The ticks of 2024

 The year saw me add six new birds to my BOU life list.

Northern Waterthrush at Heybridge Essex 4th January 2024

Northern Waterthrush

Black Scoter at Holkham Norfolk 16th February 2024 (no pictures)

Hudsonian Godwit at Burton Mere Wetlands Lancashire 19th August

Hudsonian Godwit 

Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Bempton Cliffs RSPB 2nd October 2024 (no pictures)

Asian Desert Warbler at Winterton Dunes, Norfolk 6th October 2024

Asian Desert Warbler

I added American Yellow Warbler on 27th December down in New Hythe Kent just an hour from home.

Another good year for new birds that leaves me on 450 as a total having lost two previous ticks with the lumping of Redpolls this year. I earlier lost the other Arctic Redpoll and Steppe Grey Shrike due to lumping so would be happily sitting on 454 without the continual review system. Maybe one day one of these reviews will work in my favour but I'm not holding my breath and I do like to maintain the list along with BOU acceptance so for now it's 450.

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As far as home county of Essex I added a few including the Nightjar below to take that list to 282 

Nightjar at Wanstead

I added Wood Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Franklin's Gull, Long-billed Dowitcher and Lapland Bunting to my London list bringing that list to 241.

Lapland Bunting at Staines

Woodchat Shrike at Rainham

Franklins Gull at Crossness

I added Asian Desert Warbler and Black Scoter to my Norfolk list which now stands at 302 and I added Surf Scoter and Purple Heron to my Suffolk list which now stands at 280 oh and the Yellow Warbler was my 272nd bird species seen in Kent. (I know but I do love a list)

There may still be time to add that Kent Scops Owl if I can get myself interested in a four hour round trip at night to see it.