A couple of year ticks to see out 2016

The birding year ended with a self found bittern (Botaurus stellaris) at Burton Mill Pond, West Sussex on the 14th December. Found during a sunset bird-watch from roadside; and seen flying into roost in the reeds just metres from the viewing platform on the NE corner of the dam crest. I returned at dawn with camera in hand, but the bird was not re-located even as the light progressed. A patch tick for me, and as far as I could tell the only bittern being reported in West Sussex at the time?

A filthy twitch to Hill Head, Hampshire on the 28th enabled confiding views of the female snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) which had been present since the 14th of December. The bunting gave stunningly close views allowing photographers within feet of it.

Snow bunting, Hill Head 28th December 2016

This bird was a Hants tick and helped to stem the disappointment of missing out on the pair of snow bunting widely observed at Southsea sea front - one of my home patches - during November. I completely failed to see them at the time due to work and travel commitments.

A return to Burton Mill Pond at dusk on the 29th December produced an albeit brief second encounter with the local bittern.

Cornish Lifer - and possibly the worst ever record shot?

Returning from Lizard we stopped off at The Point overlooking Restronguet Creek, Truro; and after searching the low tide mud flats and tidal creek for half an hour - we finally found the Dalmation pelican (Pelecanus crispus), which has been reported in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK since May 2016.

Dalmation pelican 19th November 2016

Like a Sesame Street muppet, the bird's massive head suddenly appeared from within a deep mud channel midway across the creek. It provided an opportunity for possibly my worst phone-scoped record shot ever?

It then took off and gave great but distant flight views before settling on the water approx. 1 km south of us. It still looked huge even at that distance, especially compared to the local swans, but afforded no opportunity for further record shots.

A Lifer. For a discussion of it's potential origins as a wild bird have a look at:

Birdguides - Dalmation pelican