This week

The kids are still on holiday so birding opportunities have been limited. However I managed to get the year list off to a start and did a session at the Bill on the 2nd HERE where I finally broke my duck on Slav Grebe and had two flying east. Up to five birds have been in the area since November and it's taken me this long to catch up with them. Other highlights included 9 Velvet Scoter, 4 Great Northern Diver, 10 Shag and 8 Kittiwake. 

Also did a couple of garden birding sessions HERE and HERE. Highlights included the Firecrest still present, a single Redwing and the Curlews are still in the field opposite with up to 8 in the last couple of weeks. 

Today we did a family walk round East Head HERE where 14 Sanderling and a Great Northern Diver were the highlights and tonight I nipped over to see the Long-eared Owls for the year list HERE where I picked up a few other year ticks too. 

It's been a cold start to the year with heavy frosts so no moths yet. However warm air is coming in tonight so the lights are on and fingers crossed to kick start the year moth list too. 

Over the holidays we've taken the boys to a couple of nature attractions including the Natural History Museum and the Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth. 

Long-eared Owl on the year list 

Sanderlings at East Head

Great Black-backed Gull on our chimney 

Skylark at East Head