Have had a great 2023 so far bird watching wise, managed to recently surpass 200 birds seen this year and have had 35 lifers (15 in France and 20 in the UK). Here's my favourite birding moments of 2023 (picked up photography this year so apologies for the quality)-
1- Griffon vulture French Pyrenees, over my 5 days in the area I managed a few lifers. Though I managed all three species of vultures that breed in the pyrenees, views of the Egyptian and bearded were distanced and the photos of both species were not the best. However, the griffon vulture, the most common of the three species in the area, showed amazingly- having a group of 5 griffons accompanied by a booted eagle soaring only a couple of meters above us. (Photo was taken by my brother)
2- My most highly sought species of the last two years (apart from Bohemian waxwing) was the Red-backed shrike, after having done over 15 Km's a day surveying my French patch during my last two trips to France- I managed to finally find my Red-backed shrike only a mile from the house in a small meadow- an area that I had never checked before and an area that would end up getting me a second lifer only a couple of days later (black winged kite). The only reason I had been there that specific day was because I had been abandoned by my siblings while on a walk... slightly pissed off I decided to bird the area as it looked decent and while looking at a flock of corn buntings, in the corner of my eye I spotted medium sized passerine hawking over some tall grass. I lifted my binoculars and immediately recognised the red backed shrike. I slowly stalked it and managed to get close enough to snap some pics. Luckily, the juvenile was rather tame and gave me a lot of time to observer it from a relatively close distance.
3- My favourite diving duck for a long time has been the Greater scaup. Managing to finally get my lifer female Greater scaup earlier in the year, however I still wanted to see a full male drake- so when a few grebes and a greater scaup were reported at a local reservoir me and my dad decided to attempt the twitch. It started well enough, a late transitional phase Slavonian grebe was showing relatively well in far left handcorner of the reservoir. However, it was soon evident that the gradually worsening weather was going to make finding the scaup extremely difficult. Though I still wanted to attempt to find it and through strong winds and lashing rains I started the trek around the raised reservoir while my dad walked the lower more sheltered path. I managed to eventually sight it and would gradually close the distance between myself and the scaup, taking a few decent photos of the bird.
4- This species was one that I've seen on quite a few occasions, however having a pair nesting under the roof was great. While sitting on the porch I saw the pair tirelessly work to keep their young healthy and safe. Not much to expand on, just a cool experience.
5- My last one has not happened yet- Bohemian waxwings is a species that is important to both me and my dad. Since I started birdwatching almost a decade ago me and my dad made a promise that we would see this species together. Hopefully, the current irruption will persist through the Christmas period and we will finally be able to see this magnificent species.
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