Birding in February takes me up to 117

Monday 2nd to Wednesday 4th February I was working down in Bournemouth, and I managed just the one lunchtime walk on Wednesday, going around Hengistbury Head Dorset, adding: OYSTERCATCHER & ROCK PIPIT. 

While at work on Wednesday I noticed a lot of Pied Wagtails arriving on the nearby roof tops, and when I left work I passed this tree down Commercial road in which were the roosting pied wagtails.  

2015 Year List = 105

On Friday 6th I headed up to Coventry and after I had completed all my calls, I drove home via Deeping Lakes which is near to the village of Deeping St James Lincolnshire. Using the instructions that had been posted on the Peterbirder Yahoo group, I made my to the hide and found the post in the water, and sure enough on the island was a roosting LONG-EARED OWL.

2015 Year List =106

Monday 9th and back to Hurley Berkshire, and at lunchtime had a walk around the perimeter of Robinswood, got close views of a fox warming itself in the afternoon sun, added BULLFINCH.

2015 Year List =107

Back in Hurley on Wednesday 11th, and I made the short drive to Bray gravel pits for the reported drake Ring-necked duck, I slowly went through all the wildfowl but I could not find him.

Monday 16th to Friday 20th I had work in Redhill, and I put in some extra hours on the first four days, which enabled me to finish early on the Friday. I spent this afternoon in and around Burpham West Sussex seeing 50 species of bird. Highlights: I parked up near the church and walked down to view the flood plain, seeing the 26 BEWICK’S SWANS, around the wastewater treatment works were 10 Chiffchaffs and a FIRECREST. In the churchyard a pair of Bullfinches, out to the grain store Red Kite, Kestrel, Buzzard (2), Short-eared Owl, RAVEN (2), RED-LEGGED, GREY PARTRIDGES & YELLOWHAMMERS.

2015 Year List =113

Thursday 26th and another day on call, even though it was raining, I started the day down at Stokes Bay Gosport Hampshire for the drake SURF SCOTER and the two COMMON SCOTERS. I went to Stokes bay road and parked in the car park next to the sailing club. After putting on my waterproofs I walked on to the beach and soon found the scoters, they were west of were I was, so I walked until I reached the next car park as they were on the sea opposite of here. After watching them for a while, I got tired of wiping away the rain from my glasses and optics, not a great fan of birding in the rain. So I returned to my car, dried the rain from all my lenses and sent an e-mail to Hoslist Yahoo group.

Next stop Southsea Castle where I found five PURPLE SANDPIPERS, still raining.

Then on to Chichester gravel pits for the TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, I parked up down School lane, and walked around East trout lake to view the fields where the geese (Tundra Bean, Greylag & Canada) were feeding. Then back to the car once again to dry off, as it was still raining. Some good birds seen, but this time, I've had enough of the rain, so headed home.

2015 Year List =117