) into looking a little harder ... At the start of the year i was hoping for 168 sp. (ie. one more than last year) but i was banking on at least 10 - 15 of them coming from Holland, which now isn't going to happen for various reasons and i now note from my lastest count-up it's 15 behind this time last year already
... hence my need for more effort ! Or perhaps i should say more i need more thought / inside info / luck put in prior to the effort, as i don't have a problem with actually getting out & about; so far this year, according my little bicycle computer, i've done 2548 miles ( 4099 km) on my bike (though that includes commuting, cycle club rides & shopping etc and certainly not just 'birding miles') .... but i just aren't seeing too many new birds
So far it's all been confined to Broadland and the east Norfolk / Suffolk (Cromer - Minsmere) coast, so maybe i ought to look at broadening my horizons a little although personal circumstances mean overnight stays aren't possible this year, also personal preference means i won't be going by car. Hmm ... Anyhow, so far ...
January - Red Throated Diver, Fulmar, Shag, Cormorant... Med, Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-backed, Greater Black-backed, Herring Gulls ... Gt Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, , Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan ... Greylag, Canada, Egyptian, Pink-footed & Barnacle Geese ...Coot, Moorhen, Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye
Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone
Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Crow, rook, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Jay, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Skylark, Stonechat, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Snow Bunting, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant,
Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Goshawk, Barn Owl
Cettis Warbler
90
Feb - Common Scoter, Common Guillemot, Whooper Swan, Bewicks Swan, Kingfisher, Common Crane,
Sanderling, Black Redstart, Marsh Tit, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Sparrowhawk, Short-eared Owl
13
March - flu & B&Q
0
April - Gannet, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Goosander, Cuckoo (not actually seen one yet though, only heard them), Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow, Swift, Woodcock
Hen Harrier
18
May - Hobby, Osprey, Montagues Harrier, Nightingale, Bittern, Whimbrel, Kittiwake, Wheatear, Spoonbill
9
A total of 130
Looking at it there are some 'easy' (...yeah right !) ommisions i guess such as Little Tern, Blackcap, Treecreeper, Dartford Warblers (oh how i've tried !), Coal Tit, and perhaps a few waders that stand out so maybe all's not lost just yet.
(Hmmm....Maybe if i add the butterflies and dragonflies on i'll make the numbers up
)