Highlights of 2016

Iceland Gull,  Wiseman's Bridge

A good winter for white-winged gulls started with 2 Iceland Gulls on patch at Wiseman's Bridge. A Glaucous Gull and another Iceland Gull were also seen during January.

Penduline Tits, Horsbere Reserve

Birding remained quiet through February but these Penduline Tits at Horsbere Reserve in Gloucester brightened up a dull day on the 7th. The other highlights of the month were the drake Lesser Scaup at Cosmeston on the 20th and a wintering Yellow-browed Warbler at Monk Haven on the 28th. 

Long-billed Dowitcher, Cresswell Pond

American Golden Plover, Angle Bay

A week holiday to Northumberland at the end of March allowed me to catch up with long-staying Long-billed Dowithcher at Cresswell Pond NWT.  This very showy bird, had just started to acquire its summer plumage when I saw it, but had nearly fully moulted before it headed off. This marked the start of what would be a good year for American waders. Almost exactly a month later I managed my second wader from across the pond, an American Golden Plover in Angle Bay, Pembrokeshire on the 29th. Only the 2nd record for the county.

Golden Oriole, Marloes Mere

May started great with a fantastic day of county birding on the 7th. The highlights included a cracking Golden Oriole and a pair of Garganey at Marloes Mere. 

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Gann

Nothing much, birdwise, to note through June and July but this little beauty at the Gann on the 9th August showed that autumn wasn't far away.

Hudsonian Whimbrel, Perranothnoe

I moved down to Cornwall on the 11th September to start my degree at the Univeristy of Exeter's campus in Falmouth. The next three months was spent birding all over the county. One of the first places to visit was Perranothnoe where the long-staying Hudsonian Whimbrel was still on the beach at Boat Cove on the 12th.

Whisked Tern, Argal Reservoir

The other stand out bird of September was this juvenile Whiskered Tern at Argal Reservoir, only 5 minutes from campus!

Rose-coloured Starling, Gwithian

Red-backed Shrike, Porthgwarra

A great day of county birding on the 30th started with the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Gwithian. Also that day I re-found the Richard's Pipit at Sennen and finished with the juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Porthgwarra.

Short-toed Lark, St Agnes Head

More scarcities were seen through October. The month started in style, with a very showy Short-toed Lark in the car park at St Agnes Head on the 13th. This more than made up for missing the 

Pembrokeshire bird in 2014.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Church Cove

Whilst I study in Cornwall, I have adopted the Lizard as my 'patch'. Being only half an hour from campus I can easily visit this amazing place a couple of times a week. The highlight of the autumn here was a Red-breasted Flycatcher in Church Cove on the 15th. Other highlights during the autumn included a self-found Wryneck in Housel Bay, Great and Cory's Shearwaters and plenty of Yellow-browed Warblers.

Isabelline Wheatear, Godrevy Point

Probably the rares bird of the autumn, in a Cornwall context, this Isabelline Wheatear at Godrevy Point on the 20th was the second for the county. This was surprisingly my second as well having seen the Pembrokeshire bird in Martin's Haven in 2013.

Franklin's Gull, Hayle Estuary

Despite the persistent easterly winds through October a few Nearctic birds made landfall here including an adult Franklin's Gull at the Hayle Estuary on the 27th. It spent most of its time in the fields around the town but would return to the estuary periodically. It took me two attempts but eventually it showed well just of off the causeway.

Pectoral Sandpiper, College Reservoir

The reservoirs near campus delivered again with this juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on College reservoir from the 10th. It stayed for over two weeks and showed very well, down to a few metres at times.

American Golden Plover, Hayle Estuary

The good birds kept coming through November, with Liam finding this smart 1st winter American Golden Plover at Hayle on the 3rd...my second of the year! Also on this day we saw a rather elusive Dusky Warbler at Lands End (my second of the autumn after one at Chapel Porth on the 17th October).

Cattle Egret, Sennen

A great day of county birding on the 5th was made even better when Calum and I stumbled across this Cattle Egret whilst driving through Sennen. This turned out to by 1 of 3 seen in 2016.

Rose-coloured Starling, Longrock

Also on the 5th Calum and I saw this Rose-coloured Starling at Longrock...my second of the autumn!

Green-winged Teal, Hayle Estuary

A day out on the 9th started with a successful seawatch at Pendeen, with the highlight being 2 Pomarine Skuas. We finished the day at Hayle, where, after scanning through a large group of Teal, I picked out a smart 1st winter drake Green-winged Teal. My best find of the year. It is still present and has since moulted in to adult plumage. On the 13th I connected with the drake American Wigeon, in a very unusual setting, on the sea off Fistral Beach!

Desert Wheatear, Thurlestone

One of the main highlights of the year, the stunning Desert Wheatear at Thurlestone, Devon on the 5th December. It chose to winter and is still present at Leas Foot beach! Also on the trip there we made a stop in Broadsands and had great views of Cirl Buntings in the car park. 

Dusky Thrush, Beeley

At the start of the Christmas holidays I spent a weekend birding with Calum in Cambridgeshire. The highlights of the weekend was the female Ring-necked Duck at Paxton Pits and Shorelarks at Holkham Gap, Norfolk. The 11th was set aside for a twitch up to Beeley, where, after an anxious two and a half hour wait, the very smart Dusky Thrush finally showed in the orchard.

Masked Wagtail, Camrose

Not very often you have a first for Britian in your home county, so my first full day back in Pembrokeshire (the 13th) was spent watching the Masked Wagtail in Camrose. Despite the poor weather the bird showed very well. 

Blue Rock Thrush, Stow-on-the-wold

My last British rarity of the year, the Blue Rock Thrush at Stow-on-the-wold on the 28th. The debate about its origins continue but, whatever the outcome, it's still a very smart bird. The year drew to a close with the return of the adult Ring-billed Gull to Llys-y-fran on the 29th. 

Total

Year list: 233

Including 10 BB rarities: Long-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Sandpiper, HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, Whiskered Tern, ISABELLINE WHEATEAR, Franklin's Gull, Desert Wheatear, DUSKY THRUSH, MASKED WAGTAIL, BLUE ROCK THRUSH

Scarcities: Penduline Tits, Lesser Scaup, American Golden Plover (x2), Golden Oriole, Rose-coloured Starling (x2), Red-backed Shrike, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dusky Warbler (x2), Cattle Egret (x3), Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Ring-billed Gull.

Top 5 birds of the year

1. Dusky Thrush
2. Desert Wheatear
3. Masked Wagtail
4. Semipalmated Sandpiper
5. Franklin's Gull

Finds

Green-winged Teal, Cattle Egret, Wryneck, Great Shearwater, Cory's Shearwater and lots of Yellow-browed Warblers.