Spent a very enjoyable couple of hours at Wick Fields and Hengistbury Head this afternoon with my binoculars for the first bird watching outing of the year. Now, traditionally this takes place on 1st January, but was a bit too busy sleeping off the champers yesterday. Nothing out of the ordinary spotted, but a good count nonetheless. It was very busy up on the Head, and my usual birdie route along side the heronry was closed off as there is currently a bull in the field. So had to battle with the crowds and a broken down land train for a while until got to the path to cut up to quarry pond. Meanwhile, Pete was thrashing radio controlled cars about in the big field. Photos courtesy of the interweb.
I've listed everything (memory permitting), even the very common ones as they all count to start off the year list. Might have done a bit better with my telescope....next time.
- Robin
- Starling
- House Sparrow
- Song Thrush
- Wood Pigeon
- Mallard
- Teal
- Crow
- Magpie
- Meadow Pipit
- Great Tit
- Long Tailed Tit
- Redshank
- Brent Goose
- Lapwing
- Black Headed Gull
- Herring Gull
- Great Black-Backed Gull
- Little Egret
- Cormorant
- Curlew
- Heron
- Jay
- Stonechat