Looking back at 2008 - seven of the best

It can't be a bad year's birding when you see the following - Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, Gurney's Pitta, Black Bee-eater, Yellow-headed Picathartes, Siberian Crane and Ibisbill....

Slavonian Grebe in the CWP

28 Dec - a lunchtime visit to Dudgrove, pit 114, and good views of a Slavonian Grebe, at first diving actively then later preening in open water (photo, copyright Paul Masters). Small, dumpy, contrasting black/white colouration, a rare bird inland. Possibly the one seen at Farmoor yesterday? Presumably displaced by the surrent cold weather and easterly winds. Glos year list for 2008 now 187.

Waxwings in Glos

26 Dec - a Boxing Day trip to Littledean, on the edge of the Forest of Dean, and good views of the 14 Waxwings there, trilling and moving between tall trees and a berry bush. Flighty, but seen well in the sunlight. Glos year list moves up to 186....

Christmas dips!

Dec 22 - Not guacamole - birds....over the weekend I dipped both the Slimbridge Bittern (upper)and the Longlevens Waxwing (lower, photo copyright Paul Masters) in my quest to improve my 2008 year list...oh well, maybe another chance over Christmas/New year....

China in Winter

Nov 21 - Dec 9 2008 - an excellent Winter China Birdquest trip, with good views of Siberian Crane at Poyang Hu - my most wanted bird! Also excellent views of Black-necked Crane at Caohai, and White-naped, Hooded and Red-crowned Cranes also seen, together with Common Cranes as a supporting cast - particularly atmospheric views of flocks flying and calling in morning mist, and against the winter sun. Scaly-sided Merganser was seen well at the second attempt, with thousands of other wildfowl including Swan and Bar-headed Geese and huge numbers of Bewick's Swans. A pre-tour extension gave me my long-awaited Ibisbill. Passerines included Siberian Accentor, Red- and Black-throated Thrushes. The conical hills of the southwest produced several endemic Laughing-Thrushes. Fifty lifers altogether in a fascinating country.

photos - 1. Great Wall of China, Badaling. 2. Ibisbill - 3/4. Siberian Cranes - 5. Black-necked Cranes - 6. Red-crowned Cranes - 7. Oriental Stork - 8. Hooded Cranes - 9. Bar-headed Geese - 10. Ruddy Shelduck

Long-tailed Duck at Dorchester gravel pits

11 Dec - after a bit of searching, the juvenile Long-tailed Duck appeared at Drayton Road pit and was seen well, diving actively (photo, copyright Steve Burch). Also a Snipe flushed at point-blank range.