Summer 2016

As is usual for me, birding was on the quiet front between June and September, with just a couple of trips.  A brief weekend away with family in Wales produced a Grasshopper Warbler right next to the house – only the second I’ve ever seen! A last minute (flight booked 5 hours before departure) trip to Aberdeen was very productive, with 7 species added to the year list, 2 of these being life listers – White-winged Scoter and King Eider.

Puffin 




Skylark


Yellowhammer

 A slightly more local twitch was for the lovely little Common Rosefinch in the Lee Valley, followed by a celebratory pint.  The last trip of summer was a walk around Minsmere in hope of the Purple Swamphen.  We missed out on that, but added 5 others to the year list (including that damned elusive Reed Warbler).

Baby Wheatear