Friday 1st January 2016
/I dislike overly wordy "Review of the Year" posts, so here's a few quick facts about 2015:
1 new bird for Britain - Little Swift, makes 391.
2 new birds for Guernsey - Temminck's Stint, Little Swift, makes 252.
1 new 'self-found' bird - Red-rumped Swallow, makes 270.
1 new Hommet to Rousse 'patch' bird - Woodcock, makes 153.
1 new garden bird - Water Rail, makes 86.
2015 Guernsey year list total - 138, well below average.
Official local rarities found - 2 - Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit.
Official local rarities seen - 8 - Whooper Swan, Temminck's Stint, Little Swift, Short-toed Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Rose-coloured Starling, Black-headed Bunting.
End-of-year British Pan-species list - 2344.
End-of-year Guernsey Pan-species list - 2025.
Garden moth list - 621.
New moths & butterflies - 6 - Coleophora lusciniaepennella, Small Seraphim, Bright wave, Black Arches, Clouded Buff, Long-tailed Blue
My ten favourite photographs of the year (in just chronological order). I feel that I didn't take as many photos this year compared to the previous two years, especially since I did not travel away from the UK. Of course, my favourite photos are not necessarily the most technically or asthetically perfect pictures, just the ones which I happen to like.
Ravens at pulias in march
anais at pembroke in march
rock pipit at vazon in april
flavous nomad bee at jerbourg in may
hummingbird hawk-moth in the garden in july
black arches in the garden in august
dunlins at pulias in august
whinchat at pulias in september
snow bunting at vazon in october
water rail in the garden in october
My 20 favourite films of 2015. Not necessarily the most critically acclaimed films of the year, but these are the films Ienjoyed the most. This is just from the new films I actually watched during last year, mostly online, rather than ones which were released last year. (not necessarily in this exact order of preference, but more or less so).
My top ten podcasts of the year. I listen to lots of different podcasts and these are the ones I have enjoyed the most over the last 12 months, and I would recommend that you try them out. It's much better than watching TV! (list not in any specific order)
A - The Carl Donnelly & Chris Martin Comedy Podcast - a couple of stand up comedians and usually a mate, just chatting about any old stuff like you're all down the pub.
B - Mark Kermode & Simon Mayo's Film Review Podcast - everybody listens to this don't they?
C - Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast - comedian Richard Herring interviews comedians and other people live on stage. Parky he is not.
D - The Black Tapes Podcast - Scary docudrama-style storytelling. Don't listen by yourself at night!
E - The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe - Science discussion podcast which doesn't sound smug or irritating like many science-based podcasts often do.
F - Elis James & John Robins on Radio X - Just the talky bits from these two comedians' radio show. Funny stuff.
G - Radio 4 Friday Night Comedy - hard rotation of The News Quiz and The Now Show. Classics.
H - Answer Me This - Helen Zaltzman & Olly Mann give amusing answers to listeners questions.
I - The Football Ramble - easily the best football podcast out there and makes me laugh a lot.
J - Adam Buxton Podcast - humerous interviews, amusing jingles, silly songs, what's not to like from this podcasting legend.