Party time

As we sit here waiting for the New Year to (eventually) arrive...always an endurance test. Here's 3 top sounds I'd be praying for if I was out on the town (ala 35 years ago) getting ripped off!

1. Floor filler

2. Great teenage times

3. Amazing feel good college sound

New lists tomorrow Chaps...

Bowie - Rebel Rebel

Brothers Johnson - Stomp

Review of the Year

Back home after the festivities. Weather 'up north' has been horrendous. Still had plenty of snow at mother's over Christmas and now we have thick fog back here...not great for Birding!

Anyway, thought I'd post a summary of my Birding Year...in the traditional manner.

Highlights...

1. Without doubt pride of place must go to the Red-backed Shrike seen at North Duffield Carrs on the 24th May.

2. Fantastic trip to Spain at Easter visiting the superb Extremadura. Finally enabling me to see Great Bustard and plenty of raptors, amongst others...with a bonus 5 days due to a certain volcanic eruption!

3. Kirtland's Warbler seen in early August at Greyling, Michigan had to be the surprise highlight of our amazing trip to the NE US. Managed to add 18 species to my ABA list, now standing at 641.

4. Empid Flycatcher seen at Blakeney Point. If ever a bird was earned, this was it...first day by five minutes!

5. British list additions Lesser Kestrel, Marmora's Warbler, (House Finch), above!

Non-birding high spot was undoubtedly fulfilling my life long dream by visiting the Motown museum in Detroit.

So that's it. Concise as always. Here's to 2011. Belt tightening here, it's going to be a tough year. Hope you didn't vote for 'em!?

Report of ***DUSKY THRUSH*** present in a private garden for 2 weeks during December!!!
This bird?
Winter photo

P.S. - Christmas Songs!

Have some time before we depart for the festivities, so I thought I'd post my favourite Christmas songs. Don't want to become an old misery guts!

Johnny Mathis - Child is Born

No more posts till after Christmas so all the very best to you all...and no MEGA on Christmas Day!!!

Out and about

Topped up the feeders in the car park. Nothing unusual, but they're keeping the locals well fed as can be seen by this red ball!

Also had a visit from some Long-tailed Tits...

Spent the last hour with my pal Nige looking for a couple of Owls he'd seen. First we went to an area just north of Murton to try for Little. Nige spotted it (without bins!) on a fencepost. It only posed briefly before shooting over a hedge not to be seen again...nice one Nige. Tried a nearby wood for Tawny but no joy.

Swan comparison

Confession time. Took Rocky down by the bridge for a stretch. Noticed some swans on the river. Dismissed them as Mute. Turning back to the car...heard the familiar call...
 

Jizz!

Birds still mainly confined to the river at Duff. Did have c10 Ruff and c20 Dunlin out on the Carrs. Whoopers still coming and going from the farm to the river...

Meet the Whoopers

Extreme conditions but excellent circumstances for close views of the herd by Bubwith bridge. I set up position in my car around 9 and waited. There were around 40 birds on the ice and on the river. It was quiet for quite a while and I just enjoyed watching them interacting mainly in their family groups.

Then it became obvious that they were starting to stir with plenty of noise and wing flapping. Eventually around 10 they started to leave for the fields in small groups...

The combination of clear light, freezing conditions, noise and impressive birds was a joy to behold. Really enjoying this winter birding...

Spent the last hour again down by the bridge. Large flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare present and groups of Whoopers coming in to roost. Better sunset tonight, even a power station looks good?...



Garden lifer today in the form of a Buzzard!

At last - WAXWINGS!

Obviously unable to connect during the week due to work and no luck at weekends I decided it was time I cheated a bit and got some help. I had seen a few posts on Birdforum regarding a fairly stable group in Swillington on Primrose Hill Close . I decided to drive over this morning. Minus 9 when I got in the car but a beautiful crisp, clear morning with perfect light. I found the spot easily and parked up. I couldn't see any birders so I walked up the close to see if I could see anything. Right at the top of the close I saw the familiar silhouette of WAXWINGS. I sneaked over and managed to fire off a few shots...

NEVER get tired of these birds, they are simply stunning and the great thing is they can turn up anywhere. I even had some in my garden at Wilberfoss many moons ago.

Spent the last hour down Duff, it was a bit fresh in the hide but watching 35 Whoopers (10 immatures) coming in off the farm to land on the river was pretty special...

Finished off with a Barn Owl fly-past!

A Great Day...

Northern Harrier - acting on impulse!

Woke up early around 7.30. Weighed up the situation. Louise under the weather and wanting to stay in, yours truly stir crazy with the short days and weather. Solution...go and see a rare bird! Weather forecast came good and traffic was light (obviously due to grim reports). Arrived at Thornham around 11. Tried a few minor roads and could see the marsh but decided to go on to Titchwell (for a sentimental return visit) as it had also been seen well here ...got to be at least 10 years since my last visit.
Had a mooch around then an update on the pager made me return to Thornham harbour. Joined a group of birders who informed me it had just shown well. Most of them then drifted away leaving just two of us. Eventually I was on my own getting colder by the minute in a drawing wind. Then...there it was! I picked it up over the marsh and it performed well although quite distant. It does have a dodgy leg!



Record shot - please click!


Also enjoyed great views of thousands of Pinkfeet and a rarity now around my neck of the woods...Grey Partridge!

Great start to Holiday...could have been Brilliant!

Rose at 8.30 and went to Bubwith Bridge. Great to be out on a crisp, sunny morning. I was rewarded with brilliant views of a Peregrine right by the bridge swooping and toying with the wildfowl for a good 10 minutes...superb! Also close views of groups of Redwing and Fieldfare, a few Ruff and Dunlin on the meadow. Next tried the hide at Duff, within 5 minutes had superb, prolonged views of an adult female Marsh Harrier. Firstly drifting down the river, then across the front of the hide and then mobbing a Fox with it's prey on the Carrs. A distant Buzzard completed a trio of quality raptors.

Two Birders I'd pointed the Peregrine out to earlier joined me in the hide and informed me they had just seen some WAXWINGS by the bridge! I gave it half an hour but no joy. Might find some soon?

Speaking of Peregrine, check out this footage of this incredible bird in action...242MPH!!!!

Ray Charles - Take these chains

Ray Charles

Friday night is music choice (only once a week). Soul music is my first love and I thought I'd show my appreciation by cataloguing in chronological order my personal history of the greats.

Only one place to start. Although even before my time I always admired his music and this view was enhanced by the tremendous film Ray which I saw on a flight to America. Simply a genius...

Ray Charles - Georgia

Ray Charles - I can't stop loving you

The holidays are HERE!!!

Always a sweet moment to reach the holidays, especially so at this dark time of year. No birding during the week and a bit of a mad dash at the weekend, not helped by the freezing conditions. Anyway, mustn't grumble, I've got 17 days now to get some quality birding in. The river has burst it's banks and I'm looking forward to having a good watch tomorrow morning. I'll be putting all notable sightings on here plus topical comment nationwide...you lucky people?

Always the optimist I'm still hoping for an early Christmas present like I got with these beauties!
19/12/2009 - GYR
20/12/2003 - BALTIMORE ORIOLE and AMERICAN ROBIN
23/12/2001 - BAIKAL TEAL
There's still time...

Unfortunately didn't manage to scan my Yorkshire Birding profile page but no matter, just pleased and honoured to have been asked....Cheers John!