Thursday, January 1, 2004 - Year report - 2003

11 lifers for the year, 175 in total

The addition of a family memeber put the brakes on any intensive bird watching, but a few new species were still added.

In February we spent a week skiing at Serre Chevalier

# 165: Crested Tit - Lophophanes cristatus: Single bird in firs at ski restaurant

# 166: Common Raven - Corvus corax: Birds spotted overhead during the week

# 167: White-throated Dipper - Cinclus cinclus: Fantastic close up views on a fast flowing stream in the village

UK

# 168: Mandarin Duck - Aix galericulata: Single bird on pond in Reading

# 169: Wood Duck - Aix sponsa: Single bird on pond in Reading

In November we took our first trip, to Padstow since the birth of our daughter

# 170: Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres: Very tame birds at the harbour

# 171: Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta: A large flock seen on the mudflats

# 172: Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator: A pair swimming up the Camel estuary

# 173: Razorbill - Alca torda: Single bird spotted at the Camel estuary

# 174: Sandwich Tern - Sterna sandvicensis: Late bird flying up the estuary