I done it! 100 species in a day. (All within 20 miles of home and all self-found/identified!)
I done it! 100 species in a day. (All within 20 miles of home and all self-found/identified!)
Started before dawn with a Woodcock and Tawny Owl, before heading North into farmland. Here Stone Curlew, Yellowhammer, and Corn Bunting were all pretty easy.
Next stop was the New Forest where I knew that I needed to pick up the species list big time. Two or three hours at my favourite locations were well spent, and I had added most of the common woodland species plus Wood Warbler, Hawfinch, Crossbill, Siskin, Redstart, Firecrest, Woodlark and Tree Pipit.
I was now over halfway, and hadn't seen any Wildfowl or Waders, so a trip to Blashford lakes and Keyhaven should have got me over the line fairly comfortably.
Blashford was ok, but Keyhaven (despite having three Spoonbill resting at the back of a lagoon), gave me a fright when it appeared there wasn't a single Wader on either Pennington, Butt's or Fishtail lagoons.
So I done the full lap, and eventually managed small numbers of Redshank, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel, plus Oystercatcher, Snipe, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, but no sign of any Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Greenshank, Curlew, or Grey Plover.
By now, it was late afternoon and I was on 99. Plenty of time left, but I could hardly walk with the 3 previous hikes catching up on me. So I had no choice but to sit out the day at Hurst Beach and hope the remaining birds came to me. They duly obliged with Gannet, Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Yellow-Legged Gull, Shag and Raven all seen in the next couple of hours.
I decided against the final trump card of a night safari, and settled for 105. A long but enjoyable day with many highlights like Wood Warbler, amazing views of Crossbill, and a Woodcock on the forest floor. Plus Spoonbill, Stone Curlew and Firecrest.
It always amazes me which common birds fail to show on such occasions.. today's glaring omissions were Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Wheatear, Whinchat, Dartford Warbler, Rock Pipit, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Eider, Greenshank, Water Rail, Shoveler, Hobby, Red Kite, Grey Wagtail, Barn Owl, Little Owl and I suppose Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker given I had tried 2 territories that I had found earlier in the year. The sea wasn't particularly kind to me with no true seabirds, but Hurst rarely plays ball for me. Also the lack of interesting Waders at Keyhaven affected the total. Curlew Sandpiper, Knot or Avocet wouldn't have been particularly unusual.
As always nature had the last laugh, as I struggled out the house in darkness specifically to see a Woodcock in the pitch black flying overhead. Only to see one perched in broad daylight a few hours later!
Started before dawn with a Woodcock and Tawny Owl, before heading North into farmland. Here Stone Curlew, Yellowhammer, and Corn Bunting were all pretty easy.
Next stop was the New Forest where I knew that I needed to pick up the species list big time. Two or three hours at my favourite locations were well spent, and I had added most of the common woodland species plus Wood Warbler, Hawfinch, Crossbill, Siskin, Redstart, Firecrest, Woodlark and Tree Pipit.
I was now over halfway, and hadn't seen any Wildfowl or Waders, so a trip to Blashford lakes and Keyhaven should have got me over the line fairly comfortably.
Blashford was ok, but Keyhaven (despite having three Spoonbill resting at the back of a lagoon), gave me a fright when it appeared there wasn't a single Wader on either Pennington, Butt's or Fishtail lagoons.
So I done the full lap, and eventually managed small numbers of Redshank, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel, plus Oystercatcher, Snipe, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, but no sign of any Black-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Greenshank, Curlew, or Grey Plover.
By now, it was late afternoon and I was on 99. Plenty of time left, but I could hardly walk with the 3 previous hikes catching up on me. So I had no choice but to sit out the day at Hurst Beach and hope the remaining birds came to me. They duly obliged with Gannet, Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Yellow-Legged Gull, Shag and Raven all seen in the next couple of hours.
I decided against the final trump card of a night safari, and settled for 105. A long but enjoyable day with many highlights like Wood Warbler, amazing views of Crossbill, and a Woodcock on the forest floor. Plus Spoonbill, Stone Curlew and Firecrest.
It always amazes me which common birds fail to show on such occasions.. today's glaring omissions were Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Wheatear, Whinchat, Dartford Warbler, Rock Pipit, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Eider, Greenshank, Water Rail, Shoveler, Hobby, Red Kite, Grey Wagtail, Barn Owl, Little Owl and I suppose Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker given I had tried 2 territories that I had found earlier in the year. The sea wasn't particularly kind to me with no true seabirds, but Hurst rarely plays ball for me. Also the lack of interesting Waders at Keyhaven affected the total. Curlew Sandpiper, Knot or Avocet wouldn't have been particularly unusual.
As always nature had the last laugh, as I struggled out the house in darkness specifically to see a Woodcock in the pitch black flying overhead. Only to see one perched in broad daylight a few hours later!
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