M E G A C O C K

had another lash at yesterdays red-breasted flycatcher in Dirk this am, but nae sign. The siberian chiffchaff  was still spazzing around but bird of the day was a fine WOODCOCK, flushed from the leafy carpet 'neath the sycamores! Fantastic! Only seen a couple before at Galley and they were both back in January 2010 in the big freeze, so this was a BIG bonus! Skillz!

Cock

Woodcock has been on the patch for the past 4 years now, but only one or two records per year. Thus, I was rather please to flush one today while having a quick check on the patch. Also got a migrating herd of 8 roe deer, reed bunting and a skene of pinkies. Not a bad hour really, and more to come.

And that more included sprawk at last and linnet to winnit. Takes me one chart place above Shakey to number two - he is not going to like that much. 61.33%

Good couple of days

Just what you didn't need really. Caught up with a few bits and pieces that really should have been on by now - Golden Plover, Snow Bunting and Woodcock - and some real quality in the form of a Pink-footed Goose. A full fat patch tick and, I think, the first one I've seen since leaving Aberdeen in 1996 (unless I maybe saw a few on Shetland one autumn). If you think that's sad I witnessed a birder at our local RL Buzzard take a call about a Long-tailed Duck at Dungeness and high-tail it the 15 miles or so to twitch it. It's a different world down here. Anyway, enough preamble, 103.91%. Looks like you're all suffering from doing so well last year.