And we're off.....

Well first day of a new birding year and a bit of a slow start too despite an early night! Best bird of the day for me locally was a male Goosander that flew south over the garden as I stepped out of the back door. Not only a year tick but also a new bird for the old garden list.

A quick shufty at Croxden from the viewpoint before I headed off for Utch produced three nice year ticks in the form of a male Pochard, Peregrine and a single Raven.


That was it for me locally today. Just 20 species oml but no need to get to carried away early on because by the end of May it can get very hard work trying to add anything to your total round here.


As expected top young "local birder" R P Spooner heads the leader board after day one with a score of 43, Mad Malc steady on 22 and me bringing up the rear with a nice round 20.


Work beckons in the morrow so I could add a few more bits and bobs to the old list.


Below  is a typical shot of Croxden Quarry, possibly the most birdless place on the planet!