2025. A year in twelve birds.

Now I'm back I thought I might as well give a review of the year just gone. A flavour of what you missed. 

January 2025 - Long Eared Owl - Eldernell 16th Jan

As is by now traditional, a month of intensive year listing. Abberton provided Slavonian and Black-Necked Grebes, Bewicks's Swan, Smew, White-Fronted Goose, Canvasback, Red-Crested Pochard as well as a host of other decent birds, and Copt Hall provided a magical half hour from the car park with both Great Grey Shrike and Short-Eared Owl, a welcome break after a few less-magical visit there. On one trip I had fleeing glimpses of Hen Harrier and Merlin, both too brief and distant to tick, but not to worry, I was sure to get those later in the year. Mrs D and I had a  'dog walk' at Cudmore Grove country park on Mersea Island on 3rd and by sheer fluke Shore Lark, Snow Bunting and Purple Sandpiper found their way onto the year list.

The highlight was Mike and mine's annual visit to the Nene Washes at Eldernell. We got four Cranes, fields full of Whooper Swans, some Pink-footed Geese and a Cattle Egret but the undoubted star was a Long-Eared Owl in a hedge. It is a well known site and there were records for the last few weeks. It took a bit of finding but once located give excellent view although it was obscured by some foliage. The ultimate bird is surely one that combines scarcity with visual attractiveness and LEO wins on both counts.

New Year's birding.

1 Jan. A short detour on a trip to Cogden Beach. A narrow road below Maiden Castle. A pull in with a car already there and a lady looking through a telescope. Pop out the car with binoculars already in hand. Directions to the corner of the field and boom 7 Tundra Bean Geese. Much better views than I had feared. 2026 we are off and running!

So, here we are again!

It's been a while. 

I first started this blogging stuff back in 2007 when Blogging was new and exciting. I set up a blog called Dorset Dipper, and wrote entertaining (humour me) posts about my attempts to watch birds in Dorset and Hertfordshire whilst being a busy working Dad to four small children. Time passed, they grew up, I retired, and in 2024 I posted what turned out to be my last entry on the old Dorset Dipper site. 

Sufficient has happened since then to warrant a return to Blogging. Part of the reason for stopping was the feeling that the years were repeating themselves, so whilst they were enjoyable for me they were getting less interesting for you. However, changing circumstances mean there are new stories to tell, stories you may find of interest, and the passage of time gives different perspectives.

So why not just continue on the original DorsetDipper? Well, ahem, technical issues. The blog was on an account which I 'shared' with D#4, and now that he is no longer an easily persuadable five-year old but a confident young man that route isn't really appropriate. And I could never remember the password.

Anyhow, the Dorset Dipper is back in the saddle, has packed his sandwiches, and is attempting to get out of the gate. 

If you haven't been either here or to DorsetDipper before, welcome! And if you have found your way here from old links or personal contacts, welcome back. Put your slippers on, pour yourself a drink, sit back, and let's get back into this weird and wonderful thing that is birdwatching.