2017 was a good year
both for my Beddington Farm 7 new birds, (total 188 species) and Surrey Vice
County 6 new birds, (total 234 species) lists. In addition I spent time in Bulgaria
at Branta Birding Lodge Durankulak, a month in Spain and a couple of months
with Cano Palma in Costa Rica. Surprisingly enough I did not miss any key
species during my time away from my patch.
The New Year always
brings with it an air of expectancy in the birding world. I always wonder what will
be the next MEGA at Beddington Farm. It appears work has began creating the long
overdue wet grassland. This work when completed should add an extra habitat to
a shrinking Farmland.
My prime objective
this morning was to look for the Twite that seemed to have taken up winter
residence with a flock of Linnet that frequent the landfill area. I took a
count of the waterfowl on the lakes before making my way over to the lake side
of the landfill. Glen and Frank were over in the SE corner looking for
Woodcock.
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| (photo 22/11/2017) |
As Frank was seen on
the horizon I noted two Tree Sparrow fly onto the fence. I then spotted the
Twite on top of a pile of earth on the W side of the landfill. Locating this
bird is made simpler by the colour rings on both its legs. The bird was banded by The South Pennines Ringing Project. I beckoned for Frank
to get a move on as I now had the bird in my scope but it had gone by the time
he reached me.
The flock of Linnet
were very mobile and it took over an hour before Frank picked up the Twite on
the path just S of the hay bales. The wait had been worth the effort and
importantly this rare visitor had made it onto the Farm yearlist which finished
on a respectable 160 species last year.
Having had a
successful morning it was then up to Sutton Utd to complete the perfect day by
beating Boreham Wood in the return festive fixture. A late equaliser by The
Woods prevented the end to a perfect day!
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