Thursday 31st December - 2015 ..a mixed year

A final round up for what has seemed like a pretty mixed year from all angles. The last two months run of unseasonally mild,  wet and windy weather has probably done little to raise anyone's festive spirits and feeling particularly sorry for those folk in the north of the country suffering from extreme flooding as a result.

From a birding year, the one trip to Botswana was a highlight, but my UK birding was limited to largely local visits and certainly became reduced after mid-summer when full-time working kicked in again... subject to health and time, there is always 2016.. and beyond... despite that still some good birds seen

I went to Blackdown on Tuesday, which temporarily looked like a calm gap in the weather, although within 30 minutes I was getting wet. I only managed 5 Redwing, 1 Stonechat and 4 Goldcrest.. there was more interest at home !!

Wishing all a great New Year and a fun 2016.

This was mid-morning on Blackdown this week - dark, wet and windy - and no birds

Male Bullfinch at home - they love the ripened berries of the Guelder Rose