Bird list 2007

Hi!
January for typical birders means only one thing... A fresh slate...From the 1st all serious birders, begin the new year equal. This means that the number of birds seen last year, are history. We all begin at zero birds seen. From zero we can only improve on that. All plans and goals are set. Places to visit, fresh places to see, weekends away, and hopefully a couple of birds not seen by you before in this country. Targets are set. For a serious birder, the target begins at 200 species. This means getting all the common, as well as some rare birds.
Based in Grt. Manchester - In my veiw the poorest county blessed for birds - this means getting out of this county most of the time. Also at the right time of year, travelling to the meca for birders Norfolk, and also Wales and Scotland.
I have not reached 200 this millenium - not putting the time in.
So follow me on my blogg throughout the year of a typical lister. Along the way, I hope to add some photos I have taken of my triumphs too.

The year so far. - Inc 28th January.
This weekend the RSPB asked us all to record the birds seen in our gardens. I chose to check out a bird in sombody else's instead. A beutifull garden in Bingley (Keighley) held an American Robin. A VERY rare bird to this country (16),and a first for Yorkshire. I previously saw this speices in Grimsby 2004, where It was soon dispatched by a sparrowhawk. Excellent views of this stunning bird where had.
Total - 63.

Global warming is here..NOW!

Yesterday was the first day that the great north west of England did not see rain. So it was that I seized the opportunity to dust of the trusted binoculors and telescope (literally..they was covered in dust from my recent trip to Egypt), and headed over to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve Martin Mere near southport. Every January I look forward to seeing farsands of swans having their summer hols hear in the cold north west. And I was greated by farsands of geese....But...fewer than in recent years...In fact I was looking forward to seeing hundreds of Bewick's Swans among farsands of the very similar Whooper swans. Among 1100 Whoopers (nice sight), the reserve held 1 lone Bewick swan...All the other hundred, seem to have stayed away from comming this far south, or stayed on their breeding grounds becuase the climate is at a temperature they can cope with.
Each passing week we hear about global warming in the media, and become abit blaze about it. Well it seems to have krept up on us, and it's here..NOW.