Heading for a record year?

 I could be heading for a record year on the patch...

Despite missing much of the spring due to COVID-19 restrictions  - effectively two months, I'm on track to break my year-list record total (birds) for the patch. Today's Greenfinches (an annual but increasingly scarce species) took my year-list to 170,  four behind my all-time best set in 2016 and matched in 2017. 

I put this down to home-working. Since mid-summer I've been on the patch virtually every morning before work, something I wouldn't have been able to do if I had to go into the office every day. This has meant I've picked up a lot of the passage birds only seen on vizmig - Crossbill, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Lapland Bunting and drift migrants like Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, Redstart and Treecreeper. It's also been a great year for seawatching.

With a fair-wind and a bit of luck I'm on target to at least match my best tally. I've got next week off work so should be able to spend more time on the patch and there are a few 'probables' to get - Yellowhammer, Little Auk, Fieldfare, Black-throated Diver, Merlin and Spotted Redshank as well as the chance of a scarcity or two. You know what they say...

Time in the field = birds.

A short walk this morning. The first quiet morning since the weekend, despite overnight rain. Three Chiffchaffs, four Blackcap, three Goldcrest and the highlight - three Greenfinches. 11 Skylark and five Redwing were notable overhead.

Blackcap

different Blackcap

Greenfinch

Woodpigeon gulping down Elderberries - leave some for the Barred Warbler please!