NT
On the 19th November:
1977
An overnight drive to Suffolk, where around the harbour in Lowestoft we saw an adult Franklin's Gull, a new bird for us.
Also seen were lots of other gulls, a Shag, 17 Common Scoters, 15 Purple Sandpipers and a Common Seal.
Later, we went to Minsmere where there were another 43 Common Scoters on the sea, around the reserve we saw 2 Bearded Tits, 8 Ruff, 4 Spotted Redshank, 10 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper and a Marsh Harrier.
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Drawing of Franklin's Gull by Laurel Tucker.
1979
We returned to Chew Valley Lake seeing much the same as yesterday, including a Smew and the Slavonian Grebe. We spent a long time watching the Greater Sandplover along the east shore and this time were able to get a bit closer to the bird. Photos below.
1988
In Madagascar on a BBC sound recording trip, 1 new bird, a new mammal and a new reptile seen today.
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Jewel or Carpet Chameleon.
1993
In New Zealand on a BBC sound recording trip, no new birds seen today.
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Weka.
1994
A drive to Lechlade Gravel Pits in Gloucestershire with Bob Richardson, to see a male Lesser Scaup, a new British bird for me. Also on the lake 400+ Pochard, a Goldeneye and lots of other duck species, plus grebes.
1996
In Central France on a sound recording trip.
2004
An hour spent on the seafront in Portishead, on the lake were 5 Pochard and at Battery Point a Purple Sandpiper.
2011
A visit to Chew Valley Lake where there was a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 2 Long-billed Dowitchers, c15 Dunlin, 200+ Lapwing, 2 Bewick's Swans, a Peregrine and lots of duck.
2013
A trip to the Forest of Dean to see a Two-barred Crossbill, but it didn't show, however did see 60+ Siskins, Redpolls and 3 Crossbills.
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