So what have you missed??

[Adam Cheeseman]

My worst ones are the Golden-winged Warbler in Kent and a Collared Pratincole at Pagham. Too many more besides.

Cheers,

Adam

[billybirder]

I missed a blue throated robin on Hayling, and (almost the opposite) I saw.. from my kitchen window for several minutes.. a hoopoe without having a clue what it was, many years before I took up birdwatching! (Neighbour told me what it was)

[actionfinch]

Me and nige were hoping for a Glaucous gull down Dung, but to no avail , and for me this time last year i so wanted to see a smew on stockers lake , that i could never find it..

[bob.phillips]

Seems like many of you have also experienced the 'just missed it' problem. It's not that I go rushing about all over the counrty to try to see the latest rarity. But when you have some unusual birds within a couple of miles of the house, it would have been really nice to have got a glimpse. Still, it's nice to see things that are not expected, so maybe they even themselves out.

Bob P.

[Wharfrat]

Like you, Bob, Great Northern Diver...they fairly regularly turn up at Staines Reservoir, and I've never seen one there. It usually seems to be very windy up when I go, but last winter I had a beuatiful still day to visit, met someone on the causeway who had just seen it right close up to the bank, so I walked straight down and did I see it??! (Clue : No ) Grrr...

(although just to wind up actionfinch, I did get Smew at Stockers last winter )

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Wharfrat

Like you, Bob, Great Northern Diver...they fairly regularly turn up at Staines Reservoir, and I've never seen one there. It usually seems to be very windy up when I go, but last winter I had a beuatiful still day to visit, met someone on the causeway who had just seen it right close up to the bank, so I walked straight down and did I see it??! (Clue : No ) Grrr...

(although just to wind up actionfinch, I did get Smew at Stockers last winter )

You can need a fair bit of patience with Great Northern Divers at Staines as when they are actively feeding they spend far more time below the water than on it + it's easy to think they've disappeared. Also they can move a fair distance below water so a bird will often surface a considerable distance from where it submerged.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by Wharfrat

Like you, Bob, Great Northern Diver...they fairly regularly turn up at Staines Reservoir, and I've never seen one there. It usually seems to be very windy up when I go, but last winter I had a beuatiful still day to visit, met someone on the causeway who had just seen it right close up to the bank, so I walked straight down and did I see it??! (Clue : No ) Grrr...

(although just to wind up actionfinch, I did get Smew at Stockers last winter )

I was at Staines Res this morning, someone told me the Great Northern Diver was close to the causeway, I must've missed it walking eastwards. On the way back howevere I got cracking views of it no more than 10m away. Was brilliant

Also I think everyone on here except actionfinch has seen a Smew at Stocker's

[actionfinch]

I know .. nige... i will see one this year a smew that is....