12 lifers year to date, 334 in total

# 323: Firecrest – Regulus ignicapillus: 15^th March, 2 males seen in Douglas Firs at Cliveden early morning.

# 324: Osprey – Pandion haliaetus: 29^th March, an adult bird reported at Latimer over a couple of days was found in dead tree at the lakes below Latimer House. It sat patiently for about half an hour before flying downstream offering excellent views as it disappeared on its journey North. 

# 325: Northern Shrike – Lanius excubitor: 2^nd April. Single bird showing extremely well at Wishmoor Bottom.

# 326: Willow Tit – Poecile montanus: 13^th April. Single bird spotted at Carsington Water

# 327: Wood Lark – Lullula arborea: 22^nd May. 2 day trip to Norfolk. First stop at Dersingham Bog. There were a few birds heard but were extremely difficult to find. Finally one bird heard and then seen on a tree top, offering very good views

# 328: Collared Pratincole – Glareola pratincola: 2^nd lifer of the day, this bird had been present at Cley for about a week and thankfully hung around into the afternoon. The views were fairly distant but still very clear, including some time in the air

# 329: Short-toed Treecreeper – Certhia brachydactyla: 26^th June whilst in Louveciennes in Paris, small family very mobile in tree tops

# 330: European Marsh Warbler – Acrocephalus palustris: 1^st July, single singing male finally showed giving great views at Otmoor, Oxon

# 331: Common Crane – Grus grus: An adult and juvenile both seen at Lakenheath, 6^th July

# 332: White-winged Black Tern – Chlidonias leucopterus: 30^th August, juvenile bird at Farmoor, part on an unprecedented 3 species of marsh terns all on show

# 333: American Black Tern – Chlidonias niger suranamensis: Same day, a fantastic juvenile performing alongside White-winged and Black Terns

# 334: Brown Shrike – Lanus cristatus: A fantastic bird that has already hung around for over a month, showing really well on Stanwell Moor, 15th November

# 233: Hawfinch – Coccothraustes coccothraustes: Great views of a solitary bird in woodland close to La Tania ski resort in January

The bonus for 2007 was a trip to Barbados courtesy of my work. Most birds were seen at the main reserve, with others spotted around the hotel grounds.

# 234: Green-throated Carib – Eulampis holoceriliceus:

# 235: Antillean Crested Hummingbird – Orthorhyncus cristatus:

# 236: Scaly-naped Pigeon – Columba squamosa:

# 237: Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina:

# 238: Zenaida Dove – Zenaida aurita:

# 239: Caribbean Coot – Fulica caribaea:

# 240: Spotted Sandpiper – Actitis macularia:

# 241: Semipalmated Sandpiper – Calidris pusilla:

# 242: Wilson’s Snipe – Gallinago gallinago delicata:

# 243: Lesser Yellowlegs – Tringa flavipes:

# 244: Solitary Sandpiper – Tringa solitaria

# 245: Semipalmated Plover – Charadrius semipalmatus:

# 246: Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias:

# 247: Green Heron – Butorides virescens:

# 248: Magnificent Frigatebird – Fregata magnificens:

# 249: Caribbean Elaenia – Elaenia martinica:

# 250: Bananaquit – Coereba flaveola:

# 251: Yellow Warbler – Dendroica petechia:

# 252: Lesser Antillean Bullfinch – Loxigilla noctis barbadensis:

# 253: Shiny Cowbird – Molothrus bonariensis:

# 254: Carib Grackle – Quiscalus lugubris:

# 255: Grassland Yellow-Finch – Sicalis luteola:

# 256: Black-faced Grassquit – Tiaris bicolor:

31 lifers year to date, 322 in total

# 292: Eurasian Crag-Martin – Hirundo rupestris: 16^th March in La Tania, France. I was never convinced that the slightly distant views of mixed hirundines in Southern Spain in 2003 actually contained Crag Martins, so it was a great relief to my own conscience being able to watch them at pretty close quarters as the snow started to melt whilst we were skiing in La Tania.

Having a month on garden leave from mid-May gave me a great opportunity to track down some local rarities and spend some time in Norfolk.

# 293: Wood Sandpiper – Tringa glareola: 14^th May at Port Meadow in Oxford. Superb views of this great little sandpiper on the flooded fields at Port Meadow.

# 294: Temminck’s Stint – Calidris temminckii: 14^th May at Marlow Gravel Pits. Having just sampled the delights of my first Wood Sandpiper it seemed sensible to try my luck for this little bird at Marlow. Given its size it took a while to locate it on the spit!

# 295: Great Reed-Warbler – Acrocephalus arundinaceus: 21^st May at Amwell Gravel Pits in Herts. A rare bird locally. I arrived and the bird had just been seen, after about 20 minutes it was relocated in the reeds, a fantastic male seen singing, approximately 30 metres from the hide.

# 296: Little Tern – Sterna albifrons: 27^th May in Norfolk. 2 birds flew in to land on the spit at Titchwell. On the 27^th and 28^th May I took myself off to Norfolk for a couple of days. I had a number of target species in mind and whilst I couldn’t quite track them all down, I still had some success.

# 297: Little Gull – Larus minutes: 27^th in Norfolk. A small number of adult and juveniles birds seen on the water at Titchwell.

# 298: Common Nightingale – Luscinia megarhynchos: 27^th May in Norfolk. Male heard singing at Salthouse Heath, not surprisingly I could not catch even a glimpse.

# 299: Eurasian Nightjar – Caprimulgus europaeus: 27^th May in Norfolk. 2 birds were heard churring at Salthouse Heath, finally managed to pin point one particular bird which eventually took flight from right under my feet!

The weekend of the 26^th-29^th June was spent in Barcelona on a stag weekend. I thought it best to maximise my time there and so hooked up with Stephen Christopher for a half day in the Garraf and the Llobregat Delta. Despite having had only 2 hours sleep following the previous night’s activities it was a fantastic day!

# 300: Monk Parakeet – Myiopsitta monachus: 26^th June in Barcelona: Numerous small flocks seen (and heard!) in the city over the weekend.

# 301: Eurasian Golden-Oriole – Oriolus oriolus: 27^th June in Barcelona: Restricted views of bird sat on nest at the Garraf.

# 302: Woodchat Shrike – Lanius senator: 27^th June in Barcelona: Single bird seen at distance in low light (early and damp!) at the Garraf.

# 303: Pallid Swift – Apus pallidus: 27^th June in Barcelona: c10 birds seen in flight on route to the coast from the Garraf mixing with Common Swifts.

# 304: Blue Rock-Thrush – Monticola solitarius: 27^th June in Barcelona: Superb views of 2 male birds on the cliffs at the coast between the Garraf and Llobregat Delta.

# 305: Eurasian Spoonbill – Platalea leucorodia: 27^th June in Barcelona: A group of 4 seen feeding on one of the pools at Llobregat Delta. 

# 306: Black-crowned Night-Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax: 27^th June in Barcelona: Single bird seen from hide over pool at Llobregat Delta.

# 307: Purple Heron – Ardea purpurea: 27^th June in BarcelonaSpain in 2006) This time a definite bird overhead at Llobregat Delta.: (Previous possible views of 3 birds overhead from house in

# 308: Squacco Heron – Ardeola ralloides: 27^th June in Barcelona: Great views of a single bird from tower at Llobregat Delta over reed beds.

# 309: Little Bittern – Ixobrychus minutes: 27^th June in Barcelona: Cracking views from tower at Llobregat Delta, 2-3 birds seen crossing the reed beds.

# 310: Zitting Cisticola – Cisticola juncidis: 27^th June in Barcelona. 2 or 3 separate birds seen at Llobregat Delta, showing well from reeds or on posts.

# 311: Whiskered Tern – Chlidonias hybridus: 27^th June in Barcelona. A single bird seen mixing with Common Terns across the pools at Llobregat Delta.

# 312: Eurasian Penduline-Tit – Remiz pendulinus: 27^th June in Barcelona. 2 or 3 including a male seen flitting across reeds at Llobregat Delta

# 313: Gull-billed Tern – Sterna nilotica: 27^th June in Barcelona. A small number viewed on the beach at Llobregat Delta.

# 314: Audouin’s Gull – Larus audouinii: 27^th June in Barcelona. Excellent views of a small number of this rare gull on the beach at Llobregat Delta.

# 315: Common Pheasant – Phasianus colchicusPurple Swamphen – Porphyrio porphyrio: 27^th June in Barcelona. A single bird was on one of the pools at Llobregat Delta.

# 316: Alpine Swift – Tachymarptis melba: 27^th June in Barcelona. A single bird was seen overhead at the Llobregat Delta amongst Common Swifts and other hirundines.

UK

# 317: Eurasian Wryneck – Jynx torquilla: 14^th September in Prestwood. It’s not often a bird of this quality lands so close to home. The juvenile bird had been elusively moving between a number of gardens in Perks Lane. Finally I achieved fantastic views. A great local find by Mike Collard.

# 318: Red-necked Phalarope – Phalaropus lobatus: 21^st September at Freiston Shore RSPB. On route back home from Gibraltar Point I’d heard about a single juvenile showing extremely well on the furthest pool from the car-park together with 4 Little Stints. It was definitely worth the stop!

# 319: Ferruginous Pochard – Aythya nyroca: 16^th October at Calvert Lakes. Stopped off on the way home to finally see the male that had been present on and off over the previous month. Showing extremely well down to c50 feet.

# 320: Jack Snipe – Lymnocryptes minimus: 13^th November at Calvert Lakes: Visited late evening on way home from work to see single bird low but easily visible in reeds just 30 feet in from of the hide.

# 321: American Wigeon – Anas Americana: 19^th December at Thatcham: First winter male seen on Trout Pools.

# 322: Ring-necked Duck – Aythya collaris: 3^rd time lucky, finally at daybreak I managed to locate the male at Foxcote. Both the white spur on the flanks and the white colouration on the bill were extremely clear

19 lifers, 232 in total

# 223: European White-Fronted Goose – Anser albifrons: 1000′s of birds seen in Norfolk with Jerry in January

# 224: Pink Footed Goose – Anser brachyrynchus: Seen on same trip

# 225: Long-tailed Duck – Clangula hyemalis: Single male offshore at Holkham

# 226: White-winged Scoter – Melanitta fusca: Single bird amongst Common Scoter at Holkham

# 227: Horned Lark – Eremophila alpestris: Small number at Holkham dunes

# 228: Snow Bunting – Plectrophenax nivalis: Small number at Holkham dunes

# 229: Little Bunting – Emberiza pusilla: Single bird seen at Blakeney

# 230: Pomarine Jaeger – Stercorarius pomarinus: Single bird at distance from Sheringham coast

# 231: Eurasian Woodcock – Scolopax rusticola: Single bird at Titchwell

# 232: Northern Goshawk – Accipter gentilis: Female bird perched offering great views at Titchwell

# 233: Tundra Swan – Cygnus columbianus bewickii: Numerous birds at Welney

# 234: Tundra Bean Goose – Anser serrirostris rossicus: Single bird seen at distance at Bisham in February

# 235: Common Scops Owl – Otus scops: Bird heard on 2 occasions and seen fleetingly at Thrupp in June

# 236: Yellow-collared Lovebird – Agapornis personatus: Possible escape seen in Spain in July

# 237: Crested Lark – Galerida cristata: Single bird seen on rough ground at El Campello in July

# 238: European Serin – Serinus serinus: Small flocks regularly seen at El Campello in July

# 239: Greater Flamingo – Phoenicopterus ruber: Numerous birds overhead and at Benidorm in Spain, July

# 240: Inornate Warbler – Phylloscopus inornatus: Male showing well at Middlebere in August

# 241: Water Pipit – Anthus spinoletta: Regular returning bird seen at Wilstone in December

# 209: Willow Ptarmigan – Lagopus lagopus: Fleeting glimpses on Derbyshire moors in May

# 210: European Pied Flycatcher – Ficedula hypoleuca: Small numbers seen in woods in Somerset with Jerry Cook, in May

# 211: Common Redstart – Phoenicurus phoenicurus: Single male seen on same trip

# 212: Wood Warbler – Phylloscopus sibilatrix: Small numbers on same trip with Jerry

# 213: Garden Warbler – Sylvia borin: Heard regularly, one seen clearly in Somerset

# 214: Lesser Whitethroat – Sylvia curruca: Distant view across fields in Somerset

# 220: Common Loon – Gavia immer: Adult bird on the Camel estuary, seen on holiday in November

# 221: Corn Bunting – Emberiza calandra: Distant flock of 30 roosting at Tring in November

31 lifers for the year, 206 in total

# 176: White-headed Duck – Oxyura leucocephala: Single male turned up at Shardeloes lake

# 177: Ruddy Shelduck – Tadorna ferruginea: 3 birds of dubious origin observed on spit at LMGP

# 178: Ring-billed Gull – Larus delawarensis: Single bird picked out of large roost at LMGP

A trip to see friends in Chester during May led us across to Anglesey for the day

# 179: Atlantic Puffin – Fratercula arctica: A small number of birds remained on the rocks and the sea in extremely blustery conditions

# 180: Manx Shearwater – Puffinus puffinus: A reasonable passage were seen way off shore, pretty poor visibility due to the conditions

# 181: Red-billed Chough – Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax: 2 birds were seen battling in the wind close to the observation tower, a great sight!

Our holiday to southern Spain in June turned up a small number but fantastic new birds.

# 182: Eurasian Hoopoe – Upupa epops: A great bird to see for the first time, this one stayed fairly close to the house we were staying in, spending the majority of its time feeding on rough ground

# 183: Southern Grey Shrike – Lanius meridionalis: Another fantastic bird, perched obligingly on rough scrub close to the house affording great views for 20 minutes

# 184: Black Wheatear – Oenanthe leucura: The 3rd excellent find of the week, I didn’t even know what it was until I looked in my guide. A pair were occupying an area on the cliffs close to the beach, a very smart bird

# 185: Spotless Starling – Sturnus unicolor: Locally these were present in large numbers

# 186: Red-rumped Swallow – Hirundo daurica: The occasional bird was spotted amongst the commoner Barn Swallows

# 187: Sardinian Warbler – Sylvia melanocephala: These were reasonably common in the area, a family providing easy views on the scrubland

My first trip away with Jerry Cook in September as a belated Father’s Day present, the best birdwatcher I’ve known, a good friend and missed by all who knew him.

# 188: Yellow Wagtail – Motacilla flava: Single bird overhead on farmland

# 189: Common Eider – Somateria mollissima: Small number offshore at Sheringham

# 190: Stock Pigeon – Columba oenas: Small number on grassland at Cley

# 191: Sanderling – Calidris alba: A few birds on the shore at Titchwell

# 192: Dunlin – Calidris alpine: Seen regularly at Cley and Titchwell

# 193: Red Knot – Calidris canutus: Small number at Cley

# 194: Curlew Sandpiper – Calidris ferruginea: 2 birds picked out from the Dunlin at Cley

# 195: Little Stint – Calidris minuta: 2-3 juvenile birds at both Cley and Titchwell

# 196: Ruff – Philomachus pugnax: Distant views of a single bird at Cley

# 197: Spotted Redshank – Tringa erythropus: Single bird seen at Cley

# 198: Black-winged Stilt – Himantopus himantopus: Sammy!

# 199: Parasitic Jaeger – Stercorarius parasiticus: One bird seen offshore at Sheringham and Cley

# 200: Common Murre – Uria aalge: Small number seen at both Sheringham and Titchwell

# 201: Western Marsh-Harrier – Circus aeruginosus: Superb views of a number of birds along the coast

# 202: Merlin – Falco columbarius: Single bird seen in field

# 203: Red-necked Grebe – Podiceps grisegena: Occasional birds seen offshore at Sheringham and Cley

# 204: Northern Fulmar – Fulmarus glacialis: Small number offshore at Hunstanton

# 205: Northern Wheatear – Oenanthe oenanthe: A few birds seen at Cley

# 206: Whinchat – Saxicola rubetra: Single male spotted at Cley

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

42 lifers for the year. 164 in total

In 2002 I started to venture further afield, both in the UK and abroad.

A short trip to Pulborough Brooks (en route to buy a new bed!) in January added the following:

# 123: Grey Plover – Pluvialis squatarola

# 124: Common Redshank – Tringa totanus

# 125: Eurasian Curlew – Numenius arquata

# 126: Black-tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa

# 127: Common Snipe – Gallinago gallinago

# 128: Pale-Bellied Brent Goose – Branta bernicla hrota

February we went skiing to Italy, and I had my first experiences of real alpine species:

# 129: Alpine Accentor – Prunella collaris: Single birds seen at restaurants on slopes

# 130: White-winged Snowfinch – Montifringilla nivalis: Small flocks seen occasionally on slopes

# 131: Yellow-billed Chough – Pyrrhocorax graculus: Large flocks seen across slopes

# 132: Spotted Nutcracker – Nucifraga caryocatactes: Single birds seen on slopes

# 133: Hooded Crow – Corvus corone cornix: Birds seen at airport

UK

# 134: Great Bittern – Botaurus stellaris: Single bird seen at close quarters in reed bed at Wilstone, Tring in February

# 135: Red Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra: Large flock seen at Hedgerley in February whilst looking for the White-winged Crossbill

# 136: White-winged Crossbill – Loxia leucoptera: Amongst a large number of birders and even more Red Crossbills, I finally located the male bird, showing extremely well amongst the pines

# 137: Ring Ouzel – Turdus torquatus: May, male and female showing well at Ivinghoe

# 138: Tree Pipit – Anthus trivialis: During same visit to Ivinghoe, single birds performing well, flying up and singing from small trees

# 139: Willow Warbler – Phylloscopus trochilus: Small number seen, and more often heard at Ivinghoe

# 140: Greater Whitethroat – Sylvia communis: Male and female birds seen at LMGP in May

# 141: Great White Pelican – Pelecanus onocrotalus: Single bird of questionable origin in fields close to Wilstone, Tring seen in September

# 142: Black Tern – Chlidonias niger: Bird seen in flight at Wilstone, Tring early September

In September we took a holiday to Cuba and stayed at Guardalavaca on the North East coast. The majority of species seen were in the hotel grounds or passing by the beach. A boat trip up an estuary into the countryside proved more varied.

# 143: Yellow-faced Grassquit – Tiaris olivacea: Single bird seen in hotel grounds

# 144: Greater Antillean Grackle – Quiscalus niger: Common in hotel grounds

# 145: Cuban Blackbird – Dives atroviolacea: Seen occasional whilst on route

# 146: Tawny-shouldered Blackbird – Agelaius humeralis: 2 birds in the hotel grounds

# 147: Cuban Martin – Progne cryptoleuca: Single bird from the harbour near to Holguin

# 148: Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos: Single bird on path at beach

# 149: Grey Kingbird – Tyrannus dominicensis: Breeding birds at the hotel, next visible from hotel room

# 150: Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura: Common all over the island

# 151: Brown Pelican – Pelecanus occidentalis: Young bird in harbour

# 152: Tricolored Heron – Egretta tricolour: Single bird on estuary

# 153: Snowy Egret – Egretta thula: Common on route across island

# 154: Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis: Common on route across island

# 155: Great Egret – Ardea alba: Common on route across island

# 156: Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga: Single bird overhead at hotel

# 157: Royal Tern – Sterna maxima: 3 birds passed at sea

# 158: Least Tern – Sterna antillarum: 3 birds passed at sea

# 159: Laughing Gull – Larus atricilla: Single bird seen at sea on occasions

# 160: Black-necked Stilt – Himantopus mexicanus: 3 birds on estuary

# 161: Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura: Common dove in and around hotel

# 162: Antillean Palm-Swift – Tachornis phoenicobia: Single bird through hotel grounds

France

# 163: Red-crested Pochard – Netta rufina: Pair on pond at hotel in France in October

UK

# 164: Arctic Loon – Gavia arctica: Juvenile bird seen at Taplow lakes in December

75 lifers for the year. 122 in total

Little Marlow became a regular haunting ground especially as it was so close to work. The reservoirs at Tring and Rickmansworth were also very good local sites.

My list built steadily during the year, details below are not necessarily in chronological order.

# 48: Red-legged Partridge – Alectoris rufa: On farmland in Little Marlow

# 49: Egyptian Goose – Alopochen aegyptiacus: At LMGP

# 50: Northern Pintail – Anas acuta: Seen at Wilstone

# 51: Northern Shoveler – Anas clypeata: At LMGP

# 52: Common Teal – Anas crecca: At LMGP

# 53: Eurasian Wigeon – Anas Penelope: At LMGP

# 54: Gadwall – Anas strepera: At LMGP

# 55: Bar-headed Goose – Anser indicus: At LMGP

# 56: Common Pochard – Aythya farina: At LMGP

# 57: Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula: At LMGP

# 58: Barnacle Goose – Branta leucopsis: Single bird on canal at Rickmansworth

# 59: Common Goldeneye – Bucephala clangula: On LMGP

# 60: Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata: On pond in Chesham

# 61: Black Swan – Cygnus atratus: Single bird at Rickmansworth

# 62: Smew – Mergellus albellus: Female / Redhead at Wilstone

# 63: Common Merganser – Mergus merganser: Sizeable group at Wilstone

# 64: Ruddy Duck – Oxyura jamaicensis: Seen at Wilstone

# 65: Great Spotted Woodpecker – Dendrocopos major: In Prestwood woods

# 66: Eurasian Green Woodpecker – Picus viridis: Seen at LMGP

# 67: Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis:  Seen at Hughenden

# 68: Common Cuckoo – Cuculus canorus: First heard and then spotted in West Wycombe

# 69: Rose-ringed Parakeet – Psittacula krameri: Numerous birds at LMGP

# 70: Little Owl – Athene noctua: Spotted on farmland in Prestwood

# 71: Tawny Owl – Strix aluco: Heard from home, finally seen in Prestwood early morning

# 72: Water Rail – Rallus aquaticus: Heard many times but finally seen at Weston Turville

# 73: Common Sandpiper – Actitis hypoleucos: On spit at LMGP

# 74: Common Greenshank – Tringa nebularia: Single bird at Wilstone, Tring

# 75: Little Ringed Plover – Charadrius dubius: On spit at LMGP

# 76: Common Ringed Plover – Charadrius hiaticula: On spit at LMGP

# 77: European Golden-Plover – Pluvialis apricaria: Birds on farmland in Thame

# 78: Northern Lapwing – Vanellus vanellus: Seen on farmland at Shardeloes

# 79: Common Gull – Larus canus: Seen at LMGP

# 80: Lesser Black-backed Gull – Larus fuscus: Seen at LMGP

# 81: Great Black-backed Gull – Larus marinus: Seen at LMGP

# 82: Common Tern – Sterna hirundo: Returning birds to LMGP

# 83: Eurasian Sparrowhawk – Accipiter nisus: Bird seen from home

# 84: Common Buzzard – Buteo buteo: Birds overhead from home

# 85: Eurasian Hobby – Falco subbuteo: Bird hawking at Tringford, Tring

# 86: Black-necked Grebe – Podiceps nigricollis: Winter bird at Wilstone, Tring

# 87: Little Grebe – Tachybaptus ruficollis: Seen at LMGP

# 88: Little Egret – Egretta garzetta: 2 or 3 birds at Chenies

# 89: Spotted Flycatcher – Muscicapa striata: Single bird at Hughenden

# 90: Redwing – Turdus iliacus: Flocks at LMGP

# 91: Fieldfare – Turdus pilaris: Flocks at LMGP

# 92: Eurasian Tree-Creeper – Certhia familiaris: Seen in family garden

# 93: Sand Martin – Riparia riparia: Returning birds to LMGP

# 94: Goldcrest – Regulus regulus: Woods in Prestwood

# 95: Sedge Warbler – Acrocephalus schoenobaenus: Single birds on canal in Tring

# 96: Eurasian Reed-Warbler – Acrocephalus scirpaceus: Single birds at LMGP

# 97: Eurasian Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybita: Seen at LMGP

# 98: Blackcap – Sylvia atricapilla: Female bird in garden

# 99: Sky Lark – Alauda arvensis: Single bird on farmland in Prestwood

# 100: Meadow Pipit – Anthus pratensis: Small flocks at LMGP

# 101: Grey Wagtail – Motacilla cinerea: Single bird at Hughenden

# 102: Eurasian Linnet – Carduelis cannabina: Reasonably large flocks on rough land in Prestwood

# 103: Lesser Redpoll – Carduelis cabaret: 2 birds at LMGP

# 104: Eurasian Siskin – Carduelis spinus: Small flocks at LMGP

# 105: Reed Bunting – Emberiza schoeniclus: LMGP

# 106: Brambling – Fringilla montifringilla: First seen on walk in Stokenchurch

2 weeks in Italy in September weren’t that productive, but a couple of new species were added:

# 107: Black Kite – Milvus migrans: 2 birds were flying down from the cliff tops across the sea bay and back up to the cliffs whilst visiting Ischia in September.

# 108: Cory’s Shearwater – Calonectris diomedea: Single bird flying by the boat on the return journey, yellow bill clearly visible as it flew close to the waves.

During October half-term we took a week over to Eire, an extremely wet experience!

# 109: Northern Gannet – Morus bassanus: Numerous birds seen on crossing

# 110: Greater White-fronted Goose – Anser albifrons flavirostris: Large groups of birds present at Wexford Slobs

# 111: Greater Scaup – Aythya marila: Single male, distant but very clear on water at Wexford Slobs

# 112: Dark-Bellied Brent Goose – Branta bernicla bernicla: Small number at Wexford Slobs

# 113: Whooper Swan – Cygnus Cygnus: Large number on grassland at Wexford Slobs

# 114: Red-throated Loon – Gavia stellata: Single female offshore

# 115: Common Shelduck – Tadorna tadorna: Reasonable numbers at Wexford Slobs

# 116: Rock Dove – Columba livia: Small flock resident in cliff side

# 117: Bar-tailed Godwit – Limosa lapponica: Good number at Wexford Slobs

# 118: Eurasian Oystercatcher – Haematopus ostralegus: Good number at Wexford Slobs

# 119: Black Guillemot – Cepphus grille: Single juvenile bird seen extremely closely at water’s edge

# 120: Black-legged Kittiwake – Rissa tridactyla: Resident birds seen in cliff side

# 121: Northern Harrier – Circus cyaneus: Fantastic views of a ring-tail hunting at Wexford Slobs

# 122: Common Stonechat – Saxicola torquata: Male spotted on fence post on country road