2022 in review

2022 is forever going to be associated with two things; loosing the only monarch we have ever known (a constant in all our lives) and the formation of Birders Twitter Space.

Whilst Birders Twitter has attracted slightly fewer column inches, it is almost as impressive and I think we can all agree we want Birders Twitter to last until we are all at least 90.

In a turbulent year where life threw a good amount of excrement, the kitchen sink and a couple of anvils my way, I still prevailed. In doing so, I even managed to see some good birds. So here is a selection for your viewing pleasure - via the medium of a photo essay.

I've allowed myself 24 photos, a totally arbitrary figure, which could equate to two pictures per month? As many hours as there are in the day? How many beers we drink per episode of Birders Twitter?

Having Ruddy Shelduck locally early in the year was pretty much a gift from the #Wildfowl #elite gods.

Brambling are stunning. We had good numbers in the Thetford forest complex during the first winter period.

This pair of Pink-feet wintered in the Lark Valley/ farmland close to home during the first winter period. Still a great bird in Suffolk, especially inland.

Grey Partridge - not plentiful, but still around locally and always a pleasure to see.

Cranes, one of the many highlights of an early spring visit to Lakenheath

Mandarin - I mean - just look at them. These birds hang around Brandon Country Park

Woodlark - a bird of the forest and also the Sandlings, on my Blythburgh patch

Increasingly common along the north Norfolk coast - but still awesome to see; Spoonbill

Extremely lucky to have Nightingale both close to home (this one at Lackford) and on the Blythburgh patch

Garganey - so cool. Always a pleasure. These birds at Lakenheath

Common Tern at Lakenheath - I like Lakenheath - especially in the Spring. Deal with it.

Bittern at, you guessed it; Lakenheath

Turtle Dove - Blackbourn Valley. Wonderful to still have these birds locally

Red Kite - now extremely common in West Suffolk - seen all year and even over the house

Wren. Champion little birds.

Beeeater - I think we were all delighted to have these breed in Norfolk this year

Red-tailed Shrike. Full-fat lifer for me. Please don't mention the albatross

My local Little Owls have been great this year and I even found 3 new territories after we moved house

Dipper in Teesdale

Swainson's Thrush, Tresco. A brilliant evening twitch from St Agnes

Citrine Wagtail - a full fat lifer at Migfest 2022. With a Pallid Harrier chaser the next day! What an event.

Rosefinch - Agnes. We had daily scarce as well as the constant large shearwaters

Great Shearwater - along with Cory's both were lifers on this year's Scilly trip

Unless something dramatic happens in the next 5 days - Cattle Egret will be my last good find of '22