Where has the Year gone

After two months working, (for the first time in three years) I am off on Holiday with my old Mucka Keith aka "The Captain". Our destination with time is Assam and the eastern Himalayas in India, two weeks birding mostly in tented accommodation! Which is the main reason Joy isn’t coming with me – honestly!

I organised a going away meal at Dreamers with the family as a surprise for Joy which was a right cock up! Firstly the lads were running late which meant we got there first! I had booked a table for five, when I arrived the waiter misheard Forbes for Four and led us to a table for four, I was trying to explain to the waiter without Joy hearing I had booked. When she chips in we only need a table for two! The poor man was a little confused, I then had to come clean, but in the end we had a great night. Andy did his usual human hoover act with the leftovers and I picked up the bill! As I explained its there inheritance, so in a way they payed!

Bring on India – photographs to follow – say three weeks.

On the birding front I have been very quiet, I have managed Shustoke a couple of times but it has been dire! Steve Hayes had a couple of Shelduck in the last weeks and thats about all I have heard about. There has also been a clear-out in the Wishaw area although a Merlin was reported. Plenty of singing Skylark is about the only species of note.

Sunday 4th March

Having returned to work at the end of January I have had little or no time to go birding, that coupled with the bad weather has kept my birding to a minimum.

However, on Sunday Joy and I had a walk around the Reservoir, I thought there may well have been a little cold weather movement as there had been a scattering of waders in the region and a little wildfowl movement.

Again the Reservoir was very disappointing with 17 Pochard flying around on arrival (they departed) plus another two on the small pool, there were four Goosander, 132 Tufted Duck and very little else. There were a few thrushes feeding on the bank with a scattering of Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush and Blackbirds. The only other bird of note was a single Skylark off Bickenhill Lane.