Thursday, February 21, 2008 - Meal Or No Meal?
It's been a relatively slow start to the birding year. I said at the end of 2007 that I wanted to focus on quality, not quantity, but with January behind me and February passing by at a rate of knots, I have to confess to being more than a little keen to get some more ticks!
Sadly, studying for financial qualifications has hampered my ability to get out and about, but when my Dad suggested an early morning visit to Upton Warren on Tuesday to have a go for the Mealy Redpoll that has been about, I didn't need asking twice.
I arrived there at 7:30am. I had agreed to meet Dad at 7:45am, but I firmly believe the early bird gets the worm. Within ten minutes, I had tracked down a Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll, then noted another bird to their right, which looked paler. Although it looked a good candidate for Mealy Redpoll, I just couldn't be sure. It took off before I could sort it out properly.
Presently, my Dad arrived. By this time small flocks of redpoll were appearing in the bushes, their numbers reaching double figures. After about twenty minutes or so we identified a bird with paler markings and a white rump. This time I was happy to declare it a Mealy Redpoll [lifer 195!] [year tick 81!].
With the lure of a day at the office not appealing too much, I decided to spend a further hour at the reserve and spotted Water Rail, Pintail and Cetti's Warbler [year tick 82!]. I didn't see any sign of the Black-Tailed Godwit that was reported there that morning.
One other sighting worthy of mention was the first ever Sparrowhawk in my garden on the morning of 11 February. I was washing up and noticed something flash across the back of the garden. Although I immediately thought Sparrowhawk, I dismissed it as a Woodpigeon as they are ten-a-penny where I live, but a few minutes later it reappeared, perched on the hedge at the rear of the garden. Another one for the list.
I'm off now for a long weekend in Devon. That should boost the year list a bit and with a bit of hard graft and a hefty dollop of good fortune I might even get a few lifers.
A full report will follow on my return. Until then, happy birding!
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The continuing adventures of Reg The Birder in 2008
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