Rarest sightings on your local patch!

[wildone]

About three years ago we had a Bearded Reedling for about 2 weeks at the small wood where I have a feeding station. It was at the pond which isn't even large enough for mallard to want to swim but has a narrow fringe of reeds around it. Same year there was a Water Rail in the water course which is really only a drainage ditch. That stayed for several weeks too.

[Rich]

I took this photo from my bedroom window last November. To date this kingfisher must be the rarest garden visitor I have ever had.

[Wild-Woman]

Lovely picture there Rich. Either you've got a good zoom or your bedroom is about to flood!! Hope the former! LOL.
Must be great having a wildlife patch like that.ww

[Newhythebirder]

I have been watching my New Hythe patch in the middle of Kent for the past 10 years. Rarest sightings:

- 5 Honey Buzzards through in 2 hours during the invasion a few years ago
- A Long Tailed Duck in residence all last winter
- Up to 5 Bittern wintering
- A Dartford Warbler that I stumbled on one day that stuck around for a week or so
- This May a fantastic Male Redstart that was on passage
- 2 Bar Tailed Godwit dropping in at the beginning of May. Having a quick wash and then flying off. The only sighting of this bird here ever.
- Small Red Eyed Damsels turning up last year
- Water Violets putting on a fantastic show this year

Always something exciting in a place that is sandwiched between housing estates and Tescos superstores.

Steve

[Bushcraft]

Some great sightings all in all. How about the very best indoor sighting? Each year I get a huge array of moths, such as, emeralds, Swallowtails, elephant hawkmoths, etc.

[Weeksy]

Hi Newhythebirder

Always something exciting in a place that is sandwiched between housing estates and Tescos superstores.

Don't knock that Tescos, I've seen Waxwings in their carpark

All the best

Steve

[nightshade]

Only because Tesco built on their wood while they were away

[Weeksy]

Good point!

[Pete]

uhm

rarest was Spotted Sandpiper - I was on holiday

otherwise Firecrest (I found it!!), Little Owl, Little Gull, Bittern, Waxwing and Jack Snipe I guess

[Rich]

Best sighting indoors was in my conservatory, a hummingbird hawk moth.

[nicole]

Would have to be a Wryneck which turned up at work a few years ago, id never seen so many twitchers Apart from that there are a few other rare things like lesser spotted woodpeckers Hoopoe's and Hawfinches (so they tell me anyway lol)

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by Weeksy

Hi Newhythebirder



Don't knock that Tescos, I've seen Waxwings in their carpark

All the best

Steve

I think there are probably a few local patches with a nearby Tescos and a winter Waxwing flock.

My local patch in Pitsea, Essex is adjacent to Tescos and Waxwings now seem to be regular winter visitors. This last winter though they did not stay too long and moved across to the local Lidl. They do say that supermarkets are in strong competition for visitors!

Richard

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by nicole

.... and Hawfinches (so they tell me anyway lol)

One day it will turn up Nicole .

Richard

[nicole]

Originally Posted by rlchew

One day it will turn up Nicole .

Richard

heehee do want to hear something really ironic. I had a phone call from my friend Sue the other day, shes doing the same course as me but doesnt really have a big interest in birds shes more of a bug person. Anyway she was out in her local patch in Colchester walking her tribe of dogs, causing as much noise and disturbance as possible and you will never guess what landed in front of her!! Wheres the justice hey

[Alan]

Originally Posted by nicole

heehee do want to hear something really ironic. I had a phone call from my friend Sue the other day, shes doing the same course as me but doesnt really have a big interest in birds shes more of a bug person. Anyway she was out in her local patch in Colchester walking her tribe of dogs, causing as much noise and disturbance as possible and you will never guess what landed in front of her!! Wheres the justice hey

Your trouble is you need a good guide

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by nicole

heehee do want to hear something really ironic. I had a phone call from my friend Sue the other day, shes doing the same course as me but doesnt really have a big interest in birds shes more of a bug person. Anyway she was out in her local patch in Colchester walking her tribe of dogs, causing as much noise and disturbance as possible and you will never guess what landed in front of her!! Wheres the justice hey

I guess that is what is so fascinating about our interest in wildlife .... you never what is going to turn up when or where.

Alternative version .... I guess that is what is so frustrating about our interest in wildlife .... someone else is always in the right place at the right time to see what you are desperately trying to see .

Maybe you need to get a dog, take up an interest in bugs and pretend that the Hawfinch does not exist .... and then it will appear .

Richard

[Rich]

Although not at all rare, where I work at Oare in Kent, every spring at dusk hundreds of pied wagtails descend on the office roof. I haven't seen this behaviour before.

[pheonix]

I dont really have a local patch, but two/three years ago there was a great grey shrike below edgehill woods, radway. it was two miles at the most from where my parents live.