2011 What a year !!

The best thing I did in 2011 was to attend the 'Birding and Beyond' course at Edge Hill. It comprised a Wednesday lecture once a month by Dr. Alan Bedford, followed by a Saturday field visit to the best birding sites in the North West lead by Graham Clarkson. The enthusiasm and knowledge of the leaders coupled with the friendships we formed in the group was excellent.
Thank you to 'the doctor' and 'the marshsider'
The best trip was to a bird ringing session at Mere Sands Wood. The chance to see closely and even handle such fascinating and delicate creatures was something I'll treasure for a long time. We ringed, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Great and Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a very early Chiffchaff.

Thanks to the South Lancs Ringing group for a superb day.
We also went to Gigrin Farm for the Red Kite spectacular. A long drive for 'the doctor' but worth it for us able to nod off in the back of the bus for 3 hours !!

I think we totalled 160+ species on the 12 trips, brilliant.

Holidays in 2011 were to Agadir in Morrocco, Bald Ibis and Hoopoe Lark beikng the best birds. Side in Turkey, where at one site in the Korketelli Hills I had White Throated Robin, Woodlark and Black Headed Bunting. Masked Shrike shared our hotel grounds with families of Bulbuls.

In October we went to Crocodile Island in Luxor, somewhere I'd wanted to go for 2 or 3 years, and it didn't dissappoint. It's a hotel on a private island in the Nile, surrounded by reed beds and water. 6 Marsh Harrier in the air at breakfast, Glossy Ibis, Pied Kingfisher and Purple Gallinule with Purple and Squacco Heron all showing well. Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtail, Cattle Egret and Spur Winged Plover on the lawns round the swimming pool, whilst the mimosa trees had Nile Valley Sunbird and Little green Bee-eater. There were Reed Warbler and Red Avadavat by the jetty on the river.

Black Kite and Black Shouldered Kite floated over from time to time, with a flock of about 200 White Pelicans seen.
The total counts for the year where 190 in the UK and 258 for the Western Palearctic, both records for me. Here's to 200 UK next year, but what a year !!!!