On the 24th December news came through of an American Yellow Warbler in New Hythe Kent just an hours drive from home. Unfortunately I was on my way to a doctors appointment with Suzanne so couldn't go on 24th. I toyed with the idea of going Christmas day and Boxing day but decided it would be a bad idea with so much family stuff to do over the two days. So my first chance was 27th and I picked up the Jims at 7am arriving at New Hythe at 8am. We walked down the track for about half a mile to find a couple of hundred birders already set up at the Alders waiting for the bird. I walked up and down the river searching instead of standing with the crowd and found time to catch up with a few people too which is always nice at these things.
I added a year tick with Firecrest of which I saw a few.
Four hours in and Dad was ready to go, I asked if he could wait an extra half an hour then we'd leave and with five minutes remaining the shout went up and the crowd which was now several hundred strong started to move. Somebody had heard the bird and within minutes it popped up out of the brambles and flew to the Alders. The crowd all moved back to the Alders and I managed to get really good views as it moved through the trees before flying off again. We left for home after the usual handshakes and fist bumps etc. The bird wasn't seen again for a couple of hours but what a treat and a great festive tick taking my list for the year to 450 (again having lost the Redpolls)
News had come through of a Scops Owl roosting at the cricket club in Broadstairs but we didn't have the stamina for that one after the five or so hours on the Warbler.
Year list now 251
Life list now 450
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