The birding 200: the top 12

At the beginning of the year, we set ourselves the challenge of seeing 200 different species of bird within British waters. We tried to do this by holidaying in different areas and making the most of days out. We completed the task relatively quickly in the year (July), with our 200th bird being a Long-eared Owl in Northern Ireland. Highlights - well that's an interesting one. Is it the rarity of the bird, the memorability of the sighting or something deeper than that - a sense of connection to both species and place?

From a species point of view I might include the following highlights - mainly based on difficulty of sighting and/or rarity, bearing in mind we are based in Cumbria:

(In no particular order) 

Capercaillie, Snow Goose, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Corncrake, Little-ringed Plover, Lesser Yellow-legs, Storm Petrol, Glossy Ibis, Goshawk, Dartford Warbler, Long-eared Owl, Red-footed Falcon, Merlin, Hobby, Woodchat Shrike, Waxwing, Crested Tit, Shore Lark, Rose-coloured Starling, Hawfinch, Snow Bunting and Corn Bunting.

Then I come to my top 12 photographs. Now I don't have a fancy long 'birding' lens, but a good bridge camera, patience (but not that much with regards to watching bushes for LBJs (little brown jobs) and opportunities. It may be said that luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity - I don't know where the phrase came from...

Looking through my photographs I have concluded that the experience is what I remember - not necessarily the bird itself...and that I like cold, snowy and breezy conditions!  So my top 12 photos are below: 

Individual photos with species names and comments: 

Capercaillie: Cairngorms: January - a snowy walk and a brief glimpse...not in the photo though! 

Water Rail: Leighton Moss: January - the reserve was flooded so they were wandering round on the Causeway.

Long-tailed Duck: Burghead: January - bitterly cold and they were just pootling around in the harbour. 

Shore Larks: Holkham, Norfolk: February - feeding on the strand line - a cautious creep required to reach them.

Knot: Snettisham, Norfolk: February - the wader spectacular - stunning, then they all landed beside the hide, appearing to morph into pebbles; surrounded by Oystercatchers.

Avocet: Norfolk: one of many views - I just like their stunning design! 

Bearded-tit: Norfolk: February - although this one was at Leighton Moss in November - I love the fact that it is eating the reed seeds and appears to be playing 'boo'.

Coal tits and Great Spotted Woodpecker: Cairngorm: January - queueing up!

Snow Bunting: Cairngorm: January - one of many in the carpark.

Short-eared Owl: Upper Teesdale: March - taken from the car.

Black Grouse: Cairngorm: January - now I do have much better photographs at Langdon Beck, in the sun and close up, but it was nice to see them in trees.

..and finally a Waxwing: Penrith: January - one of a large flock; it was a Waxwing year. 

The next blog will cover the twelve photos that didn't make the cut ...for one reason or another....