Is it a Viking ?

A beautifully calm crisp winters day meant a decent chance for a look around patch. A Song Thrush still persists but this Jackdaw was new, quite noticable was the white flash/collar and the contrast between the grey and black tones, but not sure whether it qualifies as monedula ? Never come across that race so informed comments welcome.

Also present were 2 Dunlin mixed in with 70+ Golden Plover. Large numbers of Snipe in the open due to the freeze, but still the Jack Snipe remains elusive.

It made it ... unlike us ?

This relates to the events of Sunday. Rage Against the Machine took the coveted Christmas no.1 spot, thank god. Whilst we, that being Jack & I, were stuck at Edinburgh Airport trying to make our way south to Manchester. Needless to say we never got there. Managed to get home though, thankfully. Bugger all birds about! Unless you want to here about a Song Thrush or a Robin ? Didn't think so.

XXX Factor

Just over a week to Christmas and no birds so a change of direction ? Sick of the usual crappy processed Xmas no.1 ? If you haven't heard, the X-Factor winner is probably going to get top spot that is unless we do something about it. A Facebook campaign is well under way to try and get Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name (listen here for free) to no.1. I have fond memories of watching RATM on The Word and spouting expletive after expletive throughout this anthem. Pure quality. This was eluded to ever so slightly on Steve Mintons Blog but thought it deserved a little more coverage.

Its a numbers game

A quick update, not that there is much to update ! A Whooper Swan was added to the garden list on the 9th. The local Eider flock is increasing daily with today's count being 200+, hopefully it will linger and attract a king. 7 Long-tailed Ducks are off the Houb and a female Common Scoter was logged yesterday as was a Chiffchaff. 3 Robins seems to be the maximum count around Brough and a new patch tick was gained today with a juv Moorhen in the 'crake' ditch below the house. On a slightly depressing note (well for me anyhow), i received a text informing me that my 400BOU was premature ? He kindly informed me (bloody sleuth) that i had Ross's Goose stuck on my life list so its -1. Bollocks.

It wont make the Oscar's

Well it seems we are truly into the grips of winter, its bloody cold, windy and mainly wet and there are no birds ! The migrant count was a measly Robin and that was today. A check of the 2 Greylag flocks i could find produced nothing unusual. 8 Whooper Swans and a few Goldeneye were between West Loch and North Loch and 7 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea below the house. A few Redwings and Fieldfares are still about, but not too many.

Other news, if your interested ? Jack's got his School Christmas show this evening (gulp). Finally got the sun-room finished although it resembles more of a games room and City took another southern scalp on Saturday beating Chelsea 2-1. Happy days.

Got there ... eventually

Back home to rain,wind and generally crap weather. But a fully loaded van and some decent birding made it all worth the while. Before the main event of collecting the rest of our furniture we did a whistle stop tour, it seemed, of the UK. First up was Aberlady Bay and the Lesser Yellowlegs, unfortunately it was playing very hard to get in the driving rain and strong winds with only 2 brief views had so we headed south to our next destination London Heathrow ? Only for a bed for the night. Next morning we set off for Kent with Dungeness the desired location. On the approach road to Dungeness Dougie got his first tick of the trip with Cattle Egret, that was soon followed up with his second and 2 Glossy Ibis. Unfortunately there was no sign of the elusive Penduline Tit nor did we come across the Great White Egret.

Next stop on our journey back north was Staines Moor, and for me my second look at the Brown Shrike. After an anxious 30 minute wait (for Dougie) it eventually showed and fantastically well. Tick number 3.

A slight detour off the M40 for a look at the showy Red Kites around Stokenchurch.

After spending a birdless day loading up the van we decided to get an early dart next morning, for the Baird's Sandpiper at Barns Ness, Lothian. Upon arrival it wasn't long before i picked it out feeding along the shoreline but more importantly it was a milestone bird ? 400 BOU and thankfully it came before the year end.

Next stop Aberlady, again. This time we were in luck as the Lesser Yellowlegs was showing splendidly.

A cracking few days were rounded off perfectly with City thumping Arsenal 3-0 again. Next up in the cup its Man-U.

Back off !

Back on the Northlink this evening, to collect our remaining furniture from storage. At least i have some company for the journey with Dougie joining me (only for some birding), hopefully we can get him one or more from the following : Brown Shrike, Glossy Ibis, Serin, Cattle Egret, Penduline Tit, Caspian & YL Gull. Will update when i return Thursday. Bird wise on patch, there isn't much to be missed it seems! Plenty of Robins and the Chiffchaff remains, the only new bird was a Goldcrest on Thursday. Just hope it stays that way until i return.