20 things to do before......

Looking back on the blog, I see that in 2010 I posted a list of 20 things to do before I'm .... well, older than I was then. 
Some 9 years later, I'm still at work but have similar interests to then, and have accomplished some of these targets already.  Notes are consequently listed below (with links to appropriate blog-posts) and I can now put my mind onto new objectives for the next decade.

Watch the waders at high tide at Snettisham  Done, as a kind Christmas present, a few days after that blog-post. Very cold, not many birds, but a lovely experience.

Find eagles (Golden and/or Sea) in Scotland  Not even close, but may be achieved on the Isle of Wight soon.

See a hummingbird - anywhere   Even further from achieving this.

Sit on the rock of Gibraltar, to see the raptor migration  Done this -wonderful time staying in the Gibraltar bird obs.

Walk the cliffs around the Lizard in Cornwall - I've been there a few times before, but never with my eyes open for plants    Nope.

Visit Ranscombe Farm in north Kent for Corncockles and Cornflowers, Cudweed and Ground Pine   Lovely place, visited a few times and found all these in profusion (except ground pine which I have seen at The Larches and Blue Bell Hill)

Clamber over the limestone pavements of the Pennines   Not yet - must be done soon.

Find a Late Spider Orchid on the downs  Working nearby, I have seen them at a number of sites but none without help.

Visit a place I know where Fly Orchids flower, but for once at the right time  Have done, and have successfully predicted where they may be in new areas.

Locate a Long-eared Owl at roost  A very hidden one at Dungeness, pointed out to me.

Take a slow boat up and down Norwegian fjords     Nope.

Encounter a large wild animal, and survive  Wild boars in Crecy forest - scary.

Compare Duke of Burgundy butterflies in Hampshire with the Kentish ones  No, but have found another colony in Kent.

Watch Flamingos and Stilts on the Camargue  Yes! And more

See Swallowtail butterflies on the Norfolk Broads  Nope. Let's go now!

Walk the Breckland on a hot day  Nope. Let's go now! (or when it's a bit warmer)

Hear Manx Shearwaters around their burrows at night  Brilliant week on Skokholm.

Land on the Goodwin Sands, play cricket and watch the seals  Nope.

Clear the scrub from The Lynch to return it to chalk downland.  Tried, but it fought back. Must try again.

And finally, 20. Find a Military Orchid in Kingsdown. Or, if not, seek them in a little nature reserve in Suffolk.  No, but found them unexpectedly in Normandy so I am happy.


So that's 10 objectives achieved, and 10 not yet done. I'm quite impressed by that, and am grateful to the various people who helped me thus far.  I'll add another 10 in due course, to keep me focused.



 The original post.......


As I've long passed the allotted Two-score Years and Ten, the mind concentrates on things that must be done in the time before the mist rolls in.


I don't want to be just one of the crowd......

....so I need a clear view of what to accomplish:
So, in no particular order, here's a list of things that I'd like to do, near and far.........

1. Watch the waders at high tide at Snettisham
2. Find eagles (Golden and/or Sea) in Scotland
3. See a hummingbird - anywhere
4. Sit on the rock of Gibraltar, to see the raptor migration
5. Walk the cliffs around the Lizard in Cornwall - I've been there a few times before, but never with my eyes open for plants
6. Visit Ranscombe Farm in north Kent for Corncockles and Cornflowers, Cudweed and Ground Pine
7. Clamber over the limestone pavements of the Pennines
8. Find a Late Spider Orchid on the downs, and
9. Visit a place I know where Fly Orchids flower, but for once at the right time
10. Locate a Long-eared Owl at roost
11. Take a slow boat up and down Norwegian fjords
12. Encounter a large wild animal, and survive
13. Compare Duke of Burgundy butterflies in Hampshire with the Kentish ones
14. Watch Flamingos and Stilts on the Camargue
15. See Swallowtail butterflies on the Norfolk Broads
16. Walk the Breckland on a hot day
17. Hear Manx Shearwaters around their burrows at night
18. Land on the Goodwin Sands, play cricket and watch the seals
19. Clear the scrub from The Lynch to return it to chalk downland.

And finally, 20. Find a Military Orchid in Kingsdown. Or, if not, seek them in a little nature reserve in Suffolk.

The Galapagos should be on there, of course, but places like that need fewer tourists, and the carbon footprint would be frightening.