This is probably the longest post I've ever done. The highlights of 2019. As Jacob started pre-school in October we made the most of our last year of freedom by getting in as much travel as possible. So here's the wildlife highlights through the whole year. Found a few good birds, some good moths and saw loads of excellent and mind blowing stuff! Started and ended the year with a rare Gallinule.
January
Allen's Gallinule on Fuerteventura
Dwarf Bittern on Fuerteventura
Houbara Bustard on Fuerteventura
Found this Yellow-browed Warbler on Fuerteventura
Glaucous Gull at Beddington
February
Found this Pale-bellied Brent on Sheppey
Short-eared Owls on Sheppey
A record matching year for Water Pipit at Beddington
Black-throated Diver at Holmethorpe, Surrey
Pine Beauty and Buttoned Snout (below) in the Beddington traps during the 'hot' February
African Piculet in Ghana
Blue Leaf Pansy in Ghana
Black Mamba in Ghana (not this species but not sure what it is- a Cobra sp?) update 080424- its a Western Black Tree Snake
Oleander Hawkmoth in Ghana
March
Med Gull at Beddington
Cranes over Otmoor
Found this migrating adult Iceland Gull over Beddington
The first spring Wheatears are always an annual highlight- Beddington
April
Little Gulls at Farmoor
Male Scaup at Staines
Found this Spotted Redshank at Otmoor
May
Balearic Warbler on Majorca
Mediterranean Flycatcher on Majorca
Marbled Teal on Majorca
Summer Asphodel on Majorca
Lilford's Wall Lizard, Majorca
Spot Fly's back at the Old Vic
Dewick's Plusia back at Beddington- a record year this year
A stunning Netted Pug at Beddington- a first for the farmlands
June
Black Hairstreak at Bernwood Meadows
Pale Water Veneer- a first for Beddington
Privet Hawkmoth at the Old Vic
Silky Wainscot at Beddington- a first for site
Small Blue on the Inside Croydon walk to Roundshaw Downs
July
Eastern Gorilla in Uganda
Chimpanzee in Uganda
Shoebill in Uganda
Green-breasted Pitta, Uganda
L'Hoerst's Monkey, Uganda
African Grey Parrot, Uganda
Grauer's Broadbill, Uganda
White-crested Turaco, Uganda
Lesser Jacana, Uganda
Biblical numbers of Belenois auroa in Uganda
Three-horned Chameleon, Uganda
Golden Pearl at Beddington- a first for site
Spectacle and Dark Spectacle at Beddington
Pine Hawkmoth at the Old Vic
August
Alpine Swift in Bulgaria
Tawny Pipit and Black-headed Bunting, Bulgaria
Bee-eater, Bulgaria
Convolvolus Hawkmoth, Bulgaria
Flocks of Golden Oriole, Bulgaria (up to 50+)
Lappet, Bulgaria
Lesser Emperor, Bulgaria
Pale Shoulder, Bulgaria
Pied Wheatear, Bulgaria
September
Juvenile Montagu's Harrier, Bulgaria
First-winter Citrine Wagtail, Bulgaria
Juvenile Broad-billed Sandpiper, Bulgaria
Another stunning autumn male Pied Wheatear
Episema glaucina, Bulgaria
Jersey Black Arches, Bulgaria
Marsh Warbler, Bulgaria
Found this Terek Sandpiper, a national rarity, Bulgaria
Ruff at Farmoor
A platter of Sallows and autumn moths, the Old Vic
October
Hermit Thrush, Corvo, Azores (Vincent Legrand)
Short-finned Pilot Whales, an Azores tick (Vincent Legrand)
Found this RB Merg at Farmoor
November
Flyover Woodcock on Sheppey
Otmoor Otter
One of very few Caspian Gulls at Beddington this year
Adult female Scaup at Farmoor
Tundra Bean Goose in Lisbon- a first for Portugal
December
Goldeneye at Staines (and finally saw the Long-tailed Duck the same day)
Slavonian Grebe at Farmoor
American Purple Gallinule- ok I didn't find this bird or even see it but I did identify it yesterday from photos while compiling the 2017 Azores report. Originally thought to be a Moorhen I was pleasantly surprised when I opened up the file to see the Azores 10th American Purple Gallinule photographed by Stanislaw Czyz.