Brilliant blog post mate. It resonates so well with me. I think we’ve had similar feelings towards our big years and I don’t fancy doing this again either. But please be proud of your accomplishments this year. You’ve had a fantastic year and one I’m sure you will look back on positively.

Waxwing flew right into the bush next to where the small group was gathering early for the Hoopoe

Now I’ve seen this, I just need Red-rumped Swallow and I’ve seen all non-BBRC rarities so it’s been a target of mine for a long time. Fingers crossed it stays overnight.

I really hope for you it does. Smashing bird and South Gare is 20 minutes from my mum’s and my favourite birding site in my teens. I was relieved it stuck around as we only got back from holiday at 11pm last night.

Great read and glad you had a brilliant day close to home.

@teesbirds.bsky.social

Good luck

Wonderfully written as always. Great you had a such a therapeutic few days of birding and being in nature

I’m sure! I want to get 8 more birds and then I can relax. I’m still hoping I can stumble on a Jack Snipe here at some point but it feels like it’s dried up here for new migrant arrivals.

Fingers crossed. Only got one full day left on Shetland. I wonder what you’ll be on by the end of Scilly. Hope the birds keep coming for you.

Congrats on getting to 300!

Sorry to hear you’ve had a bad weekend. Hope you’ll take away the positive of catching up with the marsh sand. Must be a great feeling after a double dip earlier this year. Can you go for the Nosterfield RN Phalarope tomorrow? It was still there at dusk apparently.

Wonderfully written as always. A story I can relate to. I too was a keen reader and loved wildlife/nature. 36 years ago my cousin told me about SE Owls on Teesside and my parents took me. We saw them & so many other birds. I had no idea they were on my doorstep and I was hooked. A real spark moment.