My Latest Twitches

On Saturday 14th June 2014, I went on a twitch for a Spectacled Warbler at Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk.  It was a great bird and I was really pleased to catch up with it as it had been around all week.  I felt a little bit sad as it was building a nest but you knew it was in vain.  There was a young birder who recognised me and said hello, but he left before I had time to ask him his name, so I don't know who he was!

We then went to see our birding friend Digby and his wife Aga and their boys.  Mum and Digby were busy chatting about a trip we are all doing with Digby next summer to Southern Ecuador. Mum and Dad met Digby on a bird tour to Venezuela a few years ago and have kept in touch since.   It is always lovely to see them, particularly as Digby spent 4 weeks birding with us in Colombia, so I know him really well.

After that we had to rush home as Mum and Dad had a friend's 50th birthday party in the village.

Spectacled Warbler, Norfolk, 14th June 2014
Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Spectacled Warbler, Norfolk
Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Spectacled Warbler Twitch, Norfolk
Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Spectacled Warbler Twitch, Norfolk
Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Then on 21st June we twitched Ashdown Forest, East Sussex for a Short-toed Eagle, a third for Britain.  It had been seen at the beginning of June only a couple of hours from home, but we were doing the garden bioblitz and had a houseful of people helping with that, so we couldn't abandon them (though mum did think about it).   We were up early, to get there for 5.30 am and mum and I stayed passed out in the car.  We were lucky enough to see the bird at 8.00 am but had to jump out of the car really quick to see it perched in a tree.  There lots of young birders there including some I met at the AFON conference like Josie Hewitt, Alex Berryman and Matt Bruce.  Though we were all going in different directions, trying to re-find the bird, so I didn't get a chance to chat.  It took another hour and a half to get better views, before Dad drove us home as quick as he could.  

This time my scout leaders, Mike and Paula, were getting married and I was a Scout flag bearer.  There was loads of traffic on the way home, so it was a bit touch and go whether I got there for the start of the ceremony.  But in the end, we got home in time for me to make myself look presentable for a wedding and still get there before the bride (just)!

Short-toed Eagle, East Sussex, 21st June 2014
Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig, digiscoped using an I-phone

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig as a flag bearer for Scout leaders Mike and Paula's wedding
Photograph taken by and copyright Helen Hewitt

My UK 400 British List is now 439 and my World list is now 3377, as Short-toed Eagle was a new bird for me.  It will be great to see my next new bird for my British List, as it will feel like a downward roll to 450 after that.