It has, as they say, been a funny old year: fairly uneventful spring and autumn passages (for me, at least) but I still achieved my highest annual total (249) since I began this blog 11 years ago. (Having said which: Linda and I both 'hit' the magical 300 year total back when we produced rare bird videos in the 90s)
I made no special long-distance birding trips, but a wedding in Devon, a holiday in Sussex with Mum-in-Law and a nostalgia visit to Bempton with a recently-bereaved friend obviously added a few species.
Without particularly trying, I also saw - and photographed - 138 different species within 5km of the front door.
OK: here are the best, in monthly order:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISvA1nbJv_iYHqDaUWKb9DM3AUyS-b-s3SP_EtNNXrCiywAl9pqRnAofRTDSEajvr0LjITAOKIWjq385cFytK2fHn1cCdKe3_DrnOEQRTRPWtGu7Am6te4j6b6Z_Vi0fuCt8-p_n91qXDe3PuDZUCck0tytUrcbXbbzUthTFV-dUHOd9QUMSCBegVcA/w400-h297/1.jpg) |
Short-eared Owl, St Benets |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJHgxEVczkPHdLIeCIME1JmNL-x7hrJywUaKBZFpaK2VEoFv50t-6KfMyKTK1Zpiv83a2zFka56b-22JJFL5I8BAYRNx8g39AbRj3g7jiddf-3p5CdR4SPavnvcJ-DR-_Z3TNAop5XHeDg7Jfe77a9mkPAfAANG9SkAe6Vq49kp-8aoKRDOy5-iazkg/w400-h326/2%20feb.jpg) |
Red-breasted Goose, Cley |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FRr2I0urNvFQYaEVEYi64m2-dtDGjFfn2NhxcedpvORsJalQfsrEAVhqutr8YlQiPLsbfC95Ro0VXe0z6hluFMBXs79qNZmxxChnUYByNJstMmQONGj0VkpPQq3KiQ47gyISA_O33PV2bcnkYqRDqG1_D_FR_nxfmDrIio436c76TT7OrUc45DuWhA/w400-h283/3%20feb.jpg) |
Glossy Ibis, Rockland |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBHM0avdv9vk81E1-zU1_AG0yVWzPpXLI62KlZbZz2gSq7hy5bctZ8xxns9_nArpJckTWHYBYuTH1Uo3NDp97lu7u9xGjz-GH2rVdvVWxvf0IzVNX4-iPODzo2Ul1IV_WzQQKD2WphPMpqnYaaMwu4G9d_d3pXWoirzaOTD2hFS1mcXJlrEKZ79JQJw/w400-h335/4%20march.jpg) |
Siberian Chiffchaff, my garden! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9etiFkWx0L9VAtNOcaZznq3NQF1NUVXBfJO3sYeGLR6kxVMSCHpEFHnvc2Z4NdhkCeDfZhDo_F0EASynY8kRsV4_Joe7bMFNpD2dsgI7U2gRuFToctqiBdqt2HQ_YkSVnHKzsKs4XjbnAg4btrZT7LwLU6esbxJgsJyFCTatFUE9ZTucCJIIDzM6ow/w400-h309/5%20apr.jpg) |
Raven, Holkham |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhU1YvbhjQyXvJOLhOi4Pner8ATA9GMcGCgNbF-V2uDSLihbzyCfb2HmbnKe_p_MqtvGFx7slCEF14H-WxOFp-bTfaT22c8jBwQEBuCcslaYak2NenqcsTf4dKjfJPrU2-kwOVa7DkkrYKNtM08DCtqQe4WjEKVCBeTkuG29P_e0NpNdUZY28LmsDWg/w400-h308/6%20may.jpg) |
American Wigeon, Potter Heigham |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGg-QZS26-N1q9eFTwGErlf1ItJjK_MEYqeDov_kUzNRyHrxYAvIQpjoFi9XLXTX673cn8N4R17_MlDdVShiFd6FXfq0cYcRaKksertwfIcIAGWwvV_Awv_-hyDexrTXZ9ksMYbpVUxpPfivtOMZxGx6B-hpw84txOGXjhJ_Jy9n_A564o-4Jdqzzgg/w400-h333/7%20may.jpg) |
Lesser Grey Shrike, Hellesdon |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWoe5-1KmskTwSxDOExa9Yv97mVHH_PxvU4-vNSBb4_-h7JQBBfVBoJVi68V0mHaO0CG_g_W5qM9h88d157WiWrMvpY625idtmua3AtwaD2wUu9nZvvH1YeQtEr_oNCLm4YKj3vdhsW7-pZB42FRIuE6NsPAoXpnG-2fvPNWpQT-Uz45-h23wy82xbg/w400-h294/8%20may.jpg) |
Ring Ouzel, Hickling |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6NxyCMf9pmf1jJkiQ4oSlP6BK4l1QKaOTOoJsDFlaukRHpxSQB3X0m-FKJVHpgxo1fMvUh9jSX5QTLRjkRYOJVuOsfo4DJ7kYKJxDJ40zT_RNpRTRGTCMJk6Go5aFEDW4FAasccQWgKAMqUNgbLy4NCZd7UV8PXSgpImKmlMAnBl5h1FM3ACud0MqQ/w400-h301/9%20may.jpg) |
Caspian Tern, Hickling |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8qsjy84UUouCjod44_0eFDT9VbOEEx2oMoGXdkBkMpbS2aOj448ayhcu7shU4xUhJ7oa5SUXGcPRBMrtx22IjMA1lNzRlTNoZBSqUm-Y7KjCldG0fbxszWvJT1x2b5SvSXXPiGpylJO6GKA6MXInxeeuLlYVETz7X4zK9kIsyhwZH517URRs8ZzSlw/w400-h335/10%20june.jpg) |
Dartford Warbler, Kelling heath |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWBWLGgy5en3j0oBwtZhmmqemE0hAelIfSk34eDiBfqTUUPdpmHDS1aZpquDETJG1pp2Hx-P997q_gLdS2XiA6MA5dpp9nuPv8cKQLe0dOFu2bwtAT_BJZVdR8M9ywZ73H_gElmxp8pvh-5jeYa8dGxN2DVKKDp4Eo7p8RAXNDf8AfYTwi2rElFZ4_Q/w400-h294/11%20june.jpg) |
Spotted Sandpiper, Titchwell |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xGxLZbXnpD_TwzCJbwzO-D4g1AedCNHfrsKqcrlUyKJmL_GfJRC6AfFO7DeiDNCsGLYs-xFZn8xC1ac14rE_qb35m_C4JFUB11f2cAeTSlQeQsgWR9qPMLmJ0Y_Z_nz9NnbpscpRcoLfDD5wNzviLn6eiK2UnhHnSi7_nPq9djO0T7A9GcW1mFRH_w/w400-h296/12%20june.jpg) |
Bee-eaters, Trimingham |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wRoAxaNoya5cpzH3gb0TyDGpr7cDc4vwUJiKJxGnrY4qwyKD3t93m-2FAz4W-ZHXGjvLeQ2YTlZLGBQsT4h4CtV30DCxoEY0zaHvPjTjqMkOJZ7QLrsidl3ijLBaXXPe4DOsU_g5CwhOWpRQFcHOioQTJY50ShhilDTkNemTVbUSYvVvcndbQWG-Qg/w400-h303/12a%20july.jpg) |
Honey Buzzard, Swanton Novers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJMiPR5I6HTV2paHt10IDT3p2z7ASSz3aDR9qfPygitChce0nWHZeagUQHEdMEqWCoXT0esKPklRffax8JdFHAeYgf84YeFpsmG7B9e-XtuHFG1GPvvGkJ5-oYNNb30fvnJdmdBwDWdNC__po26xyLdQCoDA3wHn-kyV8itrd51sPE2dj-ARNautT_w/w400-h311/14%20aug.jpg) |
Icterine Warbler, Winterton |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtz7bqvNwOuXy9G5Yxx_4wcXQ3L1sSbouOAAZTgsv_sx8XZs5VNimqh6u0Rf9vitrmsYOJKgKOKUrCdN7Ake-WbTikqVyEnJvYBI_CVWdywOvLoMu7fua45vZDEoheZWP89CgaKlPcjlP6fgpdfucGSuXyyfXbhoWGrBdsCR0vPsC7G-wIN3mExAgevg/w400-h308/15%20sept.jpg) |
Grey Phalarope, Salthouse |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nh4sJyd6Yle_CXNIoA9BKQHDCHQlpNdtU-UrSgvq_4ompOiQKW_PcJ2eYs2ZSZZsW51qHYGVLS2h2tVeyBFMfylHgeEYzUvQ11cz0vzFeCH9Kyh1DTX1sq_uPUI7-VUISfE97aTkIcfIwmwUKilbsYqvo2jCnjJBcGLSjAzMR5fnGLS8GAu3Swal7Q/w400-h290/16%20sept.jpg) |
Cirl Bunting, Devon |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYDainu5QTRwcWv7-oHyBHSRvnAPJYNWoU2bISxvQw2Bf4Ur5UXir65ZGrBU7MdM1auiKktVHnXwV8nSA5Xm3mqqM3kcnnMMTgrI3G565Zd6oE677qnQ5sg6yQVcXiBQUlTXTIajT3X8RTI32ThAo1A_J4KoIu35WGkisRMtTbkzxgyRlGe1b6XEqPA/w400-h285/17%20sept.jpg) |
Great Bustards, Salisbury Plain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt03mUOLym_jq01mfcrRiDgjtKQaUWntbKaiziP6WM1lBradNiJ7OJWSnh0NZTB4eW6Sohk0eHV_FUYOXYOMuW6Qnivwqd-1T9lNzN6rpyinJ9apGDwxQZtYlbTW2eb191KLxhrSYxG13FR0yWZp3rB6VOU-Zqa6taa98bWqJEnNPzGDC34M9HeiVeQ/w400-h279/18%20oct.jpg) |
Long-billed Dowitcher, Cley |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GY4Hd6kVHiS-wew95ykrxpzKACHfgFEgaewpvaPKj4D73D8ysTKg5dHiUTNvp9G4trEV6oB2NruXtSQmdNzwmuKXEovGdC3VzgsS7qJTf_qU8mhraMgZP2Bdf3o2KLLZqv5Y-hnHSnLlz7EuBKODTEzwBK-UlaWbWl5zTLsSHss21Jqtp3Xdq3Kfsg/w400-h311/19%20nov.jpg) |
Slavonian Grebe, Whitlingham Lane |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOUOOLcvdMOX2u590d4nOvgQj-pvKabGn8cjzFk2hWvM2_8Bvx7OBjEX9EWCH_BnLWf50Bg6jhGR9hg1R_usJ7kusviNtI1Kj6lMeX0M355FtAj-TvByDGF3Mfs9RcgQBLH7K_UOvFDBrjacv4CO0gVuMbKW6lKR6bdvfQXB1IpT6JcefBYOPc6vZnQ/w400-h289/20%20nov.jpg) |
Waxwings, Sheringham |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R591L5wpOS3rzy7NvbQUG6ylBIsE4RNLe4LZOSL9QodpzNKJANDSAO0PI2k0YRd3LlwodHEHEWXh1kw5APQ-yNufSFBYEEUFXGoZs110s9XpAOSOvACbuHqI5TjXT0ULgfLaVoCbaQWLKgCCD-rONJn94MKrN6cB5-1mh-8Q0uk5M-mrmu3m0z6GyA/w400-h293/21%20nov.jpg) |
White-tailed Eagle, Holkham |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmjZfS2XyN_KbtVzu8FTR8Hb4PkdL97D3J7NwEW_H9O0558qyfwUiZ20rdXDn6Px_Js9FXr77VLtCuysiwcEEkAfYJpgW8OI1GQmbU2C0caUWPA8Np5ERsVxXhINYNxjc-T206efkhnKgeAQn1k4_DVKDmXLHoBHueGbYWjLoz1ja-fSNHOMvb3GtGA/w400-h290/22%20dec.jpg) |
Hume's Warbler, Brancaster |