The year started off with some local birding around Cheshire and Wirral.A black redstart was in Sandbach town centre, and the annual long-eared owls were sitting out in the sun.
I had to wait till the end of January for the first Mega to break in Exmouth, Devon, when a Northern Mockingbird was found in someones back garden,I drove down and got great views of the bird
On the 12th of April, I visited Newchurch Common and saw a drake-necked duck, which was a quality bird. The female Smew of unknown origin was also present.
On the 21st of April, I visited Marbury Country Park for a Ring Ouzel, which was a patch lifer for me. 201st bird for the patch!
At the end of May, I visited Shetland for a week with Dianne, had a cracking week holiday, and stayed with my good friends Allan and Paula Conlin on Unst. We saw some great birds and had a magical afternoon watching the orcas. The only disappointment was not being able to get on Fair Isle because of the weather to see the Calandra Lark, so frustrating!
Bordanoost Lodge-Unst
Dianne watching her first Orca's
Over 70 birds were recorded throughout the week.
Rustic Bunting
Icterine Warbler
Golden Oriole
Garganey
White-billed diver
Ring-necked duck
Hobby
Little Tern
Red Backed Shrike
Wood Warbler
The day we landed back on the mainland, the mega alert went off. A red-necked stint had been found in Northumberland, which showed so well on arrival and topped off a great week of birding.
On the 8th of June, the mega alert went off while I was at work that a sulphur-bellied warbler had been found on Lundy. Arrangements were made for the next day, but there was no sign. Hell of a bird, but as the old cliche goes! Then there'll be another!
On Monday, 14th June, the MEGA alert went off that an Egyptian vulture had been found on the Isles of Scilly. I tried to sort out work to go the next day but would have to wait on this one!Lucky I did cause the following morning certain birders that I will not name were ticking branches as the bird!😂😂Anyway, the bird had gone and ended up in Ireland, where it showed really well, and the funny thing about it is that it just came out again on the pager as still being in Ireland six months later as I sit here writing this. Sure, it should have migrated after this long, but who am I?
Burton RSPB then came alive in late June with a Bonaparte's gull on the 23rd and a Glossy Ibis on the 26th.
News broke on Friday, 3rd of July evening, that an Oriental turtle dove had been found in a private garden in Easington, East Yorkshire. The species has a wide distribution with geographical variation in plumage that has led to at least six subspecies being designated.The Oriental turtle dove has two distinct migratory northern subspecies, S. o. orientalis in the central Siberian taiga and S. o. meena in the open woodlands of Central Asia. This bird was a Meena, which I hadn't seen before but had seen Oientalis in Oxfordshire in 2010. I visited the site with Mark and Ash Powell and got great views of the bird, and we couldn't help ourselves on the way back and called in at Bempton RSPB to see the black-breasted albatrass again!
Day out with the blue noses!
On July 20th, a Melodious Warbler was trapped, ringed, and released on Hilbre Island. I couldn't make the morning crossing, but the bird had gone by the afternoon! WOUNDED!Another great bird for the Islands.
On the 25th of July, I visited Burton RSPB to see a Long Billed Dowitcher which showed well and at least 4 Bearded tits
On the 29th of July, I visited Anglesey to see Mark Suttons great find an Elegant Tern at Cemlyn Bay. My last one was at Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog 19 years ago, in July 2002. Where does time go?
I called in at Malltreath on the way home and connected with this smart Pacific Golden Plover
Early August, the Wirral came alive with a pectoral sandpiper on the 6th at Burton RSPB and a new bird for me at last, an American Golden Plover at Hoylake—nothing like sitting at your mates house having a cup of tea and watching a lifer!
On the 9th of August, a Purple Heron flew over Burton RSPB and landed briefly at Parkgate. GUTTED AT WORK!
Me and Mark Sutton arrived at first light, and there it was, just sitting out in the open, flitting around in someone's garden! Amazing, and what a grip back!
Late morning on the 9th of September, Mark Thomas was ringing at Buckton on the East Coast when he netted a MegaJem, a Green Warbler. I was soon over there, and after a good three-hour wait, the bird appeared right in front of me. The hurt of Shetland and Lundy Island dips was now in the back of my mind.
On the 21st September, Wilson's Phalarope was found at Burton RSPB, which showed really well
The annual 10-day pilgrimage to Shetland arrived at the end of September with this mad lot, and we stayed in the Sumburgh lighthouse, which was an experience.
Birding for 10 days was hard going though, with hardly any migrant birds about. Four Yellow Browed Warblers were seen, and we didn't even see a Lesser Whitethroat. We recorded over 120 species though, and Dan found a Western Bonelli's warbler, but no new birds for me this year.
A Monarch butterfly was a first for me as well in Sumburgh walled garden
The holiday ended on a high as it did back in the spring when I reached the mainland with a long-toed stint being found at St Aidan's in West Yorkshire.
On the 18th of October, and after two attempts, I finally caught up with the blue winged teal at Neumann's flash—one hard bird to find! My third bird for the patch.
On the 27th of October, news broke of an absolute monster of a bird on Papa Westray-Orkney Islands. Plans were made that evening, and we watched the bird the next afternoon.
On the 8th of November, the Mega alert went off that a Belted Kingfisher had been seen in Lancashire. Me and Dianne got in the car and were there within an hour, but there was no further sign after walking miles. Forward to the 25th, and I'm sitting at home, and the bird appears again. We get in the car, and I do a roadrunner on arrival, and there it is, sitting in a tree preening itself. The pain this species has caused me, Staffs, and the Isles of Scilly. What a bird, and what a year!
You Beauty!
Another great year of birding. Roll on 2022!