You just knew it. I closed the year, did a nice blog to end the year, nice photo and video and then "the year that just keeps on giving" had one final twist.
Just after Christmas, photographs appeared of an apparent Blue Rock Thrush that was visiting a garden in Stow-on-the-Wold. It was all a bit odd at first, but eventually the address was given out, and fortunately, we had already planned a day's birding.
We popped down to Stow in CJW's cars and arrived in the dark. We moved into position and joined the 30 or so birders who were already on site. The shout went up; we were too near the hedge to see so a quick dash across the grass and we found ourselves in a prime position and enjoyed decent views for the next hour or so; the light gradually improving as the morning went on. An odd bird and yet another housing estate twitch. I just don't know what to make of this one.
We were hoping that the Belvide Grey Phalarope was going to stay for it's second day, but unfortunately there was no sign. So instead we headed up to Rutland Water and to the dam, where Leicestershire's first record of a Surf Scoter was showing quite nicely among a small flock of Tufted Duck.
 |
| Juv Surf Scoter at Rutland Water |
