New Year Extravaganza!

Sunrise on 1st Jan

This New Year's Day could possibly be the most memorable day of my birding year and it's only just the beginning.   I know you must think that I am mad/ sad/ stupid/ daft/ whatever adjective . . . . but before you judge, read on.

I was invited to join a rather hallowed group of birdwatchers who take part in a one day bird race each January 1st.   Although I was rather out of my geographic comfort zone of Kent, I was in the excellent hands of Phil and Nigel who have held the Hampshire Record for the past few years, so it was with great anticipation that I awoke at 5 am to don the wet and cold weather gear required.   Starting in the vicinity of Nigels home we tried to hear Tawny Owl, but despite our encouragement the birds would not call.   We drove off to try for Barn Owl and Little Owl, again no results for our day's list.  At this stage I started to think that perhaps I was an unlucky mascot, and should slink off into the undergrowth, but my companions were kind and no fingers were pointed yet!

Next stop was heathland, yomping through soggy ground, at some stages up to our mid-calves in freezing cold water.   It was still not daylight but a bright moon and Nigel's torch lit the way.   I got caught out a couple of times when muddy pools tried to trip me, but we made good progress as quietly as possible.

Land of the Woodcock

First a Woodcock and then a Snipe were found, their eyes shining brightly in the torchlight.   We kept our disturbance to a minimum and moved swiftly on, looking for Jack Snipe - one bird flew up as we wandered along, but only Phil saw it (a minimum of two from three have to confirm sightings) and we were unable to make an id.   Stopping at a local pond we peered into the darkness looking (unsuccessfully) for Mandarin Duck, with Nigel once again in charge of the torch - a surreal experience.

As the sun started to come up we stopped at a wooded clearing where Hawfinch were coming out of their known roost, several perched up well, so I had my best views ever of this species.   This was a time to stand and enjoy the surroundings as the woodland birds woke up.   Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Siskin, Robin, Wren and Song Thrush were all calling before daylight.   Next stop was the New Forest where we added Dartford Warbler, Hen Harrier (male) and the others saw Great Grey Shrike (my one regrettable miss of the day!)

By now I had no idea where we were, and just went along with the flow of the day.   All the sites we visited were well known to my companions and had been chosen to give us the maximum chance of the widest range of birds - good preparation is the key to a successful day!

Hen Harrier territory

Water birds were next with waders and wildfowl rapidly adding to our day's tally.   A quick coffee stop as we overlooked salt marshes gave us Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Avocet, Golden Plover and several varieties of duck.

Near the coast we stopped for more pool scanning, Canada Geese, Greylag, large numbers of Lapwing, Starling, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Spotted Redshank and Ruff were all gradually increasing our numbers.   Cetti's Warbler called from a nearby bush.

Sea watching over a quick lunch added Red-throated, Black-throated and Great-Northern Divers.   Goosanders, Mergansers, Little, Great-crested and Slavonian Grebe, Cormorant, Shag.   Gulls were not overlooked with Common, Herring, Black-Headed, Greater and Lesser Black-Backed, and a Yellow-legged seen.   A flock of Brent Geese were examined closely for colour-rings and one bird did have some which were noted and have been reported in. (Red and Black rings both with 'V's on them).   After wading through a rather deep trench of water we were back at the car - this had been parked up along the seawall in several inches of sea-water!

The day continued in similar vein, with Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and Bewick's Swan being found behind an industrial estate on flooded ground.

As the sun started to set and the light fade we were at a local reserve looking for Bittern - within seconds of our arrival at the hide we had all seen the bird and were off again, racing against the time and light to find our last few species.

'V''V'

After our owling disappointments at the start of the day Nigel was keen to try again, so we revisited the first site of the day.   After a wander down a muddy farm track and through a farm yard we stood on a bridge over a swollen river.   A fisherman stood on the opposite side of the bank and behind him a Barn Owl flew in his direction.   Totally unaware of what was approaching the man continued to watch his fishing line.  The three of us watched, in awe as the bird passed him and then continued along the river towards us.  We all stood completely still, hardly breathing as the bird came closer still.   As it passed it veered around us and continued beyond and away back across the fields.

We retraced our steps to the car, passing several old collapsing barns.   We stopped to scan the tops of the farm buildings around us, and finally Nigel spotted the bird sitting on a gable end - not quite as enigmatic as the Barn Owl but cute and gorgeous.

By now the light was fading fast and we decided that it was time to return home with our 120 list.

Of course, that wasn't the end of the day - we couldn't resist trying for the Tawny Owl one last time.   Once again the stubborn bird eluded us, but not for long.

Perched Peregrine

Sitting in the hot tub (yes, I know it all sounds very decadent, but we needed to soothe those aching limbs somehow and the beer wasn't working that well!) first we heard Tawny Owl and then as I looked up, I caught sight of a wing flapping as the Owl moved position in the tree above us.   It had probably been sitting there all along.   So 121 species in a day (122 if you count Phils Jack Snipe, which we obviously didn't) - beating my previous best of 108 which was at Minsmere in May 1991.

Sunset and Floods

An exciting day out, and perhaps now you can see why it could be the most memorable day of my birding year already.   Thanks must go to Nigel and Sandy for inviting me to stay and Nigel and Phil for putting up with my rather amateur birding skills on the day

. . . . . . . . . . . . wonder if there are any Waxwings about?