2020 Review
Last year was a tough one for all. I did far less birding than other years. Mainly due to home working. My normal routine means I bird before and after work on both commutes. Since I'm not commuting, that wasn't possible add to that to 3 months of home schooling and.....
However, I did manage 202 species with a number of lifers in the mix. The Sociable Lapwing had to be the stand out bird. I did however feel slightly sad when I saw it. Why? Because its endangered in its natural habitat and who knows if one will ever grace our shores again. A sobering reminder of how fragile life is. I have seen European Bee-eater abroad on several occasions but to see not one but 13 for the first time in the UK was a special moment. The Tundra Bean Goose in Somerset was also a lifer (seen Tiaga) and I was amazed by how tame it seemed. I guess that its not used to humans and therefore doesn't fear us?
Other notable species were the Blue-winged Teal at Mandands, Long-billed Dowitcher at Bowling Green Marsh and Surf Scoter at Labrador Bay (before Covid-19 kicked off). A lesser Yellowlegs at Averton Gifford and 10 Ring Ouzel at Avon Dam were also very memorable. Superb views of Western Yellow Wagtail and Eurasian Penduline Tit at Steart Marsh were very enjoyable. On the Warbler front the Marsh Warbler at Tipton St John and Melodious Warbler at Dawlish Warren were great to see. Others great bits and bobs include American Wigeon (Exmouth) and Green-winged Teal (Matford). I didn't do much sea watching but did manage Great Shearwater, Pomerine Jaeger and Parasitic Jaeger from Berry Head and a Sooty Shearwater, European Storm Petrel and a Leach's Storm Petrel off Otterton.
Species I missed that I would normally expect to see were Eurasian Bittern, Common Cuckoo, Water Rail, Common Crane, Bewick's Swan, Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose, Arctic Tern, Roseate Tern, Red Kite and Sanderling! What a strange year it has been.
I also added a few Butterfly lifers with Long-tailed Blue, Grizzled Skipper and Wood White at Seaton and Lulworth Skipper at Portland.
2021 New Year List
I didn't have time to put in a full day so no magical 100 for me.
My first bird was a European Goldfinch on the feeders in my garden and by the end of my Coffee I had logged the 5 commoner Thrush species.
We had a family walk from Budleigh Salterton beach to the White Bridge this morning. Highlights were a Common Loon, a flock of Common Scoter that included a Velvet Scoter and Water Pipit.
Late afternoon I took a walk around my estate and the farmland behind my house and added a number of species. I finished the day on 70 species. Not too shabby for little effort.
Here's hoping that 2021 will be a better year for all.
