My favourites photos of 2019

Arctic Tern, Ferry Meadows CP

Bar-tailed Godwit, Deeping Lakes LWT

Brimstone, Castor Hanglands NNR

Mating Brown Hares, near Holme

Cattle Egret, way out east

Chalkhill Blue, Barnack Hills and Holes

Common Seal, Dog in a Doublet sluice

Fly-by Cranes, Nene Washes

Dark Green Fritillary, Bedford Purlieus

Devil's Coach Horse, Baston and Lagtoft pits

Bee-mimic fly, Baston and Langtoft pits

Fly Orchid, Bedford Purlieus

Garganey, Ferry Meadows CP

Kestrel

Kittiwake, Ferry Meadows CP

Little Gull, Ferry Meadows CP

Little Owl, Thorney Toll

Migrant Hawker, Ferry Meadows CP

Munjac, our garden, Peterborough

Otter, Ferry Meadows CP

Red-crested Pochard brood, Baston and Langtoft pits

Red Kite, Deeping St James

Redstart, Eldernell

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Scarce Chaser, Eldernell

Stoat, Deeping Lakes LWT

Treecreeper, Maxey

Turtle Dove, Maxey

Wall Brown, King's Dyke NR

Water Vole, Great Fen

Waxwing, Werrington, Peterborough

Wheatear, Castor Mill

Whimbrel, Deeping Lakes LWT

Whinchat, Thurlby Fen

Willow Emerald, Ferry Meadows CP

Common Seal at Peterborough Rowing Lake

Caspian Gull relocated at sewage farm

The first-winter Caspian Gull I found between Christmas and New Year had been seen since at Tanholt pits/Eye tip by Josh Jones. I figured that on Sunday, with no tipping, it may return to the guaranteed feeding of the Peterborough sewage works. I was right. 108 for the year list and the ninth 'elite' so far.

Early Spotted Redshank

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I found this Spotted Redshank on the lovely flooded fields at Ring's End on Saturday (4th January). The fields are also supporting 1,000 or so Black-tailed Godwits, c40 Ruff and a few Dunlin and Redshank, plus plenty of Pintail. And I heard my first Chiffchaff of the year there, too. Another half mile to the west there is a Red-necked Grebe. Anyhow, my previous earliest Spotted Redshank in the Peterborough area was on on the 14th March (in 2010), so this is an exceptionally early record to add to the Avocet in the same spot on New Year's Day (previous earliest 6th March in 2011).

1w Caspian Gull, Peterborough Sewage Works

I found this bird from the cycle track along hte Nene, east of the city on 29 December 2019. The last species for my PBC year list, which reached 192 bird species (my second highest ever).

Ring-necked Duck, BLGP

PBC year tick number 191, this young drake Ring-necked Duck was found by Josh Jones on 'The Ocean' a couple of days after Christmas 2019.

Stonechat, BLGP

Cattle Egret, East Delph Lakes, Whittlesey

Barn Owl

Red-necked Grebe, Maxey pits, Cambs

Long-tailed Tit, Maxey

Grey Seals at Donna Nook, Lincs

One of the upper beach harem-master bulls, chillaxing

Two mud-slug bulls slug it out until blood did flow

One of the older babies

A tender scene with a mother and fluffy cub, kissing and sniffing and suckling