Summary A very good year finishing with 301 bird species and 15 lifers for the year. I also had 46 butterflies, 32 dragonflys, 16 amphibians and reptiles and 37 mammals, highlights being Long billed murrelet, camberwell beauty, yellow veined darter, green lizard and wild boar.

31st December The last day of the year and I was up early heading to Loch Carron for otters but nothing doing so I headed up to the pass of the Cattle where two snow buntings were in the car park. I made the trek to the top in search of Hares and Ptarmigan. Lots of hare prints in the snow but no sign. The weather was closing in and snow was falling when I saw 4 ptarmigan fly to the edge of the ridge and land. I headed that way in the now heavy snow. I found the ptarmigan on a ledge and headed back to the car in blizzard conditions. Back at sea level it was rain, red breasted mergansers and slav grebes were on the loch but little else. I headed for Shieldag for a long eared owl roost but not a sign in the torrential rain. I continued searching the loch for otters but to no avail, the year was over.

30th December Feeling surprisingly fresh considering the previous day, I headed to the Cairngorms, where it was not raining. On Cairngorm a red grouse was found near the car park. I spoke to the ranger who told me not to go on the mountain as it was 100 mph winds up there. I heeded his advice and headed down to see the reindeer herd. Onwards to the woods in search of red squirrels and parrot crossbills. The first site near Loch Morlich had nothing at all but a few long tailed tits. I ventured into the Abernathy forest where a mixed tit flock was located, containing willow and crested tits. Little else so I moved to to Loch Garten, again nothing then onto Forest Lodge where lots of tits were easily found (no crested) The long trek round the forest produced fieldfare in the fields at the edge, then almost back to the car I heard a crossbill and eventually managed to find them. Two Parrot/Scottish Crossbills high up in a tree. The forest Lodge feeders had nothing of interest so I called it a day, not a squirrel all day.

29th December Lashing down with rain so spent the entire day drinking.

28th December The next day was forecast to be the best so we headed down to the Ardnamurchan peninsular to search for otters and eagles. The latter was easily found a golden eagle soaring along a ridge alongside Loch Eil We scoured the coast for otters without any luck. We did find harbour porpoise, common seal and plenty of ravens and hooded crows. Three birds were soaring distantly, we headed that way just as one of them a juvenile white tailed eagle was drifting away the other two golden eagles flew the other way towards the Visitor centre. We headed there for some food. Here they have provided an eagle feeding station, where a juv white tailed eagle had been coming regularly. Several red deer came close to the visitor centre. Bird highlights redwings, greylag goose - real ones and a slav grebe on the sea. We headed back to base but had to slam on the brakes for a pine marten by the side of the road, it scampered off into the woods.

27th December Leaving late on Boxing Day, the long drive to Callander was uneventful, arriving in the dark. After some kip the search started to no avail, several other birders were looking but no sign, a pair of goosanders and some siskin's the highlights. After breakfast in one of the local cafe's the search resumed. We drove along Loch Venachar and picked up a duck in flight. I leapt out and the Barrow's Goldeneye flew past and landed in front of two birders on a small peninsula. I got me gear and headed down to join them. The were walking away just a goldeneye, goldeneye my arse, I headed down and showed them the bird showing them all the features. Oh they said and went and got their scopes - muppets. The bird was called in and the rest of the searchers arrived to good views although very distant. Next was the drive to Ormsary where after a short period of time the Ross's Gull flew in super close views were had. A melanistic rabbit was seen along the roadside on our journey north to Roybridge (Nr Fort WIlliam) which was to be our base for the next few days.

26th December
A leisurly drive to Kempsey Worcestershire and a sewage works not everyones idea of boxing day so the long suffering girlfriend declined. Good job too as it was freezing and the siberian chiff chaff was eventually located but not after a long cold wait, chiff chaff and a scandanavian chiff chaff were also present. After finding some fuel and some food I went to Bartley reservoir where the glaucous gull was found in the roost, also of note were at least two yellow legged gulls.

23rd December
We spent the whole day at Slimbridge, bewick's swans were abundant but the elusive tundra bean goose and the greenland whitefronts were the highlights when they were eventually located.

22nd December
An early moring saw me at South Stack for first light, ravens and choughs were abundant but not much else, but this part of the world was sunny and clear. Breakfast at Llanfairfechan where the black scoter was eventually located distantly from the car park, but the sea watching was excellent with lots of red throated divers, two velvet scoters, great northern diver and a good selection of other ducks and waders. Through the Mersey tunnel to Crosby where the long walk was avoided thanks to the kind ranger who gave me a lift in the Land rover. The pallas warbler was quickly found but did not show well keeping low in the scrub and reeds. I headed for home via the midlands stopping for the gull roost at Ogstone Reservoir. Caspian gull and Med gull were the highlights.

21st December
FInishing work for the year at midday I headed south to Kent, first was an old nemesis. Arriving at New Hythe GP in the fog and bitter cold I was hoping for co-operation alas it took ages to find the Ferruginous Duck skulking in the reeds on the far side. North to Cliffe and the long walk to Cliffe fort, where the several birders were watching the Falcated duck which was with the mallard flock, I watched it in awful light conditions and it was very misty before heading for home.

17th December
Keeping it local and to get some sleep, I headed to Wilstone where the car park and some of the perimeter path was closed, so I parked at the cemetary and walked in. Despite much searching no water pipit could be found only grey and pied wagtails. After a while I headed the long way round to the hide where the firecrest was quite easily found in the tit flock along with chiffchaff and treecreeper. I found a much quicker way back but still no sign of the pipit, the only bird of note was a barnacle goose. Next was Stockers lake which despite the sunday crowd was quiet, the goosanders were found in their usual corner the only other bird of note was a red crested pochard. With nothing around it was back to Wilstone, but a wrong turn did produce a large covey of grey partridges. Wilstone did give up its water pipit.

16th December
The plan was to be in the broads all day but not much there, so I made an early start arriving at Salthouse for dawn fox and Barn owl on the way, the white rumped sandpiper was located briefly before being flushed by a dog walker! and could not be relocated. By this time other birders had arrived and we did some seawatching, Lots of red throated divers, razorbills and guillemots and a single puffin the prize find (not by me) was a balearic shearwater close in. Two shore larks were also present. Then on to the broads, first stop was Rush Hill scrape, the muddy walk was uneventful,the green winged teal was easily located in the distant teal flock. I then had a drive round for cranes to no avail, a barn owl was the highlight and a peacock butterfly joined me for lunch. Cantley was next and the taiga bean geese were easliy located along with some european whitefronts. Back to Hickling and to the Stubb Mill raptor roost, where at least two barn owls, 60 or so marsh harriers, 2 hen harriers, merlin, kestrel and sparrowhawk and a chinese water deer were all present and eventually 5 cranes came in, not a bad day.

13th December
A late afternoon trip to Amwell was largely uneventfull with a JCB excavating near the viewpoint. A water rail by the viewpoint and yellow legged gull in the large gull rosst were the highlights. AT least 10 little egrets roosted and at least 20 goldeneye were seen.

10th - December
The regular bird club trip headed to West Thurrock for the Grey Phalarope that has been present for a week, but not this morning. I could see why it left! The next stop was Oare Marshes but was poorly timed as the tide was out. Sanderling was of note, so we headed to Sheppy, and shortly found the rough legged buzzard, along with common buzzard and lots of marsh harriers. Onward to Harty Ferry Inn with lots more of harriers along with both partridges also red brested mergansers on the river were of note. The raptor watchpoint had more of the same but green sandpipers, corn buntings and a merlin were added. Back to Oare and the tide was more favourable, little stint was an unexpected find, the long billed dowicher was eventually located but was distant and flighty.

9th - December
The long drive to Bowling Green Marsh arriving at dawn was rewarded with the Falcated duck, it showed off and on but distantly, with a large flock of wigeon. Several pintail and a little egret were present along with good numbers of avocet, and other waders. Next stop was the cirl bunting site, a woodlark was easily found but it took some time to find a cirl bunting and this was the only one located. Homeward bound with the next stop at Avonmouth, with lots of buzzards along the way. The ring necked duck was easily located on the pool next to the household tip. Then onto Severn beach, but the Leach's Petrels had all gone or been eaten. But several had been seen at New Passage further upriver. A Leach's Petrel was located easily about a third the way out. The last stop was at the M4 Reading services, but the escaped azure winged magpie could not be located, however a small mouse let me approach close enough to take pictures with my mobile phone.

1st - 4th December
I went for a touristy holiday with a little birding to Sardinia - Trip Report Here

27th November
Joining the major Herts birders at the Amwell gull roost this evening, the target was absent and only a yellow legged gull of note.

26th November
A brief visit to Fen drayton, and lots of redwings and fieldfares, a kingfisher and the long staying red necked grebe were the highlights.

25th November
Stortford bird trip, and soggy, Snettisham was the first stop, but not until we had tried the Littleport area for swans, nothing much apart from Ostrichs and golden plover. No golden pheasants at Wolferton. But snettisham was much more sucessful apart from the weather. The long staying little auk was still present and a couple of snow bunting and 5 shore larks were found amongst the skylarks. There were scaup and goldeneye on the pits, and large numbers of the usual waders on the mudflats. Still bucketing down at Thornham we managed to find a large flock of twite from the safety of the car. Then onto Holkham for the Geese, but they were flighty and we spooked them, at least it was now dry. We walked the short distance to the white morph snow goose in another flock that was far less jumpy. We headed back to the other field and waited as all the geese returned and we searched for the blue morph snow goose. We found several ringed pink footed geese and a whooper swan but could not find the snow goose as they were spooked by some other birdwatchers. On to Lady Anns drive, where a distant barn owl and lots of little egrets kept the wildfowl company.

21st November
A surprise awaited me at work as I was greeted by someone telling me there was a stoat in the bushes, it showed very well (no cameras on site) and I corrected him, as it was clearly a weasel a corker for central Harlow.

19th November
The rescheduled trip to Donna Nook for the seals, third time lucky! We started off with the first stop at Saltfleet for another look at the red breasted geese, just as they were flying away. Then to Donna Nook, on arrival I was wondering what MEGA was here as there were thousands of people, but they were all here for the grey seals good numbers and good views despite the hoards. We headed out on the saltflats away from the people, good numbers of twite but no sign of any shore lark but one snow bunting was located. We headed back to Saltfleet where the red breasted geese were located but very distantly.

18th November
Leaking of the top secret Purple heron details in Bucks, made my first stop obvious. Arriving at 8am with the assembled 20 birders. It was bitterly cold and no sign until dog walkers flushed it from further downstream. It landed briefly then flew further upstream. I left, and later it showed very well. My next destination was Hyde Park. I battled through the traffic and arrived to a much warmer lunchtime. It took some time to find my quarry which was at the furthest part of Longwater. The Yellow legged gull sp which has divided the experts opinion as to its origin. The bird is immediately recognisable and very distinctive, and not like any yellow legged gull I have seen before. As to its ID the jury is still out and hybrid has not been ruled out. I studied the bird for a while, then headed to Reading, well the Eastbound services on the M4 that well known birding hotspot, for a look at the escaped Azure winged magpie that has been there for a couple of weeks. No sign in a hour so I headed for home.

12th November
The reschduled trip to Donna Nook was the order of the day, first stop was March, to address a major miss this year. After 20 mins the dotterel was located, my first this year. Next stop was a marsh in the middle of nowhere for the black eared kite which was showing well but but a little distant on arrival. We watched it for a while getting mobbed by kestrels. Here the plan changed as the Little auks were showing at Snettisham, and my girlfriend feeling the need to pick up this lifer after yesterdays tick. So we headed east of the wash firstly to Flitcham where the snow goose was easily picked up in a large flock of pink footed geese no luck with the bean geese though. Then onto Snettisham where we had excellent views of a hunting kestrel and then a barn owl first for a while. Then to the little auk which came within 3 feet of me, it was feeding well and looked in good health, contrary to my prediction of its demise last week. On the beach the usual waders were present along with 6 shore larks and a single snow bunting which kept getting flushed by some idiots. We popped into Tichwell before heading home, not much doing apart from a great spotted woodpecker on the feeders.

11th November
We rose early for our trip to Donna Nook for the Seals, via Liverpool. The call came as we arrived in Liverpool, it was from Stephen, the Long Billed Murrelett had been refound at Dawlish. Dilemma! - we quickly finished our visit about an hour later and headed south, buzzard on the way, and by 2.30 we were at Dawlish watching the Long Billed Murrelett along with Stephen and Colin who had arrived just before us. We watched it till dusk then had some chips with the black swans before the long trip home. Oh and we did see one seal.

5th November
First stop Fen Drayton, for nothing in particular just general birding as I have not done much recently and it was well placed for the American wigeon, some goldeneye present, and duck numbers building up. Large numbers of fieldfare's both over and present on site. The short drive to Needingworth and obstacle course to get to the gravel pit was worth it, as the American wigeon was quickly found but it stayed quite distant. Next was Snettisham, I was quickly distracted from my target by the spectacular wader flocks flying over the mudflats. Then onto the incredibly showy little auk, which has outlasted its friends. The female scaup was located on my journey back to the car. I headed along the coast stopping for bits and pieces until Salthouse. The purple sandpiper had moved on, and the white rumped sandpiper was a no show but a shore lark proved to be a suitable stand in. Cley had little of interest, Holkham had no geese, so I headed to Tichwell to see the worlds largest bird feeder. My timing was good as the car park was almost empty, the tourists had long since left. A cetti's warbler was of note, but the highlight was the spectacular starling roost, which I assume Chris Packham had also turned up to see.

4th November
With the colder temperatures the birds have been flocking to my garden feeders so I have been hoping for something special (still hoping for brambling, siskin or redpoll in the large finch flock I have) , and it was there this morning but not as I expected. There were 3 cows in the garden eating the bird food, garden plants, the hedge in fact anything. The local farmer eventually rounded them up. The usual pheasant put in appearance but not much else out of the ordinary. A call from the garage with mixed news, car still not fixed but they had a courtsey car I could have. If only I could have had it last weekend.

1st November
A stop at Birchanger services and a large brown rat was patrolling the bins.