A good full day of birding today as started off our new Year List for 2012. After falling just short of 200 birds for 2011 (198 in total- we couldn't include the possible Pallid Harrier, the airfield Great Grey Shrike or Brian the eagle unfortunately!), we're determined to go at least two better this year. With that in mind, I spent most of the day out on the reserve- visiting everywhere from the seawatch point to the plantation, while our regular birders kept track of everything from the visitor centre. After combining everyone's sightings, we managed to see a grand total of 60 different species- two more than the New Year's Day list last year!
I was quite pleased with two distant Great Northern Divers at sea as my highlight of the day, but that was completely upstaged by news that a Chiffchaff had been seen in front of the visitor centre! This tiny little bird should really be in Africa right now and well away from the Scottish winter and isn't something that anyone could have expected to see on New Year's Day. It was still fluttering about in the grass in front of the centre just before I locked up this evening, so it may well still be around in the morning. It'll be well worth checking the garden very carefully if you're visiting tomorrow.
The full list of all 60 species is here- http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/lochofstrathbeg/f/65828/p/61611/408026.aspx#408026
If you've been out on the reserve today and seen something different, or if you see anything new over the next few days just add your sightings at the bottom, or email us at strathbeg@rspb.org.uk and we'll add them on for you!
sometimes get chiffchaff in mild winters - had one outside my house on NY day way back in the 90s. it had the grace to 'chiff-chaff' at me, too.