NHU Bird Cup - Day 1

Well I'm off and running to a good start with this years NHU Bird Cup. 8 days to see as many bird species as possible between Christmas Day and New Years Day. Well yesterday got me off to a blistering start, and I ended the day on 48 species.

After opening the presents, Julie and I headed off to Catcott Reserve on the Somerset Levels. It was lovely and quiet, it being Christmas Day and the highlight there was a black tailed godwit (in this picture but one of the many dark blobs.

From there we went to the Shapwick Reserve and the highlight there were many goldcrest, chiffchaff plus singles of a blackcap, great spotted woodpecker and a good number of gargany.

So this is where I've got to on day 1: birds in order seen or heard

• First bird (always exciting to wonder what it is) - robin, in garden at 05.43hrs


• +In Garden (incl flying over) : carrion crow, starling, magpie, house sparrow, great tit, blue tit, dunnock, herring gull, collared dove, wood pigeon, fieldfare


• +On drive to the Levels (Julie drove so a treat for me to be an observer)buzzard, redwing, rook, jackdaw, chaffinch, mute swan, canada goose, grey heron, kestrel, lesser black backed gull, pheasant.


• +At Catcott lapwing, wigeon, long tail tit, pintail, black headed gull, black tailed godwit, shovler, greylag goose, teal, cormorant, meadow pipit, stonechat


• +At Shapwick great spotted woodpecker, goldcrest, blackcap, siskin, wren, cetti's warbler, chiffchaff, jay, coot, mallard, gadwall, tufted duck, raven.

Today we're off to the Chew Valley and then Wells. it will get a lot harder now to get more species on the list. Fun though.