Sometime in November or December I saw a tweet from Birdwatching Magazine that suggested we all tried to see 200 different types of birds in 2017. As a regular twitter user, they called it the #my200birdyear challenge and we could all see how each other was doing, using said hashtag.
Regular readers of the magazine have probably owned this challenge, but for me, it was actually a bit daunting. I've 'yearlisted' once or twice before and my best, with a lot of help was 191. That big year was 2010. A long time ago for me! I forget bird calls etc. once they go away for the winter! It takes me a while to remember a reed warbler etc.
I successfully got a few friends to have a go too, newby birders who I've got to know well from my time with the Wildlife Trust whilst briefly working as a Conservation Trainee and Community Engagement Officer with BBOWT .
Selfish maybe on my behalf, but the idea of birding with new friends on a weekend was an attractive one to me. I'm glad I did. I should start by saying a few Thank yous. Well done Rachel and Sorrel for joining me (keep going!! you guys can do it!) and to Graham P for a few trips out, also thanks to Simon for the birdy chats at work, along with Roger , Alex and my boss at the time Jacky. 👍👍
So I'm not gonna do a full year summary, I have mentioned most of what's happened on here already. What I thought would be fun is to do an 'awards ceremony' picking out a few highs and lows of the year.
So to quickly fill in the missing gaps, today I hit my 200. A weekend spent with me best bro Joe in Dorset led by his excellent skills and knowledge saw me clock up that magic number.
Dipper in Lyme Regis. 197
Redpoll in Morden Bog 198 (they simply weren't here last winter).
Stonking male Hen Harrier in the east of the county.. and the final tick, a Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour this morning. That before trying to locate a Pallas Warbler in some random quarry on 'the rock' (Portland).
So that's the very important 'maths' bit covered. I thought, for a bit of fun I'd throw a few awards out there, best bird, best site etc.. I'm typing this 'off the top of my head', on my 'half birthday' and may have accidentally opened a beer already, but for a bit of fun, here is a few thoughts on the last ten and a half months. A few shocking pictures too.
So.. where to start.... ?
Its my list, so lets kick off with
Best Self Found Bird.
Tricky this one, but from a relatively crap Birder, my best self found has to be the male Black Redstart I found near to Danebury Hill Fort. With the internet making things a lot easier for keeping in touch / sharing sightings, You could probably reach 200 by being guided by t'web. This fine bird though was mine... I found it... six months later I still can't believe it.. I found a Black Redstart.. Six miles from my house on 15th April.. I was up there, looking for Corn Bunting or Yellowhammer or something similar, but found a recently ploughed field full of Wheatear. Actually too many to count!! And surprisingly as it was April, a handful of Fieldfare. Seasons colliding right there! Then this one bird that kept hopping down off a bare hawthorn bush caught my eye. Goosebumps...
Honourary mention must go to the Great Bustard I found on the very edge of Salisbury Plain. People will have there own opinions on the legitamacy of this, but seeing a gynormous bird, on the hill side, a mile and a half in the distance was a massively unexpected site.. I went looking for something else, (more later) and had no idea they were even out there! Naivety on my behalf, should have known better.
Most Dipped Bird.
Makes sense to follow on the Bustard sighting with the reason I was out there. I spent a large part of May walking around certain parts of the massive Salisbury Plain looking for an opportunistic sighting of a Montagues Harrier. dip, dip dip... etc. But on the plus side I saw the Bustard and stone curlew and a few other top birds. Obviously no picture of the Most Dipped Bird.
Most Complacent Tick.
By way of an apology, I'd like to apologise to the Lyme Regis Dippers..I've only ever seen two before. But getting out of the car, lifting the binoculars and saying ' There's one', was far too complacent for my liking. IT'S A DIPPER (two actually).. I had to travel (Joe drove) to the western edge of Dorset to see one! But so good were our instructions that we fell on top of one, almost.
This was a very good 'tick'. One of the rarest on my whole list. I'm sorry.
Best managed reserve.
This is flippin tricky one.
Dartford Warbler and Woodlark in my old home town of Newbury - Greenham Common.
Excellent viewing from the woodland hide or tern hide at Blashford Lakes? The Ivy South hide gave me Bittern for the year, other hides gave me Black Tern, Black Necked Grebe etc.
Although I only visited once, my first ever time, I think this award goes to RSPB Ham Wall. Excellent interpretation boards, good maps, sighting board, and above all else, booming bittern, marsh harriers in abundance and a Little Bittern.. Naturally I dipped on that one too. There is only so long you can spend looking at gaps in reedbeds.
Best place. Full stop.
For a novice Southern birder, Portland is a mecca. An amazing island (peninsula) that sticks out like an attractive sore thumb to any migrating birds. Why fly over the sea when there is a bit of sticky outy land to land on?? No brainer.. And boy do they land!! I've been very lucky to visit Portland five times this year.. Three stays at the Bird Obs, (Thank you Martin) where they almost bring 'ringed' birds to you, as you sea watch from the patio, and two further trips where me and Joe (or more accurately Joe and me), hit local sites. There is a Bird Observatory there for a reason, and seeing Radde's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat 'in the hand' as they've been caught mid migration in 'mist nets' is a real treat.
My first trip this year was a very sober Stag Night. I was the only one sober (sorry Joe) and it didnt disappoint.. Waking up to amazing sunrises, watching two Peregrine eat a pigeon for breakfast. Walking the surrounding area, looking for whatever had dropped in.. perfect.
I went back, and hope to always do so.
Never Gets Old Award.
Seeing an Osprey, 20 minutes from your doorstep.. Ok, not massively impressive until that doorstep is in North Hamsphire. Fishlake Meadows, you beauty!! This one, an early returning (non breeding)? bird arrived in July and stayed a while. And was then joined by others. A big draw here in the South, and rightly so.
Fishlake just misses out on the best reserve. To be fair, considering the lack of management, which actually is it's success, it should be top dog... The best place for Hobbys, warblers, cuckoos in the South. I hope Hants & IOW Trust, the new site managers continue to be sympathetic to the long standing residents.
Going, Going.... (hopefully not gone) award.
Turtle Dove. Have you seen one?
Be quick. I had to travel 40 minutes from my house to see one this year. NNR Martin Down. A great site, but not too dissimilar to every other field or farm land. Good views of Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, Corn Bunting and Cuckoo though.
Can't say too much about this one, but whilst stumbling across the very distant Great Bustard I was actually looking for a Harrier. Monty for short. I'm not one to spend hours searching for a bird, luckily I do like walking. so I guess that's a win, of sorts.
Best photo.
Not a long list by any means, but if I had to nominate one of my shots, It would have to be the Crossbill I snapped in the New Forest.
Honourable runners up shots go to...
The Portland Sparowhawk and Peregrine. (above). and the WWT Slimbridge Dunlin and Golden Plover.
Best Latin Name.
Simple. White Fronted Goose.
Anser Albifrons.
Should probably end on the #200 bird.
A Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour. Thanks all..It's been bloody brilliant!
