First thing's first... congrats to Royzah on his epic 0.5% victory for 2016. Here's hoping there's room for the vaunted mallard on the mantlepiece amongst the trumpets and horns. If past form is anything to go by it should reach him sometime around mid September.
And so to 2017. A couple of sunny days kicked off proceedings, and I managed to somehow dodge Cybil's insistence on "family time" and sneak off around the patch, bagging a whopping 50 species. Highlights included 3 (count 'em) woodcock this morning, and a lingering mute schwan in the cow field behind the lake (always good to bang one in early, as they say).
So in real money that's me on 57.47% for the year. Good enough for starters -- although it is a tad worrying how quickly things move from "everything counts again" to "fuck all new about".
Showing posts with label Flying Start. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flying Start. Show all posts
Monday, 2 January 2017
Monday, 12 January 2015
Good start... or false start... only time will tell
Happy new year! Isn't it great when all the gank starts to count again.
On the basis of "attack is the best means of defence", been out and about on patch as much as possible since the turn of the year... and things have been ticking along nicely. Lake is still spectacularly under-delivering on the waterfowl front... but four (count 'em) tufties and a little grebe were good birds to get early on.
Been steadily ticking off the usual suspects, with some, like cormorant, still conspicuous by their absence.
Current state of play, nearly two weeks in, 53 species, or 62.35%. Can't see me maintaining this pace... but at least I won't be gone for four months this year, and I certainly won't be missing the Autumn :-).
Game on!
On the basis of "attack is the best means of defence", been out and about on patch as much as possible since the turn of the year... and things have been ticking along nicely. Lake is still spectacularly under-delivering on the waterfowl front... but four (count 'em) tufties and a little grebe were good birds to get early on.
Been steadily ticking off the usual suspects, with some, like cormorant, still conspicuous by their absence.
Current state of play, nearly two weeks in, 53 species, or 62.35%. Can't see me maintaining this pace... but at least I won't be gone for four months this year, and I certainly won't be missing the Autumn :-).
Game on!
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Ready... steady... go!
Another year... and the start of another patch challenge. Yay!
Didn't manage to get out of the garden today except to head "off patch" for a walk on Long Strand late in the afternoon. The beach extends onto Seppy's patch on Galley, where I graciously pointed out a kingfisher sitting on a post to help his year list along a bit ;-).
Despite being "confined to quarters" for the day I did rack up the occasional species to finish the day on 32.02%. That's none too shabby for a first day tally, and with a bit of luck I should get out on the patch proper tomorrow. Tally ho!
Didn't manage to get out of the garden today except to head "off patch" for a walk on Long Strand late in the afternoon. The beach extends onto Seppy's patch on Galley, where I graciously pointed out a kingfisher sitting on a post to help his year list along a bit ;-).
A pretty "invigorating" afternoon on Long Strand...
Despite being "confined to quarters" for the day I did rack up the occasional species to finish the day on 32.02%. That's none too shabby for a first day tally, and with a bit of luck I should get out on the patch proper tomorrow. Tally ho!
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