December 31, 2008
Reflections on 2008
2008 was another great year of birding divided mostly between France, Britain and the USA. January in the Camargue, Crau and Alpilles yielded great views of Wallcreeper and Richard's Pipits, followed by Green Heron and Purple Gallinule in February. In March, nesting White Storks and Spoonbills near Bordeaux and clamorous Great Spotted Cuckoos rounded off my time in France. By April I was living back in the UK, enjoying the Brant trifecta and nesting Fulmars on the North Norfolk coast. In May, a fabulous trip to the French Alps finally unblocked Rock Partridge, with many bonus birds including both Pygmy and Tengmalm's Owls. A couple of twitchy trips to Norfolk yielded goodies such as Tawny Pipit and Montagu's Harrier, while closer to home Red-footed Falcon, Dotterel and calling Corncrake were all great Cambs birds. In June and July I managed a couple more trips to the south of France, enjoying nesting Glossy Ibis, Golden Orioles, Roller, and both Black and Griffon Vultures. Most of August was spent birding around the USA, visiting Wisconsin, California and my future home state of Georgia, the hands-down highlight being the mixed flocks of Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites. September was raptor madness around Cambridge, with Honey Buzzard over Magog Down the jewel in the crown. Spotted Flycatcher on my room list was nice too. October brought more good Cambs birds (Glossy Ibis and a self-found Scaup at Wicken), and ended with a Hallowe'en trip to Tybee Island in Georgia, where I had 3 sparrow ticks and some wonderful seaside birding. In November I was entertained by Black 20, a male Peregrine ringed as a pullus on Chichester Cathedral and now hanging around the Catholic Church in Cambridge, and had a marvellous day's birding in Lincolnshire, adding both Steppe Grey Shrike and Desert Wheatear to my UK list. In December, I had 2 days glorious birding in Donana National Park, where wintering Cranes again stole the show, and rounded off my Cambs birding with a drake Smew and my 14th species of raptor for the county, Rough-legged Buzzard.
In 3 days' time I uproot again to move to Athens, GA, so in my last few days in Cambridge I have been making the most of those common birds I won't be seeing again in quite a while. Remember, Redwings and Fieldfares are quality birds!
Happy new year, y'all, and good birding in 2009!
Posted by rjhall at December 31, 2008 4:58 PM