The Safari was severely trounced in our Year List Challenge with Monika this year, our 185 nowhere near her 208 species but that's the way it goes some times - you can't win them all and as always in birding you see what you see when you see it and if you don't get out you don't see nowt...which isn't quite strictly true as there is the great #WildlifefrommyWindow for those who for whatever reason are unable to get outside; as we were for a short while after hospitalisation earlier in the year. All you need to do is ignore the dross on your phone and fake news on the TV screens for a few minutes each day and get to grips with the real world outside even if it is #WildlifeThroughGlass. A few minutes watching squabbling Starlings, buzzing bees or even pitter-pattering ants going about their business connects you firmly to our planet, they more you look the more you'll learn and the the more you learn the more you'll see everything is inter-connected including, perhaps even especially, us humans.
So how come we got beaten so convincingly, well we tried and dipped on Bewick's Swan, Caspian Gull, Serin, Nightingale, Turtle Dove, Mandarin and Little Ringed Plover. But totally failed on some really-ought-to-have-gots like Black Redstart, Yellow Wagtail, Little Owl and both Spotted and Pied Flycatchers. But you can't see everything, that would spoil the fun!
Where to next? Bring on our photo-challenge!
In the meantime let us know what's outside the window in your outback.
Happy New Year everyone - we hope to see you in the field some time somewhere...
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