Review of the year 2021

Well if I thought 2020 was a strange year then 2021 was every bit as challenging. My wifes care needs are taking more of my time and limiting my options for getting out birding to a point where 2021 saw me lucky if I got more than a day or two a month in the field but having said that we started the year intent on not letting that or Covid prevent us from at least trying to chase a reasonable year list. We started the year still in a national lockdown and remained in a stay local requirement until the end of March so the first three months were really difficult. I started my year list at Lee Valley park and visited a couple of other local areas to try to keep the numbers ticking over but in truth I really missed the coastal outings we'd usually be undertaking at this time of year and of course variety was well down on previous years. The Short-eared Owls that wintered in the local park departed in March but gave me a very welcome distraction through the stay local months.

Short-eared Owl at Gunpowder park Lee Valley 

April came and with it a nervous relaxation of lockdown so we could now travel but whilst many birders had already broken lockdown and seemed to be sharing cars again we kept to the guidelines which meant I was still birding alone but on the very first day the rules were relaxed I set off in search of some excitement which came in the shape of the Devon Mockingbird and the Cornwall American Herring Gull. Two big fat life ticks that I'd been watching and hoping would still be present when the rules allowed me to travel and by mid April I'd bagged another life tick in the form of the White-throated Sparrow in Sussex but at this point I was still travelling alone which was both expensive and less rewarding than sharing the days with the Jims.

Northern Mockingbird in Devon my first lifer of the year after three months of local lockdown

American Herring Gull at Newlyn in Cornwall

White-throated Sparrow in Balcombe for my third new bird of 2021

We nervously shared a car again for the first time in months on 29th April where we enjoyed a trip to Titchwell which was just a joy to be out birding together again and of course Titchwell is a favourite of ours too. Now we had our mojo back and May saw us travelling again with days out at Frampton and Bempton along with dipping Tawny Pipit in Dorset and Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Spurn but the year list was moving again and we were at least out enjoying the hobby together again.

June saw me grabbing another life tick with the River Warbler down in Somerset a bird I saw twice as I returned to take the Jims a few days later. I also picked up three Collared Pratincoles, eight Bee-eaters and a Roller in June in what was a very rewarding month although people were still very nervous with many still wearing masks even outdoors and most keeping a good distant from each other although the site of the bird would usually test peoples resolve to remain distanced. At the end of June we made another long distance twitch back to Bempton hoping that yesterdays Black-browed Albatross would stay for us and it did giving us great views after a long cold and damp wait but has to be my bird of the year and one I never expected I'd see in the UK.

River Warbler in Somerset

My personal bird of the year Black-browed Albatross at Bempton

I almost missed July save twitching the Western Sandpiper at Snettisham I didn't leave the house for one reason or another with my wifes health issues the primary reason keeping me at home.

August saw us make just four trips including getting the Jims a lifer at Frampton with the Black Stork along with a day out at Minsmere and a couple of trips to Oare but the month was otherwise difficult as was September which only saw me make it to Wanstead for a Wryneck otherwise it was just garden birding that kept me going.  September had us twitching again as we headed north for the Long-toed Stint but was otherwise quite dull and uneventful. 

Twitching the Long-toed Stint 

In October I took the Jims to Norfolk to grip back Short-toed Lark on me which was Jims 400th BOU tick and this was followed by a trip to Yorkshire where Jim and I managed to tick the Taiga Flycatcher just before my car died on the return leg and with it any chance of much birding to end the year. The year came to a disappointing close with just a couple of trips with the Jims to Abberton and Wallasea and with the new Omicron variant of Covid 19 running fast through the population it remains to be seen how the new year will pan out but here's hoping and praying we have a better 2022.

Taiga Flycatcher in Yorkshire 

Year list just levelled my worst ever of 239 (my worst ever was 2010 with 239)

Life list now 426 with seven new birds this year

In non birding news 2021 saw us celebrate my parents 60th Wedding anniversary although Covid lockdown prevented a party we made up for it for Dads 80th outside of lockdown later in the year.

Mum and Dad married in 1961

In 2022 I'd like to think there'll be a few new bird opportunities within a reasonable distance and on a personal note I'm expecting my second and third grandchild in the spring with both my daughters in law growing them at the moment. I have my 40th Wedding anniversary around the corner and Mrs A has a big birthday towards the year end too. 

Onwards and upwards and may the new year bring you health and happiness.

NB: I'm posting this on 27th December and still have an eye on the Pacific Diver and Belted Kingfisher but with both being 200 miles away the time getting there and back may not be available to me given my commitments at home but I remain hopeful that a) the birds will stay and b) I will find time.

In addendum: I did manage a trip to Port Talbot for the Pacific Diver and bagged a year tick with Dipper too so the year list has ended on 241. See seperate post for details of the trip.

Pacific Diver at Port Talbot