Thanks for coming to this page for my second challenge which I have a year to complete. A colleague has challenged me to identify 150 species of bird on Suffolk Wildlife Trust Reserves. I love watching birds and look after them in my garden but ask me to identify a Smew and I don't know where to start. So a big learning curve for me. Luckily I have some people happy to help and I will be using  their expertise.

As this is on their Reserves this challenge is to raise funds for SWT's work and discussions re targetting it to help their work with some bird species would be good considering the challenge..

I am inviting you to donate on  this page to help me reach my target or if you would like to have a go at this challenge too please make your own page and ask to join my team page www.justgiving.com/casbirthdaychallenges. Visiit my website www.tooold-never.co.uk, read my blog and message me any questions, and I can send you a sponsor form if you want one. SWT are aware but this is my idea so please liaise with me and not Brooke House.

I started at Snape Marshes on 11th Feb and identified 20 species and am going to Trimley Marshes on 13th to hopefully see the variety of waterfowl normally seen at this location. Lackford Lakes next Saturday. This is a  good time of year to catch some migrating species.

I am back from Trimley and saw 28 species [ was 30 but realised counted 2 twice!!] so nearly one third of the target achieved including a wonderful view of  a Peregrine Falcon. Some common species and other rarer ones. Next stop Lackford Lakes on Saturday.

I am hoping that this challenge will prove popular - set your own number of species to spot 75,100,125 or 150. I have been told that to do this on SWT Reserves 150 will mean some twitching too so if new to this maybe set yourself a lower target.  Please set your own individual fundraising target. I want to raise a personal £500 but if this goes well I will raise my target.

If you do not want to do this yourself please support me as generously as possible and send the links to your friends who have an interest in helping to conserve our wildlife.

19.03.12 Update - Visits to Foxburrow Farm and Lackford Lakes again last week - total now 64 so creeping up slowly!!

24.03.12 - Visits to Snape Marshes, Sizewell Belts and Hen Reed Beds on Saturday - beautiful day - saw a Bittern - so special - so total now 73 - 2 more species and halfway to target!!

10.04.12 - Visit to Lackford - Little Gull added so total now 74!

25.04.12 Visit to Trimley in the pouring rain and wind - 7 seen with Mick and others assistance so total now 81! It's creeping up!!!!

Have missed some entries but on 95!!

08.07.12 Visit to Lackford 5 new species Hobby, Kingfisher, Egyptian Goose, Tree Creeper, and Green Sandpiper. Great sightings!!! Now on 100!!

It's getting harder and have missed some species that have left for this year too. But have added a few good new birds Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Green Woodpecker, Nightjar, Wood Sandpiper, Dartford Warbler all but 1 with  thanks to people with more knowledge than me!!  So total on 15th August is 107!! My latest visits have found it very quiet out there so several visits with no new sightings and very few birds at all singing.

Planning some visits over next few weeks so fingers crossed I can increase my total some more. I am hooked though and love increasing my knowledge just wish my eyesight and ID skills were up to the task.

22nd October Since my last report I have been out a few times the last time this morning. On a windy day a couple of weeks ago Gannet, Arctic Skua, Sandwich Tern and Scopes Ducks were seen off Sizewell and today a Meadow Pipit, Barnacle Goose, and Bar Headed Goose at Trimley what a privilege and such beautiful markings, to think it is the highest flying bird traversing the Himalayas being it's normal habitat. So total now 118 and 32 species to go and 3 months to get there.