Early days of 2016 on the patch

The first couple of days of the new year have been quite productive, nailing black-tailed godwit, black redstart and a lone purple sandpiper, first gleaned on the 31st Dec (56). Think the purp is only my 4th record for the patch, but they do seem to show up at Long Strand during big storms. Good to know!

Pimped for 2012

A new year and a new look, courtesy of Surfbirds moving over to WordPress. Got locked out for a few days in the move hence the lack of posts, and I don't know how things work in the new set-up either so apologies if it all looks a bit clunky to begin with.

Got the new year off to a flyer anyway, with a mighty 52 species on patch, my highest ever by some way. The downside is, it means I haven't got much still to get before the spring.

Best of the lot was the lingering little gull which was still in Dirk over the weekend, plus there's also been a fair few med gulls on the lake, plus wintering chiffchaff and whimbrel (52). More news as it happens!