17th December | naturalfx

On the 17th December:

1978

Overnight at Pagham Harbour, in the morning seeing much the same as yesterday, not the plover, but now 6 White-fronted Geese and the Barn Owl again. We then went to Litchfield Haven where we saw a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Dartford warbler, a Little Auk in a box, a Slavonian Grebe, a Red-necked Grebe, a Velvet Scoter and lots of ducks and waders.

1979

A drive north to Cannock Chase where with the flock of c20 Crossbills was a Two-barred Crossbill, a new bird for us.

Later, after returning to Bristol, we went to Barrow Tanks where there was a Great Northern Diver, a Long-tailed Duck and 3 Scaup.

Drawing of Two-barred Crossbill

by Laurel Tucker.

1986

On holiday in California, 9 new birds seen today.

Caspian Tern.

1993

In Australia on a sound recording trip, 3 new birds seen today.

Wandering Whistling Duck.

2003

A visit to Portbury Wharf where the highlights were 8 Bullfinches, c40 Wigeon, c200 Teal, 3 Stonechats, 11 Reed Buntings, c800 Dunlin, 16 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, a Water Pipit and a Yellow-legged Gull.

2006

Back at Clevedon boating lake where now the was an immature Great Northern Diver, which dived a lot of the time, then caught a Whiting which it took time to swallow.