A total of 163 diary entries covered 136 dates with 229 non-birding days, many due to health issues, inability to drive or COVID restrictions.
The 'home patch' of house and the adjacent 18-20 hectares contributed 84 entries and 65 species with the 5km radius from the house adding another 14 entries but only 7 more species. Yet another 20 dates came from nearby sites in south-east Hampshire. Titchfield Haven produced the most visits outside the home patch with 24 dates albeit not all specifically birding trips.
This year's species list was as pathetic as last year's -142 - until the last few days when Razorbill and Hen Harrier were added taking the total to 144 (plus Siberian Chiffchaff) the worst two years since 2006. The total number species over both years comprised 159 species.
There seems to be increasing interest, and indeed pressure, to spend more time locally and to reduce travel whilst birding, with several people tweeting 5km circles centred on home. Personally, if I lived within 5km of Flamborough, Spurn, Titchwell, Cley, Minsmere etc, etc or indeed anywhere with sea or a sizeable reservoir then I might give it a go, but a 5km circle of housing, industrial complexes, roads and the odd scraps of utterly birdless farmland, plus not even a puddle of water, ensures that this is a non-starter. 10km is much the same and even 15km precludes my most watched area. 20km looks just about OK and doesn't include too much wasted space i.e. the Isle of Wight but obviously a 20km circle precludes walking and I neither own nor want to own a push bike even with mild electrification. So, sadly, 2022 will be another year of burning up the planet by car albeit with limited mileage. Not having been further than an hour from home in seven years and, with no passport, not having travelled abroad since 2013 I won't feel too guilty about it. Reading Jonathan Lethbridge's (Wanstead Birder) recent blog posting, December 23rd from the States, maybe puts the UK's 'green intentions', and that of it's birders, into perspective!!
And good to see Birdwatch magazine promoting local birding with the hashtag #LocalBigYear, especially not trying to enforce cycling, walking, public transport nor setting prescribed distances - more a case of common sense.
And, short of rigid COVID restrictions, hardcore twitchers will continue to chase from Scilly to Shetland. Whilst disliking crowds I sometimes wish I had the physical health, mental stamina and bank account(!) to join them sometimes. Oh for a Varied Thrush or an albatross!!
