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9C Sunday 31st December 2017 ~ To draw a line under this year's wildlife travels Dee and I spent an enjoyable afternoon at Donna Nook in Lincolnshire. What a lovely way to end the year spending it in the company of several
Grey Seal pups, followed by a long winters coastal walk!
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| Grey Seal Pup ~ Donna Nook |
Once again its been a year of travels that have produced some wonderful memories, which I'm glad to say have been recorded both here on my blog and my accompanying Flickr site! My visits to Spain during 2017 were probably my best on record, producing some incredible moments. These included another visit to Tarifa to witness the wonderful raptor migration across the Straits of Gibraltar and stumbling across over fifty
Ring Ouzels feeding on a 'berry oasis' high up in the sierra de Loja!
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| Spain 2017 ~ Ring Ouzels in the Sierra de Loja... |
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| Short-toed Snake Eagle over Tarifa |
Other than visits to Spain and France we once again crossed the Atlantic, with trips to both Canada and Alaska! Alaska, as you would imagine, was simply stunning, the scenery breathtaking and our wildlife experiences incredible. We spent our time exploring the city of Anchorage, where
Pacific Loons can be found on many of the local lagoons. Driving south to Homer Spit, on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula and trekking around the many wilderness areas!
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| Brown Bear in Alaska ~ You never know whats around the corner!! |
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| The Incredible Linx ~ Alaska 2017 |
Canada, of course, is always on our radar and once again our time around the Vancouver area, catching up with friends and visiting some of the many birding locations was well spent.
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| My Dartford Warbler find at Bubbenhall Meadows |
Finally, not forgetting the local patch and this year I would have to say has been one of the best on record for me during the ten years or so of living in Warwickshire. Personal highlights included seeing several of the unprecedented influx of
Hawfinch to the area, a brief encounter with a
Sabines Gull at Napton Reservoir and of course personally finding a
Dartford Warbler at Bubenall Meadows in November! Other notables locally included:
Bearded Tit,
Grey Phalarope and
Razorbill at Draycote Water, the latter a first for Warwickshire!
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Bearded Tit at Napton Reservoir
Still shot of my Sabine Gull at Napton Reservoir!
Finally, amid all my wonderful memories I sadly said goodbye to my brilliant mum in June of this year! At almost 97 she was always there for me and an inspiration...
TIME PASSES ~ LOVE REMAINS
Winifred Yates
1920 ~ 2017
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