So that's my first year list finished. I was hoping to be able to get merlin in at the end but some illness in the family meant that I was house-bound looking after our two year old son. Still I am more than pleased with my final tally of 222 which included an astonishing 54 lifers or technical lifers (where I can't remember whether I had seen it previously as a boy).
It' s been very nice to look back over the year and to be reminded of all the great birds that I've seen. It's also been good to see how my photography has developed from a very dodgy first digiscoping effort of a garganey through to my present efforts. The photography side of things I've found surprisingly rewarding, not least because it makes the blog much more interesting to read.
So what have been the hightlights for me? For me the most rewarding thing of 2008 was probably finding the Temminck's Stint on my local patch. As something which I found myself I feel much more satisfied with this than twitching some mega (e.g. stilt sandpiper). I find that twitching is not very rewarding: it's just a matter of turning up at the right place and if you're lucky the bird is there and you tick it off. Having a huge life list is just a matter of time and money and personally I don't have the inclination to be driving all over the country like a lunatic to see some great rarity. I should say that I am more disposed towards "local twitching", turning up to see a local bird rather than having to slog half way across the country. l am discovering that "local" for me means Oxon, Bucks or Berks. For similar reasons I also enjoyed the American Golden Plover which was once again on my local patch and which I had an accidental hand in finding. There were also three good holidays (from a birding point of view) to Crail, to Wales and to Cornwall which all gave me the opportunity to see interesting birds that I would not otherwise have seen and to boost my year list.
All in all a most satisfying return to birding and I look forward to an even more rewarding 2009. Below is the completed year list.
Species Date Location
001 Goldfinch 01/01/2008 Garden
002 Chaffinch 01/01/2008 Garden
003 Collard Dove 01/01/2008 Garden
004 Wood Pidgeon 01/01/2008 Garden
005 Blackbird 01/01/2008 Garden
006 Great Tit 01/01/2008 Garden
007 Robin 01/01/2008 Garden
008 Blue Tit 01/01/2008 Garden
009 Dunnock 01/01/2008 Garden
010 Magpie 01/01/2008 Garden
011 Jackdaw 01/01/2008 Garden
012 Carrion Crow 01/01/2008 Garden
013 Redwing 01/01/2008 Garden
014 Blk-headed Gull 01/01/2008 Garden
015 Lsr Blk-bkd Gull01/01/2008 Garden
016 Starling 01/01/2008 Garden
017 green finch 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
018 moorhen 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
019 mallard 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
020 mute swan 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
021 house sparrow 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
022 widgeon 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
023 lapwing 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
024 golden plover 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
025 shoveler 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
026 pintail 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
027 pied wagtail 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
028 gadwall 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
029 ruff 01/01/2008 Walk to port meadow
030 blackcap 02/01/2008 Garden
031 Kestrel 02/01/2008 Drive to Warwickshire
032 Common Buzzard 02/01/2008 Drive to Warwickshire
033 Coot 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
034 Tufted Duck 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
035 Little Grebe 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
036 Goldeneye 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
037 Meadow Pipit 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
038 Pochard 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
039 Teal 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
040 Goosander 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
041 Grt Crstd Grebe 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
042 Canada Goose 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
L 043 Lesser Scaup 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
044 Cormorant 02/01/2008 Draycote Water
045 Pheasant 02/01/2008 Moran Bagot
046 Song Thrush 04/01/2008 Garden
047 Long-tailed Tit 04/01/2008 Garden
048 Grey-lag Goose 05/01/2008 Port Meadow
049 Feral Pidgeon 05/01/2008 Summertown
050 Stock Dove 06/01/2008 Port Meadow
051 Dunlin 06/01/2008 Port Meadow
052 Herring Gull 06/01/2008 Port Meadow
053 Gtr Blk-Bkd Gull06/01/2008 Port Meadow
L 054 Iceland Gull 06/01/2008 Port Meadow
055 Gtr Sptd Wpker 07/01/2008 Canal at Frenchay Rd
056 Mistle Thrush 07/01/2008 Port Meadow
057 Sky lark 07/01/2008 Port Meadow
058 Sparrowhawk 07/01/2008 Kingston Road
059 Wren 08/01/2008 St. Margret's Road
060 Grey Heron 12/01/2008 Drive to Dix Pit
061 Common Gull 12/01/2008 Dix Pit
062 Red-cstd Pochard12/01/2008 Dix Pit
L 063 Caspian Gull 12/01/2008 Dix Pit
064 Bewick's Swan 12/01/2008 Chimney Meadows
065 Fieldfare 13/01/2008 Hillesden
066 Bullfinch 15/01/2008 Trap Grounds (next to P&J's)
067 Siskin 17/01/2008 Canal behind Southmoor Road
068 Rng-nkd parakeet18/01/2008 Canal behind Hayfield Road
069 Goldcrest 18/01/2008 St. Margret's Road
070 Rook 18/01/2008 Marston Ferry Road
071 Red Kite 21/01/2008 Appleford
072 Linnet 23/01/2008 Oxford Airport
073 Grey Partridge 23/01/2008 In fields on the way to Steeple Aston
L 074 Rng-necked duck 26/01/2008 Foxcote Reservoir
075 Kingfisher 26/01/2008 Foxcote Reservoir
076 Green wdpcker 26/01/2008 Foscote, near Foxcote
L 077 Whooper Swan 26/01/2008 Hillesden
078 Stonechat 01/02/2008 Burgess Field Nature Reserve
079 Brambling 03/02/2008 Blenheim Park
080 Reed Bunting 10/02/2008 Otmoor
081 Snipe 10/02/2008 Otmoor
082 Corn Bunting 10/02/2008 Ridgeway: Berkshire downs
083 Short-eared Owl 10/02/2008 Ridgeway: Berkshire downs
084 Yellowhammer 10/02/2008 Ridgeway: Berkshire downs
085 Tree sparrow 11/02/2008 Tadpole Bridge
086 Redshank 16/02/2008 Port Meadow
087 Ringed Plover 18/02/2008 Wide Water Lagoon, W. Sussex
088 Black Redstart 18/02/2008 Shoreham Old Fort
089 Turnstone 18/02/2008 Shoreham Old Fort
090 Grey Plover 18/02/2008 Shoreham Estuary, W. Sussex
091 Little Egret 18/02/2008 Piddinghoe, E. Sussex
L 092 Blk-neckd Grebe 21/02/2008 Staines Reservoir
093 Shelduck 26/02/2008 Port Meadow
E 094 Ruddy Shelduck 02/03/2008 Port Meadow
L 095 Smew 05/03/2008 Cotswold Water Park
L 096 Scaup 05/03/2008 Cotswold Water Park
LR 097 Great Bustard 05/03/2008 Foss Cross, Wiltshire
098 Barn Owl 10/03/2008 Burgess Nature Reserve
099 Chiffchaff 13/03/2008 Trap Grounds
100 Little Stint 13/03/2008 Port Meadow
101 Oystercatcher 15/03/2008 Port Meadow
102 Sand Martin 16/03/2008 Port Meadow
103 Curlew 16/03/2008 Port Meadow
104 Barnacle Goose 17/03/2008 Port Meadow
105 Nuthatch 19/03/2008 Blenheim Park
106 Treecreeper 19/03/2008 Blenheim Park
107 Grey wagtail 19/03/2008 Wilstone Reservoir
108 Med Gull 19/03/2008 Wilstone Reservoir
109 Jay 23/03/2008 Knaphill
110 Water pipit 24/03/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
111 Garganey 24/03/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
112 Willow Warbler 30/03/2008 Port Meadow
L 113 Hawfinch 02/04/2008 Blenheim Park
114 Gt Grey Shrike 02/04/2008 Half Moon Plantation, Gloc
115 Raven 02/04/2008 Half Moon Plantation, Gloc
116 Swallow 02/04/2008 Near Moran Bagot
117 Marsh Tit 02/04/2008 Moran Bagot (Sherwoods)
118 Ltl Rngd Plover 04/04/2008 Port Meadow
119 Blk-taild Godwit05/04/2008 Port Meadow
120 Hen Harrier 05/04/2008 Otmoor
121 Coal Tit 10/04/2008 Bassenthwaite, Dodds wood
L 122 Osprey 10/04/2008 Bassenthwaite, Dodds wood
123 Eider 11/04/2008 Crail Harbour, Fife
124 Fulmar 11/04/2008 Crail Harbour, Fife
125 Rock Pipit 11/04/2008 Crail Harbour, Fife
L 126 Common Scoter 12/04/2008 Crail, Fife
127 Gannet 12/04/2008 Crail, Fife
L 128 red-thrtd diver 12/04/2008 Crail, Fife
129 shag 12/04/2008 Crail, Fife
130 purple sandppr 12/04/2008 Crail, Fife
L 131 long-taild duck 12/04/2008 St. Andrew's Bay, Fife
132 razorbill 13/04/2008 Crail, Fife
133 kittiwake 14/04/2008 Fife Ness, Fife
L 134 velvet scoter 15/04/2008 Fife Ness, Fife
135 Peregrine Falcon15/04/2008 Guardbridge estuary, Fife
136 wheatear 15/04/2008 Guardbridge estuary, Fife
137 red-brstd mrgnsr15/04/2008 Guardbridge estuary, Fife
138 guillemot 17/04/2008 Fife Ness, Fife
139 Egyptian Goose 21/01/2008 Appleford
140 yellow wagtail 19/04/2008 Port Meadow
141 house martin 20/04/2008 Port Meadow
142 hobby 20/04/2008 A44 between ring road and A34 junction
143 sedge warbler 21/04/2008 Abingdon sewage works lakes
L 144 cetti's warbler 21/04/2008 Abingdon sewage works lakes
145 grsshpr warbler 22/04/2008 Burgess Nature Reserve
146 whitethroat 22/04/2008 Burgess Nature Reserve
147 arctic tern 22/04/2008 Port Meadow
148 swift 25/04/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
149 common tern 25/04/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
150 common sandpiper25/04/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
L 151 reed warbler 26/04/2008 Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve
L 152 avocet 26/04/2008 Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve
153 little gull 29/04/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
154 black tern 30/04/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
L 155 whimbrel 01/05/2008 Port Meadow
156 garden warbler 02/05/2008 Burgess Nature Reserve
L 157 dotterel 02/05/2008 Bury Down, Berks
158 greenshank 03/05/2008 Port Meadow
159 red-lgd prtrdge 03/05/2008 Otmoor
160 cuckoo 03/05/2008 Otmoor
161 turtle dove 08/05/2008 Otmoor
162 lsr whitethroat 08/05/2008 Otmoor
L 163 marsh harrier 08/05/2008 Otmoor
L 164 wood sandpiper 13/05/2008 Port Meadow
L 165 red-footd falcon14/05/2008 Cornation Pit, Stewartby, Beds
L 166 Temminck's Stint15/05/2008 Port Meadow
167 sanderling 16/05/2008 Port Meadow
L 168 crossbill 19/05/2008 Crowthorne Wood
L 169 wood lark 19/05/2008 Crowthorne Wood
170 wood warbler 19/05/2008 Crowthorne Wood
L 171 grt white egret 21/05/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
172 tree pipit 29/05/2008 Wyre Forest
173 sptd flycatcher 30/05/2008 Wyre Forest
L 174 pied flycatcher 30/05/2008 Wyre Forest
175 dipper 30/05/2008 Wyre Forest
176 dartfd warbler 08/06/2008 Caesar's Camp, Swinely Forest
177 nightjar 08/06/2008 Caesar's Camp, Swinely Forest
178 woodcock 08/06/2008 Caesar's Camp, Swinely Forest
L 179 ruddy duck 21/06/2008 Otmoor
L 180 stone curlew 25/06/2008 Not-disclosed
181 little owl 25/06/2008 Not-disclosed
L 182 quail 02/07/2008 Not-disclosed
L 183 long-eared owl 02/07/2008 Not-disclosed
184 green sandpiper 03/07/2008 Port Meadow
185 mandarin duck 08/07/2008 Shardeloe's Lake, Bucks
L 186 hoodd merganser 16/07/2008 Radipole Lake, Dorset
L 187 yell-legd gull 19/07/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
188 manx shearwater 03/08/2008 Penbryn beach
189 chough 04/08/2008 Cardigan Island
190 tawny owl 05/08/2008 Tan y Llan, Penbryn
L 191 great skua 07/08/2008 Penbryn beach
LE 192 snow goose 07/08/2008 Penbryn beach (NB probably an escapee)
193 sandwich tern 08/08/2008 Ynylas NNR
194 common redstart 16/08/2008 Calvert, Bucks
L 195 red-nkd phal 21/08/2008 Saul Warth, Glouc.
196 spotd redshank 21/08/2008 Saul Warth, Glouc.
L 197 stilt sandpiper 21/08/2008 Coome Hill Meadows, Glouc.
198 whinchat 30/08/2008 Burgess Nature Reserve
199 grey phalarope 05/09/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
200 knot 09/09/2008 Port Meadow
L 201 Ferrug Duck 23/09/2008 Calvert, Bucks
202 Water rail 27/09/2008 Otmoor
203 Bar-tld godwit 06/10/2008 Christchurch Harbour
L 204 Am Goldn Plover 15/10/2008 Port Meadow
L 205 Bearded Tit 21/10/2008 Farlington Marshes
L 206 Ring-billd Gull 21/10/2008 Gosport
L 207 Cattle Egret 24/10/2008 Somerset
L 208 Bluethroat 26/10/2008 Land's End
L 209 Firecrest 26/10/2008 Trevilley Farm, Sennen
L 210 Y-browd warbler 27/10/2008 Penberth, Cornwall
211 Brent Goose 27/10/2008 Marazion Beach, Cornwall
L 212 Pink-ftd Goose 31/10/2008 Hayle Estuary, Cornwall
L 213 GN diver 05/11/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
214 jack snipe 07/11/2008 Calvert, Bucks
L 215 red-nkd grebe 07/11/2008 Draycote Water
L 216 bean goose 14/11/2008 Hillesden
L 217 willow tit 21/11/2008 Combe Wood
L 218 American Wigeon 29/11/2008 Lower Farm GP, Berks
L 219 Slavonian Grebe 06/12/2008 Brogborough Lake, Beds
220 Lesser Redpoll 14/12/2008 Farmoor Reservoir
221 Wht-frtd goose 18/12/2008 Simbridge
L 222 bittern 18/12/2008 Simbridge
Key:
L = Lifer or tecnical lifer
E = prob. escapee
R = release scheme bird
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