Friday 31 December 2010

2010: Year of the Auk?

As the year draws to a close, we are preparing for an Edinburgh Hogmanay celebration to see in the New Year. For me, 2010 has been year of the auk with a couple of trips on the Pacific from Monterey and San Francisco more than doubling my tally of auks, as well as seeing the usual suspects off the Scottish coastline. The auk highlights of the year were Tufted Puffin, Cassin's Auklet and Pigeon Guillemot (among others) at the Farallon Islands, California, and a great passage of Little Auks at Barns Ness in early November.

Of course, tonight is the night that birders all over the world will be toasting birds just like these...

Should auld auk-uaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should auld auk-uaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
All the best for 2011.





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