160 Up!!!!

Yeah, I'm still here, still birding.... But look, it's July ~ a pretty crap month to bird!!!
However.... 2 year ticks for me today.... and both were belters!!!

First off, due to the species involved, I cannot say where I went... Only that I went there this evening along with ze Guru & Dave Western, we met Paul Barker just after 9pm on location.... We set off for 'ze spot'!! Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening rain, which thankfully never came.... actually, it was surprising mild & calm with pretty good half-light.
After waiting just a few minutes I clocked the first of our targets - an adult Long-eared Owl in flight!!! Awesome, only the second time I've seen one in Shropshire!!!
Elated having scored so quick we set off again arriving at our next 'spot' just a few moments later... It was Paul who located the second of our target birds - a Nightjar!!!! Flying in front of us only 20 odd feet away at one point!! Brillaint, my 4th county tick for the year & 160 species, equalling last years total, my highest ever... every tick now is a new personal best!!! (I'm still a full 6 species behind ze Guru though!!!)....

Excellent stuff & I still have 6 odd relatively easyish birds to tick!!.... So, 170??.... Maybe!! ;~)