With a much needed, tricky 'year tick' up for grabs just a hour away from home, efforts were made to head up into deepest, darkest Derbyshire this morning. I teamed up with fellow ASBO soldiers of fortune, Steve Dunn and Rich Collis for an SAS style assault on Matlock Moor and the mission proved a great success. Thanks to us administering a classic 'Pointon Pincer Movement' the target was soon exposed. The RICHARD'S PIPIT had no choice but to surrender under the onslaught as grassy fields were trampled, stone walls tumbled and a plethora of native British wildlife fled in all directions.
Seriously though, the scarcity from the east proved relatively easy to see in flight and gave us pretty good views. It was also nice to hear its passer domesticusesque flight call too in order to clinch the identification. Other birds included the odd European Skylark and Eurasian Siskin as well as good numbers of Meadow Pipit.
Rich Collis is sworn in as the official 'Head of Birder Relations' for the South Yorkshire Chapter of ASBO Birderz. Welcome aboard Rich!
Photograph thanks to Steve Dunn
Taking into account the dodgy H*use Finch that I had the misfortune to see in Devon and the tricky Empidonax flycatcher that I spotted in Norfolk then you could say that this RICHARD'S PIPIT was my 300th British Bird of 2010. Due to my strict Catholic upbringing however, I refuse to celebrate until I reach 302..... just to make sure. I'm sure you'll all understand.
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