NT
On the 5th December:
1981
An overnight drive to Blacktoff Sands in South Yorkshire to see a Penduline Tit, but it had gone! We did see 2 Hen Harriers, a Spotted Redshank, a Jack Snipe, 2 Water Rails, c40 Bearded Tits and c60 Pink-footed Geese.
1988
In Kenya, on a BBC sound recording trip, 7 new birds an 3 new mammals seen today.
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Didric Cuckoo.
1993
In Australia on a sound recording trip, 5 new birds, a new reptile and a new amphibian seen today.
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Giant Tree Frog.
1994
An overnight drive to Burghead in Scotland with Bob Richardson, to see a 1st winter Siberian or Grey-tailed Tattler, a new British bird for me. We saw the bird briefly in the morning and again, for much longer, in the evening, down to about 15 metres but in poorer light. During the day we saw c500 Greylag and c100 Pink-footed Geese near Burghead, then went to Findhorn where on the sea there were Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Eider, 4 Scaup, 7 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Red-throated Divers.
2011
A visit to Chew Valley Lake where there was a Spotted Sandpiper and the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was still there, also c30 Dunlin, a Kingfisher, 2 Water Rails and lots of duck including a female Garganey.
2015
A visit to Battery Point in very strong southwesterly winds, there were 8 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Rock Pipits and 6 Kittiwakes going down the estuary.
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