Tuesday, January 1, 2008 - Ruddy Mandarin Ducks!

This year I am doing my birding armed with a pen and notebook, in which I jot down my thoughts at the time. By coincidence, I've found this gives any summary something of a real-time feel, hopefully making you feel more like you are there as you read it. Anyway, I'll try it for a bit and see what happens.

1 January 2008

A Mandarin turned up at Earlswood Lakes yesterday. Potential first lifer of 2008!

7:41am

Despite feeling as rough as a badger's bum I'm up and dressed. Just filled new flask with tea. Waiting 10 minutes to allow it to reach drinking temperature. Still yet to tick first bird of the year, but it's still dark. I'll turn the light off and watch the sun come up.

7:43am

I can hear a Robin!

7:50am

Gotcha! There he is on the damson tree. Number one bird of 2008! Only fair really - heard the blighter since I got up. I can allow myself a glance into the alder now for an expected Woodpigeon or Jackdaw [didn't want them to be my first tick!]. Oh - nothing!

Have to say, that Robin wasn't showing particularly well. Still, no mistaking its identity.

7:57am

Right! I can't wait any longer. Let's get off to Earlswood Lakes.

8:08am

Well, I'm here. Great! We're fogbound. That could make things tricky. Still, I'm up for the challenge. Ticked a Carrion Crow on the way and now I'm officially up and running.

Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot. That's ticks 3, 4, 5 and 6.



What's that? A juvenile gull. Oh dear! Probably a Herring Gull, but I'm not sure, so no tick.

Black-Headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull [an adult this time - nice and easy!], Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Song Thrush [nice to see one so early], Fieldfare [not showing well, but no mistaking that chuckle!], Jackdaw. Up to 16 now.

The fieldcraft has gone out of the window as I lollop through the mudbath formally known as Earlswood Lakes! At last, I round the corner at the end of the Windmill Pool.

Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck make it 18.

Let's have a sit down and drink some tea. Maybe tie my shoelaces [don't ask!].

Goldfinch [overhead, unmistakeable chattering]. 19 up.

Nice cup of tea. That 10 minutes waiting time was just an experiment, but it seems that the beverage is at optimum drinking temperature. I love it when a plan comes together. A Wren is singing. Almost certain I saw one a few minutes ago, but decided to wait until one presented itself properly before ticking it. Just dropped my notebook in the mud!

Woodpigeon [at last!]. That's 20.

On the move again now.

Goldcrest [little beauty], Cormorant, Wren [first proper view, glad I waited!]. Okay. Up to 23 now.

A Blue Tit poses obligingly.



Okay. Back in the car now. No Mandarin. Can't say I'm surprised.

Magpie [overhead on Gorsey Lane] brings the total so far to 24.

The remainder of the day's birding is to be conducted from the house.

Collared Dove, Moorhen [in field opposite house near small pond], Lesser Black-Backed Gull and Jay [with an acorn in its beak] take the total to 28.

10:04am

5 Chaffinches in the garden. Nice.

Coal Tit, Nuthatch and Mistle Thrush bring the final tally to 31.

First day's birding of 2008 complete. May there be many more!