Brookie's Diary

• Thursday, December 29, 2005 - Last day out 2005

East Coast was the choice and top of the list was the reported Humes Yellow  Browed Warbler at  Filey. Coming off the M62 and going through Middleton on the Wold, suddenly a shout of lapwing as I pointed out a bird coming over the road. Closer inspection of the said individual has we got closer proved it to be a splendid male Hen Harrier crossing the highway. A great start to the day. We arrived at Filey about 11:00am and parked in the North Cliff Country Park in fear that we might not be able to get out of the ravine again if we went in with all the snow. We were shown approx. where the warbler had been. So off we went after putting on the winter gear. On arrival at the sight the second bird I looked at just happened to be the Hume's Yellow Browed Warbler, another lifer for the year It showed well clearly showing it's features over Yellow Browed Warbler. After such good views and adding things like Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch to the day list we decided on hitting the beach for some waders adding Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, to the day total. It was rather cold along the beach and hearing of Smew at Top Hill Low we decided to give it a go. We had heard of the birds being on the 'O' reservoir so on arrival we headed there first. There were plenty of wilfowl to see Wigeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal, Ruddy Duck and after some searching we got onto the Smew, 2 fine drakes a sight to be seen. On the approach roads into Top Hill Low there were plenty of partridge to be seen Grey and Red Legged. We finished our day on a high with the Smew and started our day on a high with the Hen Harrier, and the middle was great too a great days birding and a good one to finish the year off. Looking back over the year I did meet my target of year birds in britian with 176, 1 over target, adding 7 lifers to my british list now standing at 306. Seeing 351 total species with the hols abroad, whats 2006 going to bring, Happy New Year

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