2015 Catch up

I apologise to the two people who occasionally accidentally read my blog, this year hasn't been particularly bird filled and I've been extremely bad at updating!  Here's a quick catch up blog from May until now (saw about 3 birds) and then will get back into the hang of birding and blogging.  Promise.

So June saw a trip down to Titchfield to see the Greater Yellowlegs, which was very obliging.  A few year listers were also picked up that trip, including one of my favourite birds, the Little Tern.  June also saw us finally see the Bonaparte's Gull at Oare Marshes, although we managed to walk past it and would have dipped it again if a kind gentleman hadn't pointed it out.  Thank you!

Greater Yellowlegs
A month later we popped into Oare again for all of half an hour in the torrential rain, but got a nice little list, including year listers of Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Sandwich Tern.  Two BOPs were added to the list at Birdfair, Hobby and Osprey.  Can't believe I only saw one Hobby this year, really poor birding from me there.
The Rutland Cormorant Tree

Only picture of a Goldcrest I've ever managed... 
We completed our Phalarope list with Wilson's Phalarope at Vange Marsh at the end of September, charming little bird, as all the Phalaropes are.  A trip to Norfolk for that great weekend mid-October helped boost both the life list and the year list a little, with Pallas's Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Isabelline Shrike and Olive-backed Pipit.


Isabelline Shrike

Squeee

Young Swallows