Proper Patch Gold

Oh yes, oh my oh my. Local Monster, London gem. Missing half a wing, but who cares? Do I get extra points?

bits

There's been a few bits on patch - Marsh Harrier and Eider yesterday were useful (missed the latter last year!), but missed out on a fly-by Tufted Duck today - a tricky one to get back. At least I'm ahead of Seppy but still no Wheatear, Firecrest or Sand Martin

tedious

Not got much to report as I haven't been out at all.  Best bird recently being a mistle thrush which is a good bird for the patch and usually only get one or two per year but it would be annual except that I didn't get one last year.

Other than that all the usual stuff and still plenty of usual stuff to be got.

I must get out more and would do if wasn't for the local farmer who has drained all the best pools, cut down a load of sycamores and bushes and ploughed up a footpath which is use to run across the middle of the patch and took me to the excellent bushes along the whinnyfold road.  So i've been somewhat uninspired in getting out much.

Still the mistle thrush helps and so maybe I'll pick up the pace a bit.

74 species
47.56%

(Almost) Happy days

Bushveld

merlin the magical puppy

still nae migs here yet (FFS - they is now officially late!) but did glean blip views of a merlin twice on the weekend - its all happnin!

Triple crown

We took advantage of a brief dry spell yesterday afternoon to do Boghall, and were rewarded with a fine peregrine and then a flock of snow buntings in the snow at the back of Caerketton.  Second record of Snobs from the patch, and a fine find for us inland boys. Pleased with that haul we went home to work on some new songs, but better was to come when we looked out of the recording studio window and saw a cracking male goosander haul itself out of the burn that goes through the garden, waddle across the bridge and sit down on the path. It decided that the garden was not suitable for nesting pretty quick though, before we could get any photos. Shame, but a cracking patch and garden tick. 3 new for the year means 75.67%. Bring it!

Coming at ya!

I learned that from the kids on the street. 2 Shelduck on the way to the studio in the week are storming birds for round here, plus I mopped up Kingfisher last weekend. Grey Wag and Bullfinch still missing, and I cannot be arsed to go listening for Owls when I could be indoors drinking. Oh, and did I mention the first Curlews for 42 years? Soon the lead will be mine. Mwah-haha-ha-ha-ha!

Notebooks out, plagiarists

200 pink feet flew over earlier in the week. Divided by two, that gives 100 birds, or thereabouts. It's that level of analysis that makes a top patch lister.

Thanks to The Eternal Flame from whom I nicked that gag.

Add 1 LBBG, and we are on 71.6%. Top spot is ours again.