Sunday, January 04, 2009

2008 Highlights...

Well thats the back of 2008 and here we are into 2009. What will it bring for us? Will it match up to 2008? No doubt there will be both good days and bad, and I'm looking forward to see what will turn up.

In 2008 my personal good bits included a few good trips away to wildlife hotspots - China in May, Suffolk in June, Cornwall in September and Speyside in December.

In the summer I particularly enjoyed my quests after Dragonflies, something that is quite new to me, but it will be continued in 2009. I think I had 23 species including Norfolk Hawker, Scarce Chaser and White faced Darter. Of the butterflies Purple Hairstreak and Silver studded Blues were firsts for me and I was well pleased to see them, as I was with Grass Snake and Basking Shark too, and not forgetting Ballan Wrasse ( who would?).

I suppose birds have taken a lesser position in the year than normal, though I still had 3 lifers with Lesser Grey Shrike, Great Snipe and Stilt Sandpiper. All great stuff.

On the patch, Boulmer, there were no real rarities, but 146 species were still recorded, not a bad total for a site with no fresh water.

So what will 2009 bring?

Well I usually have some plans on that front but not so much this year. I think I'll continue to stick with my roots and do the naturalist thing rather than just birding. There is so much out there to enjoy and often the hunt for them takes you into pastures new. Speaking of which, we are off to the New Forest in June where I will be looking out for a few dragons and damsels, maybe a butterfly or two and even some of the southern heath wildflowers...

We will be busy in the first quarter house moving too, just a couple of miles up the road, but to a quieter more rural location - I'll update when I get some news myself!

As for the past few years I will continue blogging. I like it. It adds another dimension to my trips out because I'm always on the look out for something to interest you all or to stir up some banter.Thank you to everyone who has left me coments in 2008, they are much appreciated even if I sometimes don't get back to you.

In 2008 I had 48,000 hits, more than double the traffic of 2007. Now 40,000 of that will be random googlers looking for god knows what but to the rest of you, thanks very much and I hope you enjoyed it.

Lets hope 09 will continue in a similar vein.

Cheers all, and don't forget to contact me about anything I post about. Good luck for the coming year...

Stewart...

10 comments:

Steve Gale said...

Evening Stewart. I can help you out with site information for the New Forest if you like. Maybe best to email me if you do.

Gavin Haig said...

Too modest. 48,000 hits because it's a good read, and people come back. As a baby blogger I have found a good bit of inspiration from yours and a few others - keep at it, and all the best for your 2009 plans. :-)

abbey meadows said...

Will you still have the same patch when you move Stew?

Stewart said...

Hi all -

SG - Email crack...
GH - Cheers Gavin, its great to be an inspiration to some one...
Nige - Well, yes and no? Sometimes...

Ipin said...

Will you become the Howick Howker?

Stewart said...

Might do?

Stewart said...

or Goshawk Goggler....they're prolific you know....

Ipin said...

aye common wintering species
in them parts :-))

Alan Tilmouth said...

The Howick Hustler sounds better to my ear, is a transfer to the NNBC on the cards?

Stewart said...

I have considered a name change chaps. I think 'Rumbling Kern' has a ring to it...my new biodiversity patch!