November 2010

Thankfully for the sake of my bank balance, November was quieter but it didn't go without at least one quality bird. I considered twitching a Pied-billed Grebe in Ireland the previous winter, but was talked out of it by a wise Dan Houghton who said I would eventually get one on the mainland if I just waited. Well that came much sooner than expected and so on the 9th news broke of an immature at Hollingworth Lake in Greater Manchester. The Grebe stayed loyal to this small bay where it showed well and occasionally came close to the hide - but never when I was there.

November was also the start of the massive Waxwing invasion, and so naturally it wasn't long before Cumbria joined in on the act. Leading up to the end of the month I found several flocks, most of which small but one exceeded 100 birds.