No 7 2023 Plans

 I have started to think about walks for the bird club for 2023.

It would be good to have a longer session to enable us to travel to further locations, whilst still containing  total walk in a morning.  I have in mind places like Attenborough gravel pits, Carsington, and Alvaston Park.  My problem is that as I have to check whether anyone new turns up at the library, and the library does not open until 10.00am, I would not be available to start at a more distant location until c 10.30. I am happy to finish (at the birding site) at 1.00pm

I will leave it to you to let me know what you think, and what suits you. (Add a comment to this post if you wish.)

In the meantime, and starting a new calendar year, on 6th January 2023 we will again go to Markeaton Park. There will be far less leaves on the trees than our walk there in October, and the birds will be more visible, and hungry.

So for your diary...............

FRIDAY   6th January 2023       Library   10.00am or    10.15am Coppice End Rd

Meanwhile, I hope you all have a great Xmas, and look forward to extending your birding knowledge and horizons in 2023.

David

No 6 All quiet on the Derwent Front

 With just two pairs of eyes on the December walk, there were very few birds recorded. As leaves are fast falling off the trees, birds should be more visible, but they were just not around.

The duo walked from Darley Park Drive car park, towards town, then crossed the Iron Bridge just after the rowing club and back along the Derwent to the mill area. Crossing the temporary replacement Bridge by Darleys, they turned right and ventured along the path to the two entrances to the Nutwood Reserve.

Time plus signs of pretty muddy paths deterred them from going into the Reserve so they retraced their steps back to the car park. The number of species was embarasingly low, so just to say BOD were Collared Doves.   

David

No 5 A memorable walk - Kingfishers, Great White Egret and Slavonian Grebe...... WOW!!!

The November ABC bird watching walk turned out to be the best one to date, by a mile!!

David took four members today  for a couple of hours bird watching at Willington Gravel Pits. Prior warning by Mike ensured that wellies were the order of the day. The site, an “up and back” path is very susceptible to flooding and is predicted to be flooded later in November.

The two hours produced 33 species of which 15 were new to the club list. At the first view point Mike (only) was lucky to spot a dashing Kingfisher, but at the end hide we were all able to add several sightings to our day list. Not fishing, but posing!

As they have spread across the UK, Little Egrets can pop up anywhere, and we had seen one at Markeaton on the first club walk. Today it was great to see a Great White Egret on the edge of the reeds, and with a Little Egret being nearby, comparing their sizes was a good identification aid. We await the 3^rd of the UK seeable Egrets, a Cattle Egret, which are slowly spreading north.

But the real bonus thanks to Mike bringing his telescope, was a Slavonian Grebe. David spotted a Grebe on the far side of the water, that was clearly different from the usual Great Crested Grebes. It was smaller than the Great, different shape from a Little Grebe, smart looking and with a black line down the back of the neck. Using the scope, another birders photo, and a bird guide there was much deliberation between Black Necked and Slavonian Grebe the latter being the decider.

The four of the group enjoyed the identifying experience and experiencing how working together can giver regards and make bird watching more enjoyable.

Stats;  33 for the walk. 38 Club species to date. BOD (Bird of the Walk) Slavonian Grebe.

 

The next ABC walk on Friday 2^nd December, will be to Darley Park and hopefully Nutwood NR.

Details will be confirmed in due course, but provisionally to meet at 10.15am in the small car park at the end of Darley Park Drive, opposite the Broadway PH on the A6.  

    

No 4. Allestree Bird Club. October Walk and November walk plans.

 With just three "birders" and the weather a bit questionable (correct as it turned out), we changed the planned venue for our October morning stroll and went to Markeaton Park, mainly walking round the large lake.

Progressing through the woods near the Mundy centre we enjoy a busy group of Long Tailed Tits prospecting above us following which we then paused on the bridge by the duck pond and ticked off the usual suspects. One noisy, but smart and small white duck confounded us and we had to assume that it was released from a collection.

Going clockwise round the lake, a Grey Heron was in the willows, and a Little Egret was in a similar environment on the smaller island. A 2022 edition Great Crested Grebe (still with the zebra head stripes) was spotted and on the way back what we assumed was the mature parent was also seen.

Before we turned back at the A38, looking at a small overflow waterfall it was no surprise, but still very nice, to get clear views of a Grey Wagtail foraging in the running water. There are several gentle running water locations round the park, and they have all been known to turn up this pretty bird on occasions.  As we watched it feeding, the tale was wagging non-stop, symptomatic of the Grey, and the rich yellow plumage (as well as the grey feathers) was very viewable. 

Not surprising The Grey Wagtail was BOD. (bird of the day)

Ending with the feeding station by the Ha-Ha, all that the seed David put out could attract was Woodpigeon, Jackdaw and Magpie, all feeding together (without any rancour!) on the feeding table.

Walk number two ticked 19 species and our first two trips has so far accumulated 24 species.

Slight change of plans for the next walk FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER. We will meet at the library for 10.00am (The library does not open until then) and by 10.15 we will drive to Willington, to start at 10.30, for a 2-hour walk round the gravel pits, returning to Park farm for 12.45.  Include the Beavers if we are lucky!!

There will of course be no need to spend the whole 2 hours if you need to get away.

Look forward to seeing you in November. Meanwhile, Happy Birding

David

No3. ABC Meeting Friday October 7

 Just a "heads up" about the next Allestree Bird Club Meeting.  It is the forthcoming Friday, 7th October, at the library, starting c10.15 to 10.30.

We have a choice of trying again for Markeaton, and I have today been to check a good nearby place to park, for Free. 

Or we can do a 15 minute run down the A38 to Willington gravel pits.   No need to choose now, we can decide on Friday.

I don't expect it to be very warm, and at either location, strong footwear is advisable.

See you on Friday

David     01332 557942

 

No 2 Allestree Bird Club...Meeting 2nd September 2022

 Friday 2nd September.

For various reasons, and except for Mike D, none of the Allestree Bird Club birding enthusiasts appeared. In fairness, most of the 8 people who had been before did let me know.

With the help of a fellow library volunteer, we had made arrangements for some cars to be parked on a private drive, but as the lady was on holiday, she will not know that we did not use her drive! We will save Markeaton for another day.

Anyway, Mike and I had a good chat about our mutual experiences, some of which oddly overlapped, like both having been to Grimsby to see the American Robin in February 2004. In my case, the 28th, but both of us before a Sparrowhawk killed the Robin. Birders had congregated for some days, to see the Robin underneath a spreading tree on an industrial estate and where food had been thrown to keep the Robin fed. Sadly, the Sparrowhawk got the same message.

Reverting to our next birding meeting, most of the good birding sites are outside of Allestree, so I suggest we make more use of the Friday morning, by extending the walk from meeting at the library a bit earlier at 10.15 so that we can be away by 10.30, at the birding site by 10.45, and we can then have a good 90 minutes to 12.15, and you can be back in Allestree by 12.30.  (Or stay longer if you wish.)

So with that timetable, the next meeting, will be 1015am on Friday 7th October.  We will go to  Willington Gravel Pits, and may also be lucky and see the Beavers.   Parking at Willington is free, the parking space under the barrier off the little triangle on the right, on the Willington > Bretby road, and just BEFORE you cross the River Trent. 

I look forward to seeing you on the 7th at 10.15am

David

No 1. Allestree Bird Club 2022... the adventure starts here!

 

No 1. 

After the inaugural meeting in July,  6^th August 2022 was the start of the club activities, now including the outdoor element!  The weather and light was good, and the gentle stroll around the Allestree Park lake turned up some nice goodies to start our club list.

Mute Swan	Dunnock	Robin	Carrion Crow
Canada Goose	Moorhen	Tufted Duck	Coot
Woodpigeon	Black Headed Gull	Mallard	Little Grebe
Grey Heron	Mandarin Duck	Buzzard

 

There was no universal decision on the Bird of the Walk, so there are 3 nominations (in yellow). The early sighting of a drifting Buzzard was nice, and there was healthy debate about Wood Duck v female Mandarin Duck. (The Mandarin won!) The smallest bird on the water made a rare appearance, and spotting the Little Grebe repeatedly diving in the reed area needed good eyesight.

This was a photo taken in the morning of our first walk at Allestree Lake, facing East.

A blog post will be put on this site after each monthly walk, so with the next walk on Friday 2^nd September, report number 2 will be on c3^rd September.

The blog site is   Allesbirdtree.blogspot.com.   If you wish to add any comments, or have some birding news to share, you are most welcome to post a comment at the end of the blog.

David

 For any of you who still get one of the rare posts that I post on the Allestree Bird Man, I have now changed the blog name to the Allestree Bird Club, although it is still reached via the web blog site Allesbirdtree.

This is because I have set up thia new group at Allestree library and so far all we have  was an inaugural meeting on July 1, but six people did attend! We will meet on the first friday of each month at 10.30, and after a 30 minute chat, plan to go for 60/90 minutes to a nearby birding site.

The widget whereby you could register to receive a copy of any new post that I posted and w for which you had registered, appears to be no longer available, but if you still have the widget, I don't think it has been withdrawn for existing users.

So just to let you know what might seem strange, but I am still trying to encourage people to go birding.

TTFN

David

Long live Albufeira Reserve, Majorca

Report No 7.   22^nd June 2022.

Not a great deal to report as we finished the month by catching Covid during our holiday in Majorca, so isolation means it's home to garden watching!!

You may recall in April that I wrote about the Poole Harbour Osprey that earlier this year had laid an egg, the first one in 5 years.    Hot news from our local reporter James FK, 3^rd June and the egg has hatched.

It would be nice to think it broke out the day before the news broke, i.e. on June 2 as that would be the actual date of the Queens diamond jubilee Thus the fledgling would well and truly qualify for a name relevant to the jubilee event.   Jubilee?? Diamond?

Watch this space!!

 

The main activity in the last 4 weeks has been our two weeks holiday in Majorca from 4^th to 18^th June, once again at the Picafort Park. It has been two and a half years since we were last there, restricted due to Covid, and we finally enjoyed the holiday purchased in October 2019!!

Anyway, to the birds.   As always the usual avian residents were at the hotel. Early bird guests (those placing their beach towels from 5.45am!) saw the Hoopoe banging away catching ants, and I gather before we arrived a couple had reported seeing an adult with two young. We just saw the one adult. Still searching for food the day we left, at 6.45am

The Southern Spotted flycatchers were there everyday, impervious to and probably unnoticed by, most guests. Difficult to tell how many there are as they are buzzing from one post to the next all day, and even in the area where we played French Boule, they still landed on nearby trees. I just love them, they are so close and I wish people could share my enjoyment.

House Sparrows had many young, often in groups of 2/3 with their adults.

Not surprisingly I had two bus trips to Albufeira, and each time spent an enjoyable 3 hours amongst the huge reed bed area.

Towards the end of the 1 metre walk to the centre, it is always a joy to look across the river and see the birds that nest in the trees. But this year, there were now 4 different species.

Of course the Little Egrets, outnumbered by the Cattle Egrets, and supplemented by a few Night Herons, but this time a number of large black birds.   Glossy Ibis had decided to join and share the nest zone and turned out to be a species seen by me more frequently than before. In many cases they were flying in pairs.

On both trips I met a Brit (for a change!) (as opposed to many groups of Spanish students, who unfortunately crowded the hides,) and we shared mixed sightings and experiences.

No Osprey, but Marsh Harrier, Purple Herons, Purple Gallinule, and a couple of Stone Curlew.  And to compensate for failing at Whisby, I stood for sometime listening to and watching 2/3 Nightingales singing their hearts out.  May that never cease. 

Oh well, roll on July.... work to be done!!

David

How close can you get to Gannets?

Turned out to be a nice month, May 2022 so here goes.

Friday 29^th, I went to  a village near Repton, ostensibly to see Yellow Hammers. Wrong!!...BUT, as I walked across a grassed field, Yipeee  A lovely Skylark took to the sky singing joyfully. After it landed, another one did the same.  All worth while!

Despite being not properly dressed in a weekend break in Palma, Majorca (no bins!!) I ticked off a couple of world wide birds during our stay.  Swifts, of course, but great to see a nice Eleonora’s Falcon loafing  above as we sat outside a bar by the Cathedral and you can't miss Audouin's Gulls, even the one drinking from the pool next to which we were having a liquid lunch!!

May 15, during a 15,000 paces walk in Allestree, close to our old house in West Bank Rd,  we were buzzed by a pair of Swifts, as they explored houses near No 68!

May has actually been quite a good month for ticking off birds here or there and I have added 10 in this way.

During the BwB walk on 1^st May, which Keith and I covered whilst Amanda was still away, and Garry was in a Bird club walk, Garden warbler was found on Stones Island. Whilst on the tip of Stones, Simon Roddis, the Carsington expert called Arctic Tern and most of the group were able to see a pair flying south down the reservoir.

I decided to have a day at Old Moor on the 2^nd May and was surprised to see all the changes that have been made to the site with the Lottery grant. Bird wise it was disappointing, but just before I left, from the Bittern Hide I caught site of a lovely male Garganey.

I went again a fortnight later, and met up with Amanda on duty. We had good views of a Marsh Harrier, seen from the Wader Scrape hide. After lunch I popped into the tower hide at Broomhill Flash and managed to pick up the Black Necked Grebes, lurking amongst the reeds.

Sunday May 22^nd was the 30^th anniversary of the Queen opening Carsington Reservoir, so there were a lot of activities going on and a lot of people. Based on a tip, again from Simon, I went to Millfelds and with my scope picked up the Mediterranean Gull on Millfields island.

I had a nice couple of additions on a wet trip to Padley Gorge, starting from the top, going down the gorge and then a circuitous route back to the car…. Where and when IT RAINED.

I was wondering what I was going to find in the gorge, but my slow walking finally spotted a lovely male Pied Flycatcher (and another).  Talking to a couple of fellow birders, they pointed to a derelict ice building not far away, telling me that they had the very clear song from a Wood Warbler.  I went to the brick shelter and not being sure of the song, played it on my phone. In seconds, the Warbler was jumping round the branches above my head (looking for the mate??). I turned the sound off quickly and could see the lovely yellow chest of the little bird, together with it’s trembling as it sang it’s shivering trill, and which I now recognise.

Only two for the trip, but cracking birds.

Just got in a final birding trip on May 31 with a visit to Bempton. A Black-browed albatross had been around for a few days, but despite visiting the cliffs end to end, sadly by 2pm no sightings had been reported. 

Corn Bunting was another dip, but all 6 of the regular cliff birds were there, proving very popular for the large attendance.   These are two photographs I took at the southern end of the cliffs, where the nesting birds are nearest to the footpath.  Superb

 

And so end-of-May YTD is 149.  I’m thinking 51 more for the year is a huge target, but we’ll see. Majorca will not count…or?? 

Happy Birding

David

April 2022 - The Migrants arrive

Here we have report number 5 covering April, and the great swap of the Winter bird departures and the Spring arrivals is a thrill to all birders

I have been known to make references to birding items that get reported in the Daily Telegraph, and this one challenges use of the English language.

The article refers to an Osprey returning again to a nest in a Scottish forest, and it reports that the bird has been a popular sighting “…..settling on a nest with a newly installed camera.” I hope it knows how to adjust the focus.

Wed April 13.  Birding friend Chris having generously been past the Covid infection by her husband John, meant that she was unfortunately not able to join Marion, Paul and I when we had a morning at Willington GP. Clearly we were well into migration time and I was able to add 3 species to my year list, with the 3 Hirundines, and also Blackcap, Willow Warbler (first for 2022) and a couple of Blackcaps.  It absolutely teemed down mid-morning so it was a dash for the hide but at least we had some rewards.

Good to hear that after 5 years waiting, the Ospreys at Poole harbour have laid their first egg; no doubt there will be a constant vigil to keep an eye on the egg and maybe another one or two eggs. I’ll try and keep you posted.

Chris and I had a day at Whisby on the 26^th, hoping to spot/hear a Nightingale. Sadly the trip was abortive, in fact nothing even reported in the visitors book although they have been reported on the south coast this week; the DOS has a group trip to Whisby on Sunday May 1 so hopefully they will have arrived by then. I could not join that trip as it is the same day that I am standing in for Amanda for the Carsington bird walk so hopefully the DOS walk will be more fruitful.

On the way back  from Whisby, following good advice from Mac a Carsington volunteer, I dropped in at Bramcote cemetery. Albeit Mac lives close to some woods near Ilkeston said to be good for all 3 peckers, he told me that the Bramcoat cemetery was a dead cert (!!!) for Green Peckers, so at 15.55 walking round the cemetery…. Jackpot, a nice male prospecting the grass.  How would a layman know of the location?   He is an undertaker, and clearly has time to loiter whilst funeral services are taking place. I was respectful… I did not walk round with my bins.

Wed 27^th a morning at Attenborough ( a venue you know I visit regularly) was very productive migrant-wise.

Loads of Sand Martins going in the Sand Martin bank non-stop, plus prospecting on the ground in front of the viewing hide, giving superb views of their colours. Common Terns were around and we added Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Sedge Warblers plus one Cetti W.

So it’s 132 to date, for the first 6 months of MY year.  Now it gets harder!!

Happy birding

March 2022 Stand by for Arrivals..

It’s a compliment to be asked to lead a bird group walk once again for the Bird Watching for beginners event at Carsington. It was January 2006, 16 years ago, that I started BwB and it still continues 16 years later.

I joined the March 2022 walk, with Amanda having a good group of 16 birders. Still has it’s Firsts and excitements. On this walk we had close ups of Goldcrests, the good old Great Northern Diver, and a first for the BwB life list a pair of Red Kites which no one could miss.

Amanda is away for the next 2 walks visiting her family in the US and asked me to help, so it’s clean up the bins and go prepared on April 3^rd. I will have the help of Keith and Garry, Keith having been with me almost since day 1.

Right, Birdy bits!!

A good article in the Daily Telegraph at the start of March about Dunnocks being a good first sign of spring. The name comes from the Old English for “little brown” and they were also known as the “flutterer in the hedges” – pretty good link to the name Hedge Sparrows. The article also refers to their outrageous mating rituals, or let’s say “partner swapping” to avoid the lurid details!! (I know what those lurid details are!!!)

My birding trip with Chris and Gill at the start of March to Sherwood Forest being abortive, Mary and I decided we would give it another try. Using a slightly different route of North to South (including a free parking facility v £5) we saw nothing different on the journey to the visitor centre, but after a good snack on the return walk we found the seed that I had put on a feeding station brought the reward of a Marsh Tit.

Later in the month, not only did I get a better view of the Great Northern Diver at Carsington, but two Common Scoter bobbing on the water off Stones Island was a nice tick.

Finally whilst birding was very relaxed whilst we were in Exmouth, a walk round Seaton Marshes ticked a Greenshank, and even more pleasurable, a Robin taking seed from my hand.   

So it’s 118 to date (59% sounds better!)

Not much for March, but roll on April - the serious arrival time.

Happy birding

 

February 2022 Slow progress until the Summer migrants arrive.

 

Let’s start with a couple of bits of birding news that you may have missed!!

 

1.In the Swedish city of Sodertalje environmentalists are training crows to pick up cigarette butts, and when they drop them in a receptacle they get rewarded with a snack. (I can think of some UK pubs where rewards would be so plentiful as to make them obese within a week!!)  

2.Conversely, in Brighton immature Herring Gulls have been seen picking parking tickets off the windscreens of cars!   Pity the motorist that tries to justify to the authorities that they  DID buy a parking ticket. The traffic warden will have photos of the (absence of-) tickets on the windscreens, leaving the poor motorist with no defence,. … and no chance. 

3.That reminded me of the lady who went to the reception at Carsington and asked the staff what we were going to do about the wasp that stung her. The lady argued that it was a Severn Trent problem as it was at a Severn Trent reservoir so “it was a Severn Trent wasp”.  Sadly the receptionist was so taken aback that she omitted to say “Madam, if you can point out the wasp to me, I will have it seen to!!!”

My getting back into birdwatching is taking off at a good pace. By the end of 2021 (having started on 3^rd November 2021) I was on 92… and now on March 2, I’m on 115.  

In January and February I had several visits to Attenborough adding 3 species, in particular a Stonechat.  It took me 3 visits to find a male close to the sewage works and the railway line. The cold quiet day had the best result.   One Attenborough visit was special seeing a Little Egret and a Great White Egret in my bins at the same time… what a contrast.

5.My patience at Cromford on January 13, standing on the bridge over the Derwent, was rewarded by a Dipper landing on a nearby branch and then joined by another. Both Dippers were diving and searching for food together, and then I watched  the male displaying as the mate watched on a nearby branch – Fabulous.

6.16^th February (the calm weather day between the 15^th and 17^th stormy days!) included a trip with Christine to Slimbridge. Very rewarding with the expected Bewicks, Cranes and White Fronted Geese, and also a Snow Goose, Ross’s Goose (3) and a Grey Wagtail.. a rewarding addition of 6, some compensation for a traumatic journey – both ways, coming to a 15 minute highway closure on the road down to Slimbridge. Some consolation as we waited was to see through the hedge a huge number of Redwings and Fieldfares.

7.A Red Necked Grebe, and the Great Northern Diver at Carsington 21 were good contributions to the year to date.

8. Tuesday 2^nd March, Christine, Gill and I did a 15,000 step, 5-mile walk in Sherwood Forest  and the awful wet weather produced Nil points, apart from a nice close up of a friendly Tree Creeper.   A return in better weather is called for.

Current news is that Little Ring Plovers, sand Martins and Wheatears have been reported on the south coast, so I expect March and April to start adding Summer visitors to my year list. Bring it on!!

Happy Birding

The Mojo is ticking faster... Red Necked Grebe and displaying Dippers!!

 Sorry no photos to show you, but my Mojo has certainly been reactivated and whilst I’m not quite twitching, I have been to locations with specific objectives and target birds

14^th December, enjoyed a stroll with Chris at Attenborough, the first there for must be 18 months, so we found quite a few changes, like vehicle recognition parking in the car park, and free parking areas along the access road all blocked up.

After a reunion drink!!, we did a leisurely circuit, and ticked off 39 species without any real effort. A somewhat precocious but enthusiastic young boy, aspiring to birding, asked if we had seen the Smew!! Which resulted in us visiting the Kingfisher hide and seeing a nice Redhead off to the right. And then whilst we were in the hide, a Water Rail emerged from the reeds!! At first we thought there were 2, but it’s partner turned out to be a Moorhen…not a surprising temporary mistake – they are both from the Rail genus.

30^th December,  I went to RSPB Old Moor via Broomhill Flash. Looking back on my records, the last time I was there was 28^th January 2020, virtually 2 years ago. In the 2 years they have done a lot of good work on the site assisted by a large lottery grant.   The car park is no longer gravel and looking much more welcoming. Entry to the reserve is no longer through the shop and when I visited the volunteers were manning an information gazebo to help visitors. The Family hide is now quite different but the distant hides where birders go only differs by the addition of some plastic partitioning so that birders are separated.

Bird wise, the Sparrow Farm (which has no Tree sparrows since the major flood last year) gave me good views of Bullfinch and Reed Bunting, and after some id difficulty (I’m rusty!) I identified a Green Sandpiper from the Wader Scrape hide. And finished with an excellent sight of a disruptive Peregrine Falcon island-hopping in front of the Family Hide. 

2^nd January 2022 started with the BwB walk with Amanda, and 2 Gull species plus a pair of Barnacle Geese (I called them!!) took me to 95. After my lengthy hibernation, getting back up to speed on identification has been slow, but 95 in the first 2 months is quite satisfactory.

Thursday 13th January despite yet another very frosty start, I went to Carsington and saw the red Necked Grebe near the draw-off tower.  Not being inclined to go Diver hunting I opted to go on to Cromford, obviously hoping for a Hawfinch (failed!) but trying again to add Dipper to my list.

With a welcoming take-away hot chocolate, I took up position by the little fisherman chapel near the Derwent bridge, and despite the high water level I quite quickly saw a Dipper fly out from under the bridge and land on a branch overhanging the water. When it flew to the other side of the Derwent, a second Dipper joined it and landed nearby. For over a quarter of an hour I watched them dipping in and out for food, and at one point displaying to each other. The male (I assumed) was acting like a Jack Snipe, bobbing up and down rhythmically  whilst the other stood very erect.

What an enjoyable tick for the day!

20^th January to end my birding for the month, this week we again visited Attenborough, Chris Gill and myself. Again a leisurely walk ticked 35 species. We could have hoped to see Bittern, Stonechat, Woodpecker or Kingfisher, but had to settle for a Song Thrush and 2 Chiffchaffs. The Chiffchaffs were seen on a path alongside the railway towards the sailing club.  I have ticked them here some years ago, and whilst Chiffchaffs are Warblers that now over-winter it is always nice to see them as early as possible in the birding year.. and before they can get confused with Willow Warblers!!

This is my second bi-monthly Birding blog, so with 104 YTD the end of March should show a small increase but the summer migrants will be just round the corner.

Happy birding and a Happy 2022 to both of you!!!

The Twitcher/Microtibialist!!