Great finds don’t have to be mega rarities. I always love a good birding story. here’s one from last year. Hope you become part of a good story or 2 in 2012.

The finding and identification of a singing Common Rosefinch, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, July 2011

David H. Hatton

The morning of Sunday 10 July 2011 was pleasantly dry, warm and settled, and, at this usually quiet time of year, I resolved to spend it with my family. After breakfast, we discussed whether to visit Wimpole Hall or Fowlmere RSPB reserve for a walk, and decided upon the latter, which has recently boasted a delightful range of birds over the spring and early summer. Mindful of my desire to watch the British grand prix live over lunchtime, I marshalled the family out promptly, and it wasn’t long before we were enjoying views of the numerous insects along the Fowlmere boardwalk trail. All seemed quiet bird-wise, and so we kept to plan and returned to the car park at 12.15. ‘I’ll get back just in time for the pit-lane walk’, I mused as I fired up the car to get back to Royston. How wrong I was!

Read full story by clicking through on link below:

Cambridge Rosefinch by D Hatton

from Cambridge Bird Club Bulletin # 417, July-Aug 2011

Common Rosefinch, Cambridge, July 2011 © David H Hatton, (Royston, UK,) art16.co.uk & kowapower.com