A visit to #WestportLake this morning saw the drk Scaup still present, single Pochard, 5x Goosander. New for the year were 2x Chiffs in the back, a Heron over and two Pied Wags #Staffsbirds #ukbirding
First visit to #WestportLake since last weekend and first bird i saw was this. Rather surprising as the Tufted Duck count was rather low. Also Redpoll over, drk Pochard and five Goosander #Staffsbirds #ukbirding
Gambia Day 4 (5/1/25) and a visit to Brufut Woods. Plenty of lifers as we wandered around. Saw an amazing Didric Cuckoo but didn't get a photo. Story of the day though was two Nightjar sp on site. My guide kept this from me until I'd seen both, but both Long-tailed and Standard wing on show
Gambia Day 3 (4/1/25) and another trip to the Kotu Bridge area, visiting the Fajara Golf Club on our walk around. Another amazing mornings birding. Part 1
Gambia Day 2 (3/1/25) Part 2. Later we sat at the Calypso bar for beers and birds session. Bizarre sight of the day (amongst many many memorable sights) was the hotel Hornbill sat just outside the hotel reception, showing rather well
Day 2 in The Gambia (3/1/25) and we visited the Crocodile Pool, Monkey Forest and Senegambia Hotel for the Vulture feeding. Part 1
Part 2
2/1/25 Late afternoon was spent at the Calypso bar, sitting in the shade, sipping beer, watching the crocodiles.... #Gambiabirding Part 1
Part 2
Happy New Years day to one and all
Today at a cold, blowy #WestportLake saw one poch, 3x Goosander, 1x willow tit, one chiff with 2x Chiff yday. That's me done for the year. Three lifers, fantastic week on Scilly in October. Love to you all. No New Year Day count for me tomorrow so see you all on the 2nd #staffsbirds #ukbirding
Another morning visit to #WestportLake saw 30 Tufted, 9x Goosander, 1x Corm, an Skylark over, willow tit in the back. I thought there was a fem Shov on main lake, but it didn't look right for one. Took a few pics but it was always freaked out in the middle of the lake #staffsbirds #ukbirding
The fog finally lifted at #WestportLake this morning and I was able to see the far side of the lake for the first time in days. Very little change with the 5x Goosander still present, two Teal flying around, just one Poch and very little in the back #staffsbirds #ukbirding
Morning visit to ##WestportLake wasn't the best with a thick fog still lingering all day long and not lifting. Could just make out the ghostly shapes of 5x Goosander. In the back two coal tit and heard the willow tit #staffsbirds #ukbirding
#AmericanYellowWarbler New Hythe GPs, Kent #ukbirding
Drove thru the early morning fog on deserted motorways to Kent this morning where eventually the #AmericanYellowWarbler showed itself to the masses, calling away as it did. My first ever Boxing Day twitch. Good to chat to Richard, Christopher and Ian as always #ukbirding
Atmospheric wintery walk round #WestportLake saw one willow tit, two coal tit and 5x Goosander. Fog only just lifted as I was leaving #staffsbirds #ukbirding
Another fairly decent visit to ##WestportLake saw a drk Gadwall, 4x Goosander, 2x Poch, 3x Chiff in the back and a Willow Tit #staffsbirds #ukbirding
Fairly pleasant visit to ##WestportLake this morning. Dry with hardly any wind. Highlight were three overwintering Chiffchaff on site with the two birds still together top shore. Also 7x Goosander, 6x Poch #staffsbirds #ukbirding
Visits to #WestportLake recently have all nearly been grim and wintery and rather quiet. One Chiffchaff seen on 14th, 18th and 20th with two seen together on 21st fly catching. Pochard max 7, TD down to 14 today, 3x gcg on 17th - yes they now leave most winters. #staffsbirds #ukbirding
Aftermath of #StormDarragh at #WestportLake wasn't half as spectacular as the storm itself. Incredibly strong winds in North Staffs yday but only c3 trees down in thick hedgerow areas and water levels on the Fowlea Brook have dropped very quickly. Very quiet with 2x Poch and a Redwing #staffsbirds
Well #StormDarragh at #WestportLake was more unpleasant than wild, with constant driving rain with a NW bite. Water levels are incredibly high. First time in 42yr of visiting I've seen the Fowlea overflowing. Birds seen....well 3x Goosander were probably the best #Staffsbirds #ukbirding
A grim visit to #WestportLake in the early morning drizzle saw 5x Greylags, 29x Tufted, 2x Poch #staffsbirds #ukbirding
Plus scarce stuff counts each time you see it rather than once a year. You'll have a January target each year to aim for. Also combined Dec, Jan and Feb months together and you have species seen in Winter. Month listing rejuvenated my flagging enthusiasm on my patch which is also inner city.
I presume you year list on your patch but have you tried month listing. Something else to focus on when times are quiet and you normally add something new most visits. Constant patch work is hard at times to keep on going but the challenge is there.
Late November visit to #WestportLake saw a fem Blackcap in the back, which was nice, plus 3x Goosander Inc one on the canal and 5m2f Teal displaying in the back. #Staffsbirds ##ukbirding
Another very wet visit to ##WestportLake saw very little again with three Goosander the only thing of note. Fowlea Brook is very high but still not overflowing in the back. One tree down after #StormBurt #staffsbird #ukbirding
