Mug shot

Quite literally...

That merry band of Canons Farm and Banstead Woods patchworkers have a low-key competitive edge going on. The league table of 'species recorded' is one that generates a bit of good natured banter. To reach 100 species is no mean feat for this land-locked and dry site - in fact only five people have reached such dizzy heights.

I currently stand on 102, (Raven being added today) some way behind the boy wonder David Campbell, who betrays the amount of time and effort that he has put into the site with a list of 125! Anyhow, he has had a number of commemorative mugs made to be presented to those birders lucky enough (foolish enough?) to become CFBW centurions. I was awarded mine at a simple and touching ceremony outside Canons Farmhouse this lunchtime (at the same time as two Hobbys were conducting aerial manoeuvres overhead). The catchline in red that you cannot quite read from the photograph says 'patch birding in the fast lane'. I might be tempted to add 'with stabilisers'...

Apart from three Ravens, the two Hobbys and a female Peregrine, this mornings session was enlivened by a steady overhead passage of Meadow Pipits and Jays, plus an ever expanding flock of Skylarks. A Wheatear and a Stonechat added a bit of migrant flavour.

Comments

GeoffB said…
Well done Steve ...I have absolutely no idea what my CFBW list is !
27 September 2014 at 19:09
Steve Gale said…
Go on Geoff, add it up - it must be knocking on the 90's...
27 September 2014 at 19:52
Unknown said…
Well done. Looks just the right size for an Innis & Gunn dose.
28 September 2014 at 21:08
Steve Gale said…
Now you're talking.... Where's that bottle opener?
28 September 2014 at 22:11
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