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Thursday 9 January 2014
Great Northern Diver at Maxey
Things have been a bit hectic in the Saunders household over the past month. My wife went into hospital a couple of weeks before Christmas for a hip operation and so consequently she has been my main priority (she always is, but you know what I mean!) and birds etc were put on the back burner. I have been helping her with her job by walking dogs, house-sitting and doing my own job at the same time, so obviously haven't had much time for anything else. That was until the New Year.
A Glossy Ibis was reported on New Year's Eve at Deeping Lakes, but I couldn't add it to my 2013 list as I was erstwhile engaged. The bird, however was still present on the 1st, so was a good way to start 2014. Saturday 4th January arrived, wet and horrible, but with it a phone call from Mike Weedon to say that he had found a Great Northern Diver at the same Deeping Lakes, a Peterborough Bird Club lifer for me and the first in the area for 10 years. A quick dash to the area without binoculars or scope and I was getting my first glimpse of this bird through another birders optics, number 211 for the PBC area. A little later and I was walking a couple of dogs and I received another phone call from Mike to say that another Great Northern Diver had been seen at Maxey fishing pits, but I had to wait to see this bird. The following day, I managed to see it, this time with my own optics and managed to get the above shot. This bird is still present, enabling a lot of local birders to 'enjoy' a local rarity and I have even got my digiscoping gear out again for when the bird is a bit too distant for my 300mm lens, which has lead to getting the shot below.
Everything is settling down a bit now, the patient is making a good recovery and my 2014 local list is off to a flyer, three local rarities (the Ibis, Diver and the Great Grey Shrike is still at Holme) kicking off another attempt at breaking that elusive 180 mark.
Hi John. I've already seen more than 180 birds this year!. Mind you they were not all different!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back- you have been missed!
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Hi Bazza,
DeleteThank you for missing me! Things have been a bit crazy and the weather hasn't been all that great for getting out and about anyway, but before long I will be boring everyone with my sub-standard photography and uninteresting anecdotes!
J
Wishing a complete and speedy recovery for the patient John.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your 180 mark for 2014.
Thanks Roy!
DeleteShe is well on the way, but still a long way to go! I might get there this year, but, somehow, I doubt it!
J