Turnstone - Jan 2014

The weather so far in 2014 has been horrendous, with the wettest winter in over 250 year! Climate Change deniers better get some better excuses sharpish, because if the climate scientists are right, winters like this are going to become increasingly common. Ands that is a depressing notion. Give me some honest frost and snow any day.

On the birding front, I'm doing my first year list this, via Bubo, and have racked up 61 species so far from only a few visits, mostly Forest Farm, Cosmeston in my quest for the elusive lesser scaup, and Bute Park on my lunch break walks.There are plenty of rarities about, with BT divers and LT duck at Barry, American Wigeon at the Wetlands, Ross's and Little Gull at Aberavon and Red-flanked Bluetail over the border in Gloucs.

This is the best shot so far of 2014, at Ogmore during one of the less weather adverse days of the year so far. Unfortunately no Purple Sandpipers to be seen, but the Turnstone were quite obliging.