Two top birds and back in the medals...

Running some errands this morning so not much time to get out and decided a trip down to East Hyde was in order to see for myself the results of the digger's visit to the scrape. Loads of birds around the scrape area included a flock of 16 redpoll, some of which sitting up nicely revealed a nice pale one with gleaming white wing bars and my first BedsSFYT since Stonechat on 20th October. With brownie points in the bag and a fine late afternoon in prospect, I negotiated a trip out with the idea of finding a SEO so headed for Sandy Smith NR thinking that would be as good as anywhere; my reward a male Hen Harrier, yep take that, beats a SEO, shame it did not hang around long. You did not think I would give up third place for long did you ?

Goosander

First tick since October in the form of a smart, adult female Goosander at Warren Villas NR yesterday morning. I should really spend more time in the Ivel Valley next year, but it is a bit of a walk - four miles there and four miles back. Nevertheless, it will keep me fit and I should see an improvement on my dismal waterbird tally of this year.

Roll on 2014. (And that is 'twenty fourteen', not 'two thousand and fourteen'...we didn't refer to dates in the last millenium as - for example - 'one thousand nine hundred and ninety seven', did we?)

Yours,

Resident blog pedant

Got Shortie!

I'll have to get on the airfield and see what's there of an evening!  The view of the three Short-eared Owls was pretty distant and I only saw them when they were flying high. Maybe more in there.  But whatever, one more species for 150...

What a bunch of whoppers!

Thought I'd better scope those four sleeping swans at Derek's today - and what do you know - Whoppers!   I'll go large with that. Number 157.

Stonechat at last

iPhone held up to bins for "in the field action type shot" at Sandy Heath, behind the paddocks. 

Pink

A Great Black back last weekend and a Pink-footed Goose at Radwell today adds a couple more.  Not sure if I can make it to 150 for the year but reckon that's a suitable target now.

'Avin a 'chat

Like everyone else, I've finally snaffled myself a Stonechat. This one was at Sandy Smith NR. Quite a traditional location in recent years but I guess no one else has checked it until now.