Stop yer ‘grin-ing

At last some movement (in more ways than one) over Boghall. Although it remains the only place in the UK not to have claims of both pallid harrier and pallid swift this autumn, the birding gods delivered 3 fly over crossbills and a peregrine at the weekend. The latter is a full fat patch tick. Not that it makes any difference to the rankings, but it puts a little space between ourselves and the oily T-2006 (for now at least).

Going nowhere fast

East winds meant an afternoon spent on the coast today. Another yellow browed but it does nothing for may patch list.

gettin there

Strugglin on here - finally nailed yellow browed on satday courtesy of "old spoons" and strung a flyover brambling calling (once) this morning so some progress. Looks like i'm fecked for spot fly & reed warbler tho but - oops! Shouldn't have been so slack back in de spring!

Short Eared

South easterlies at last but pretty strong so it's hard work. A couple more added though, short eared owl (2) and brambling to take me to 98.34%. Hopefully summat a bit more interesting out there............

Want to see our Dick's?

Finally grabbed something out of all these sibes but a Dick's Pipit is small fry when there's been 2 Bluetails and a Daurian Shrike in the county. Twitched the latter as I've seen 'Isabelline Shrike' before in Kent but wasn't entirely sure if that would be quite the same thing when someone goes and splits them. SE Owl too but it's not great for October. Away at Chessington at the weekend too. In South-easterlies. Hmm, probably will do well to only miss a Crane.

A kick in the nuts

Was out on Galley this am, but not a whole lot to report - indeed, 2 yellowhammers de best of it - good views too! So I thought it would be safe to flake to Mizen to see de Red-eyed Vireo there - Cork tick, like biy!

Vireo duly hoovered, giving great views, when I got a call from Claire "I'm watching a crane circling outside the house" - Arse! The house being 1 hour away from the Vireo. Shortly after, got another call saying "its flown out to sea!"

That's showbusiness, Kevin!

never enuff!

A fine drake ring ouzel on satday and a flyover golden plover this morning bumps me well clear of Boghall's finest but there's been no sign of yellow browed despite birds to east & west and i'm gonna seriously struggle for missed gank like spot fly & reed warbler if we don't get some more easterlies very soon! And i missed 2 jays on sunday - doh! Not lookin good despite me current 4th place!

Just been lookin at me spreadsheet and discovered i hadn't ticked lesser whitey - result! All is not yet lost...

ahem...or barred warbler - woohoo!