Long time no post! (Part 2)

So, what have I done in the last year? Well, after Cornwall, I moved back to Somerset to spend the winter showing people the Starlings at Ham Wall RSPB for a second season.... I met up with a new colleague, Jen Clarke and over the 6 months we encouraged thousands of people to get out on the levels and enjoy one of natures finest spectacles.... millions of Starlings performing their wonderful ballet coming into roost.

Starlings at Ham Wall RSPB

During the autumn I ended up finding 2 Yellow-browed Warblers by the car park at Ham Wall, although they were very difficult to see by others until one of them decided to give himself up and show very well on the other side of the road (apart from when I went to see him!)

Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) at Ham Wall RSPB 01.11.11

I also picked up on a few more lifers along the way including a rather frustrating Humes Yellow-browed Warbler at Wyke Regis in Dorset which showed very intermittently and briefly, an equally frustrating Pallas's Warbler in Dorset, the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Chew Valley Lake, the Coues Arctic Redpoll at Titchwell RSPB in Norfolk, Ross's Goose at Holme NNR, Norfolk, Tundra and Taiga Bean Geese in Norfolk, King Eider at the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeens, Greater Yellowlegs at Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeens, Spanish Sparrow at Calshot, Hampshire, the massively popular Common Yellowthroat at Rhiwderyn, Gwent, Roller in Yorkshire, and a smart female Red-footed Falcon at Aberfeldy in the Highlands... This has now brought my life list over the 350 mark, up to 356 (BOU)... hopefully I'll be able to make that up to the big 400 over the next couple of years!!

Coues Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni exilipes) at Titchwell RSPB 07.04.12

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) at Rhiwderyn, Gwent 14.04.11 

King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) atthe Ythan Estuary, Aberdeens 11.06.12

King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) atthe Ythan Estuary, Aberdeens 11.06.12

Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) near Aberfeldy, Highlands 28.05.12

Roller (Coracias garrulus) at Aldbrough, East Riding of Yorkshire 28.05.12

Roller (Coracias garrulus) at Aldbrough, East Riding of Yorkshire 28.05.12

Roller (Coracias garrulus) at Aldbrough, East Riding of Yorkshire 28.05.12

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) at Calshot, Hampshire 13.01.12

 The Roller was probably my favourite tick of the year... it happened pretty much by chance.... I was driving home from north of Inverness to Somerset when it came on the pager.... I ummed and ahhed about it, until I got to the junction I needed to take to see it... it was still there, but it would mean a 4 hour detour.... was it worth it? Hell yes... I've never seen a bird shine out like that did... it was a pretty dull day too, so to see one in the sunshine must be mental!!

Not only has it been a rarity filled year so far, I've also been across to Norfolk for some superb winter birding and done some great insect stuff too.... watch this space for another update!!