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Saturday 9 January 2010

2010: the year of the big patch yearlist?




A thin dusting of snow on the Lizard Peninsula takes Cornish motorists by surprise

Ho, hum and Happy Hogmanay to one and all - welcome to the teenies. Apologies for the lack of updates of late. The snow and other frivalties prevented much birding in the last month. Anyhow, another year, another year-list. Actually, come to think of it, I didn't do one last year, but thought it would be fun to try one this year. This time a patch year list for the Lizard Peninsula, with three aims:

(1) to see c. 175 species
(2) to find a few decent birds
(3) to see a few decent birds without having to travel too far

To be kept fully up-to-date here: http://ilyabirding.webs.com/lizard2010yearlist.htm

Put in my first visit today (64 species) and what a corker it turned out to be. Walked down the Loe Valley from Helston Sewage Works to cover Loe Pool after a tip-off from fellow Lizard birder Andy. Freezing cold, blue skies, redwings, fieldfares, snipe & woodcock everywhere. Water Rails by the dozen skating on the ice and at least two Bitterns and a Red-crested Pochard. Divers offshore, Firecrests onshore and at least half a dozen chiffchaffs sitting on the sludge tanks picking-off virtually the only insects left in Britain.

5 comments:

  1. Good luck with the list Ilya. I believe Brian got 200+ a few years back :-)

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  2. Watcha mate

    Good luck with the list. It's a cracking spot for it down there. I reckon all three objectives are doable. We're hammering away at TG42 again already. We're both lucky to have such good local patches you know... fingers crossed for a few finds too.

    bit parky though, seawatching today!

    see you at the wedding if not sooner

    P.S. my word verification for posting this was 'sperm' Freaky!

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  3. Don't think I can put in the hours to get 200+ Andy, nor do I have the skill of the legendary Brian. Thanks for the gen - keep it coming! Staying down over spring might help though.

    Any decent birds in East Norfolk recently Tim or have they all frozen to death? Will be over for a day or two before the Stag do, might try and get myself out your way....

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  4. I've set a ridiculous target of 140 in the Soar Valley. I'm up to 74 at present... Woodcock are everywhere aren't they? Going to be hard to hit the total though.

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  5. Good luck with it that one mate. Tough at an inland site, but 74 ain't bad. I'm just over half way there too with the addition Chough, of a few seabirds and Jack Snipe today. Four Woodcock too.

    ReplyDelete

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