Jimmy & I spend a couple of hours at Connaught Waters in Epping Forest, we know that we will be able to tick Manarin Duck that was the the main reason for the visit & we spot a pair in by the bank of the Island on arrival, as it turned out they were the only ones we saw,
A walk in the forest we see a flock of Long-tailed Tits & a couple of Coal Tits, then we spot a Goldcrest, a Jay shows along with Great spotted Woodpecker, we hang around this spot & we see at least 3 Tree creepers & A few Nuthatch show well.
As we walk back onto the path an Egyptian Goose swims bye for another tick for us.
Just a quick visit but a very pleasant couple of hours spent on a warm sunny morning.
A stop on the way home over our local fields to see if the Little Owl was sitting out in the sunshine, but it did not show but we pick up a Redwing & a Song Thrush plus Ring-neck Parakeet & sitting on the field a Green Woodpecker.
As we walk home we get Dunnock & Greenfinch & a look out of my Garden gives me the final tick of the day with a Collared Dove on the feeder.
So another 16 ticks & all within 15 minutes of home to take me to 90 & maybe a Norfolk visit on Sunday to look forward too,( lovely)
Saturday, 3 January 2015
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Off we go again 2015, not a bad start in Kent.
A change of plan today as we set off to Kent instead of Norfolk knowing that we would probably be down a few birds but the thinking was to get some ticks with birds that may not hang about to long.
First up it's the beach at Dungeness, the wind was really blowing & it felt really cold so a welcome sight to find the hide open with only one fellow inside it.
It was still pretty dark but we hung about & soon we had a few Gannets, Razorbill, Guillemot, 3 Fulmar, some Red-throated Divers, a single Common Scoter plus a lot of Gulls.
On Arc Pit 2 Great-white Egret's, as we head to Walland Marsh & pick out many Bewick Swan's but miss out on the single Whooper reported to be with them.
4 Bean Geese are seen with them, as we only saw them a week ago a nice early tick this year.same with the 2 Cattle Egret's also only seen a short time ago another nice tick for the new year.
On to the Reserve to pick up 5 Redhead Smew but miss out on the single Male seen with them.
While here we see 3 Kingfishers putting on a good show for us, 2 Bittern show up over the back with one giving a good flight display for us, Goosander also spotted here along with a nice male Pintail.
Next stop is Scotney Pit where we see Black-necked Grebe & Scaup.
We set off to Chilham & see the Great- grey Shrike sitting on the wires as we turn into the road so a nice quick tick without getting out of the car.
There is just about enough light left in the day for a very quick drive to Elmley to get the only Redshank we saw all day, plenty of Lapwing & a couple of Kestral along with a few Ruff to add to the day list.
A little down on last years first day with 74 birds seen, so the gamble to go to Kent I think was worth taking with some nice birds seen to start the year off with. so a very happy new year to all the birding
community & I hope you all enjoy this great hobby in 2015 & don't get to many dips
First up it's the beach at Dungeness, the wind was really blowing & it felt really cold so a welcome sight to find the hide open with only one fellow inside it.
It was still pretty dark but we hung about & soon we had a few Gannets, Razorbill, Guillemot, 3 Fulmar, some Red-throated Divers, a single Common Scoter plus a lot of Gulls.
On Arc Pit 2 Great-white Egret's, as we head to Walland Marsh & pick out many Bewick Swan's but miss out on the single Whooper reported to be with them.
4 Bean Geese are seen with them, as we only saw them a week ago a nice early tick this year.same with the 2 Cattle Egret's also only seen a short time ago another nice tick for the new year.
On to the Reserve to pick up 5 Redhead Smew but miss out on the single Male seen with them.
While here we see 3 Kingfishers putting on a good show for us, 2 Bittern show up over the back with one giving a good flight display for us, Goosander also spotted here along with a nice male Pintail.
Next stop is Scotney Pit where we see Black-necked Grebe & Scaup.
We set off to Chilham & see the Great- grey Shrike sitting on the wires as we turn into the road so a nice quick tick without getting out of the car.
There is just about enough light left in the day for a very quick drive to Elmley to get the only Redshank we saw all day, plenty of Lapwing & a couple of Kestral along with a few Ruff to add to the day list.
A little down on last years first day with 74 birds seen, so the gamble to go to Kent I think was worth taking with some nice birds seen to start the year off with. so a very happy new year to all the birding
community & I hope you all enjoy this great hobby in 2015 & don't get to many dips
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| One of the Cattle Egrets |
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Friday, 26 December 2014
Shore Larks at Covehithe Broad Suffolk
Xmas eve & after receiving some great news from Brian we plan to celebrate by doing what comes naturally & head off for a day birding in Suffolk.
We head to Covehithe Broad to try to pick up a year tick with some Shore larks.
Parking in a lay- by near the old ruins we take a not to unpleasant walk down to the beach & spot 3 Shore lark within a few minutes.
We spend a good few hours just watching these busy little birds going about their life & not taking to much notice of us, they just carry on feeding, the camera was working over time.
When we had had our fill of the Larks we set of to Thorpeness so Jimmy & myself could pick up another year tick in the Tundra Bean Goose reported there yesterday.
After parking we scan the fields but can only spot Barnacle Geese & many Greylag, we think maybe they have flown but a fellow comes over to tell us that he had just seen them in a field over the back, so off we hike over some very prickly rough ground but we get our reward when we spot 15 of them quite a long way off but with great scope views well worth the hike.
We head to Covehithe Broad to try to pick up a year tick with some Shore larks.
Parking in a lay- by near the old ruins we take a not to unpleasant walk down to the beach & spot 3 Shore lark within a few minutes.
We spend a good few hours just watching these busy little birds going about their life & not taking to much notice of us, they just carry on feeding, the camera was working over time.
When we had had our fill of the Larks we set of to Thorpeness so Jimmy & myself could pick up another year tick in the Tundra Bean Goose reported there yesterday.
After parking we scan the fields but can only spot Barnacle Geese & many Greylag, we think maybe they have flown but a fellow comes over to tell us that he had just seen them in a field over the back, so off we hike over some very prickly rough ground but we get our reward when we spot 15 of them quite a long way off but with great scope views well worth the hike.
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| the 3 Shore Larks |
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Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Nice trip to Norfolk
With Brian available for a day's birding we head off to Norfolk in the hope off picking up a year tick or two.
First stop we try Wolferton for a try for Golden Pheasant, a few trips around the triangle & a small amount off time parked up produces no sign of the target, so we head to titchwell in the hope that Jimmy & myself can get a tick by seeing a Water Pipit, we know we can pick one up somewhere else later but while here lets look, the only problem was that the management had flooded the scrape, so not to much about today.On the way to the hide all we see are many Chaffinches & the odd Robin but not much else.
A bit of a disappointment tick wise but always nice to visit here. A visit to Salthouse means a long walk down the shingle to see a flock of Snow Bunting 60 or more are seen along with 10 or more Twite, they don't want to hang about to long, so only a quick snap of a few of them.
So we head off to Lady-Anne's drive to scan the many Pink footed Geese in the hope that the Snow Goose was with them, once again no luck only Brent are picked out with the pack.
But we do see 3 Grey Partridge feeding near the fence & later on we see some more as we head off to Cantley Marshes to try for the Bean geese reported, the light has started to beat us now & although we pick out a group that probably were Bean Geese they were just to far away for us to be certain in such bad light,so once again we miss out on the target but we did get to hear & watch the hundreds of Corvids going to roost, as always a really great thing to wittiness.
Tick wise not a good trip but any day out birding with the boys is a pleasure.
First stop we try Wolferton for a try for Golden Pheasant, a few trips around the triangle & a small amount off time parked up produces no sign of the target, so we head to titchwell in the hope that Jimmy & myself can get a tick by seeing a Water Pipit, we know we can pick one up somewhere else later but while here lets look, the only problem was that the management had flooded the scrape, so not to much about today.On the way to the hide all we see are many Chaffinches & the odd Robin but not much else.
A bit of a disappointment tick wise but always nice to visit here. A visit to Salthouse means a long walk down the shingle to see a flock of Snow Bunting 60 or more are seen along with 10 or more Twite, they don't want to hang about to long, so only a quick snap of a few of them.
So we head off to Lady-Anne's drive to scan the many Pink footed Geese in the hope that the Snow Goose was with them, once again no luck only Brent are picked out with the pack.
But we do see 3 Grey Partridge feeding near the fence & later on we see some more as we head off to Cantley Marshes to try for the Bean geese reported, the light has started to beat us now & although we pick out a group that probably were Bean Geese they were just to far away for us to be certain in such bad light,so once again we miss out on the target but we did get to hear & watch the hundreds of Corvids going to roost, as always a really great thing to wittiness.
Tick wise not a good trip but any day out birding with the boys is a pleasure.
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| Pink footed Goose |
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Some of the flock of Snow Bunting |
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| Birds on a hill. |
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| Just a nice scene, Turnstone plus. |
Sunday, 14 December 2014
Out Birding at last with a visit to Chilham for the G G Shrike
It seems such a long time since we all got to do some birding together, it's about 3 weeks but feels such a lot longer.
So we set of early on a really cold but clear morning, first stop is a ride down the track at Elmley, as we enter the field to the left of us is awash with over 300 Curlew in with them are many Ruff.
On the drive down the track we get to see a couple of common Buzzard,a very friendly Kestrel, as always here we see Marsh Harriers putting hundreds of Lapwings & Starlings into flight.
Plenty of Meadow Pipits & a nice Stonechat showed well for us.
Always nice to visit here, no year ticks but a very pleasant few hours spent just watching the birds mainly from the car.
Off now to find the target bird of the trip at Chilham, it's only around 20 miles from Elmley & as we pull into the lay- by in Branch Rd, we can see the Shrike sitting on the top of a bush.
We head over the road & follow the bird down to the sports centre stopping along the way to get some cracking views of the Great grey Shrike & this gives us another year tick at long last.
So we set of early on a really cold but clear morning, first stop is a ride down the track at Elmley, as we enter the field to the left of us is awash with over 300 Curlew in with them are many Ruff.
On the drive down the track we get to see a couple of common Buzzard,a very friendly Kestrel, as always here we see Marsh Harriers putting hundreds of Lapwings & Starlings into flight.
Plenty of Meadow Pipits & a nice Stonechat showed well for us.
Always nice to visit here, no year ticks but a very pleasant few hours spent just watching the birds mainly from the car.
Off now to find the target bird of the trip at Chilham, it's only around 20 miles from Elmley & as we pull into the lay- by in Branch Rd, we can see the Shrike sitting on the top of a bush.
We head over the road & follow the bird down to the sports centre stopping along the way to get some cracking views of the Great grey Shrike & this gives us another year tick at long last.
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| Stonechat |
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| Lapwing |
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| Great grey Shrike |
Saturday, 15 November 2014
Firecrest at Tower Hamlets.
Bob Watts posted that 3 Firecrest had been seen at the cemetery, so Jimmy & myself take a quick trip to look for them.
We head down the main path to a fenced off wood I believe it's called sanctuary wood, it takes a good hour before we see the first Firecrest, it's a very short view as it flies away from us & out of sight.
As we search for another one we see many Goldcrest & it's not long before we see another 2 Firecrest this time we get a much better look at them. Jimmy can hear them in the bushes before they show but I just can't hear them myself, it's a bit to high pitched for my ears
So well worth the short trip for a year tick for us both.
We head down the main path to a fenced off wood I believe it's called sanctuary wood, it takes a good hour before we see the first Firecrest, it's a very short view as it flies away from us & out of sight.
As we search for another one we see many Goldcrest & it's not long before we see another 2 Firecrest this time we get a much better look at them. Jimmy can hear them in the bushes before they show but I just can't hear them myself, it's a bit to high pitched for my ears
So well worth the short trip for a year tick for us both.
Sunday, 9 November 2014
Surf & Velvet Scoter plus 2 Desert Wheatear.
A rare Saturday off for Brian gets us a trip to Norfork for a belated look for the Surf Scoter, we arrive round about 8 o'clock after taking a detour around some country lanes in the hope of seeing some Barn Owls.
Parking at the bottom of Lady Ann's drive we head down the boardwalk towards Holkham Bay, 2 fellows from Hertfordshire join us in the search for the Scoter, after a fair while we all spread out along the beach & this is rewarded when we get a phone call from Brian telling us he may have it, but he needs the telescope, Jimmy is the only one to take his this time.
It's a long walk before we get to Brian with our feet sinking deep in the wet sand it seems a lot further.But Brian was right & we get onto the target bird to give us all another lifer.We wave our arms about to tell the other fellows that we had found it & get some nice words from them for taking the trouble to get them on the bird.
The Bird stands out from the rest with a bright white patch on the nape & a yellow orange bill.
In with the common Scoters are 3 Velvet Scoters to give us another year tick, also seen Red-necked Grebe, Arctic Skua,Razor bill, & few Gannets.
On the way back to the car we have a quick look for the reported Palla's but not to be today, so after a nice cuppa from the van in the car park we scan the sky for any sign of Rough-legged Buzzard but all we see is a nice Red kite.
So off to Burnham Overy for another look for one, after only a short time we pick out a couple of Rough-legged Buzzard to give a good display for us a distance view but good views in the scope as it turns to show it's markings to help us identify it, another year tick for us.
Next port of call is a place that none of us had been to before called Gorleston on sea near Yarmouth.
A short walk along the beach to join a few people already with cameras out looking at a Desert wheatear that had taken shelter in a hole in the sea wall,
After a while the bird keeps popping out onto the beach for some good camera shots.
On the way home now with the light getting short we decide to give Yarmouth a visit to try for another Desert Wheatear, this is a very short walk before we looking at a very accommodating bird
with the bird sitting on a wall only feet away from us.
So with a lifer plus 3 year ticks in the bag it was a really nice long day birding.
Parking at the bottom of Lady Ann's drive we head down the boardwalk towards Holkham Bay, 2 fellows from Hertfordshire join us in the search for the Scoter, after a fair while we all spread out along the beach & this is rewarded when we get a phone call from Brian telling us he may have it, but he needs the telescope, Jimmy is the only one to take his this time.
It's a long walk before we get to Brian with our feet sinking deep in the wet sand it seems a lot further.But Brian was right & we get onto the target bird to give us all another lifer.We wave our arms about to tell the other fellows that we had found it & get some nice words from them for taking the trouble to get them on the bird.
The Bird stands out from the rest with a bright white patch on the nape & a yellow orange bill.
In with the common Scoters are 3 Velvet Scoters to give us another year tick, also seen Red-necked Grebe, Arctic Skua,Razor bill, & few Gannets.
On the way back to the car we have a quick look for the reported Palla's but not to be today, so after a nice cuppa from the van in the car park we scan the sky for any sign of Rough-legged Buzzard but all we see is a nice Red kite.
So off to Burnham Overy for another look for one, after only a short time we pick out a couple of Rough-legged Buzzard to give a good display for us a distance view but good views in the scope as it turns to show it's markings to help us identify it, another year tick for us.
Next port of call is a place that none of us had been to before called Gorleston on sea near Yarmouth.
A short walk along the beach to join a few people already with cameras out looking at a Desert wheatear that had taken shelter in a hole in the sea wall,
After a while the bird keeps popping out onto the beach for some good camera shots.
On the way home now with the light getting short we decide to give Yarmouth a visit to try for another Desert Wheatear, this is a very short walk before we looking at a very accommodating bird
with the bird sitting on a wall only feet away from us.
So with a lifer plus 3 year ticks in the bag it was a really nice long day birding.
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| The Suffolk bird |
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| Again |
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| And again on the other side of the path. |
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| The Norfolk bird |
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