Aug+7+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fxj_JTIXZBkcGfqqI2u2rcZQByIx3XTSOTpUYgD32FSoqieIfaPOjJRby_B4JZu8GRewxy9T_Lg5rT0mNt5FUqTSrMaXLrBbECsghHHuhz2Ys8T2Xoeexj9G6JL7Ki2Eo3O3Fu_PnUaI/s400/Red-necked+Phalarope+Oare+Aug+7+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Phalarope on the East Flood at Oare Marshes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX_t45lmkSjOFrwJjbX1I36GMECeoIDJ7q1FxeOrKYAG62_wITVTFjfyoDyEM-VDjdmLAxCaQbY53VZA8A0L2tBIKSo3t_idjb5rLpWodx7Eirzr0hGh4hTACPDZTgJH0RjFTeFuMRxaQ/s1600/Bonaparte%2527s+Gull+Oare+Aug+7+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX_t45lmkSjOFrwJjbX1I36GMECeoIDJ7q1FxeOrKYAG62_wITVTFjfyoDyEM-VDjdmLAxCaQbY53VZA8A0L2tBIKSo3t_idjb5rLpWodx7Eirzr0hGh4hTACPDZTgJH0RjFTeFuMRxaQ/s400/Bonaparte%2527s+Gull+Oare+Aug+7+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bonaparte's Gull at low tide on the Swale Estuary</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHhuS0gUwIl3bNV59lmedq5GyMF7eO4ZJRqO6TY9ihHq3-ZUE1khx9Ob0Y_k1uwHeNcJl52IocHXBQab7n0grf3q24BM7Xw_FcWT8wjjx6gduADf1eNMxSf_bpyTUDCMSTSIb0vtHUAU5/s1600/Black+Tern+Dungeness+27+Aug+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHhuS0gUwIl3bNV59lmedq5GyMF7eO4ZJRqO6TY9ihHq3-ZUE1khx9Ob0Y_k1uwHeNcJl52IocHXBQab7n0grf3q24BM7Xw_FcWT8wjjx6gduADf1eNMxSf_bpyTUDCMSTSIb0vtHUAU5/s400/Black+Tern+Dungeness+27+Aug+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Tern neat the 'Patch' at Dungeness</td></tr>
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Then, I went to Dungeness to see the <b>American Black Tern</b>. I also have seen plenty of <b>Whinchat</b>, both at Foreness Point, close to where my mum lived, on the local patch at Homethorpe on the Moors and also at Tide Mills at Newhaven, where I managed at last to connect with a <b>Wryneck</b>. I also saw a <b>Nightingale</b> in the same area of scrub.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAOvvHlJ9UrC4NirEMmtUdYA-NR3xLJ_36euyPgeD6S__L3N-9wRCugcxX7g_l2nzjiTX_WFSJ40wbbYpjinkhhYu8KX8g_PLb_KvFLARHsvvcnw5UZ_DtERsoi0i_bR3qLxoMHJYZvg7/s1600/American+Black+Tern+Dungeness+27+Aug+2018b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAOvvHlJ9UrC4NirEMmtUdYA-NR3xLJ_36euyPgeD6S__L3N-9wRCugcxX7g_l2nzjiTX_WFSJ40wbbYpjinkhhYu8KX8g_PLb_KvFLARHsvvcnw5UZ_DtERsoi0i_bR3qLxoMHJYZvg7/s400/American+Black+Tern+Dungeness+27+Aug+2018b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The American Black Tern at Dungeness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUBNzAha7Tb4zbkaBN6Q3HPs6hY8UXDzSHiIlmDQFcNAxfMnF-gIVJYA52u3T6EShqgRZDylJuAP5dRYwmQu8bxRwaPA8ROPh6W2MDDLy6IC4xYgXJoPNNlWx9GMWipqapOuq1cpTKW4c/s1600/Whinchat+Foreness+Point+30+Aug+2018d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUBNzAha7Tb4zbkaBN6Q3HPs6hY8UXDzSHiIlmDQFcNAxfMnF-gIVJYA52u3T6EShqgRZDylJuAP5dRYwmQu8bxRwaPA8ROPh6W2MDDLy6IC4xYgXJoPNNlWx9GMWipqapOuq1cpTKW4c/s400/Whinchat+Foreness+Point+30+Aug+2018d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Whinchat at Foreness Point</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSh3s8wQT7afuDHUO6Vk7Iaf6zHzQAaw083xCPt_syUzpM1b5hQ2gXECEVlfO_ilW89L7xQFDJQFOraYY0Pnnqqmig7lChV-12XLteUtrVJO4myBZiT03le-9URMwNwq_XyRHuj5qmrYZ/s1600/Nightingale+Newhaven+Tide+Mills+3+Sept+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSh3s8wQT7afuDHUO6Vk7Iaf6zHzQAaw083xCPt_syUzpM1b5hQ2gXECEVlfO_ilW89L7xQFDJQFOraYY0Pnnqqmig7lChV-12XLteUtrVJO4myBZiT03le-9URMwNwq_XyRHuj5qmrYZ/s400/Nightingale+Newhaven+Tide+Mills+3+Sept+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightingale at Tide Mills</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxugZvMNaFNlfhHBpuZ6T6oKq7e4FKWXLiBvYOwIFe17cS-zAqr2s0RpARhVBq49Jdcf5MIli0UDEDJh80FtA3StYGpHm6fvvBevRt2eYUns3dNlDObWpoJKYMa_xzZ0UT1FTqM_qF6e4o/s1600/Wryneck+Newhaven+Tide+Mills+2+Sept+2018c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxugZvMNaFNlfhHBpuZ6T6oKq7e4FKWXLiBvYOwIFe17cS-zAqr2s0RpARhVBq49Jdcf5MIli0UDEDJh80FtA3StYGpHm6fvvBevRt2eYUns3dNlDObWpoJKYMa_xzZ0UT1FTqM_qF6e4o/s400/Wryneck+Newhaven+Tide+Mills+2+Sept+2018c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbldTt4ru3WQkFGjIARYXV-nXo8S-5QaoE_R7GtOtLUHbR2Br0g2n2uv7VY9ga7mvXPkDFL3xF0qDAHYDwS93yE84kyMJwTkU_qQM1AqC_JuXZlISZItm5lg1xazsZBhV1Wf_4_c7dpsGt/s1600/Wryneck+Newhaven+Tide+Mills+2+Sept+2018e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbldTt4ru3WQkFGjIARYXV-nXo8S-5QaoE_R7GtOtLUHbR2Br0g2n2uv7VY9ga7mvXPkDFL3xF0qDAHYDwS93yE84kyMJwTkU_qQM1AqC_JuXZlISZItm5lg1xazsZBhV1Wf_4_c7dpsGt/s400/Wryneck+Newhaven+Tide+Mills+2+Sept+2018e.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wryneck at Tide Mills - one of my all-time favourite birds</td></tr>
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And so, that is it for the time being. Life will, hopefully, return to some sort of normality. I hope to take a few days off soon and, with Annie's blessing, spend them away somewhere to enjoy the rest of the autumn migration. I'm not sure where yet, though. I fancy Porthgwarra, as I have never been, or back to Spurn, having not been a for more than three years.<br />
<br />
I am open to suggestions though. Speak soon. xFactorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-88615826542960061072018-07-17T22:28:00.001+01:002018-07-17T22:29:39.814+01:00SHRIKE ACTIONWhile many birders have been focusing on butterflies, dragonflies and moths I have been out birding – a little bit at least – during what is generally regarded as the close season for birds.<br />
<br />
During this glorious summer we are having, I took in a second visit to Thursley Common last week to catch up with the male Red-backed Shrike. I had made a failed attempt a couple of weeks before when the bird first went missing having been seen consistently viewed near the Pudmore Ponds area.<br />
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That day turned out to be a bit of a disastrous attempt to visit the Common as the local village was hosting some event around the car park area, with a loud PA and plenty of excitable children around the place. Not what you expect from a visit to this normally serene site. No wonder the Shrike had gone into hiding that day.<br />
<br />
I wasn't expecting it to be seen again but luckily local Homethorpe birder Richard Perry rediscovered it in a fenced-off area where a small herd of Belted Galloway cattle were grazing a few days later. I put the word out on Rare Bird Alert and headed over there myself later that week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SsQAx23zjIWj0Vpn_J6Cyny4DvxGBTQqo1JKnK3Xoe2nbjtShEuFMrV3AdJXPhnOzfiV4GTI9w3N2_JKRPmigdaHEvTik3mTdbJaQqcrrDGO6QwuNuyMeArXzTUsMIGVVSs4xOjPp6fm/s1600/Red-backed+Shrike+Thursley+July+7+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SsQAx23zjIWj0Vpn_J6Cyny4DvxGBTQqo1JKnK3Xoe2nbjtShEuFMrV3AdJXPhnOzfiV4GTI9w3N2_JKRPmigdaHEvTik3mTdbJaQqcrrDGO6QwuNuyMeArXzTUsMIGVVSs4xOjPp6fm/s400/Red-backed+Shrike+Thursley+July+7+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The male Red-backed Shrike</td></tr>
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It was a searingly hot day – hardly ideal conditions for walking around the dusty, tinder-dry Common – but there were a few birders around looking for the Shrike. I focused on watching a few <b>Dartford Warble</b>r before making a circuit of the area, and was fortunate to find the <b>Red-backed Shrike</b> perched up on some shrubbery. This was my first for Surrey, which was nice. The views were distant but that didn't matter. A very smart bird.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBkG_s5J-jXYloTd43kvuFRuEXGYIlZ8BhMEutMexFXzoDfuu1J7kNhYO4RXE1S9hERD4IJUb3CDXJCP_MyWFGq0q9aHfOAJgn4rENl1VHki8gPcK_5fOw72_35q241plW7eDFxdZbamQ/s1600/Black-winged+Stilt+Oare+July+16+2018b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBkG_s5J-jXYloTd43kvuFRuEXGYIlZ8BhMEutMexFXzoDfuu1J7kNhYO4RXE1S9hERD4IJUb3CDXJCP_MyWFGq0q9aHfOAJgn4rENl1VHki8gPcK_5fOw72_35q241plW7eDFxdZbamQ/s400/Black-winged+Stilt+Oare+July+16+2018b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the juvenile Black-winged Stilt at Oare Marshes</td></tr>
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I popped in at Oare Marshes on Monday, after a visit to Margate to take my mum to a hospital appointment. I didn't stay long, but the two adult <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> and two juveniles were easy to locate on the East Flood, unlike the Bonaparte's Gull, which was no doubt on the estuary somewhere with the tide out.<br />
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I occasionally have taken a short walk around the Water Colour and Moors areas of my local patch at Holmethorpe during the early summer, with a pair of <b>Common Tern</b> successfully breeding on Mercer's Lake on one of the pontoons there – only the second successful attempt on the site.<br />
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The first of three chicks currently survives, but there is a long way to go before we can truly celebrate.Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-14006271784912508852018-06-01T20:37:00.003+01:002018-06-02T21:22:06.474+01:00I'M BACK – KIND OFIt has been a weird few months. It is hard to imagine not going birding throughout the spring but that has pretty much been the situation for me.<br />
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Since the turn of the year I can sum up my birding experience in a handful of paragraphs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh8s48-773AjCRMgBiQuIIvaRXossmJPir3VU2ZaNx1nDkhVhAalsAfOJhT0f4Doue05WAZnOCQg5Nkv-hFnSI8nI5U5umCZzaNNcyKI-iL_Aa91CiyI_Odg3mpZsRsyn-zEVmgzBwvh_/s1600/Hawfinch+Capel+Feb+1+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh8s48-773AjCRMgBiQuIIvaRXossmJPir3VU2ZaNx1nDkhVhAalsAfOJhT0f4Doue05WAZnOCQg5Nkv-hFnSI8nI5U5umCZzaNNcyKI-iL_Aa91CiyI_Odg3mpZsRsyn-zEVmgzBwvh_/s400/Hawfinch+Capel+Feb+1+2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Hawfinch at Capel in February</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawfinch on Ashurst Rough at Box Hill</td></tr>
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Here goes. I spent one February afternoon in Capel looking for <b>Hawfinch</b>, then a couple of weeks later spent a morning on Box Hill looking for the huge flock of <b>Hawfinch</b> so brilliantly captured by Steve Gale on his North Downs and Beyond site. I managed to see about 50-60 of them.<br />
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Then after that I had a brief visit to Staines Reservoir to view the <b>Horned Lark </b>on February 24.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Horned Lark at Staines Reservoir in February</td></tr>
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<br />
Despite the bare bones of a birding year so far, I have actually had a couple of patch firsts. A few brief walks around the Moors on the local patch in March during the biting <i>Beast from the East </i>cold snap conjured up my first patch <b>Golden Plover</b>. Then recently I saw my first Holmethorpe <b>Ringed Plover </b>on the Water Colour island.<br />
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The only other highlight occurred one late morning when I bumped into Gordon Hay at the Water Colour lagoons just as a <b>Hobby</b> flew over and grabbed what was probably a <b>Sand Martin</b>.<br />
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Then this morning Annie and I took a quick walk around the Water Colour lagoons before I headed off to London to put together the<i> Daily Star</i> 16-page Derby pull-out for Saturday's paper. It was actually a very pleasant walk, with very close views of a <b>Common Tern</b> perched on a post (I didn't have my camera with me) while its partner fed over one of the lagoons. A number of <b>Reed Warbler </b>were chattering away in the reeds, while numerous <b>House Martin</b> busied themselves on the island collecting mud for the their nests, along with a neurotic <b>d</b> hoping to find a mate. It was a very happy scene. The birds were singing and there was plenty of activity. Nature at work.<br />
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But that has been it. A great pity, because the local patch has produced the goods so far this year, although I haven't been able to keep up to date records for the year on the Homethorpe website for everyone to read about them.<br />
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I will set about that task soon but it will take time to get back up to speed.<br />
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So why the silence? It has been because of this:<br />
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<br />
I wrote a book.<br />
<br />
I took it upon myself to write a sequel to my previous self-published effort, <i>The Sound and the Fury</i>, which was written 18 years ago. I have been a fan of BriSCA F1 stock car racing since I was a kid and have been directly involved with the sport on and off over the years and more so during the past 18 months.<br />
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Once I has decided to go for it, everything else fell by the wayside. The book took over. While working at the <i>Daily Star</i> and the <i>Daily Express </i>as part of the day job, any spare time I had was taken up with the design and writing of <i>Shock and Roar.</i><br />
<br />
I had forgotten what a huge task it is producing a book, particularly if you are doing it all yourself. I had originally hoped to get it finished by February, but that imaginary deadline came and went, as did the next one in March.<br />
<br />
But there came a point when I had to take the plunge and commit to a deadline when the book would finally go to press. And boy, while I am used to deadlines, this was stressful stuff.<br />
<br />
Not only that, but I also took the decision to produce a couple of promo audio visuals to lead up to the book's launch – and they took time. And then there was the website. That had to be put together and set up to take payments for book purchases.<br />
<br />
It was bloody hard work. The other stress came from the fact I chose a printing firm who I had never work with before – in Poland. I had heard good reviews of this company in Krakow and the quote they sent me was extremely competitive. The bottom line is, if you want value for money when printing a book head to Europe. Even with delivery on top, it is by far the best way to go.<br />
<br />
But printing abroad involves more risk. Unless you can stay out in Poland for a week and oversee the process, you won't know how good a job has been done until you have the book in your hands. And then there is the insurance headache and whether your books will get to you in one piece without any dramas along the way.<br />
<br />
But the print quality was excellent. First class. They did their utmost to keep me calm and confident the outcome would be as I hoped. They certainly delivered.<br />
<br />
So I have the books, now I had to sell them. That also takes time and effort. Annie and I sold the first batch at a stock car venue for a two-day meeting, and that went well. But after that I have relied on online sales with continuing marketing on social media and press copies to motorsport publications.<br />
<br />
When the orders started to come through it meant evenings spent bagging up books and numerous visits to the post office. Or that has always been the hope!<br />
<br />
So far it has gone well, and reviews have been very good (my audience is easy to please!).<br />
<br />
And so having missed the spring migration, including the Ring Ouzels on the patch, the Pomarine Skua seawatches and countless great birds, including the Golden Orioles at Portland Bill, the American Bittern, the Snowy Owl <i>et al</i> I have, at long last, some time to spend watching birds.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, today is the first day of June...Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-90881542548578910072018-01-05T19:48:00.002+00:002018-01-06T19:35:12.115+00:00THE 2017 RANDON'S RAMBLING AWARDS<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is it the beginning of 2018 already? The year has flown by, so with that in mind, and ignoring the endless discussion about Brexit, it must be time for the 2017 Randon's Rambling Awards!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always, I intended to actually get these done before the end of the year but it has ended up going out a week into the following one. Apologies. The 2017 Surrey birding equivalent to the
Oscars, Golden Globes, SPOTY, Baftas, Brits and the Turner Prize has got bigger (and hopefully better) over time, and you never know, one day they might actually become a thing, with trophies and a proper ceremony. One can dream...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what was the year like on a personal level? Certainly not as good as the previous year – in fact, I sometimes forgot I was a birder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Less time on the patch and less visits to exciting birding sites. Much of that has to do with cars with V8 engines that hurtle around a track hitting each other as part of a new role I took up in 2017 on top of my other freelance work. Weekends were taken up with media-related activities and, as a result, eroded most of any spare time I had.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfAIKn641LjA-_SnPHYXcvs8dQi-YmiuEGMi-eVgrKrLTHeLqpUAMPHo2twGDJRQm0zPKirpkxzdeFMnb6vCO6c4i3NWHKKg-_cjHfkGz9IUyS6R1LGujmTatRU0HyUQCWh3P0s5GqLzL/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+Dungeness+11+May+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfAIKn641LjA-_SnPHYXcvs8dQi-YmiuEGMi-eVgrKrLTHeLqpUAMPHo2twGDJRQm0zPKirpkxzdeFMnb6vCO6c4i3NWHKKg-_cjHfkGz9IUyS6R1LGujmTatRU0HyUQCWh3P0s5GqLzL/s400/Pomarine+Skua+Dungeness+11+May+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pomarine Skua at Dungeness</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having said that, the year had its moments. <b>Pomarine Skua</b> migration at Dungeness in May is always a joy, as was the recent appearance of 16 <b>Parrot Crossbill </b>at Wishmoor Bottom near Camberley recently. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-winged Black Tern at Staines Reservoir</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0ufKHsFzNM42xMDhRUERfSrvNvPkq-b7-rf7K7AFkdDtQ1HXOqBVQHWRr6HxVhbEt-mVQsl7NQ7o36o_Ko0Ez9TlVRWmbx6xItamUbKk0d8xhq8XPJgYmjqDMfUDF47p-CFyeFpq15t5/s1600/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0ufKHsFzNM42xMDhRUERfSrvNvPkq-b7-rf7K7AFkdDtQ1HXOqBVQHWRr6HxVhbEt-mVQsl7NQ7o36o_Ko0Ez9TlVRWmbx6xItamUbKk0d8xhq8XPJgYmjqDMfUDF47p-CFyeFpq15t5/s400/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017q.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrot Crossbills at Wishmoor Common</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Staines Reservoir was been very good this year, including three brilliant <b>White-winged Black Tern</b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in late spring</span>. I made visits to a few new places, including Languard for the <b>Great Reed Warbler</b>, and returned to the excellent Frampton Marshes, where I lucked into a female <b>Dotterel</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBsHg4_1829azskESdGjAgpq9K4WjijanfyO-KsSrpDLxibPL3f-MX223jeBQxUa9EanIxr4bhkXujFMJYDOyv891cN2sViT9OCCKD5SnLMVuFNeBzeMNpVpBQVtR68WKl6GQfUcxvgkp/s1600/Great+Reed+Warbler+Languard+9+May+2017f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBsHg4_1829azskESdGjAgpq9K4WjijanfyO-KsSrpDLxibPL3f-MX223jeBQxUa9EanIxr4bhkXujFMJYDOyv891cN2sViT9OCCKD5SnLMVuFNeBzeMNpVpBQVtR68WKl6GQfUcxvgkp/s400/Great+Reed+Warbler+Languard+9+May+2017f.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Reed Warbler at Languard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made plenty of early-morning visits to Oare Marshes prior to seeing my ailing mum in Margate, which included the <b>Long-billed Dowitcher</b> and <b>Wilson's Phalarope</b>, and I had a couple of Holmethorpe firsts, a flyover <b>Hawfinch</b> in October and a couple of <b>Goosander</b> on Mercer's Lake in November.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The weather played its inevitable role, with the autumn producing the usual excitement in Shetland and the eastern side of the country <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">–</span> but maybe not as much compared to a year ago. But the Orkney Isles, so often the bridesmaid compared to its more northerly counterpart, smashed the bird rarity stakes out of the ball park with a <b>Siberian Blue Robin</b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">–</span> probably the bird of the year nationally in my view.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scilly Isles came up with the goods compared to previous years, with a (admittedly moribund) <b>Yellow-billed Cuckoo</b>, <b>Wilson's Snipe</b>, <b>Cedar Waxwing</b>, <b>Cliff Swallow,</b> <b>Isabelline Wheatear</b> and <b>Grey-cheeked Thrush</b> to name a few.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
worst personal moment? I can't say I really spent enough time to have one, but probably it was not being able to go and see the <b>Rock Thrush</b> at the Blorenge in Gwent <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">–</span> even though I was only half an hour down the road at the time...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elsewhere,
the local birding community has been as busy as usual, and Surrey bird sightings have been some of the best in recent years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, before we continue, the Rambler Awards, unlike other official Surrey bird sighting activity, does include both the Surrey vice county boundary and Spelthorne as part of Surrey. The Surrey border does open up lengthy discussion but these are the Rambler Awards – and I decide the rules. <i>Capiche? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As with
every 12 months, bloggers, tweeters, twitchers and patch workers come and go, but
it is those who have made 2017 memorable who are worthy of a
Rambler – the birding Oscar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the list of awards, nominees and winners. And for the first time, I have included a top three podium.</span><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE 2017 RAMBLER AWARDS</b></span></h2>
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<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2017 RANDON'S RAMBLINGS</span></b></h2>
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY PATCH BIRDER OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In alphabetical order, the nominees are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ray Baker – Holmethorpe Sand Pits</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Beddington Crew – Beddington Farmlands</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mark Elsoffer – Tice's Meadow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dave Harris – <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walton</span> Reservoirs </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Gordon Hay – Holmethorpe Sand Pits</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rich Horton – Tice's Meadow</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dominic Pia – Staines Moor/Reservoir</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rich Sergeant – Tice's Meadow </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ed Stubbs - Thorncombe Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bob Warden – Staines Reservoir </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span></div>
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<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"CAPTAIN" BOB WARDEN</span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LD_CD7MBf48pc9vOf_6E6Sbnun6TvH0hRbeV0lrbE9SRyMcUvAn-UrzxK2NOD6wyR3clWUfwVHqlsC8kel08zJRdYqNzSOWw4Y7mlPCvfEALTI-POe6Rv0_r-eCENekBcqsIZ7Rvd1LE/s1600/Bob+Warden.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LD_CD7MBf48pc9vOf_6E6Sbnun6TvH0hRbeV0lrbE9SRyMcUvAn-UrzxK2NOD6wyR3clWUfwVHqlsC8kel08zJRdYqNzSOWw4Y7mlPCvfEALTI-POe6Rv0_r-eCENekBcqsIZ7Rvd1LE/s320/Bob+Warden.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd place: </b>DOMINIC PIA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd place:</b> RAY BAKER</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Congratulations
to Bob Warden, who wins Patch
Birder of the Year for the first time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a tough decision, as two other birders deserved to win the accolade this year. Both Dominic Pia and Ray Baker were vying for the award, but in the end with Staines Reservoir having such a remarkable 12 months, it was a coin toss between Dom and Bob, with Bob just edging it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But Ray Baker deserves mention and not just because he walked my local patch!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ray is not one for Twitter or
Facebook, rarely twitches and has been dedicated to the Holmethorpe
patch in recent years. and while Staines Reservoir has had birds drawn to its site as a result of the draining of the south basin, Holmethorpe has needed the patience of a saint to garner any excitement. This year has been pretty hard work on occasions but Ray has shown remarkable diligence – more I would say than any other birder in Surrey this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He would visit the patch at least three times a week from first light and walk every inch of it – and that is a long walk. Not only that, but he would record every bird he saw. And I mean every bird, not just species, so he has records that are second-to-none for Holmethorpe – which is fantastic, but there is a caveat to this. Ray has moved out of the area in November and now lives near Pulborough!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so in 2018 Holmethorpe will suffer a huge void in its records, not just for birds, but also for butterflies and dragonflies, both of which Ray also recorded in detail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Runner-up Dominic Pia had a remarkable year, and it was made all the more enjoyable with the south basin at The Res being drained for the second half of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017</span>. A regular at Staines, Dominic, like many of us, has to juggle work and family commitments with his favourite pastime. It used to be an in-joke that he would take detours to The Res when out on a Tesco's shopping run. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But Dom's patch birding highlights didn't just rely on the newly-formed mudflats of the south basin. There were great discoveries to be had when the basin was full of water, notably three self-found White-winged Black Tern – two adults and a first summer juvenile <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">–</span> that went on to entertain the growing gathering of birders (including me) during that sunny May 23rd day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The best bird of the year was the Horned Lark, but the highlight, without doubt, was the White-winged Black Terns," says Dominic. "The adrenalin rush of a self find can't be beaten."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dominic missed out on a few corkers, notably <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an</span> Arctic Skua, a bird Bob missed out on too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So it's Captain Bob Warden, a legend among Surrey birders, often accompanied by his able sidekick and photographic maestro Corporal Dave Carlsson, who has made Staines Reservoir his second home (his first home is in Woking).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Along with Dominic Pia, Bob has had a great <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017</span> and only missed out on a handful of birds at his beloved Reservoir. He missed out on Smew, the Arctic Skua, Marsh Harrier, Kittiwake, Yellow-legged Gull and Brambling, but little else. While not as sprightly on his pins these days (rumour has it he is at least 200 years old) you will always see him along the causeway at some point each week and during this past 12 months, even more often than usual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bob has been birding longer than most of us can remember and ever since I started on this extraordinary hobby, Bob has always been a feature. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">E</span>ven the local Carrion Crows along the causeway know him, as they wait in the sidelines hoping he will offer them a tasty bit of breakfast first thing in the morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Always friendly, approachable, helpful, informative and enthusiastic, Bob is a fine birder, who I personally haven't seen as often in recent years (due to being stuck behind a computer screen most of the time) but he is someone I class as a true pal. A top bloke and a worthy, and long-overdue, winner.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2017 RANDON'S RAMBLINGS</span></b></h2>
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY PATCH OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LWC BARNES </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Caspian Gull<i>, Glaucous Gull, Great White Egret</i></i><i>) </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BEDDINGTON SEWAGE FARM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(</i><i>Cattle Egret, </i><i>Great White Egret, </i><i>Marsh Harrier, </i><i>Goshawk, </i><i>Spotted Crake, </i><i>Temminck's Stint, Sabine's Gull, Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Turtle Dove, </i><i>Long-eared Owl, </i><i>Dartford Warbler, </i><i>Waxwing, Twite, Hawfinch</i><i>)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FRENSHAM PONDS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Long-tailed Duck, </i><i>Marsh Harrier, </i><i>Osprey, </i><i>Red-footed Falcon, </i><i>Great Grey Shrike</i><i>)</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STAINES RESERVOIR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Whooper Swan, Smew, </i><i>Great Northern Diver, Great White Egret, </i><i>Red-necked Grebe, </i><i>Slavonian Grebe, </i><i><i>Black-necked Grebe, Marsh Harrier, </i></i><i>Merlin, </i><i>Little Stint, </i><i>Pectoral Sandpiper, </i><i><i>Curlew Sandpiper, </i></i><i><i><i>Red-necked Phalarope</i></i>, </i><i>Grey Phalarope,</i><i> Arctic Skua, </i><i>White-winged Black Tern, Roseate Tern, </i><i><i>Horned Lark</i>)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TICE'S MEADOW</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Glaucous Gull, </i><i><i>Great White Egret, Honey-buzzard, Goshawk, </i></i><i>Osprey, </i><i>Merlin, </i><i>Dartford Warbler, </i><i><i>Hawfinch</i></i><i>)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THORNCOMBE LANE</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Cattle Egret, Waxwing,</i><i> </i><i>Hawfinch</i><i>)</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WALTON</span> RESERVOIRS</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(</i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, L</span>ittle Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Grey <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P</span>halarope</span>, Red-rumped Swallow</i><i>)</i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>STAINES RESERVOIR</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwaPptIg5bATJpyVPB4Fx8zsy4oNYVvd5lkfqdmmGJKgLy61e9h3ljat-8MTq49N6sb7c27EKaV3P_hCMsvj4gXns4n67wTg_SS3n7Bc9-sV4FWlqNUkY0RKHwW_STnw5KI54XTD35hVO/s1600/staines.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwaPptIg5bATJpyVPB4Fx8zsy4oNYVvd5lkfqdmmGJKgLy61e9h3ljat-8MTq49N6sb7c27EKaV3P_hCMsvj4gXns4n67wTg_SS3n7Bc9-sV4FWlqNUkY0RKHwW_STnw5KI54XTD35hVO/s400/staines.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> BEDDINGTON RESERVOIR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd: </b>FRENSHAM PONDS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, barring the traditionalists who will say that The Res doesn't count because it is not part of the old Vice County, the Ramblers Awards ignores that and legitimises Spelthorne for Awards purposes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also it had a bloody amazing year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having said that, it was run very, very close by Beddington – very close! Beddington will always be favourite at the beginning of each year to win this award and only just came up short<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span> But it wasn't bec<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">au</span>se it lacked the variety of rare and scarce birds, far from it. It produced a stack in 2017 despite to introduction on the infamous incinerator and some remarkable birds are always lured to this London site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With a fine group of regular patch watchers the list of 159 Beddington birds in 2017 is perhaps more interesting overall than Staine Reservoir, the variety is extraordinary, but what Staines lacked in variety it made up for in numbers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the end Staines Reservoir had to win it for the fun second half of the year for all visiting birders. Anyone who turned up would have had enjoyed some stellar wader action – numerous common waders to go with a handful of scarce delights – as well as the odd rare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The autumn passage was amazing," says Dominic Pia. "Phalaropes, Pec Sands and loads of Little Stints, Curlew Sandpipers, a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier and a drake Garganey too."</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the south basin had been drained it was almost certainly going to feature prominently with all the wetland birds it was sure to entice. But even before the basin's water levels began to drop, the reservoir was the site of a number of remarkable birds during the first half of the year, With the <b>White-winged Black Terns</b> and a <b>Roseate Tern</b> being highlights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So it couldn't really be anywhere else, could it? Congratulations
to Staines Reservoir, winner of the Patch of the Year award for the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Special mention must go to Frensham Ponds, who made the nominations and on to the podium for the first time. The area came up with a few great discoveries, including the <b>Red-footed Falcon</b>, <b>Great Grey Shrike</b>, <b>Long-tailed Duck</b> and the now regular <b>Osprey</b> sighting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tice's
Meadow successfully defended the Horton Hay Cup – the annual
yearly Surrey bird list challenge between the patch and Holmethorpe Sand
Pits. Not much of a contest in 2017 to be fair <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">–</span> they won handsomely 144-132. Their highlights were probably <b>Honey-buzzard</b> and <b>Glaucous Gull</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I live in hope we can turn that round one day – maybe this year!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2017 RANDON'S RAMBLINGS</span></b></h2>
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY BIRD OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cattle Egret (<i>Beddington Farmlands</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red-footed Falcon <i>(Frensham Ponds)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spotted Crake<i> (Beddington Farmlands)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Temminck's Stint <i>(Beddington Farmlands)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red-necked Phalarope <i>(Staines Reservoir)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grey Phalarope <i>(Staines Reservoir)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arctic Skua<i> (Staines Reservoir)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sabine's Gull </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Beddington Farmlands) </i></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Glaucous Gull</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Beddington Farmlands, Tice's Meadow) </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White-winged Black Tern</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Staines Reservoir)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Long-eared Owl </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Beddington Farmlands)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great Grey Shrike </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>numerous sites</i>)</i></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Horned Lark </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Staines Reservoir)</i><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twite<i> (Beddington Farmlands) </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parrot Crossbill</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Wishmoor Common<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">)</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hawfinch <i>(numerous sites)</i> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span></span></div>
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<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">HAWFINCH</span></b></h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG1byUi_YDjbgMhGGYB0H_XA-3uz5hOVt9HUwJH1JYBirVm10cxAxp7lQvmPENUomZGev-O9OESoi-1jfBHyao9oSG2-HL21KaCCWgyKOVY6HJ2BtADhOs_fOW2oHmJ0RnDhcLM_WNcTA/s1600/Hawfinch+Headley+Heath+Oct+17+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG1byUi_YDjbgMhGGYB0H_XA-3uz5hOVt9HUwJH1JYBirVm10cxAxp7lQvmPENUomZGev-O9OESoi-1jfBHyao9oSG2-HL21KaCCWgyKOVY6HJ2BtADhOs_fOW2oHmJ0RnDhcLM_WNcTA/s400/Hawfinch+Headley+Heath+Oct+17+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd:</b> PARROT CROSSBILL</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A year when the red-hot favourite picks up the prize. The mighty <b>Hawfinch</b> takes a well-deserved award. Looking back at previous winners I was sure the big-billed beast had picked up the prize in 2013 when that incredible flock of 100-plus bird arrived at Juniper Bottom, but for some unbeknown-to-me-now reason, it didn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The competition was fierce, however. What a year for Surrey birding! A flock of at least 16 Parrot Crossbills late on in the year would normally steal the show as they migrated between Surrey and Berkshire along Wishmoor Bottom, and also the Red-footed Falcon at Frensham was another stonking bird, and a classic Surrey rarity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add to those beauties, there was <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span> <b>Sabine's Gull </b>that dropped in at Beddington, the site that also gave us an inland <b>Twite</b> (that is still present apparently). There were plenty of others too, but the <b>Hawfinch</b> was the obvious winner for being such good value during this autumn and winter. They have turned up pretty much anywhere in Surrey, you just had to be in the right place at the right time – a bit like the Waxwing of a few years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And while it took some people a few frustrating attempts to see one ot two, when they did turn up it was such a thrill! I had my brief Hawfinch fix at Headley Heath, when six dropped into a tree while I was walking back to the car park. One of my highlights of the year, to be honest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that is the thing about these magnificent finches, they are a bird that make the pulse race that little bit, something some more rare species fail to do.</span></div>
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<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2017 RANDON'S RAMBLINGS</span></b></h2>
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BIRDING BLOGGER OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PETER ALFREY (Non-Stop Birding)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE (North Downs and Beyond)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GAVIN HAIG (Not Quite Scilly) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE (Wanstead Birder)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PAUL TRODD (Plovers Blog)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE WAITE (Axe Birding)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span><br />
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<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE</span></b></h2>
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">(Wanstead Birder)</span></b></h2>
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<h2>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KagVDFWakdd-a7KQGBPogyzy1gULxr1_4AFfsl64PTbVKTsGUAbZwf_bpk1Zfkz5cKvPwgrqDnzZoq1mErZbdXiNBDdMiBXCqfpgYsW_c-uCUTHvX0bjlWrjW5hrKxD3EJsFEs_HNxJz/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+16.29.03.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KagVDFWakdd-a7KQGBPogyzy1gULxr1_4AFfsl64PTbVKTsGUAbZwf_bpk1Zfkz5cKvPwgrqDnzZoq1mErZbdXiNBDdMiBXCqfpgYsW_c-uCUTHvX0bjlWrjW5hrKxD3EJsFEs_HNxJz/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+16.29.03.png" width="320" /></a></b></h2>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wansteadbirder.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.wansteadbirder.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> STEVE GALE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd:</b> PETER ALFREY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I firmly believed there was no stopping Steve Gale, but it is Jonathan Lethbridge, after four years of following in the shadows of the great man, having been the bridesmaid so often, who takes the Rambler for Birding Blog of the Year for a second time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unbeknown to both bloggers, it was a 12-round battle <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">–</span> a birding blog Muhammed Ali v Joe Frazier Thriller in Manila – in which both had claims for the title.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the end Jonathan won it with some great posts that often had great photos attached. One of his photos is seen below – probably the finest bird photo of the year. He came into 2017 fully-armed, and it worked.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtlbPPaiu74RMK0IVVwUzpHzcWnZfWqyWat0ip8jq0bzKSDaAX0KGQOYWqVYSC7hBmlYSO0Y4GtIQzz5p8869l5FHx5EGoyzX8hIN6gNiFnwp6qy_Ft7eJ904RHypsQxngTCxpeReSfY6/s1600/IMG_2539_Iceland+copywtmk.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtlbPPaiu74RMK0IVVwUzpHzcWnZfWqyWat0ip8jq0bzKSDaAX0KGQOYWqVYSC7hBmlYSO0Y4GtIQzz5p8869l5FHx5EGoyzX8hIN6gNiFnwp6qy_Ft7eJ904RHypsQxngTCxpeReSfY6/s400/IMG_2539_Iceland+copywtmk.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I say it year in, year out, but somehow Steve Gale is able to create fascinating and thought-provoking blog posts at will. There is no-one as prolific. He had another great year but it had to happen one day, when someone broke the domination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I actually didn't believed it would happen this time around, but Mr Wanstead Birder really stepped up to the plate in 2017. Steve's domination has been something we should savour, however, because without North Downs and Beyond, the world of birding would be a poorer place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm delighted to put Peter Alfrey's blog into the top three because here's a man with a passion for birding and for Beddington in particular that is both admirable and inspirational. He is a truly great birder too. One of the best there is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gavin
Haig once again threatened to become a challenger but latterly steered away from being a birding blog into one on fishing – his other passion. Sometimes Gavin goes off radar, phasing sometimes being the culprit. I have to admit I have more moments suffering this affliction than I care to admit these days. Still, I'm just grateful Gavin still writes <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">now and then</span>, because he is one of my true favourite scribes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've included Paul Trodd's blog, based on Dungeness and its environs, for the first time because it is one I always refer to and enjoy reading. It has been an excellent 12 months on the shingle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve
Waite's blog is one of the very best pure birding blogs out there and once again a
worthy short-list entry.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So Steve Gale's stranglehold on birding blogs has been released – for now... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2017 RANDON'S RAMBLINGS</span></b></h2>
<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BIRDING BLOG POST OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE GALE (North Downs and Beyond)</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Celebrate</span></i></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #e69138; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;"><b><i><a href="http://northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2017/11/celebrate.html">northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2017/11/celebrate.html</a></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is means to be a birder. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> GAVIN HAIG (Not Quite Scilly)</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A day to remember</span></i></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><a href="http://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-day-to-remember.html">notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-day-to-remember.html</a></u></b></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Memories of a very successful day's birding in 1984.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JONATHAN LETHBRIDGE (Wanstead Birder)</span></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Waders – a decade of retrospection</span></i></b><br />
<i style="white-space: nowrap;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><cite class="_Rm" style="font-size: 14px;"><b><a href="http://www.wansteadbirder.com/2017/04/waders-decade-of-retrospection.html">www.wansteadbirder.com/2017/04/waders-decade-of-retrospection.html</a></b></cite></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;">A look back at patch birding at Wanstead and patch gold – the elusive wader.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is: </span><br />
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<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">GAVIN HAIG (Not Quite Scilly)</span></b></h2>
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<h2>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKUX7T-lmS186fPv4ep0KmgaI11zPw7ZjgVnvPu02WDHMs2mS7jVBHoSCQdPswDuf3nifCb0L7iaeXsSQp2rO1v-GD_tAlLS2b2veIm0RGf0WJhs4qaEu7yTpS81vWKoOAm-z5Lyez3T-/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+16.30.56.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKUX7T-lmS186fPv4ep0KmgaI11zPw7ZjgVnvPu02WDHMs2mS7jVBHoSCQdPswDuf3nifCb0L7iaeXsSQp2rO1v-GD_tAlLS2b2veIm0RGf0WJhs4qaEu7yTpS81vWKoOAm-z5Lyez3T-/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+16.30.56.png" width="320" /></a> </b></h2>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year's winner of the Randon's Ramblings Blog Post of the Year goes
to Gavin Haig for 'A day to remember'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Always a pleasure to read, Gavin, while not exactly a prolific blogger, does come up with some real gems. This was one example of a few he wrote this year. His writing has a light touch, he adds humour and is able to create a picture in your minds eye. Very difficult to do, but he does so with apparent ease.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also really enjoyed </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #e69138; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"><b><i><a href="http://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2017/05/sharing-is-caring.html">notquitescilly2.blogspot.com/2017/05/sharing-is-caring.html</a> </i></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">amongst others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, the Twitter users who have made comments this past year that have stuck in the memory.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2017 RANDON'S RAMBLINGS</span></b></h2>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SURREY BIRDING TWEETER OF THE YEAR</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nominations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SIMON EDWARD (@eddybirder - new entry with 512 followers)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MARK ELSOFFER (@Mark_Elsoffer – 396 followers in 2016 - 493 in 2017)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SHAUN FERGUSON (@sferguk – 295 followers in 2016 - now 469) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IAN JONES (@ianeagle67 – 277 followers - now 355)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">KEITH KERR (@akkwildlife – 1,839 followers - now 2,044) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEVE MINHINNICK (stevie69000 – 324 followers - now 361) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RICH SERGEANT (@TicesBirder – 1,933 followers - now 2,189)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner is:</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SHAUN FERGUSON (@sferguk)</span></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX04dgrKMZy0-DB3xd5xJyYOX2mAx2BtXbM9tCtahU3uoFvSWFIO64VegZkDIdj5iMp4un9y_tM8COiUrNhEnPHXBx4FbAs1EkiG_dHIYwEAs1tX8mojCEFveVP7FlNRolXQmr_5K4Bf4Y/s1600/DSZTGagWsAIzpjY.jpg-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX04dgrKMZy0-DB3xd5xJyYOX2mAx2BtXbM9tCtahU3uoFvSWFIO64VegZkDIdj5iMp4un9y_tM8COiUrNhEnPHXBx4FbAs1EkiG_dHIYwEAs1tX8mojCEFveVP7FlNRolXQmr_5K4Bf4Y/s320/DSZTGagWsAIzpjY.jpg-large.jpeg" width="240" /></a> </h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd:</b> MARK ELSOFFER</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3rd: </b>SIMON EDWARD</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Congratulations
go to Shaun Ferguson on winning the Surrey Birding Tweeter of the Year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The South African birder who has made Surrey his home has entertained all year with his twitching exploits and some fascinating birding trips abroad, notably in his native country. Never a dull moment following Shaun. He's a bit bonkers – worth the ticket and takes his birding seriously.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2MFS9ULHlyitx4wM19z2qBTJtdpAjcBpQxefQl-PfLsoer2hX2-bf0-Nvje1v63AGyy26c8CDw8f566_N9wzSgxX7fCljLuUilVV4cV2pENi3QDNqj9RTDlDtAoPnGXmGYsy0e3R09z6/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+17.18.16.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2MFS9ULHlyitx4wM19z2qBTJtdpAjcBpQxefQl-PfLsoer2hX2-bf0-Nvje1v63AGyy26c8CDw8f566_N9wzSgxX7fCljLuUilVV4cV2pENi3QDNqj9RTDlDtAoPnGXmGYsy0e3R09z6/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+17.18.16.png" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never a day goes by without a tweet. Some are gripping even when few words are used. That is a skill in itself. Very creative.</span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnzSxYiupqTYN_wztvPidBN7Hs15fODrDEZOZzwASIG3zH2sZue1EHVaarQsMRwZZE-X5eyeXFDdfkNjLkZu8keEKgBNyycy-m6-WfoVkPdx7Fbooc0SEQzj7NbqNz-cKQjetPfuEMp12/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+17.20.33.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnzSxYiupqTYN_wztvPidBN7Hs15fODrDEZOZzwASIG3zH2sZue1EHVaarQsMRwZZE-X5eyeXFDdfkNjLkZu8keEKgBNyycy-m6-WfoVkPdx7Fbooc0SEQzj7NbqNz-cKQjetPfuEMp12/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-01-04+at+17.20.33.png" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So
well done to Shaun and to all the winners and nominees in each of the categories –
every one was worthy of recognition as they made 2017
all the more rewarding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.......................................</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, that's 2017 out of the way. Let's hope 2018 will make us smile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy New Year one and all and enjoy your birding!</span></div>
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com86tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-17251243373481569852017-11-28T22:36:00.002+00:002017-12-01T01:14:44.118+00:00NOVEMBER BIRDING FIREWORKSIt has been good to get out, even if briefly, this past week for the odd spot of local birding. November has proved to have been an exceptional month for Surrey birders and those on the borders.<br />
<br />
For some reason November is often a month to savour for us land-locked enthusiasts and none more so than this year.<br />
<br />
The Hawfinch invasion has kept on giving, while on my local patch a showy <b>Jack Snipe</b> was joined by a second for a while down on the Moors. Also featuring at Holmethorpe has been an ever-increasing finch flock, seen along the hedgerow between Glebe Lake and Nutfield Church, next to a field with a failed barley crop. In among the 120 or more Chaffinch have been up to 15 Brambling, along with one Lesser Redpoll.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XbdSu0ybfxiLZB2B7md8B6YZbqk7krqh61Ci9tXLay_xw9-nnhZ9RNo90ijrzPMv8aaiAOiLqebNoeyF3xuecKLqYdMuCjEspsRk4Q5JKWss589djoYAgclUnJpuM3C8y0KXwSdrVucE/s1600/Goosander+Mercers+Lake+Nov+15+2017b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XbdSu0ybfxiLZB2B7md8B6YZbqk7krqh61Ci9tXLay_xw9-nnhZ9RNo90ijrzPMv8aaiAOiLqebNoeyF3xuecKLqYdMuCjEspsRk4Q5JKWss589djoYAgclUnJpuM3C8y0KXwSdrVucE/s400/Goosander+Mercers+Lake+Nov+15+2017b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2NueOIuncZXSVGM6sQndWakOo3prVYhz4SIzZUDwx4-X-d60LKJyok9gcfeNr4EmO5vP9Kf3B-tmgphx0w-yZ6gn_EUDlPQcmx2b2f1v8ObaKKJNllA5yuMdB8vdj0zSL6_esu0pisH3/s1600/Goosander+Mercers+Lake+Nov+15+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2NueOIuncZXSVGM6sQndWakOo3prVYhz4SIzZUDwx4-X-d60LKJyok9gcfeNr4EmO5vP9Kf3B-tmgphx0w-yZ6gn_EUDlPQcmx2b2f1v8ObaKKJNllA5yuMdB8vdj0zSL6_esu0pisH3/s400/Goosander+Mercers+Lake+Nov+15+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of Goosander head off after visiting Mercers Lake one morning</td></tr>
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Earlier in the month (15th) three <b>Goosander</b> appeared on Mercer's Lake. All were in partial eclipse and while one flew off, I managed to get down to the lake to see the other two before they also set off west. A patch lifer!<br />
<br />
Over at Beddington, David Campbell and Magnus Andersson found a Twite, a really rare patch and Surrey visitor. The last one seen at Beddington was in 1991, with Surrey’s most recent in 2004.<br />
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Then, of course, further up the M25 there has been Staines Reservoir and the Shorelark that has turned out to be a very rare sub-species, the American Horned Lark. <br />
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The Horned Lark eluded me for a couple of days, in as much I drove past the Staines junction on the M25 on both Saturday and Sunday mornings and had no time to take a detour for a look.<br />
<br />
I made time yesterday, however, and managed to get up to The Res before the light disappeared and, thankfully, a couple of visiting birders put me on to the <b>American Horned Lark</b>, which was feeding on the west banking of the north basin. It was distant and too far for a photo, but at least I managed to get a half reasonable view of the rare visitor. <br />
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Eventually I was the only person on the causeway when another birder arrived, Robin Dryden, who I discovered is on the Berkshire Records Committee. As he arrived the heavens began to open, and in typical Staines Reservoir fashion, the wind picked up and it became bitingly cold. I managed to steer Robin on to the bird before it was too unpleasant for either of us to stick around.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhComo63fvy1VJ0bYbO8I0qHXpWpHLuDGNPbF9wbfkiH0euVY7sovAF8kjqJUGIiZqSj76jK7asK0hMl9hFr-NrQZM970WRWshTTnZ_C-ItiTbjSKtKdb_peSXMk7afpIv_epfgMwF4aodn/s1600/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhComo63fvy1VJ0bYbO8I0qHXpWpHLuDGNPbF9wbfkiH0euVY7sovAF8kjqJUGIiZqSj76jK7asK0hMl9hFr-NrQZM970WRWshTTnZ_C-ItiTbjSKtKdb_peSXMk7afpIv_epfgMwF4aodn/s400/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The favoured Parrot Crossbill pine tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHitgIuqKiyMzrwwCcjoqy0vGv-4vs0Q1cpiGWCknFtAt5gwoUko5dOKEUkwWf2cpLTmUQmOUitzUk9nZs5rXF-8t0QNXR7crmJkHczbkSdFIJ18RP2nWUf0JfDrc1cKPJlUcPiwrlwTM/s1600/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHitgIuqKiyMzrwwCcjoqy0vGv-4vs0Q1cpiGWCknFtAt5gwoUko5dOKEUkwWf2cpLTmUQmOUitzUk9nZs5rXF-8t0QNXR7crmJkHczbkSdFIJ18RP2nWUf0JfDrc1cKPJlUcPiwrlwTM/s400/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017q.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNb2uyBiqoM6xwAMQ9T369MYjPe-o6sWGq2m5dwuavxuuJb64O5VtUvbBpTBRk1lEAkv_CJvAjqvC2KlJUwMu61K_bO5uEAjtEJVD-bSKhB8rueOCeE28dv2gWIEpk-BtyC3PggKHlHLk/s1600/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNb2uyBiqoM6xwAMQ9T369MYjPe-o6sWGq2m5dwuavxuuJb64O5VtUvbBpTBRk1lEAkv_CJvAjqvC2KlJUwMu61K_bO5uEAjtEJVD-bSKhB8rueOCeE28dv2gWIEpk-BtyC3PggKHlHLk/s400/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017r.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the gang</td></tr>
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It was while at The Res that I heard about the Parrot Crossbills just over the border at Wishmoor Bottom. I'd seen some of these smashing birds four years ago at Hemsted Forest in Kent, but this was too good an opportunity to miss, so I travelled over to Camberley this morning.<br />
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After a 20 minute walk followed by another 15 minute wait, the flock of 16 <b>Parrot Crossbill</b> appeared, with a couple of <b>Common Crossbill</b>, and landed in a pine tree close by.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcCgl0bAQi0r0FoI8l5ZaEVYbSNBeLnVZK6uwpbwOKr9ZakCYe_4sjRGETBR5qxx5AqZX_WUYhb4p1F3-tmIE9fn3mQDuuXlcNIY3fua-sGGXpGy-m0R0c1tfmEdujtyIAm5lCi7wjpJC/s1600/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcCgl0bAQi0r0FoI8l5ZaEVYbSNBeLnVZK6uwpbwOKr9ZakCYe_4sjRGETBR5qxx5AqZX_WUYhb4p1F3-tmIE9fn3mQDuuXlcNIY3fua-sGGXpGy-m0R0c1tfmEdujtyIAm5lCi7wjpJC/s400/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoSJccr8lKVgHZwUEOPoYvU14tfDU9DWK39xO1tew_KJo50zzpJc0NcwBTXzLUvI5vbVCOQ8ynNSa-zpNcfFiHW4EpGWhzwqlTT2KYT5dLNN_U0ekLmdtxfoI51_vPeKJU6caBAk5FIL0/s1600/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoSJccr8lKVgHZwUEOPoYvU14tfDU9DWK39xO1tew_KJo50zzpJc0NcwBTXzLUvI5vbVCOQ8ynNSa-zpNcfFiHW4EpGWhzwqlTT2KYT5dLNN_U0ekLmdtxfoI51_vPeKJU6caBAk5FIL0/s400/Parrot+Crossbill+Wishmoor+Bottom+Nov+28+2017l.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding time</td></tr>
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During an enjoyable 40 minutes in the sunshine, along with plenty of other onlookers, including Robin who turned up a little while later, I watched these birds set about snipping cones off the branches and then expertly feeding on the pine nuts. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyHDTclP2H4txSNYy6sYNMZqzmWPTKfrlJTB0oVDG08GkD2AaKsmrdVmGYsuapG_7Qd0WLAVT-vD7xd0IqQGAQGcECdZ6CcrX3M-cL9u57hsWvnWs6xQhv8p505790n4iOx12qdA71oX7/s1600/Brambling+Nutfield+Nov+28+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyHDTclP2H4txSNYy6sYNMZqzmWPTKfrlJTB0oVDG08GkD2AaKsmrdVmGYsuapG_7Qd0WLAVT-vD7xd0IqQGAQGcECdZ6CcrX3M-cL9u57hsWvnWs6xQhv8p505790n4iOx12qdA71oX7/s400/Brambling+Nutfield+Nov+28+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Brambling </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On the way home I managed to get over to Nutfield Church to see the finch flock for the first time before it got dark and found a few <b>Brambling</b> and the <b>Lesser Redpoll</b>. The local birding group, predominantly Gordon Hay, are keeping their eyes peeled just in case a Twite shows up. You never know. <br />
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A good day. A good month.Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-61938380218629719252017-10-17T22:22:00.000+01:002017-10-17T22:22:26.676+01:00HEADLEY HEATH HAWFINCH Irrupting bird species is a bit of a thing. It happens most years when one species or another decides it is going to migrate <i>en masse</i> across the country and birders <i>en masse</i> get very excited.<br />
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In recent years we've had irrupting Waxwing during the winter of 2010-11, then last year it was Yellow-browed Warblers. This past week it has been Hawfinch.<br />
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One of the most popular species of finch, the stunning Hawfinch is both alluring and elusive. And it can behave in mysterious ways. In March 2013 Steve Gale found an amazing flock of more than 100 Hawfinch in Juniper Bottom near Box Hill – the stuff of legend. They were like a freak of nature, there were so many of them and they arrived completely out of the blue. No-one could have predicted their arrival.<br />
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This current irruption began last week and as the days have progressed it has gathered momentum. <br />
<br />
I went up to Headley Heath on Sunday morning and saw very little, whereas six were seen just down the road to the west of me at Juniper Bottom. At the same time to the east, on my local patch at Holmethorpe, Gordon Hay and Ian Kehl saw one fly over the
Water Colour complex – it was only the second site record.<br />
<br />
Steve Gale got his first sighting on Headley Heath last week and followed up with
five on his garden list as he vis-migged yesterday morning. <br />
<br />
Local birders were seeing Hawfinch all over the place. The only local birder who had yet to see one was predictably me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvxqU6eisnLN42D8MDB9whpOZje3Y8nzybM0p4PLcfbbI5qdopgtAdULDz_LFsP_GWoM_TBqiXGAFa3oD_H8ANHlUiPa5X7gLn0r39jQYKF5QwNjVKgEydgaL51JH2L_YBymT71c_T2Vo/s1600/Foreness+Point+October+16+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvxqU6eisnLN42D8MDB9whpOZje3Y8nzybM0p4PLcfbbI5qdopgtAdULDz_LFsP_GWoM_TBqiXGAFa3oD_H8ANHlUiPa5X7gLn0r39jQYKF5QwNjVKgEydgaL51JH2L_YBymT71c_T2Vo/s400/Foreness+Point+October+16+2017.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm Orphelia sky at Foreness Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk7HpusVbItLR_KE42cf2z_xchCkZmlhLIqR8gDnP8qkNfn8KFmy8Gx61jCQRHOZY-Tcb8Fcw0PUveY2fot9RXawMcDEK6cUNCQNw-d2_qYGqD7PLZc-_z3Ew9CszJ7hijTC8zfk__Rvy/s1600/Rock+Pipit+Foreness+Point+October+16+2017f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk7HpusVbItLR_KE42cf2z_xchCkZmlhLIqR8gDnP8qkNfn8KFmy8Gx61jCQRHOZY-Tcb8Fcw0PUveY2fot9RXawMcDEK6cUNCQNw-d2_qYGqD7PLZc-_z3Ew9CszJ7hijTC8zfk__Rvy/s400/Rock+Pipit+Foreness+Point+October+16+2017f.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Pipit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmVysJC4mv8kMH7heV-whRi3N1xd-LimhDtjJadjEJDkdZK8Ad01h7IQLdru7bHgQ9NQcE1SbAegP5jiYDJuJ6uBU5f_Z3OnItZj_Os25DOe0yhGBvrix1r65CYI1_JIAqRTUBH9LEA7_/s1600/Wheatear+Foreness+Point+October+16+2017e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmVysJC4mv8kMH7heV-whRi3N1xd-LimhDtjJadjEJDkdZK8Ad01h7IQLdru7bHgQ9NQcE1SbAegP5jiYDJuJ6uBU5f_Z3OnItZj_Os25DOe0yhGBvrix1r65CYI1_JIAqRTUBH9LEA7_/s400/Wheatear+Foreness+Point+October+16+2017e.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</td></tr>
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The following morning I was in Margate to take my mum to a hospital appointment and managed to have a quick walk early in the morning along Foreness Point under the Sahara dust-laden Storm Ophelia sky, where I saw a <b>Rock Pipit</b>, a <b>Wheatear</b> and a couple of <b>Stonechat</b>. But no Hawfinch flew overhead. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MwXjOdRyNgAW6rxyE54xAxONshNacRGOeuVrvdaNT_FN-ZKCJ0nwEtUcterTyjrM9uxYkW_Eb3IN2frV7m46xtOmpAS5aIQ3N2KE2mbpsmt8GZVGhQJfHA1yQ_FY1xxQiyFoBysp6Z2K/s1600/Hawfinch+Headley+Heath+Oct+17+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MwXjOdRyNgAW6rxyE54xAxONshNacRGOeuVrvdaNT_FN-ZKCJ0nwEtUcterTyjrM9uxYkW_Eb3IN2frV7m46xtOmpAS5aIQ3N2KE2mbpsmt8GZVGhQJfHA1yQ_FY1xxQiyFoBysp6Z2K/s400/Hawfinch+Headley+Heath+Oct+17+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of the six Hawfinch on Headley Heath this afternoon</td></tr>
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Then this afternoon Annie and I returned to Headley Heath again for a stroll and all was very quiet. We were walking back to the car when I saw three birds land on top of an oak to my right. They looked quite big but I couldn't make out what they were – until I got my bins on them. <b>HAWFINCH</b>!<br />
<br />
I called out to Annie and managed to get a decent view of them for about a minute before they flew off west, along with three others that must have been obscured on the other side of the tree. I reckon they may have been the six originally seen at Juniper Bottom on Sunday.<br />
<br />
Wherever they came from it was still an unexpected surprise. It certainly made my day.Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-3697776500080039842017-10-11T23:49:00.004+01:002017-10-11T23:50:25.394+01:00GIVE 'EM ENOUGH PHALAROPE One of the prevalent species this autumn has been that delightful little bird, the Phalarope. There have been plenty of sightings of Grey Phalarope around the country during the past couple of months, as well as decent numbers of Red-necked Phalarope.<br />
<br />
Add to the list a showy Wilson's Phalarope at Oare Marshes, that is still present as I write this, and you may have easily have had the full set.<br />
<br />
The first two were on my radar last month, when a Phalarope sp. turned up at Staines Reservoir on September 11.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-SOWwISLsBO1k7FLmDbH71rwwgtVxl5j-UKM1XMmF_d0ciZL565y27-_8m96vqK3ms0FXEu-FdmgVVzyC4H9NpGiNp1PPKir85SHGKZf0D-FhF5-5CPvz3tK3schgW_qeANhbuuPnkoa/s1600/Staines+Reservoir+Sept+12+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-SOWwISLsBO1k7FLmDbH71rwwgtVxl5j-UKM1XMmF_d0ciZL565y27-_8m96vqK3ms0FXEu-FdmgVVzyC4H9NpGiNp1PPKir85SHGKZf0D-FhF5-5CPvz3tK3schgW_qeANhbuuPnkoa/s400/Staines+Reservoir+Sept+12+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The south basin at Staines Reservoir</td></tr>
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The south basin at Staines Reservoir had been drained of water in the preceding weeks and
had certainly delivered the goods on the wader front once the
water levels had dropped. It made you aware of how many birds must fly
over the area but decide to continue their journey rather than dropping
in to a not-so-enticing habitat.<br />
<br />
But now the environment was intoxicating, both for birds and birders.<br />
<br />
The Phalarope appeared on the south basin, where it joined a Pectoral Sandpiper, 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Knot, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Sanderling, a Ruff, plus plentiful numbers of Dunlin and Ringed Plover.<br />
<br />
But swimming happily at the far end of the basin, at the time of its arrival it was unclear which of the two, Grey or Red-necked, it was. The consensus was perhaps a Red-necked. That was certainly my hope. It was be a lifer if it was.<br />
<br />
And that uncertainty was still the case when I arrived along the causeway the next day, for the first time since the three white-winged Black Tern earlier in the year at "The Res".<br />
<br />
It was great to see a familiar pair of faces as I arrived, "Captain" Bob Warden and Dave Carlsson were there that morning, and Bob immediately put me on to the Phalarope, happily bobbing away in the distance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XyMHtGMkT6zxDFQRZur9yGpyG_Tp4ZGBk_DVnr1eF52NjUAr-PnM0NrwTaFgbKI1Scpki_-ILM3la3FMaz25qpiYWGF-zJyqkZmV5YSW_5pKtTNe2Oh9rKW5bP64YOFCrvdlV441hbRS/s1600/Ruff+Staines+Reservoir+Sept+12+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XyMHtGMkT6zxDFQRZur9yGpyG_Tp4ZGBk_DVnr1eF52NjUAr-PnM0NrwTaFgbKI1Scpki_-ILM3la3FMaz25qpiYWGF-zJyqkZmV5YSW_5pKtTNe2Oh9rKW5bP64YOFCrvdlV441hbRS/s400/Ruff+Staines+Reservoir+Sept+12+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruff at Staines Reservoir</td></tr>
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The south basin was full of waders. No Pectoral Sandpiper, and the pair of Knot went missing too, but there were numerous <b>Dunlin</b> and <b>Ringed Plover</b>, a couple of <b>Greenshank</b>, at least five <b>Ruff</b>, and the same number of <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b>. A great sight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggAxYW9n1ZxJsxO2p-VkXHuqPRC078Oiu1_mckW7EoPgkpdvITG_lgcfK5NHfc4N89O71JSRH4zgugYpOsaSXF7svGpWxN0mSDfdAfPlWfOw3xUtvwqn-B2uum8pqFpyuxNR-UrCtm4Xv/s1600/Dunlin+and+Curlew+Sandpipers+Staines+Reservoir+Sept+12+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggAxYW9n1ZxJsxO2p-VkXHuqPRC078Oiu1_mckW7EoPgkpdvITG_lgcfK5NHfc4N89O71JSRH4zgugYpOsaSXF7svGpWxN0mSDfdAfPlWfOw3xUtvwqn-B2uum8pqFpyuxNR-UrCtm4Xv/s400/Dunlin+and+Curlew+Sandpipers+Staines+Reservoir+Sept+12+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunlin and Curlew Sandpipers at Staines Reservoir</td></tr>
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Bob had a Merlin fly through about half an hour earlier, and as more birders arrived, the debate got more prolonged as to to the id of this Phalarope. It meandered both ways and in the end the consensus was it was a Grey – which, while nice to see, was a tad disappointing from my viewpoint!<br />
<br />
To cut a long debate short, however, the bird gradually migrated closer to the causeway over the next couple of days, and its id was confirmed to be a <b>Red-necked Phalarope</b>. Celebrations all round!<br />
A few days later a Grey Phalarope actually did turn up on the north basin.<br />
<br />
Fast-forward more than three weeks to October 3 and the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare Marshes was joined by another rare American vagrant – a Wilson's Phalarope. I had only seen one before, and that was at Vange Marshes and was very distant, so last Sunday was a welcome opportunity for a closer view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYbbORVxmQHnicHVhXovVM5de8a9tBDfa_54xGhueCDrE0UsBcvojgrhnQAKrIFTTV_0qqqFd014X-PUZgbyqvC3Tln48RMxBcANx4NSDORVE_P6VXLQcuYo-rMP0QPbWxOvVAXVlAuqc/s1600/Long-billed+Dowitcher+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYbbORVxmQHnicHVhXovVM5de8a9tBDfa_54xGhueCDrE0UsBcvojgrhnQAKrIFTTV_0qqqFd014X-PUZgbyqvC3Tln48RMxBcANx4NSDORVE_P6VXLQcuYo-rMP0QPbWxOvVAXVlAuqc/s400/Long-billed+Dowitcher+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Dowitcher with Lapwing on the East Flood</td></tr>
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I have been to Oare and Dungeness more than any other site this year – I really like both places. Oare is nice and easy to get to, it's compact, viewing is excellent and there is always something to see. Like this<b> Wilson's Phalarope</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5-XsDCnhRxDgNDuk-8XiTCnqDOyLhVIwUvWMMA1LhqyDw9HGPFo31iJPlNvAgQs6SBnNUyZrInWMZY_P9EyMBRuVqCb-zQ2Ow1fK2PhLQPgVbVcvocyGci1D1VF1WMR0n8KSot-8QUo4/s1600/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5-XsDCnhRxDgNDuk-8XiTCnqDOyLhVIwUvWMMA1LhqyDw9HGPFo31iJPlNvAgQs6SBnNUyZrInWMZY_P9EyMBRuVqCb-zQ2Ow1fK2PhLQPgVbVcvocyGci1D1VF1WMR0n8KSot-8QUo4/s400/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWlOPUOGXg6TmWNOb6Nt6NKHWglRGwTHhrQBtBqvRdsthXCUTPqYkJtNEPD4C3g5pexw-6Q76xx88vB5CCxVR7zqAJRtzsnKtHQnkOOe7-K5INIpMy0oNPlOC5YT92OGAeZqRzr-L-gob/s1600/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWlOPUOGXg6TmWNOb6Nt6NKHWglRGwTHhrQBtBqvRdsthXCUTPqYkJtNEPD4C3g5pexw-6Q76xx88vB5CCxVR7zqAJRtzsnKtHQnkOOe7-K5INIpMy0oNPlOC5YT92OGAeZqRzr-L-gob/s400/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017m.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdVyTbYiwZet2dWa6xvMPzAFnXrEgyrIeN0JtlBUpJSoW2dGCoERC5f9QWX2HZXt8muUc2X8mwu9RcXhKdo2a6A744-IQD8kIFztSfmM0bffTqhXWUv6OBoFF8SIy0oOgENwZfW_DDeUa/s1600/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdVyTbYiwZet2dWa6xvMPzAFnXrEgyrIeN0JtlBUpJSoW2dGCoERC5f9QWX2HZXt8muUc2X8mwu9RcXhKdo2a6A744-IQD8kIFztSfmM0bffTqhXWUv6OBoFF8SIy0oOgENwZfW_DDeUa/s400/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017p.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhjyxI6yPFxv-R3lgZxEMoOphQL7xAS75n9WaiIv_kXv7bg5Jej3RkTxVZve5ca3dUQC1j87oXzUAK29BkgdSYO9rUgiDoJDUkWHYAz8qAsof_zKeusVtIpPu-xCrzq8KXn7HWo5dDKsT/s1600/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhjyxI6yPFxv-R3lgZxEMoOphQL7xAS75n9WaiIv_kXv7bg5Jej3RkTxVZve5ca3dUQC1j87oXzUAK29BkgdSYO9rUgiDoJDUkWHYAz8qAsof_zKeusVtIpPu-xCrzq8KXn7HWo5dDKsT/s400/Wilson%2527s+Phalarope+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017r.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wilson's Phalarope at Oare Marshes </td></tr>
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It didn't let me down either. It performed very well, including its trademark spinning while feeding. The<b> Long-billed Dowitcher</b> also showed well, as did a couple of <b>Little Stint</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq4XPnpWdm-ffkZgs_SyRsgGrKnnd2_tBfMkpTqTc_931h6-czY_YfLvKNGe1QckpKmvDr_P7XwoS8s2bdw_5SC9rrXMiLOvzIQ1T4g3RH0mDMyN_wA7QkiDFiUFnpT92pPPQb1gssSn5/s1600/Little+Stint+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq4XPnpWdm-ffkZgs_SyRsgGrKnnd2_tBfMkpTqTc_931h6-czY_YfLvKNGe1QckpKmvDr_P7XwoS8s2bdw_5SC9rrXMiLOvzIQ1T4g3RH0mDMyN_wA7QkiDFiUFnpT92pPPQb1gssSn5/s400/Little+Stint+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Stint on the East Flood</td></tr>
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All the birds went up into the air when a <b>Peregrine</b> paid a visit for a hopeful meal, which was an opportune moment to head back home for a decent Sunday roast.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcO7CydX6kJTaEda_KDM7kgaW-yXcHBurkz5v3S5TG_S0IdomcLZSqwHPrXTQ5rcuHAm62Q-_b3CSHGEeM1C7vlNkvuTZrk5NKqbgIvTzFqY4bAcH0EgJxX0KR2t-0vcoO2rBUXTghC2K/s1600/Golden+Plover+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcO7CydX6kJTaEda_KDM7kgaW-yXcHBurkz5v3S5TG_S0IdomcLZSqwHPrXTQ5rcuHAm62Q-_b3CSHGEeM1C7vlNkvuTZrk5NKqbgIvTzFqY4bAcH0EgJxX0KR2t-0vcoO2rBUXTghC2K/s400/Golden+Plover+Oare+Marshes+Oct+8+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Plover in flight</td></tr>
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<br />Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-33628077635181649012017-09-21T17:16:00.001+01:002017-09-21T17:19:59.412+01:00WE ALL LOVE A WRYNECKNot long after clocking the Baird's Sandpiper, I visited Dungeness a week later for an enjoyable morning's birding. Dungeness has been one of my favourite haunts this year and when a Wryneck was seen in the Desert area near the observatory I couldn't resist giving it a go.<br />
<br />
It was beautiful morning, and was able to take a leisurely walk over the shingle to the patch of gorse scrub where the Wryneck had been seen before I arrived.<br />
<br />
On the walk there I saw three <b>Whinchat</b>, always good to see, before scrambling across the shingle towards the gorse where another local birder was peering into the vegetation from a distance with his camera and big lens.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7eqFSwbperwDXUhwrgH_wbc5Z4i4AUCR01NV8Oaf98I0pAVuXRSiayA8vs2k1vSMJiMVy88l1IvkXHrN2LFoqHgflD3r56C_nFzWWrPUJmh8b3UfFxcpwp2OjH7c7Ekk7zqL0Kz9KNKt/s1600/Whinchat+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7eqFSwbperwDXUhwrgH_wbc5Z4i4AUCR01NV8Oaf98I0pAVuXRSiayA8vs2k1vSMJiMVy88l1IvkXHrN2LFoqHgflD3r56C_nFzWWrPUJmh8b3UfFxcpwp2OjH7c7Ekk7zqL0Kz9KNKt/s400/Whinchat+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whinchat on the gorse near the observatory</td></tr>
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The Wryneck was skulking around deep in the undergrowth, but after about 45 minutes once a group including Martin Casemore had venture elsewhere,another local birder and myself hung around long enough for it to appear again. I spotted the <b>Wryneck</b> briefly on a branch before it dropped back into the fauna.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlc98YaY65q_I8pFZuH3rQMTAIb2DjrHJYR4NPLPoRyVqY0rz2ilkHaxs2lrtGxd3mKZZkDIUqR5LqH5J_GU8HhvQ99ivA2k6R3WK-B72R8jOy2v1817yKXJpcyqh-5EcTqzDFiQ_Tpnw/s1600/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlc98YaY65q_I8pFZuH3rQMTAIb2DjrHJYR4NPLPoRyVqY0rz2ilkHaxs2lrtGxd3mKZZkDIUqR5LqH5J_GU8HhvQ99ivA2k6R3WK-B72R8jOy2v1817yKXJpcyqh-5EcTqzDFiQ_Tpnw/s400/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wryneck at first appeared fleetingly for one photo</td></tr>
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While we waited an <b>Osprey</b> that had stuck around the reserve for a few days could be seen in flying around in the distance before it dived down out of view, probably with a fish in its sights.<br />
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The <b>Wryneck</b> stayed hidden for another 20 minutes before it eventually came out to feed behind some twigs for a few minutes. Such a fabulous bird, one of my absolute favourites, although clear views were at a premium.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vG6Tmczbi85495177AWooC2xOPVs2sVuPvfBSxez2JFL3tACGCrw7AZ4wZPk3BioVTYg2_d3lRcUszNT0g2yWlxKFs1qGEShwxYAtztAEfFZQYqo-LwUsKCEu3DgJtPMVNFuE0TCEGls/s1600/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vG6Tmczbi85495177AWooC2xOPVs2sVuPvfBSxez2JFL3tACGCrw7AZ4wZPk3BioVTYg2_d3lRcUszNT0g2yWlxKFs1qGEShwxYAtztAEfFZQYqo-LwUsKCEu3DgJtPMVNFuE0TCEGls/s400/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspTriAQ2DzOhqbgwW9RTay_8FicyBdAOLuH37MfOq9nhGxvBCJiGJTbPDWtnSKzabR-V2xjcX5xHEp5l-JX6tiYOQsgfMOt0xDzAwXVJ4Pwmw2TrAtx6sbhE9e46s_uK92g3PmpRsVFeT/s1600/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspTriAQ2DzOhqbgwW9RTay_8FicyBdAOLuH37MfOq9nhGxvBCJiGJTbPDWtnSKzabR-V2xjcX5xHEp5l-JX6tiYOQsgfMOt0xDzAwXVJ4Pwmw2TrAtx6sbhE9e46s_uK92g3PmpRsVFeT/s400/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbjPikb_3Wv0LH-COZUcKQU6m7pg5D-iY8hn0uBlyn3hfavLpW-yT0wbqwCVZVANNq0r01PjT0Q7s3U4vKArJSEPKZp4TGjpdNOARaR21pcpx51DCys7VX4Sh53I96nBfqox0aSU_mL-T/s1600/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbjPikb_3Wv0LH-COZUcKQU6m7pg5D-iY8hn0uBlyn3hfavLpW-yT0wbqwCVZVANNq0r01PjT0Q7s3U4vKArJSEPKZp4TGjpdNOARaR21pcpx51DCys7VX4Sh53I96nBfqox0aSU_mL-T/s400/Wryneck+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017g.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wryneck liked to play hard to get</td></tr>
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Once it decided to fly back deeper into the scrub I opted to head back to the car and drive over to the reserve. Once there I caught up with four <b>Great White Egret</b> while over at the Denge Marsh hide I had another fleeting view of the <b>Osprey</b>. Also there were a couple of <b>Ruff</b> and a <b>Spoonbill</b>, but I dipped a pair of Cattle Egret.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTseRGSn8dVCMJixAbIFjjg9eGa0YPSqM-FKqssJuxXShLXsMyaw6UIk0lNYmR-2AEZ4x65DL9ZaTTGdt-7ywp-K_CUGRFDsNUSFGJmPHi5p-_hMwa6KZmgTiWSpDjjuHEW46HWwDP3sU1/s1600/Great+White+Egret+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTseRGSn8dVCMJixAbIFjjg9eGa0YPSqM-FKqssJuxXShLXsMyaw6UIk0lNYmR-2AEZ4x65DL9ZaTTGdt-7ywp-K_CUGRFDsNUSFGJmPHi5p-_hMwa6KZmgTiWSpDjjuHEW46HWwDP3sU1/s400/Great+White+Egret+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of the four Great White Egret</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D3YLh065UGSrennQaQeJW7s5vIHbc5o94d_jPmEurQyJRorkjmT7VM_lQTm9p-Lxd_DBURnw6-x3lP2mMk-1owvHDEPegt0bxVeq5_jkmajnp6ccZaaYPl7DbxGdk6p5k4AmybBiuLC0/s1600/Spoonbill+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D3YLh065UGSrennQaQeJW7s5vIHbc5o94d_jPmEurQyJRorkjmT7VM_lQTm9p-Lxd_DBURnw6-x3lP2mMk-1owvHDEPegt0bxVeq5_jkmajnp6ccZaaYPl7DbxGdk6p5k4AmybBiuLC0/s400/Spoonbill+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Great Crested Grebe gets a close-up view of a Spoonbill coming in to land</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzITVfQ-8RWZl9IM1hJKp5v6BVKDx0QkpZ2UOjsvWXQACpl288rD3wHcvsWxBREQ6A7EEW7n9ckTMZVuKWc5jXh99CPngv-6cwq2JEXuz7CMzrj6zSQ0F5aO2rSFd7QBjRuqHVUoHBg4s2/s1600/Spoonbill+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzITVfQ-8RWZl9IM1hJKp5v6BVKDx0QkpZ2UOjsvWXQACpl288rD3wHcvsWxBREQ6A7EEW7n9ckTMZVuKWc5jXh99CPngv-6cwq2JEXuz7CMzrj6zSQ0F5aO2rSFd7QBjRuqHVUoHBg4s2/s400/Spoonbill+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhQP4ARgDgoOvN4QKbafVVb-PO3e4x4PDG8_RgFQOff_2S_o52SQZskcmHMnl8OAtFbVf4bWWKzDwz1SURgQrNrG_Mjh6dPnr5tIe82bKVkEVbXop-bdaKkOUrThYEkWJ3uQgHn-ePSQK/s1600/Spoonbill+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhQP4ARgDgoOvN4QKbafVVb-PO3e4x4PDG8_RgFQOff_2S_o52SQZskcmHMnl8OAtFbVf4bWWKzDwz1SURgQrNrG_Mjh6dPnr5tIe82bKVkEVbXop-bdaKkOUrThYEkWJ3uQgHn-ePSQK/s400/Spoonbill+Dungeness+Sept+10+2017b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Spoonbill at Denge Marsh – and not asleep</td></tr>
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Soon after midday the weather turned, the wind picked up and the rain began to fall, so it was time the head back home. Overall, however, a decent morningFactorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-4357944184092398832017-09-14T22:23:00.001+01:002017-09-14T22:23:07.216+01:00BAIRD'S BRINGS UP NUMBER 300It has taken my a while to get to this landmark, but having crept towards it for some months I finally got there with the Baird's Sandpiper at Cuckmere Haven two weeks ago.<br />
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It was a nice bird to get to the magic number, and was easy to see, with only a short walk. It was also made enjoyable by the company – birding mate Matt Phelps arrived at the same time as me and so it was good to catch up with him, as it was with Paul Cox, someone I'd not seen since the Red-backed Shrike at Hayes in 2012!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mAVT3fxNWXrJVhsjCfboQYT75qRAQAxe8-6tNjEvYl9ZKcRPuZ3d9vqIhrv3tPAK-32C8IWNZadMMm1Si_9YF4Tx0Y-YNL-8vjhzF4ivaybUX0jw-9Wjc7JExpciEjxXOOhUoMEDYnXl/s1600/Baird%2527s+Sandpiper+Cuckmere+Sept+3+2017d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mAVT3fxNWXrJVhsjCfboQYT75qRAQAxe8-6tNjEvYl9ZKcRPuZ3d9vqIhrv3tPAK-32C8IWNZadMMm1Si_9YF4Tx0Y-YNL-8vjhzF4ivaybUX0jw-9Wjc7JExpciEjxXOOhUoMEDYnXl/s400/Baird%2527s+Sandpiper+Cuckmere+Sept+3+2017d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baird's Sandpiper at Cuckmere Haven</td></tr>
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And if there is one thing about birding I enjoy as much as the bird watching itself is having banter with a few mates while doing it. I don't get out as much these days, so it was a welcome distraction from everyday life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgm4hJEtpEP7AWeZ4XHqg27DBz1Qu_LjYXys1cztlfK3-j9fYftifr5wNw-DvjXD9VWY2V1JpS330L-AXvQwwurnPkQYmFQhvX-OXM0-fI5EWVh7GPX9LuXN1WSG3NHIBpcrJom9-wUzu/s1600/Baird%2527s+Sandpiper+by+Matt+Phelps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgm4hJEtpEP7AWeZ4XHqg27DBz1Qu_LjYXys1cztlfK3-j9fYftifr5wNw-DvjXD9VWY2V1JpS330L-AXvQwwurnPkQYmFQhvX-OXM0-fI5EWVh7GPX9LuXN1WSG3NHIBpcrJom9-wUzu/s400/Baird%2527s+Sandpiper+by+Matt+Phelps.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much better photo of the Baird's Sandpiper digiscoped by Matt Phelps</td></tr>
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So the Baird's Sandpiper wandered about a bit, fed a bit, rested a bit. It was a tad distant for decent photos but not to worry.<br />
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So, looking back at the 300 bird species seen over the years I was daydreaming earlier today and thought I'd list my favourite birds in that list.<br />
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Completely off the top of my head, they would be:<br />
Bee-eater, Nightingale, Pallid Harrier, Pomarine Skua, Red-backed Shrike, Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Roller, Short-eared Owl, Wryneck.<br />
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The birds that were the biggest pain in the arse to see were:<br />
Baillion's Crake at Rainham, Hudsonian Whimbrel at Church Norton (may not even be relevant now either), Marsh Warbler at Rainham Marshes.<br />
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The most fleeting and therefore least satisfying birds to see were:<br />
Ortolan Bunting at Beachy Head<br />
Purple Heron at Lodmoor<br />
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Next comes the birds still missing from the list I should have seen by now. No excuses. Anyway, here's my list of shame: <br />
Cirl Bunting, Honey-buzzard, Pink-footed Goose, Puffin, Purple Sandpiper, Storm Petrel, Willow Tit, Yellow-browed Warbler. Plus all the Scottish birds (not traveled there since 1972). There you go, I've said it now!Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-25231068077254435242017-09-04T17:14:00.003+01:002017-09-06T23:07:29.157+01:00THE FROG AND THE HONEY BUZZARDAnnie and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last Tuesday and because it was a landmark day and not being the big party-types I arranged for us to stay at La Grenouillere, near Montreuil-sur-Mer, about 10 miles inland from Le Touquet.<br />
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La Grenouilerre is something out of the ordinary. For one thing the decor has a particular theme – frogs. There's frogs on frescos in the anti-room, plus a prominent scultpure in the garden. There is an obvious reason – if you speak French at least – as a grenouillere is a swamp where frogs live (or something like that).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g6rOS1Yz7C9be_EEJYTp42hrDP5jcWn5GIBxRR-ELmK1KzcrCuqj8hfYr_3VI9oqb9D2SxEv1ragWedOkpqjOZf08-pxLKopiM3dncvgfOe1FQUBKbcQLrEuIwNT0bkY6ZXT91xRRSq1/s1600/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g6rOS1Yz7C9be_EEJYTp42hrDP5jcWn5GIBxRR-ELmK1KzcrCuqj8hfYr_3VI9oqb9D2SxEv1ragWedOkpqjOZf08-pxLKopiM3dncvgfOe1FQUBKbcQLrEuIwNT0bkY6ZXT91xRRSq1/s400/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017g.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pathway from the restaurant to our accomodation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the cabin</td></tr>
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It has two Michelin stars and is run by one of France's best and most innovative chefs, Alexandre Gauthier. Gauthier is renowned for focusing on nature, his menu features imaginative ingredients from the surrounding countryside. And he loves pepper. Pepper is often a feature – including in ice.<br />
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Set in the Canche river valley below the walled town of Montreuil, there are a number of guest rooms and cabins on site, one of which we booked for two nights. These cabins are set deep into the unspoilt grounds, and you feel genuinely at one with nature in amongst the shrubbery. It is peaceful, tranquil and the perfect environment to relax.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen of Alexandre Gauthier</td></tr>
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It also helped that we timed our two-night visit for the two hottest days of August. Perfect.<br />
<br />
La Grenoulliere features two striking metallic marquees that extend out into the garden from the century-old main buildings, and were designed by architect Patrick Bouchain. This radical juxtaposition of old and new is in keeping with the cuisine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLINmGyqwJZzDB0xdMeD7VNHutrKU-nYTtlbRh47vQ3Rf38PJZCX-fH-Ct9-wjQ8eaLq-XZvdKYQ5tEXZg9Q92G0wbEe_kbGtKXZTU-HLfBKLT4rQKOeMBDdA0GgI3QdTyL9df6puwNxHf/s1600/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017fp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLINmGyqwJZzDB0xdMeD7VNHutrKU-nYTtlbRh47vQ3Rf38PJZCX-fH-Ct9-wjQ8eaLq-XZvdKYQ5tEXZg9Q92G0wbEe_kbGtKXZTU-HLfBKLT4rQKOeMBDdA0GgI3QdTyL9df6puwNxHf/s400/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017fp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The restaurant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF80-kU5YeUO7OO6gjDrzHVM6xjRB5al2F_HdmHs6PXaDRdapliqKYhOLz0SUN_xPE9dGZIvaw3TbLu6qvg1-23y0FFayhUCsqUBVODmnfJITYU8P4oPmEzIUkoBlHy403KYWyU-VpZEXO/s1600/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017fq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF80-kU5YeUO7OO6gjDrzHVM6xjRB5al2F_HdmHs6PXaDRdapliqKYhOLz0SUN_xPE9dGZIvaw3TbLu6qvg1-23y0FFayhUCsqUBVODmnfJITYU8P4oPmEzIUkoBlHy403KYWyU-VpZEXO/s400/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017fq.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Bream - one of the tasting highlights</td></tr>
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The restaurant, from which you can watch Gauthier and his team prepare the dishes, serves a radical
cuisine in a minimalist, spacious environment with just a few tables. It a very relaxed place to eat. Nothing here is austere – feel free to wear jeans if you want – this is a place to enjoy excellent food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtOpJh_gH2k2NSVXFMnomuHGJOYlvwAFnakRMeTRNGyWDf3kDiOXiC1sF0IpOffnoHIHS9kjpF4AwVIiHxLos1xoucPKvM8-6-RC6cwAJVcRyyXQNaYHekmryI3CnexOHh0KaETIhhqFX/s1600/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017fn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtOpJh_gH2k2NSVXFMnomuHGJOYlvwAFnakRMeTRNGyWDf3kDiOXiC1sF0IpOffnoHIHS9kjpF4AwVIiHxLos1xoucPKvM8-6-RC6cwAJVcRyyXQNaYHekmryI3CnexOHh0KaETIhhqFX/s400/Le+Grenouillere+Aug+28+2017fn.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dessert wine is served</td></tr>
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We went for the eight-course tasting menu with accompanying wines (decent sized glasses they were too! The honey-based dessert wine came in a huge glass bowl and the wine was siphoned into a large pipette before being served). The food was amazing. It including melon and langoustine, sea bream, a river fish (a poisonous one), courgette prepared in a way that is remarkable, crab, chicken with verveine, we also had additional mushrooms picked that day in the surrounding woodland, plus honeycomb, strawberries and rhubarb like I've never tasted before.<br />
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And in between we tasted all manner of interesting delicate sensory delights including samphire, a flower that tasted of truffle, quail eggs, apricot mousse in a casing that dissolved in the mouth, all subtle but fascinating. The courses were small but even I was full by the end of the meal. <br />
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So we ate well and drank fabulous wine. <br />
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And I saw a Honey-buzzard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUtK32HILbEvNfRNUN3KWcqaibr2Bt5xLVdLog2-NHwuU1xIapJnCpiz1PMeH9jkyUyxcZ3r5H1bqLDpmUBfg8JNgQlzgoYpzdXXmkYqOcBtY34qrSeGVZ4j6NEwwE_VAP9cJpswH7rhJ/s1600/Honey+Buzzard+La+Grenoulliere+Aug+28+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUtK32HILbEvNfRNUN3KWcqaibr2Bt5xLVdLog2-NHwuU1xIapJnCpiz1PMeH9jkyUyxcZ3r5H1bqLDpmUBfg8JNgQlzgoYpzdXXmkYqOcBtY34qrSeGVZ4j6NEwwE_VAP9cJpswH7rhJ/s400/Honey+Buzzard+La+Grenoulliere+Aug+28+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Bv03NpM17pH2Q63uRCIGKzXeJ_72bqjuytp79wgLkvPkoFX-5XixuJdh-m9f19u8D_uuKmDrDSnSkZr4uYeas8noxD6CMTQ74DEex6rQseCJuCKDOtosQFU03Dp5Ls3_1COaK8PyfjD/s1600/Honey+Buzzard+La+Grenoulliere+Aug+28+2017c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Bv03NpM17pH2Q63uRCIGKzXeJ_72bqjuytp79wgLkvPkoFX-5XixuJdh-m9f19u8D_uuKmDrDSnSkZr4uYeas8noxD6CMTQ74DEex6rQseCJuCKDOtosQFU03Dp5Ls3_1COaK8PyfjD/s400/Honey+Buzzard+La+Grenoulliere+Aug+28+2017c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCIF7IaEGQQ_DJPajD9U-2HoshskrtaMvQoahsOQHL8LJFwaEllG4OmjUEwK1vFHnC2HYlvT4NfAoZQD_ycWhIRclXyxsdG_RaijktDoR0eDFw6I38bXH6slOXE-ZsPL5eT9j8cMsX7TV/s1600/Honey+Buzzard+La+Grenoulliere+Aug+28+2017d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCIF7IaEGQQ_DJPajD9U-2HoshskrtaMvQoahsOQHL8LJFwaEllG4OmjUEwK1vFHnC2HYlvT4NfAoZQD_ycWhIRclXyxsdG_RaijktDoR0eDFw6I38bXH6slOXE-ZsPL5eT9j8cMsX7TV/s400/Honey+Buzzard+La+Grenoulliere+Aug+28+2017d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey-buzzard!</td></tr>
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On the first day, as we chilled out in the late afternoon sun outside the cabin, I noticed a large bird being mobbed by Swallows and House Martins. At first glance, as it flew behind a tree, I thought it was a heron as it had large wings. I managed to get my bins on to it and immediately could see it was a buzzard. It looked different, and when it called it didn't sound like a Common Buzzard.<br />
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Having been to this area a couple of months earlier and drawn a blank with Honey-buzzard, I was really hoping this would be one, as despite being birding for some years now I have never seen one.<br />
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Looking at it closely I felt 80 per cent confident, but I've made mistakes before. I managed a few record shots, but only after I was forced to switch off the autofocus which had frustratingly decided not to work.<br />
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As it drifted off I looked at the images on the camera – I was still not 100 per cent sure, and it was only after getting home and blowing up the images that I become more confident. The two bands on the tail and the general jizz pretty much nailed it for me, but to be certain I sent the images to David Campbell to check for me. And thankfully, he immediately replied and confirmed that it was, indeed, a Honey-buzzard <br />
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The perfect end to a fabulous couple of days!Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-44093586689176010382017-08-19T22:28:00.005+01:002017-08-19T22:28:53.849+01:00THE FINE ART OF MISIDENTIFYING BIRDSWell, I've had another couple of birding sojourns this month, both at Oare Marshes. But before discussing the sightings there, I'd like to refer back to the previous post.<br />
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I joyfully described viewing a first Wood Sandpiper on the local patch, when in fact it was a juvenile Green Sandpiper. This bird had been spotted the day before by Gordon Hay and I'd been sent a voicemail message to explain where the bird was. What I didn't listen to was another message about an hour later from Gordon to say this wader was misidentified.<br />
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Predictably, I went along and found the juvenile bird and convinced myself this was, in fact, something else. This is a trait I'm sure (or hope, at least) the majority of birders fall into from time to time.<br />
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I've always accepted birding requires a high level of skill, particularly with identifying species, and I have to admit, while enjoying the pastime, bird id – which is quite fundamental to the hobby – isn't one of my strengths. And if you don't go birding that often, like with anything in life that requires skill – no matter how good or bad you are – you will only improve with practice.<br />
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As result, I cock up now and again. It has happened before. Last year I convinced myself I was watching an Arctic Tern feeding over Spynes Mere, when in fact it was a Common. This, I suppose, is forgivable to an extent, but I've mistook all manner of birds over the years, some of which I have no enthusiasm to relive here.<br />
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Anyway, we move on, tail between legs. Or actually not. As the rest of this post will explain.<br />
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I like Oare Marshes, mainly because these days I'm a lazy birder and can't be arsed to walk far. And at Oare, if you feel that way inclined, you don't have to walk at all. Which was exactly my state of mind on the 7th (my birthday). I only intended to stay for the morning before heading back home, but ended up extending the visit for an extra couple of hours.<br />
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I parked the car on the lane alongside the East Flood, and that is where I stayed for the next four and half hours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQougqfm4akD0bKBC7r6oOcx7L8w3vfEZGFtEXCZdqloaPppy-V6NFnhzdK5L6IwgY2L3VoNAI2XkpH8BRqL2FQq4NcKwTGRHRnEiJ8Tv1SsVneYCsD2JpbWwFlcQXdhSCueCqFigpLRR/s1600/Oare+Marshes+Aug+7+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQougqfm4akD0bKBC7r6oOcx7L8w3vfEZGFtEXCZdqloaPppy-V6NFnhzdK5L6IwgY2L3VoNAI2XkpH8BRqL2FQq4NcKwTGRHRnEiJ8Tv1SsVneYCsD2JpbWwFlcQXdhSCueCqFigpLRR/s400/Oare+Marshes+Aug+7+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy at Oare Marshes</td></tr>
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So what did I see? Plenty of waders, including the usual suspects, as well a <b>Spotted Redshank</b>, a <b>Little Stint</b> and a <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b>. I also saw a <b>Turtle Dove</b> as soon as I arrived. This added to the pair I enjoyed at the end of May, photos of which I have added below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnbEPKV5x3F6jsCoHxtHe3jQTFM9FRA3Ap_rOoT7-DbC0kYfyWdW1xRKDFQvTF-OQKp_Sqd9cWUlxn0kjFFHTV1c1Db8nj0hxOD-9ysVyYug-IBe8V5Z-1U5Wtas7lZXf6L8aI-bgeb79/s1600/Turtle+Dove+Oare+21+May+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnbEPKV5x3F6jsCoHxtHe3jQTFM9FRA3Ap_rOoT7-DbC0kYfyWdW1xRKDFQvTF-OQKp_Sqd9cWUlxn0kjFFHTV1c1Db8nj0hxOD-9ysVyYug-IBe8V5Z-1U5Wtas7lZXf6L8aI-bgeb79/s400/Turtle+Dove+Oare+21+May+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Turtle Dove at Oare Marshes in May</td></tr>
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What I didn't see, however, was the Bonaparte's Gull. Hard as I tried, I just couldn't find it – but then nor did anyone else who was visiting at the same time as me. I also didn't see a Roseate Tern that a few surrounding me had convinced themselves they were looking at and walked away happy with their find. I was desperately hoping it was one, but in the end it was a juvenile <b>Common Tern</b> – as was the adult bird close by, and not an Arctic as some suggested.<br />
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Also some thought the <b>Little Stint</b> was a Dunlin, but having seen quite a few I knew what this was. Birding is a bloody obstacle course. It certainly was on that day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTZHMQM6tYlrIx9zyYiP9GG29k-JrK5eqUoyBiAoCEcW4PQoBWSNJx_yX6aRYp3D9oHX1x7LoJ3U2DznmjyRgVd1dNMS_NxAou6_0MsV2uk-4HsgVWeBcfT2yA5KS6W0tFCBoLn51NUli/s1600/Whimbrel+Oare+Aug+14+2017d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTZHMQM6tYlrIx9zyYiP9GG29k-JrK5eqUoyBiAoCEcW4PQoBWSNJx_yX6aRYp3D9oHX1x7LoJ3U2DznmjyRgVd1dNMS_NxAou6_0MsV2uk-4HsgVWeBcfT2yA5KS6W0tFCBoLn51NUli/s400/Whimbrel+Oare+Aug+14+2017d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sixteen Whimbrel</td></tr>
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Then last Monday, on the way back from taking my mum for a hospital appointment in Margate, I dropped in at Oare again on the way home. Another Bonaparte's dip took place, but at least I got decent look of the <b>Long-billed Dowitcher</b>, 16 <b>Whimbrel</b>, as well as some really nice views of a <b>Yellow Wagtail</b>. Misidentifying one of those really would be a skill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcIP9URNoXbcFoxcjOk3RRslsd17wr21Sp3i15sxHFCEgveXZsQZGkhSF6-05GfymyzTj7RSD2ZDgEBhJBM-gD4mUtlcwiUqK01w34e96fhCf2uUQ21f6He_y1pf0m2a8FiBJ1lzjmMFB/s1600/Yellow+Wagtail+Oare+Aug+14+2017d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcIP9URNoXbcFoxcjOk3RRslsd17wr21Sp3i15sxHFCEgveXZsQZGkhSF6-05GfymyzTj7RSD2ZDgEBhJBM-gD4mUtlcwiUqK01w34e96fhCf2uUQ21f6He_y1pf0m2a8FiBJ1lzjmMFB/s400/Yellow+Wagtail+Oare+Aug+14+2017d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail. Probably</td></tr>
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Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771981302059480178.post-64777478544444282012017-08-04T00:29:00.003+01:002017-08-04T00:29:51.474+01:00A BIT OF RADAR LOVE CHASING A MARSH SANDPIPERThe month's seem to be flying by this year. It's August already and as far as birding is concerned I've done very little since my last post in June.<br />
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Gavin Haig of the excellent <i>Not Quite Scilly</i> blog recently wrote an post concerning 'phasing'. This is a state of mind where birding doesn't hold the same appeal as it once had. It's someone birders drift in and out of and is someone I can definitely relate to. I'd say my interest in birding is always there in some form or other, but I have to be honest and say I have fluctuated into this phasing state on many occasions this year. There have been numerous times I simply haven't been arsed with it all.<br />
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The local patch has been shelved for a couple of months and when I have had the time to go birding I've chosen to go on a twitch more than do patch work. Of late, I've gone over to Cliffe Pools a couple of times to try and locate the juvenile Marsh Sandpiper that has been present for some weeks now.<br />
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The first attempt was a couple of weeks ago, prior to a visit to my mum's in Margate. I managed to get to Cliffe about 15 minutes before a Peregrine had flown over the area and had sent all the waders and gulls up into the air. It meant the Marsh Sandpiper, having been in a spot where views were good on Radar Pool, had cleared off and completely disappeared. It wasn't seen again all that day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D3s6Ck3dFu8ZRUGfaCmSrkNcLbP0OTwJg469YiFwnYT9K3XAxf5h1QgNmTcB3SLEy-u21nUHI5aTmEm1HnsKpmNDPpXtltme_erynlrGfqQNJFfsabbZ10VxCYuP6UtY6wWYWLJ4wTvy/s1600/Black-winged+Stilt+Cliffe+Pools+July+23+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D3s6Ck3dFu8ZRUGfaCmSrkNcLbP0OTwJg469YiFwnYT9K3XAxf5h1QgNmTcB3SLEy-u21nUHI5aTmEm1HnsKpmNDPpXtltme_erynlrGfqQNJFfsabbZ10VxCYuP6UtY6wWYWLJ4wTvy/s400/Black-winged+Stilt+Cliffe+Pools+July+23+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A juvenile Black-winged Stilt at Cliffe Pools</td></tr>
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I did get see to see the successfully breeding <b>Black-winged Stilts</b> and their young, with the help of a lift from Dominic Mitchell, who I happened across on my walk, and also a couple of <b>Spoonbill</b>.<br />
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I gave the site another go last Saturday, prior to a trip up north to Lincolnshire for work. I bumped into two pals I hadn't seen for a while, Mark Elsoffer and Steve Minhinnick (the infamous Smutty Birders from Tices Meadow), and while the banter was good, a successful twitch was looking decidedly suspect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CiGJSLVOq2Qjor9PNDe6mwlC1vQw0fihhu9p5W6cFkXs8EEvZUvivN26C6jI0Qa_aMLUKJIfe1ZQatZbzB4ze-Yqbz5y_xS3rgbS0h86LwNw5Dph8rU9f4MeIU8q39qSXTBsKKWiXqgu/s1600/Smutty+birders2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CiGJSLVOq2Qjor9PNDe6mwlC1vQw0fihhu9p5W6cFkXs8EEvZUvivN26C6jI0Qa_aMLUKJIfe1ZQatZbzB4ze-Yqbz5y_xS3rgbS0h86LwNw5Dph8rU9f4MeIU8q39qSXTBsKKWiXqgu/s400/Smutty+birders2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Smutty Birders on tour</td></tr>
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The Marsh Sandpiper again was playing hard to get. But luckily, another group of birders from Ashford turned up and as we viewed from the mound at the south west area of Radar Pool, namesake Neil briefly spotted the wader in the distance. At the same time another birder closer to the location flagged up the sighting on his pager, so we knew we were at last on to a winner.<br />
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After another walk alongside Radar Pool down to a closer position we eventually were on to it. A smashing little wader, the <b>Marsh Sandpiper</b> had obviously given up sleeping and was feeding alongside some <b>Greenshank</b>. The two <b>Spoonbill</b> were also in attendance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-nJbdA9ZiQmOjXi17gX0Ag9sGdYOCtjaiEDgd-LBQghjRhoBPPzDuPkjr1h0DDJTwOLRqg_Pww0WMMhfhZnZAKY6roF1cCd_oBPrDftk6Y_cIHvX13623EKRZMYBGfmP3BwITpBcd-_m/s1600/Marsh+Sandpiper+Cliffe+Pools+July+29+2017b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-nJbdA9ZiQmOjXi17gX0Ag9sGdYOCtjaiEDgd-LBQghjRhoBPPzDuPkjr1h0DDJTwOLRqg_Pww0WMMhfhZnZAKY6roF1cCd_oBPrDftk6Y_cIHvX13623EKRZMYBGfmP3BwITpBcd-_m/s400/Marsh+Sandpiper+Cliffe+Pools+July+29+2017b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distant – but it's there. The Marsh Sandpiper on Radar Pool</td></tr>
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So after that lifer, a more local first coaxed me into patch action yesterday lunchtime. Gordon Hay had rung the day before to say a Wood Sandpiper was on the Moors with a couple of Green Sandpiper. This bird had first been seen by Ray Baker a couple of days earlier, so it was good to discover that it was still in the area.<br />
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The weather had been atrocious all day on Wednesday and unseasonably windy yesterday, so I was fairly confident the <b>Wood Sandpipe</b>r would still be about. And fortunately it was, sleeping with the two <b>Green Sandpiper </b>on the southern Moors pools next to the railway line.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlplMeZ9fE1SWxq3OAxeirIOK7gDBsC22yfZ6PCTNPQPQduJk8tgjclZN9P6F2ngbVkgAZrBVfbTaNgMONHWBcURHhTvEO871i5AdcIBxpvsd0M2ldT92qKYSghL8bvdqbtQTIiH2pkDE/s1600/Wood+Sandpiper+Holmethorpe+Aug+3+2017g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlplMeZ9fE1SWxq3OAxeirIOK7gDBsC22yfZ6PCTNPQPQduJk8tgjclZN9P6F2ngbVkgAZrBVfbTaNgMONHWBcURHhTvEO871i5AdcIBxpvsd0M2ldT92qKYSghL8bvdqbtQTIiH2pkDE/s400/Wood+Sandpiper+Holmethorpe+Aug+3+2017g.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A patch lifer – a Wood Sandpiper on the Moors at Holmethorpe</td></tr>
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It eventually woke up to preen so I got to see it properly next to its green cousins. A really nice bird for the patch.<br />
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So now my birding juices have begun to flow again, although my predominant urge, with the weather as it is, is to go on a seawatch. Unfortunately, the best place for that currently is in Cornwall at Porthgwarra. What a great place that must be. Another year perhaps... Factorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164747997397980883noreply@blogger.com7