Six months of the 12 months have now slipped by, so time to assessment the state of my fowl lists – my UK listing, and my European listing. Three months in the past the previous was on 139, however it’s now grown to 180, whereas the European listing was 173, however has now reached a way more passable 303. My goal initially of the 12 months was 200 species within the UK and 300 in Europe, so I’ve achieved the latter, whereas the probabilities of reaching the previous are fairly good.
An on a regular basis fowl, the Woodpigeon. This one was photographed in my backyard on a moist day in April. One tends to take woodies with no consideration
Brown however not boring: a Meadow Pipit
An on a regular basis fowl it is perhaps, however the cock Blackbird’s track is among the finest. Blackbirds sing from February by way of to July
My UK listing is, in actuality, an English listing, as I haven’t wandered into the adjoining international locations of Wales, Scotland and Eire this 12 months, and I’ve no plans to take action. Till final month it was an East Anglian listing, as I hadn’t ventured removed from dwelling, however a visit to Northern England final month did add some northern specials, similar to Dipper and Puffin. That journey was enjoyable, because it jogged my memory of the delights of watching birds like Golden Plover and even Meadow Pipit on their breeding grounds. I see a number of Golden Plovers within the winter, however (like so many waders) they’re birds reworked when of their breeding finery.
Golden Plovers are a lot extra good-looking when in full breeding plumage
I’ve seen a mere 21 species of waders within the UK this 12 months, in contrast with 35 in Europe, and it shouldn’t be tough so as to add a number of of the birds I’ve seen in Europe to my UK listing within the subsequent few weeks, as autumn passage positive factors tempo. I haven’t, for instance, seen a Greenshank within the UK, nor a Noticed Redshank or Wooden Sandpiper, all three of that are comparatively simple to see on the Norfolk or Suffolk coasts in July and August. To be trustworthy, this does spotlight the marginally ridiculous follow of protecting two lists – why not only one? The reply is as a result of BirdTrack (the bird- recording system I take advantage of most) jogs my memory at any time when I log-in on the state of my British listing, however I’ve to scroll right down to Discover Information to verify on how my total World listing (simply Europe this 12 months) is progressing.
Wooden Sandpiper. This fowl was in Cyprus in April; I’ve but to see one this 12 months within the UK
There are, inevitably, a number of birds that I actually ought to have encountered by now however have failed to take action. I’ve seen solely a single species of diver (loon) this 12 months, Crimson-throated, but when I attempt arduous sufficient it shouldn’t be too tough so as to add Nice Northern and Black-throated to the listing by the tip of the 12 months. Nor have I see a skua (jaeger) of any species. Each Nice and Arctic Skuas are usually not tough to search out in Norfolk in September, as they’re attracted by the tern colonies as they migrate south. Pomarine and Lengthy-tailed Skuas are additionally potentialities, and the previous sometimes winter within the North Sea, off the Suffolk/Norfolk coast.
Although I’ve seen Crimson-throated Diver this 12 months, I’ve but to search out both a Black-throated or Nice Northern wherever
There are a variety of birds that I’ve encountered simply the as soon as, however they have been memorable encounters. Among the finest was the Lengthy-eared Owl which floated previous me one night after I was out on the lookout for Nightjars on my native heath. It was too darkish for pictures, however nice to see. Equally memorable was the Corncrake, rasping away at nightfall on the Welney Washes in late June. Two centuries in the past Corncrakes have been frequent birds in Britain, however we now solely have a small remnant inhabitants that survives on the islands of the Hebrides. The Corncrake I heard was a part of a reintroduction venture. For some folks this devalues the fowl, however it doesn’t for me, whereas this was the primary time that I’d ever heard a Corncrake singing in England, with all my current encounters in Jap Europe.
Crakes are among the many most elusive of birds, and none are simple to see within the UK. In Cyprus in April I delighted in watching a number of Little Crakes plus a splendid Baillon’s Crake, all of which proved simple to see, if not {photograph}. Spring migration is one of the best time to see these secretive birds, as as soon as on the breeding grounds they have an inclination to remain in cowl and barely present themselves.
Crakes are tough to see on their breeding grounds. This Little Crake was on migration in Cyprus
Raptors are all the time thrilling to come across, and I used to be delighted earlier within the 12 months to get pleasure from a few sightings of wandering White-tailed Eagles in Norfolk. I haven’t performed effectively with Golden Eagles, with only a single fowl, seen briefly, in Greece, in Might. For the primary time in lots of visits I didn’t see Griffon Vultures on Cyprus, the place they’re severely endangered, however I’ve seen many in Spain this 12 months in Andalucia and each Cantabria and Castile y León. Northern Spain additionally produced my finest views of Honey Buzzards (I did see one briefly in Greece in Might). Two years in the past three summered in Norfolk, and I noticed them a number of instances, however there have been no stories this 12 months, so that is one fowl that appears unlikely to be added to my 2024 UK listing.
A wandering White-tailed Eagle in Norfolk in April. This was an sudden encounter
Griffon Vulture: frequent in Spain, however severely endangered in Cyprus
Shrikes are certainly one of my favorite households of birds. My first shrike of the 12 months was a Nice Gray within the Brecks in March, not too removed from dwelling, whereas Kerkini in Greece gave me the chance to see Crimson-backed, Woodchat, Masked and Lesser Gray, all of which nest throughout the space of the lake. I missed seeing Iberian Gray Shrike in Andalucia in February, however lastly managed to see one in Castile y León final month. I bear in mind when these shrikes are quite common in Spain, however my observations recommend that numbers have declined sharply in recent times.
The shrikes are probably the most good-looking of fowl households. It is a male Woodchat, photographed on its breeding grounds in Greece in Might
Itemizing is all a bit pointless until you share the information: I observe all mine on BirdTrack, which not solely permits me to consult with them on the press of a keyboard and a contact of the mouse, but additionally makes them out there to the British Belief for Ornithology, which runs BirdTrack. The choice to BirdTrack is Cornell’s wonderful E-Fowl, which is utilized by a number of of my fellow contributors to 10,000 Birds. Each BirdTrack and E-Fowl are satisfyingly simple to make use of, so there aren’t any excuses for not doing so.
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