Big Day Reflections

Phew! I enjoyed it immensely...which surprised me somewhat?

Visiting ALL areas of my Village Patch (some many times) was enjoyable. No rushing around, just spending time at various locations and habitats. I realize I was maybe a bit late for my attempt and the Weather while improved was less than optimal with a 20mph cool/cold Westerly for most of the day...I couldn't wait forever. At least it didn't rain!

There will be some inevitable repetition from yesterday's "diary posting" but hopefully it will be kept to a minimum? I hope to give a flavour of the "ups and downs" of a Bird Race, highlighting how much luck (both good and bad) is involved amongst the limited planning and hopefully plentiful local knowledge?

So, here we go. A pic of my only Fulmar on the first walk to the Sea...

I could hear a Collared Dove and eventually I found one...

The same applied to this Greenfinch deep in a Tree...

Some Species you hope to see rather than expect too...

Marsh Harrier

Grey Partridge

Really chuffed to pick the latter out at the edge of an emerging crop. Ironically it was still there in the evening! This didn't lessen the moment though...it just gave me the opportunity for a better photo...

Always nice to see a Yellowhammer well...and in song...

The highlight of the early afternoon was finding a lone Black-headed Gull on the remaining pool on Snakey. The only one I saw all day...a real context moment...up there as "find of the day"!!!

I spent some time distance scanning and this paid of in style when I locked on to a Red Kite!! It was drifting South over Beacon Hill with a sprinkling of Swifts (not guaranteed) for company. Probably my luckiest sighting was the Gannet from the lay-by whilst having a late lunch.

Another walk down Seaside Road around 4 produced my only Kestrel sighting...

The Sea was VERY disappointing throughout. However, I did score with a couple of distant Sandwich Terns...

One here

They came North but U-turned as they reached me.

After making the good lady's  meal I returned to Old Hive around 8 hoping for a couple of late results, which I duly collected...

Meadow Pipit

Reed Bunting

This duo put me on 49. As already mentioned I was now thinking...Owl as it was gone 9. I tried Model Farm and the Bunker but no joy. I felt my best bet now was Barn, so I headed for  Snakey once more. I did a couple of runs but couldn't find anything. I'd seen Little Owl some months ago between East Field and East End Farms, so I headed back down there...and waited. I still had a chance of Barn as  was prepared to wait beyond dusk. I scanned the wires and poles around both Farm entrances. Then at 9.30 a familiar shape to the rear of East End Farm...

Little Owl (50)

That will do me! I headed home content with the day. For the record below is a full List of Birds seen...

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix)

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Lesser Black-backed_ Gull (Larus fuscus)

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus argentatus)

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

Rock Dove (Columba livia)

Stock Dove (Columba oenas)

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Little Owl (Athene noctua)

Common Swift (Apus apus)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

Skylark (Alauda arvensis)

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

House Martin (Delichon urbica)

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)

Great Tit (Parus major major)

Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica)

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

Rook (Corvus frugilegus)

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Misses - (Species probable)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

Yellow Wagtail (Montacilla flava)

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Misses - (Species possible)

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)

Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

Coal Tit (Parus ater)

Common Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

Some are debatable and obviously anything might pass by above or over the Sea. Remarkably no Waders were observed!? The thrill of finding a "common" Species in a "rare" context was fulfilling...and fun. All within 3 miles of home to boot. All in all I was pleased with my haul and the experiences I had throughout the 16 Hours! The most pleasing thing was that I lasted the course!!