With gales and heavy rain to start the new year its a good time to reflect on the birding year just past. For me 2013 was a mixture of exciting new birds and a disappointing local scene with many regular Warwickshire species becoming increasingly difficult to find. Perhaps I haven't been looking hard enough but its the first time I can remember I haven't recorded Grey Partridge, Little Owl, Corn Bunting or Turtle Dove in the County. Not all doom and gloom, however, with Grasshopper warbler, Lesser spotted Woodpecker and Little Tern on this year's list but the final year total was still a below average 157.
Out of County it was a very successful year with 9 new species added to the UK list. 5 new species were added to the Greater Midlands list, with the Woodchat Shrike at Brandon Marsh the only addition to the County total.
Trips to the Shetland Isles, Cyprus and Scandinavia were all memorable and produced some great opportunites for photography.
Bee-eaters, Cyprus
Garden Warbler, Kingsbury Water Park
Hoopoe, Northants.
Capercaille, Finland
Yellow Wagtail, Local
Wood Warbler, Kingsbury Water Park
Little Gull, Finland
Little Bittern, Cyprus
Red necked Phalarope, Norway
Pine Grosbeak, Finland
Some cracking shots there Bob.
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