So that’s my first year list finished. I was hoping to be able to get merlin in at the end but some illness in the family meant that I was house-bound looking after our two year old son. Still I am more than pleased with my final tally of 222 which included an astonishing 54 lifers or technical lifers (where I can’t remember whether I had seen it previously as a boy).

It’ s been very nice to look back over the year and to be reminded of all the great birds that I’ve seen. It’s also been good to see how my photography has developed from a very dodgy first digiscoping effort of a garganey through to my present efforts. The photography side of things I’ve found surprisingly rewarding, not least because it makes the blog much more interesting to read.

So what have been the hightlights for me? For me the most rewarding thing of 2008 was probably finding the Temminck’s Stint on my local patch. As something which I found myself I feel much more satisfied with this than twitching some mega (e.g. stilt sandpiper). I find that twitching is not very rewarding: it’s just a matter of turning up at the right place and if you’re lucky the bird is there and you tick it off. Having a huge life list is just a matter of time and money and personally I don’t have the inclination to be driving all over the country like a lunatic to see some great rarity.  I should say that I am more disposed towards "local twitching", turning up to see a local bird rather than having to slog half way across the country. l am discovering that "local" for me means Oxon, Bucks or Berks. For similar reasons I also enjoyed the American Golden Plover which was once again on my local patch and which I had an accidental hand in finding. There were also three good holidays (from a birding point of view) to Crail, to Wales and to Cornwall which all gave me the opportunity to see interesting birds that I would not otherwise have seen and to boost my year list.

All in all a most satisfying return to birding and I look forward to an even more rewarding 2009. Below is the completed year list.

           Species         Date          Location
    001    Goldfinch       01/01/2008    Garden
    002    Chaffinch       01/01/2008    Garden
    003    Collard Dove    01/01/2008    Garden
    004    Wood Pidgeon    01/01/2008    Garden
    005    Blackbird       01/01/2008    Garden
    006    Great Tit       01/01/2008    Garden
    007    Robin           01/01/2008    Garden
    008    Blue Tit        01/01/2008    Garden
    009    Dunnock         01/01/2008    Garden
    010    Magpie          01/01/2008    Garden
    011    Jackdaw         01/01/2008    Garden
    012    Carrion Crow    01/01/2008    Garden
    013    Redwing         01/01/2008    Garden
    014    Blk-headed Gull 01/01/2008    Garden
    015    Lsr Blk-bkd Gull01/01/2008    Garden
    016    Starling        01/01/2008    Garden
    017    green finch     01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    018    moorhen         01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    019    mallard         01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    020    mute swan       01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    021    house sparrow   01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    022    widgeon         01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    023    lapwing         01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    024    golden plover   01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    025    shoveler        01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    026    pintail         01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    027    pied wagtail    01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    028    gadwall         01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    029    ruff            01/01/2008    Walk to port meadow
    030    blackcap        02/01/2008    Garden
    031    Kestrel         02/01/2008    Drive to Warwickshire
    032    Common Buzzard  02/01/2008    Drive to Warwickshire
    033    Coot            02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    034    Tufted Duck     02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    035    Little Grebe    02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    036    Goldeneye       02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    037    Meadow Pipit    02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    038    Pochard         02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    039    Teal            02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    040    Goosander       02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    041    Grt Crstd Grebe 02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    042    Canada Goose    02/01/2008    Draycote Water
L   043    Lesser Scaup    02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    044    Cormorant       02/01/2008    Draycote Water
    045    Pheasant        02/01/2008    Moran Bagot
    046    Song Thrush     04/01/2008    Garden
    047    Long-tailed Tit 04/01/2008    Garden
    048    Grey-lag Goose  05/01/2008    Port Meadow
    049    Feral Pidgeon   05/01/2008    Summertown
    050    Stock Dove      06/01/2008    Port Meadow
    051    Dunlin          06/01/2008    Port Meadow
    052    Herring Gull    06/01/2008    Port Meadow
    053    Gtr Blk-Bkd Gull06/01/2008    Port Meadow
L   054    Iceland Gull    06/01/2008    Port Meadow
    055    Gtr Sptd Wpker  07/01/2008    Canal at Frenchay Rd
    056    Mistle Thrush   07/01/2008    Port Meadow
    057    Sky lark        07/01/2008    Port Meadow
    058    Sparrowhawk     07/01/2008    Kingston Road
    059    Wren            08/01/2008    St. Margret’s Road
    060    Grey Heron      12/01/2008    Drive to Dix Pit
    061    Common Gull     12/01/2008    Dix Pit
    062    Red-cstd Pochard12/01/2008    Dix Pit
L   063    Caspian Gull    12/01/2008    Dix Pit
    064    Bewick’s Swan   12/01/2008    Chimney Meadows
    065    Fieldfare       13/01/2008    Hillesden
    066    Bullfinch       15/01/2008    Trap Grounds (next to P&J’s)
    067    Siskin          17/01/2008    Canal behind Southmoor Road
    068    Rng-nkd parakeet18/01/2008    Canal behind Hayfield Road
    069    Goldcrest       18/01/2008    St. Margret’s Road
    070    Rook            18/01/2008    Marston Ferry Road
    071    Red Kite        21/01/2008    Appleford
    072    Linnet          23/01/2008    Oxford Airport
    073    Grey Partridge  23/01/2008    In fields on the way to Steeple Aston
L   074    Rng-necked duck 26/01/2008    Foxcote Reservoir
    075    Kingfisher      26/01/2008    Foxcote Reservoir
    076    Green wdpcker   26/01/2008    Foscote, near Foxcote
L   077    Whooper Swan    26/01/2008    Hillesden
    078    Stonechat       01/02/2008    Burgess Field Nature Reserve
    079    Brambling       03/02/2008    Blenheim Park
    080    Reed Bunting    10/02/2008    Otmoor
    081    Snipe           10/02/2008    Otmoor
    082    Corn Bunting    10/02/2008    Ridgeway: Berkshire downs
    083    Short-eared Owl 10/02/2008    Ridgeway: Berkshire downs
    084    Yellowhammer    10/02/2008    Ridgeway: Berkshire downs
    085    Tree sparrow    11/02/2008    Tadpole Bridge
    086    Redshank        16/02/2008    Port Meadow
    087    Ringed Plover   18/02/2008    Wide Water Lagoon, W. Sussex
    088    Black Redstart  18/02/2008    Shoreham Old Fort
    089    Turnstone       18/02/2008    Shoreham Old Fort
    090    Grey Plover     18/02/2008    Shoreham Estuary, W. Sussex
    091    Little Egret    18/02/2008    Piddinghoe, E. Sussex
L   092    Blk-neckd Grebe 21/02/2008    Staines Reservoir
    093    Shelduck        26/02/2008    Port Meadow
E   094    Ruddy Shelduck  02/03/2008    Port Meadow
L   095    Smew            05/03/2008    Cotswold Water Park
L   096    Scaup           05/03/2008    Cotswold Water Park
LR  097    Great Bustard   05/03/2008    Foss Cross, Wiltshire
    098    Barn Owl        10/03/2008    Burgess Nature Reserve
    099    Chiffchaff      13/03/2008    Trap Grounds
    100    Little Stint    13/03/2008    Port Meadow
    101    Oystercatcher   15/03/2008    Port Meadow
    102    Sand Martin     16/03/2008    Port Meadow
    103    Curlew          16/03/2008    Port Meadow
    104    Barnacle Goose  17/03/2008    Port Meadow
    105    Nuthatch        19/03/2008    Blenheim Park
    106    Treecreeper     19/03/2008    Blenheim Park
    107    Grey wagtail    19/03/2008    Wilstone Reservoir
    108    Med Gull        19/03/2008    Wilstone Reservoir
    109    Jay             23/03/2008    Knaphill
    110    Water pipit     24/03/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    111    Garganey        24/03/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    112    Willow Warbler  30/03/2008    Port Meadow
L   113    Hawfinch        02/04/2008    Blenheim Park
    114    Gt Grey Shrike  02/04/2008    Half Moon Plantation, Gloc
    115    Raven           02/04/2008    Half Moon Plantation, Gloc
    116    Swallow         02/04/2008    Near Moran Bagot
    117    Marsh Tit       02/04/2008    Moran Bagot (Sherwoods)
    118    Ltl Rngd Plover 04/04/2008    Port Meadow
    119    Blk-taild Godwit05/04/2008    Port Meadow
    120    Hen Harrier     05/04/2008    Otmoor
    121    Coal Tit        10/04/2008    Bassenthwaite, Dodds wood
L   122    Osprey          10/04/2008    Bassenthwaite, Dodds wood
    123    Eider           11/04/2008    Crail Harbour, Fife
    124    Fulmar          11/04/2008    Crail Harbour, Fife
    125    Rock Pipit      11/04/2008    Crail Harbour, Fife
L   126    Common Scoter   12/04/2008    Crail, Fife
    127    Gannet          12/04/2008    Crail, Fife
L   128    red-thrtd diver 12/04/2008    Crail, Fife
    129    shag            12/04/2008    Crail, Fife
    130    purple sandppr  12/04/2008    Crail, Fife
L   131    long-taild duck 12/04/2008    St. Andrew’s Bay, Fife
    132    razorbill       13/04/2008    Crail, Fife
    133    kittiwake       14/04/2008    Fife Ness, Fife
L   134    velvet scoter   15/04/2008    Fife Ness, Fife
    135    Peregrine Falcon15/04/2008    Guardbridge estuary, Fife
    136    wheatear        15/04/2008    Guardbridge estuary, Fife
    137    red-brstd mrgnsr15/04/2008    Guardbridge estuary, Fife
    138    guillemot       17/04/2008    Fife Ness, Fife
    139    Egyptian Goose  21/01/2008    Appleford
    140    yellow wagtail  19/04/2008    Port Meadow
    141    house martin    20/04/2008    Port Meadow
    142    hobby           20/04/2008    A44 between ring road and A34 junction
    143    sedge warbler   21/04/2008    Abingdon sewage works lakes
L   144    cetti’s warbler 21/04/2008    Abingdon sewage works lakes
    145    grsshpr warbler 22/04/2008    Burgess Nature Reserve
    146    whitethroat     22/04/2008    Burgess Nature Reserve
    147    arctic tern     22/04/2008    Port Meadow
    148    swift           25/04/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    149    common tern     25/04/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    150    common sandpiper25/04/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
L   151    reed warbler    26/04/2008    Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve
L   152    avocet          26/04/2008    Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve
    153    little gull     29/04/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    154    black tern      30/04/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
L   155    whimbrel        01/05/2008    Port Meadow
    156    garden warbler  02/05/2008    Burgess Nature Reserve
L   157    dotterel        02/05/2008    Bury Down, Berks
    158    greenshank      03/05/2008    Port Meadow
    159    red-lgd prtrdge 03/05/2008    Otmoor
    160    cuckoo          03/05/2008    Otmoor
    161    turtle dove     08/05/2008    Otmoor
    162    lsr whitethroat 08/05/2008    Otmoor
L   163    marsh harrier   08/05/2008    Otmoor
L   164    wood sandpiper  13/05/2008    Port Meadow
L   165    red-footd falcon14/05/2008    Cornation Pit, Stewartby, Beds
L   166    Temminck’s Stint15/05/2008    Port Meadow
    167    sanderling      16/05/2008    Port Meadow
L   168    crossbill       19/05/2008    Crowthorne Wood
L   169    wood lark       19/05/2008    Crowthorne Wood
    170    wood warbler    19/05/2008    Crowthorne Wood
L   171    grt white egret 21/05/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    172    tree pipit      29/05/2008    Wyre Forest
    173    sptd flycatcher 30/05/2008    Wyre Forest
L   174    pied flycatcher 30/05/2008    Wyre Forest
    175    dipper          30/05/2008    Wyre Forest
    176    dartfd warbler  08/06/2008    Caesar’s Camp, Swinely Forest
    177    nightjar        08/06/2008    Caesar’s Camp, Swinely Forest
    178    woodcock        08/06/2008    Caesar’s Camp, Swinely Forest
L   179    ruddy duck      21/06/2008    Otmoor
L   180    stone curlew    25/06/2008    Not-disclosed
    181    little owl      25/06/2008    Not-disclosed
L   182    quail           02/07/2008    Not-disclosed
L   183    long-eared owl  02/07/2008    Not-disclosed
    184    green sandpiper 03/07/2008    Port Meadow
    185    mandarin duck   08/07/2008    Shardeloe’s Lake, Bucks
L   186    hoodd merganser 16/07/2008    Radipole Lake, Dorset
L   187    yell-legd gull  19/07/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    188    manx shearwater 03/08/2008    Penbryn beach
    189    chough          04/08/2008    Cardigan Island
    190    tawny owl       05/08/2008    Tan y Llan, Penbryn
L   191    great skua      07/08/2008    Penbryn beach
LE  192    snow goose      07/08/2008    Penbryn beach (NB probably an escapee)
    193    sandwich tern   08/08/2008    Ynylas NNR
    194    common redstart 16/08/2008    Calvert, Bucks
L   195    red-nkd phal    21/08/2008    Saul Warth, Glouc.
    196    spotd redshank  21/08/2008    Saul Warth, Glouc.
L   197    stilt sandpiper 21/08/2008    Coome Hill Meadows, Glouc.
    198    whinchat        30/08/2008    Burgess Nature Reserve
    199    grey phalarope  05/09/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    200    knot            09/09/2008    Port Meadow
L   201    Ferrug Duck     23/09/2008    Calvert, Bucks
    202    Water rail      27/09/2008    Otmoor
    203    Bar-tld godwit  06/10/2008    Christchurch Harbour
L   204    Am Goldn Plover 15/10/2008    Port Meadow
L   205    Bearded Tit     21/10/2008    Farlington Marshes
L   206    Ring-billd Gull 21/10/2008    Gosport
L   207    Cattle Egret    24/10/2008    Somerset
L   208    Bluethroat      26/10/2008    Land’s End
L   209    Firecrest       26/10/2008    Trevilley Farm, Sennen
L   210    Y-browd warbler 27/10/2008    Penberth, Cornwall
    211    Brent Goose     27/10/2008    Marazion Beach, Cornwall
L   212    Pink-ftd Goose  31/10/2008    Hayle Estuary, Cornwall
L   213    GN diver        05/11/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    214    jack snipe      07/11/2008    Calvert, Bucks
L   215    red-nkd grebe   07/11/2008    Draycote Water
L   216    bean goose      14/11/2008    Hillesden
L   217    willow tit      21/11/2008    Combe Wood
L   218    American Wigeon 29/11/2008    Lower Farm GP, Berks
L   219    Slavonian Grebe 06/12/2008    Brogborough Lake, Beds
    220    Lesser Redpoll  14/12/2008    Farmoor Reservoir
    221    Wht-frtd goose  18/12/2008    Slimbridge
L   222    bittern         18/12/2008    Slimbridge

Key:
L = Lifer or tecnical lifer
E = prob. escapee
R = release scheme bird