January the 1st saw me out and about at Pugneys/Anglers and the Calder Wetlands in what must have been one of the best starts on wildfowl species they were all there Scaup, Ring Necked Duck, Smew, Red Breasted Merganser, Goosander and Ferruginous Duck with Bittern, Cettis Warbler and water Rail to finish the day. It was again a very cold month with plenty of snow but I saw some good birds this month Marsh Tit, Brambling, Lesser and Common Redpolls
February started with the finch flock at Hoyland with Linnets, Redpolls, Bramblings, Yellowhammers and ended with 2 lifers Black Throated Thrush and Ring Billed Gull I also had a visit out to Blacktoft Sands
March started with a Red Necked Grebe at Pugney and ended with the first summer migrant Chiffchaff on my way to work
April saw us in Norfolk in not so good weather but I picked up another British First with Alpine Swift nr Cromer. We visited Cley/Stubbs Mill and Weeting Heath seeing Cranes, Hen and Marsh Harriers, Swallow, and Sandwich Tern. Back home was a good month for Ring Ouzel at Cheesegate Nab and many a returning migrant Willow Warblers, Wheatears, Common Whitethroat, Common Sandpipers, Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, House Martin to name a few
May saw us in Italy visiting family I did however pick up 2 lifers Italian Sparrow and Pygmy Cormorant and we did see Serin, Golden Oriole, Spotted Flycatchers. Back home I added another patch first with Sedge Warbler and another British First with Iberian Chiffchaff at Potteric Carr
June saw us at Bempton Cliffs for the seabirds and things were getting hot on the patch with all the summer migrants in
July saw me again out at Blacktoft Sands picking up Yellow Wagtail but things were beginning to hot up on the insect side with many a Dragonfly and Butterfly seen
August continued were July left off with insect abundance and also Wader abundance on the local reservoirs with Ruff, Redshanks, Greenshanks, Little and Ringed Plovers with many a Yellow Wagtail also. At the end of the month we were again visiting the Birdfair with plenty of raptors, Osprey, Buzzards, Red Kites and Hobbies and a new pair of binoculars
September was still Waders/Dragonflies and Butterflies we were being spoilt I also had a seawatch this month at Flamborough picking up a couple of Sooty Shearwaters
October was spent on the patch seeing the return of winter birds
November saw the return of Waxwings to town and I also picked up another lifer at Hollingworth Lake with Pied Billed Grebe my third lifer for the year. Pugneys held a long staying Long Tailed Duck
December saw the onset of winter again and the return of the now Adult Ring Billed Gull to Sands Lane
Huddsbirder 