NT
On the 22nd October:
1976
From St. Mary's we took the boat to St. Agnes, on the island we saw a Little Egret, a new bird for us and at this time a rarity. We also saw a Firecrest, a Merlin, a Snow Bunting and eventually an American Robin, another new bird for us.
Back on St. Mary's we went to Peninnis seeing a Whinchat, a Wheatear and a Short-toed Lark.
Then to Porthcressa where on the beach we only saw one Spotted Sandpiper, also Curlew, Sanderling, Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlin, lots of Turnstone and a White Wagtail.
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American Robin.
1977
A weekend in Norfolk, starting at Cley where we saw 9 Bearded Tits, 2 Black Redstarts, 10+ Ruff, 60+ Golden Plovers, 4 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe and a Little Stint. From there we stopped at Stifkey seeing 100+ Tree Sparrows, c10 Yellowhammers, c10 Reed Buntings, 20+ Redwings, a Redstart, a Ring Ouzel and we found a Serin. Continuing to Wells Woods we saw a few finches, tits and warblers, also an another c35 Tree Sparrows and a Great Grey Shrike.
1978
An early morning drive to Windspit in Dorset to see an Isabelline Shrike, a species which had recently been split from Red-backed Shrike. There were now 4 races to this species, isabellinus and phoenicuroides being the two which could reach Britain, this bird was phoenicuroides, which has now been split again and is now called Red-tailed or Turkestan Shrike. At the present time this bird appears to be the 2nd British record.
Also seen in this area was a Ring Ouzel, 2 Sand Martins, 17 Swallows and 3 Yellowhammers.
1983
Overnight on Portland, in the morning we did a sea-watch from the 'bill' betwee 8-9.30am seeing the usual seabirds, plus a Pomarine Skua, 42 Common Scoter, 2 Puffins, 2 Brent Geese and a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull. Around the area we saw a Wheatear, lots of Skylarks, 3 Firecrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Stonechat and 9 Corn Buntings.
Then we went to Ferrybridge where there were a 100 or so small waders including 6 Sanderling. From there to Radipole Lake where we saw a Common Tern, an Arctic Tern, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Water Rails, a good selection of ducks and we saw a Cetti's Warbler and heard 3 more.
1987
In Virginia on a BBC sound recording trip, 2 new mammals seen today.
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White-tailed Deer.
1996
In Hungary, in the Hortobagy National Park on a sound recording trip, 1 new bird seen today.
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Common Cranes.
2004
After a day of very strong SW winds, a visit to Severn Beach seeing a Leach's Petrel.
2005
A visit to Severnside, briefly stopping at Chittening Warth where I saw a female Marsh Harrier. Then to Northwick Warth where there were 100+ Dunlin, 200+ Knot, lots of Teal and Wigeon, and a Garganey. Later, I drove to Chew Valley Lake where by the dam there was a very tame Grey Phalarope, also in the bay 3 Velvet Scoter.
2019
The day started with a Nuthatch at the feeder at Elm Lodge, not a common visitor. Then a drive south to Catcott Lows where there were around 25 Cattle Egrets, 6+ Little Egrets, 3 Great White Egrets, c30 Wigeon, 3 Pintail and c150 Lapwing. Then a late lunch at Shapwick Hub and while sitting outside a Bittern flew over.
Cattle Egret and Great White Egret.
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