News of Big Royzah

 Yes indeedy, in an almost unprecedented scenario, Big Royzah has finally offered up his patch score, along with news that he has recently patch-ticked marsh harrier, although further deets are somewhat lacking. Suffice it to say, he was off-patch, but the harrier was over his patch so he is ok to count it. He also divulged that he had a cory's shearwater a coupe of weeks back. So thats three whole species that we now know that he has seen this year - black redstart, marsh harrier and cory's - not a bad haul.

In other news, Old Spoons played a blinder earlier today by "helping" me get glossy ibis for the patch year list. Probably best to leave out the details but I was very grateful none-the-less.

All to play for!

Faster than a Barolo

 Yes indeedy, so there I was slumped over me aldi crisp and strawberry breakfast cereal at 8.29 this very am, when I got a call informing me that a barolo shearwater had just gone west past Seven Heads close in (approx 17km east of Galley). Quick as lightening, I grabbed me scope & tripod, thermal mug of tae and me wellies and tazzed up the road, but would I make it in time? 

I arrived at the empty seawatching spot at 8.50, but how fast do small shearwaters fly anyway?

After several anxious minutes of scanning, trying to convince myself that there was still time, suddenly I got on a shearwater that was way smaller than the manxies piling past. "Thats tiny" I thought. And it was. As it flew a bit closer, I could make out the white face, and the more fluttery flight, but the size was the most striking feature. 

I clocked the time of the sighting at 9.09 am - just 44 minutes after it had gone past 7 Heads - but luckily I had been faster!

Happy daze! My second on Galley, after the New Old Snowy winning one of last August.

Reg spills da beanz

 Yes indeedy, there has finally been news from Reg. And it's podium-level news at that. A direct quote from the man himself thusly:

"Overall total this year 154 so far, new average working from of 164.58, this years percentage 93.58- stand out self found bird Great Shear , best bird  otherwise Bairds Sand"

So, now all we need is news from Big Royzah, although that might be a while coming, as he's refusing to respond to any comms thus far....