Local Highlights 2011

[Dogghound]

I tend to neglect the local patch during the Autumn to look for rarer birds on the coast. However today I received a stark reminder of why local patches can be so special. I think everyone has a realistic expectation of what they are likely to see or find on a local patch (area close to home or regularly covered). I think something like a yellow browed or pallas warbler would be as good as it could possibly get for me and I don't expect anything much rarer. I think everyone also has a particular bird or a couple of birds which they dream of finding on a local patch. Despite seeing plenty on the coast mine has always been long eared owl, I have always found them something of a mystery bird. So as you guessed I found a long eared owl..... but even better than that it was a long eared owl roost, which contained three birds and what appeared to be a nest from this summer gone. As someone who visits birds nests, hopefully they will hang around next year and breed again. I can then get some really useful data on them.



There is something special about birds on local patches, even something nationally quite common but something which doesn't regularly show in your area becomes a rare/special bird.

Perhaps the strangest bird I have seen on the local patch this year (or ever for that matter) was this Macaw sat in the top of an ash tree. The sound it made carried quite a distance hand had me puzzled for ages until I found it.



What have other WABBER's found on their local patches and what are your highlights of 2011?

Thanks for sharing.

[Shrike]

My local patch highlight of the year was a Black Tern and on my last visit to my patch thought i heard a stonechat so will been keeping a close eye out for this since.Kingfisher and Little stint other patch highlights and missing the osprey probably my biggest patch dip.

[Jersali]

My brother visited from Scotland in the summer, I had "promised" him a Cuckoo to photograph having seen several in previous years. The first time he (and my dad) had seen one - we counted three
On the day we counted 32 different species, the only thing missing from our wish list was a Kingfisher - and I still haven't seen one this year
Al

[Jersali]

Went to an area where a Great White Egret had been showing well recently in the hope that I would see it.
Absolutely delighted to glimpse a momentary "hover" of a Kingfisher (sun behind it so didn't get a good luck at the bird)
Didnt see the Egret but still went home happy - yay

[actionfinch]

I suppose the highlight for me was being told and finding a kingfisher in hemel town centre... the 3 days i went to town i had seen it.
But really highlights for me were getting out and about ....forum wabbers have been great and nige showing me around his patch a few times was brill.
So more of that this year.

[Adam Cheeseman]

For me it will be the Shore Lark at QE2 Reservoir a few hundred yards from front door.

Cheers,

Adam

[jaelen]

It has to be when I casually glanced out into our back garden and saw a sparrowhawk sitting right in the middle of the tree right outside the window.

Still gives me a thrill every time I look at the photos I managed to get!



Also the first time I saw a parakeet- there's something exotic about looking out and seeing them in my London garden.

[Robert S J Smith]

Collared Fly and Purple Heron on the same weekend where I work was good!

Red-flanked Bluetail again at my place of work weren't bad either...

Those to stand out most but many many more highlights.

Happy birding,

Rob