Happy New year to my dedicated gang of three subscribers, plus anyone else who happens by!
Hope 2008 is full of Birdwatching surprises for you all.
This blog entry has a review of 2007's personal highlights, plus my aspirations for 2008..
First of all my review of 2007 as a top 10 of wildlife experiences during the year:
1.Stone Curlew. Despite being one of our rarest breeding birds, there are a few pairs in Hampshire / Wiltshire, and I was fortunate enough to find a very distant breeding site in the late spring. Even more rewarding was an adult and fledgling feeding in farmland at dusk. Felt very privileged to watch this species at fairly close range, and hope to see them again in 2008.
2. Local patch! On the weekend we moved into North Baddesley, I took a walk to the closest field to our house and was delighted to see Stonechats there. After many visits in 2007, I've been able to add Hen Harrier, Barn Owl, Woodcock, Merlin, Whinchat, Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler, and Nightingale. Living within walking distance of such a good area has been a big highlight for me this year. Let's hope that the next wave of houses built in the village is kind to the birding hotspots around the village.
3. New Forest Specialities
Baddesley Common and the surrounding area has a good selection of the New Forest's specialities including Woodlark, Nightjar, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. The other specialities such as Firecrest, Redstart, Crossbill, Hawfinch, Raven and Wood Warbler are fairly easy to catch up with in the New forest. Had some good woodland walks in spring 2007.
4. Keyhaven
a Few Sunday afternoons/evenings were spent at Keyhaven with some fairly impressive totals of birds. Best being Peregrine, Merlin, Ruddy Shelduck, plus the sheer numbers of Waders.
5. St.Albans Head:
Had 3 or 4 enjoyable walks around the Head and Winspit Valley in 2007. Didn't really get out of 2nd gear with sightings, but saw plenty of common species migrating, and some good spectacles of visual Migration overhead.
6. Hengistbury Head:
Only visited here once, but did find a Firecrest, and Ring Ouzel, plus lots of overhead migration of Finches. Should probably return here if I want to have a good chance of finding a Yellow Browed Warbler in Autumn 2008!
7. Bats:
Had my best ever views of Serotine over the back garden this year, and the nearby Barbastelle territories have given me my first prolonged views and recordings of this very rare mammal.
8. Divers / sea birds:
Not used to seeing many Divers living inland, but moving nearer to the coast has given me a few more chances to see them. Have had good views of Great Northern and Black Throated Divers, plus Pomarine Skuas and Manx Shearwaters. Need to venture to the coast this winter and catch up with the sea ducks and grebes, many of which I haven't seen for a few years.
9. Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary.
Saw a couple of pristine examples this year, and also added Grayling to my list in 2007.
10. Back to the Hampshire / Wiltshire Downs: this time for good numbers of Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge and farmland birds. Always great to see farmland birds doing well in areas despite the population crashes of the last few years. A BTO survey in the winter got me Winter finch and Thrush flocks, Golden Plover, Peregrine and a Male Hen Harrier.
My hopes for 2008:
I'd like to continue to find my own birds this year. Hopefully with one or two scarce or locally rare ones thrown in. This is mainly down to luck, but hopefully with some well timed trips to Portland and the coast, plus some surveys inland in underwatched parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire I may strike lucky.
I'd also like to see Horseshoe Bats again at some point. I only managed 1 brief look for them around Corfe Castle in 2007 and drew a blank. East Dorset certainly looks ideal for them.
Finally, I'd like to add a few more Butterflies/moths to my UK list.. Glanville Fritillary, Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Grizzled skipper, Lulworth Skipper, and Silver Studded Blue spring to mind. The garden moth trap will be getting more use this year too ;)
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