Blog 2007

22nd December 2007

I was out drinking last night so when I get up I turn on the mobile and discover the Bean Geese are still there.  I head off to pick up my sister in law and have to drive past Rainham Marshes again.  I call people on site to explain where the geese are but I can't see them from the road!  So close yet so far.  I head off again knowing they my disappear.  On my return journey I explain to the sister in law about these geese and to my surprise she shows some interest!  Then over my head two geese fly off Rainham as I charge along the A13.  I get her to keep an eye on them as pull over on the roundabout by Lakeside looking out for them as they move up the Mardyke.  Bingo they head up and manage to get one picture!  The camera was on all the wrong settings from the night before, which stops me from taking more.

21st December 2007

This is a day not to miss anything as news reaches me that a flock of Barnacle Geese have arrived at Rainham Marshes RSPB!  This is possibly the first wild bird flock for thirty odd years!  A group of twenty more geese arrive and then another fifty join them!  I pick them up from the bridge leading into the reserve as I don't have time to pop in!  I later hear them some Tundra Bean Geese join them too.  The Bean Geese would be a great bird to add to my London list but it is my wife's birthday tomorrow!

19th December 2007

Heading home I stop at a site that is meant to have Grey Partridge.  This is about the third time I have looked for them and only once did I have five birds.  Twenty are meant to be here and are they?  Yes!  Good views as they feed by the car.  Now an increasingly rare bird in the London Area.

10th December 2007

Something is good about today.  My mum is round as we have just had our second daughter and whilst looking out at the garden I see what I think is a bright bird feeding by the table I put my glasses on and see it is a male Chaffinch, this is first for feeding under the bird table for me and perhaps in the garden.  I see them overhead frequently and you have to laugh at what strange lists and bits of knowledge us birdwatchers keep in our heads!  Birds feeding under the bird table list! Whatever next!

4th December 2007

Busy with work at the moment and have not been able to get out recently so I am very happy that after a meeting I head home via Hackney Marshes, where I nearly did not look at three gulls walking beside me.  First one an adult Black-headed Gull, last one an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and the middle one... A first-winter Ring-billed Gull!  I first thought what a strange small 2nd winter Herring Gull and then I realised it was the wrong size and had a dark eye and dark tip to the bill.   I was struck by how pink the basal  half of the bill was and how Glaucous Gull like the bill was.  A very fierce looking bird compared to a Common Gull.  An excellent find.

16th November 2007

I'm on my bike again and I'm distracted by heading along the river to West Thurrock Marshes, it is early in the morning so I am able to catch a fly over Brambling calling and I get a site tick in the shape of a Ring-necked Parakeet.  Will they not stop spreading across London?

11th November 2007

Today I go down to Grays with my daughter who likes playing on the playground that is in the shape of ship along the seafront.  I try to catch the incoming tide hoping for one of these Little Auks that have been seen recently, no joy with that species but it is nice to see three Yellow-legged Gull  feeding, a fly over Redpoll and a Common Seal.  My first of this mammal for my London list and only just in the area!

31st October 2007

After dropping my daughter off today I see even more Wood Pigeons moving, c550 over the garden, c140 over Linford and c350 over Corringham.

30th October 2007

Looking out over the garden and see my first movement of Wood Pigeons, one hundred south.

28th October 2007

Rainham Marshes for a change!  Nothing has drawn me here except the very very slim possibility of finding the Great White Egret that was present during the week.  This family walk has more rain that either me or my daughter really wanted but a few interesting birds are present.  The simple one, a nice juvenile Little Stint feeding with Lapwings and even flying about with them.  Best of all a hybrid falcon, a massive bird with some Saker influence in it.  Anyone with any better ideas on the parents?

5th October 2007

Yesterday people saw what they thought was a Blyth’s Reed Warbler along the boardwalk at Rainham Marshes RSPB.  So I head there for dawn and see nothing!  Once I have decided it is not present I suddenly notice a bird feeding in the open where the acro was meant to be the previous day!  Here is the bird, it moves round the back and just as it is coming into full view it drops down and a Robin appears!  The Robin must have chased it off.  A bird appears on the pathway and then dives into the reeds, but I think it is a Wren.  The bird in the bush was clearly an acro but very different to a Reed Warbler. Cold brown above without any changes to its plumage from head to tail.  The bill looks long and the wings are short, I judge the primary projection against the tertials to  be thirty to fifty percent.  The tail does not look long to me but in proportion to the rest of the body.  The supercilium is pronounced in front of the eye and then disappears quickly behind the eye.  The underparts look washed out and there is no contrasting parts to the wings e.g. darker tertials or primaries.  The bill is held slightly upwards and the tail above the horizon, which it flicks down several times.  The tail feathers are held slightly apart as if they are wet and it is trying to dry them out. It looks like they are fanned but I am looking side on at this point and can't be sure. Each tail feather is decidedly pointed looking.  The sun has not cleared the bridge behind me in this early hour of the morning and I would like to see it again.  It does not show again.  Waiting for another hour in the area, a Hobby flies over and a Redwing calls, I think this is first time I have seen the both in one day.

 27th September 2007

Strong northerly winds today again so I head to Northfleet for the high tide to see what sea birds I can find for my London list.  Zip!  All I have to show for standing the cold is fifteen Common Terns up river, one Arctic Tern, a flock of c30 Dunlin, one Little Egret, two Swallows, a single Yellow-legged Gull and best of all a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.  Worst of all it appears at point blank range when I don't have the camera to hand!  In the evening, I hear Redwing overhead once the sun has set.

 26th September 2007

A business meeting in central London and I take my camera for the Peregrines at Tate Modern.  No joy with them but in the park beside Tower Hill station a small group of House Sparrows feed and the local workers don’t mind me sticking my big lens at them to get pictures of this disappearing species.

24th September 2007

Today I head to Southend to catch a wader roost which I am not disappointed with, except it is quite cold and I could not find my thermal underwear before I left!  No American waders here but a lovely Curlew Sandpiper in with Ringed Plover and Dunlin.  The different seasons birds are meeting up both head south to different wintering grounds.  Summer and winter migrants together! I watch a Yellow Wagtail on the deck whilst Swallows fly through and my first group of Brent Geese for the winter fly over! Nice. Clearly the waders don’t know what they are doing either as lots of Grey Plover are still showing large amounts of summer plumage, whilst Dunlin are mostly in winter plumage bar one in complete summer plumage!  The only Godwits present are four Bar-tails and fifteen Knot join them.  Very nice venture out into the elements.

Down at the end of pier I go mad on the Mediterranean Gulls again and several Common and Sandwich Terns feed right beside me to add to my excitement.

21st September 2007

My father is looking after our daughter today so rather than using the car to pick her up from North London, I charge down on the train via Tate Modern in case the Peregrines are showing well!  Three birds present and I manage some flight shots but muck up on the setting and they come out too dark! Oh!

 20th September 2007

Passing through Linford I notice large numbers of gulls in the fields in Mucking.  I pick up several Yellow-legged Gulls.

17th September 2007

Another trip for me up London and this time Tate Modern for Peregrines, three and one Grey Wagtail.  It feels almost like last year when I was sitting at Southbank when my first ever Peregrine drifted over.  1995 was the year, so much has changed for Peregrines in London.

14th September 2007

A trip to East Tilbury high tide to see what waders are present and am rewarded with c700 Avocet, 26 Grey Plover, six Ringed Plover, three Black-tailed Godwits, eleven Bar-tailed Godwits, two Knot and one Curlew Sandpiper.  During my watch Swallows keep moving through 26 head south.  Then I play with my daughter in the play ground there!

8th September 2007

Before my walk I meet up with Dave at Rainham Marshes and we wander round the reserve hunting for migrants and especially for the Spotted Crake that was present the previous day.  Aveley Bay has two Sanderling in it which I think is the first time I have seen this species here since I started watching back in 1984!  Migrants are moving about with Yellow Wagtails being the commonest and a Tree Pipit heads over as well.  My counting of Swallows show 26 birds moving through.

Down at Aveley Pools the Spotted Crake shows distantly but when it decides to fly across the pool I have my camera turned away. Must have known what I was doing.  What I like best is the juvenile Wood Sandpiper and Curlew Sandpiper also present, very smart look birds both of them.

I meet my group and start off at Tilbury Fort just like yesterday Yellow Wagtails are present and a Buzzard appears flying in off the river and drifts up river!  Down at the outflow about 70 Common Terns are present and this time four juvenile Arctic Terns.  We spend time looking at the differences between them before heading off to Rainham to watch the Spotted Crake, Wood and Curlew Sandpiper, finishing off the day nicely.

7th September 2007

A check before my walk tomorrow and I head down to Tilbury Power Station to check what terns are present.  At the fort where I park wagtails are feeding on the road and at least three young Yellow Wagtails are with them.  Out on the river 45 Common Terns are present, hopefully good numbers are off the outflow.  Not too far down an Adder shoots across the path, my first one for several years.

The outflow is full of activity over one hundred Common Terns are present and straight away I am amazed to see a juvenile Arctic Tern.  Eventually I find three juveniles and one adult present in the mess of gulls and terns feeding.  The adult still has one long tail streamer and the other side is broken.  In the dull light the white secondaries of the juvenile Arctic Tern glows a brilliant white through the murk.

31 August 2007

I headed over to Alexandra Palace for a showy Whinchat, I failed to locate this but found my first Spotted Flycatcher for London this year!  This species has had a complete turnaround since the early 1980's when I used to see it breeding in Tottenham in good numbers in several parks across the area, the last pair I saw breeding was in 1992!  Now it's just a migrant for the majority of the London area.  What a shame!

30 August 2007

Back to Rainham Marshes today for a Red-backed Shrike that appeared yesterday.  This first year bird was still showing well at the east end of the tip along the sea wall.  This is my first for the site not that I keep a list for this area, just only seen two in London.  The first Red-backed Shrike I saw was in 1990 on allotments near Romford.  More Greenshank here today with four birds on the Aveley Pools, would be nice to see what the old lagoons would produce if they were open and flooded.  Fewer Hobbies today with an adult and juvenile showing over the marshes.  Pintail are new in, hopefully from the wild and not part of the feral population in London.  I am not sure if they are still going or have died out yet.

25 August 2007

A complete change to the weather, there was little wind and it had changed from the west, no clouds and beaming sunlight, the temperature is in the high twenties today! A local trip today.  I check out West Thurrock to see if many migrants have appeared and if much is moving along the Thames.  Common Terns trickle along very slowly only seven in an hour and half, normally this would be good so I have clearly become spoilt by this good movement recently.  What is really good is a juvenile Little Gull!  Since the outflow was turned off these have become very rare with only one or two seen each year. It does not stay long, flying straight through heading up river.  The Common Terns appear to be feeding rather than migrating along, here are several family groups with the young still begging the adults for food.

The bushes are teaming with life, Whitethroats are the commonest warbler present, with a few Reed Warblers, three Lesser Whitethroats and one each of Blackcap and Garden Warbler.   With all this good weather, raptors are making the most of it. A Kestrel is hovering in the background and a Sparrowhawk harasses the small birds.

The season is changing with finch flocks appearing, both Goldfinch and Linnet are present with the latter being unusually out numbered by anything else but still only ten birds present.  Overhead three Grey Wagtails move west and a Sand Martin appears.

Along the shore Common Sandpiper numbers have moved up to eight birds possibly the same birds present a few days ago.

We pick up the group and head down to Rainham Marshes, as the tide is coming in we walk down towards Aveley Bay.  Difficult to work out where to look first, if there isn't something to look at overhead then it is across the marsh or in the bushes or in the sky or across the Thames!  Four Hobbys are on or over the Marshes.  Up to two on fence posts and two in the sky!  You rarely get to see them sitting out in the open like this.  The sky has Swallows, Sand Martins and Yellow Wagtails moving through.  We also find Yellow Wagtails feeding with the cattle these include some very grey juveniles.  Across the Thames gulls are moving up and a few Common Terns are seen, to complement this one Wheatear and Whinchat feed along the seawall.  Checking the bushes and undergrowth we see Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Willow Warbler and good numbers of Goldfinch and Linnet , this time double figures for both.  The reeds still hold juvenile Reed Warblers begging for food.  The shoreline has a few waders, one Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpipers and one Curlew.

Time to head back and go into the reserve itself.  The new scrape has two Little Ringed Plovers which remind me of the late 1980's when the dried out lagoons had large flocks of these birds in the autumn. Oh the good old days!  Down towards to the target pools there is lots to see, in the hawking Black-headed Gulls, I pick up a juvenile Mediterranean Gull it does not perform very well and drifts off into the distance.  A Water Vole sits out in the open and several Dragonflies show well including Ruddy Darter and Migrant Hawker.   Down at the Aveley Pools more birds to see but the temperature is rising and becoming more difficult to identify long distance birds with the heat haze!  Still more Little Egrets present with eight birds here, more waders with single Greenshank and Curlew, the usual Lapwing and more Common Sandpiper also.  Ducks numbers are increasing with Shoveler, Teal and Gadwell present but no sign of the Mediterranean Gull which headed this way.

One of the party leaves early and tell us he saw a Spotted Flycatcher in the wood.  We arrive a while later but can not locate this, consultation is a few Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and a nice group of Long-tailed Tits. A Green Sandpiper calls from the pool behind here and we see two birds feeding in the reeds fringed pool.

24 August 2007

The wind has been from the north for a few days so I head down to Northfleet for the morning high tide checking out what moves up and out of the Thames.   Terns are moving all the time in the two hours I am present seventy-one Common, nine Sandwich and five Black Terns, good numbers but I am sure more moved through during the last two days shame I was not able to get out.  Within the first half an hour I look up and spot a dark bird heading up river high, amazed it is a Great Skua! A few pictures later and it disappears up river, it was high up but with the low cloud cover it comes in and out of view in the murk.  Ducks are also on the move with over thirty Teal, twenty Mallard and four Wigeon, we don't always see these birds visibly migrating.  Vis mig is also going on for smaller birds with thirty plus Swift heading north and four Yellow Wagtail.  I can only speculate what has moved through during the previous days when the wind was stronger!

17th August 2007

We head north and inland for the Birdfair.  Before we get there we hunt for Ospreys.  An adult and juvenile are perched up in front of a hide.  In front.... well to be honest they were a distance!  Eventually one bird flies around but again a long way away. Shame!  At the fair I purchase Birds of the Western Palearctic on DVD, plus the same for British Birds the first one hundred years and finally a Remembird.  All of which I am looking forward to testing out.

12th August 2007

The temptation of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Oare Marshes send me off on a treble, firstly I try to see the bird, secondly to test out a site guide to Kent I am reviewing and finally to drive my good friend (Greg's) Toyota Celica to a twitch.  Completely missed the Sandpiper but a good selection of waders present, including three adult Little Stints and an adult Curlew Sandpiper.  A group of Whimbrel migrate through and we also see two Peregrines, one Buzzard, several Bearded Tits and great views of Bearded Tits.  I am caught off guard by a juvenile Redshank feeding in the mud with a limp caused by too much mud.  The bill and legs were covered in mud so this made checking them impossible.  Once it flew we were satisfied we were correct.  Always important to eliminate the common species before talking about anything else!  By the way the car was excellent!

3rd August 2007

On my way to meet some fellow birders for a drink I stop off at St James's Park in search of five Egyptian Geese that were present the previous day.  Bingo they are present with some Greylag and Canada.  With the sun low in the sky and behind the clouds I use a high ISO setting but still manage some excellent pictures of these beautiful geese.  They appear to be a family party taking up tempuary residence here.  Also a Great-crested Grebe is feeding the young that was hatched several weeks ago, too distant for a good picture, shame.

18th July 2007

In the West Country for a Barn Owl course.  A great change of scenery.  Before the course starts and before breakfast is served I head to the coast for Cirl Buntings.  Nice to see that Cirl Buntings were out numbering Yellowhammers by 7:1 here. Straight away I find a few males still singing and a few females, to add to my bonus Swallows are perched close by allowing some great photographs to be obtained. I loved it again seeing more Buzzards in this neck of the woods as they drifting over everywhere. 

12th July 2007

I check out East Tilbury high tide wader roost ahead of the walk.  Only Oystercatcher and Curlews are present, I am happy to find a showy Song Thrush and manage to get a few pictures with my daughter on my shoulders again!  A few Meadows Pipits do not like my presence have probably have young nearby so we leave immediately to minimize disturbance.  They should nest under big signs clear telling us where they are so we won't go near them ;-)

10th July 2007

Today I head to the Mardyke in search of the Scarce Chaser which was reported in good numbers last week.  I had a quick look yesterday and took photos of a dragonfly.  This turned out to be a Black-tailed Skimmer as do all the skimmers I see, no Scarce Chasers in sight or photographed.  My attention is nicely diverted to a Mediterranean Gull calling over head.  A second summer is gliding about with Black-headed and Common Gulls.  Further along I find a family party of Swallows, lovely as both adults and juveniles part my hair as they feed.

28th June 2007

I return to Oxfordshire to get pictures of Red Kites, I have limited success with this.  The views are great and at one stage we have over twenty birds together thermalling with five Buzzards.  What a great success story.  Butterflies are few but we get Small Heath and Marbled White.  The surprise of the day is Ring-necked Parakeet flying over and a possible Raven which we don't pick up until it is heading away from us.

22nd June 2007

My last breeding survey work for the year is in Oxfordshire, this required an overnight stay. No Red Kites when I drove up but in the morning once the rain stopped they started appearing.  This was better than Wales the last time I was there in the mid 1990's.  I probably see over fifty by the time I head home.  Also present in the country are Turtle Doves, a species rapidly disappearing from the country.

21th June 2007

Another survey job this time a hospital in south London.  You have to get up earlier and earlier during the summer months so my start time is 04:24 hrs!  Don't ask what time I got up to be here at this time.  A very nice site best of all a Bar-tailed Godwit flies south my first for a few years for London.  The site surprises me when I find Little Owls and Egyptian Geese breeding an usual combination but not nesting together!

9th June 2007

More survey work in northwest London and then to a wood in north London to quote on another job.  I am surprised to hear Lesser Spotted Woodpecker here!  Just as good two showy Stock Dove which let me walk up to them. (This is another thumbnail, click on it to enlarge it.)

30th May 2007

New breaks yesterday a Squacco Heron is present on Erith Marshes a few miles from home!  The problem is I am up early for more survey work, with the need for sleep greater I head for bed and my work in the morning hoping it is still present the next day.  Still no news when I leave my job at 6am, still no news when I turn up at the site, still no sign when I meet two fellow birders.  I explain I was told it was last seen heading towards the main lake (it just has concrete sides to it!).  Whilst chatting to another birder, someone calls us.  I leg it and realise that my body can no longer take carrying all this equipment and trying another hundred metre dash!  There it is in a little stream beside the lake looking completely out of place.  The cyclist who passes us then goes right beside the Squacco Heron with out it batting an eyelid!  I creep closer when a lorry thunders past flushing the bird, which lands in a tree!  Time for me to head home.  Excellent bird and only third in recent years in the LNHS London area, the first to stay more than one day!

27th May 2007

The day after landing back home in the mother country I am surveying for Black Redstarts in the Greenwich area.  The weather is uninviting cold and overcast, I am freezing after being in the sun for a week in the mid thirties!  I am eventually distracted by a Falcon that is being chased by a Starling which drifts over head and lands on a TV aerial.  I have to rub my eyes as this can only be a male Red-footed Falcon.  Dark all over with the primary tips reaching the end of the tail.  I scribble down a few notes and leg it round to see the front of it.  During this one hundred metre dash I get one picture of it perched up and four more as it flies off northeast low over the rooftops.  I call out the news as soon a possible and spend sometime looking at the pictures there is nothing else it could have been.  Never seen again!

19th to 26th May 2007

A family holiday to Sardinia was very productive despite not birding.  The country and the people were lovely, good food and drink fantastic combination.  The wildlife was a mixture of breeding birds and migrants heading north.  Lots to see from Honey Buzzards to Red-winged Darters to Wild Boar!  I took my daughter for walks down to the beach and she often fell asleep on my shoulders so I have now mastered the art of photography with a three stone child on your shoulders!  All the pictures are thumbnails this time, click on this to enlarge them.

6 May 2007

Today I take my daughter on a walk round the local area.  A Green Hairstreak sits beside us and I get some pictures.  Despite the weather not being the best I still find several Damselflies about with Azure, Common Blue and Blue-tailed.

5 May 2007

Another morning spent surveying this time in north London. Luckily on my way home  I get a call the Spoonbill is back at Rainham Marshes.  As this is so early in the morning the reserve is not open so I watch from the bridge as the young bird feeds with several Little Egrets dotted about.

30 April 2007

I was surveying a site near Paddington and afterwards popped in to see a a fellow birdwatcher Diamond Des.  Chatting and looking out his kitchen window a male Marsh Harrier flies north! Wow. Did not expect that in central London.

29 April 2007

Just about to walk out the house when my daughter discovers a Lizard in the front garden who appears to have had a bad encounter with a cat - missing one rear leg and its tail!  Later in the day a Yellow Wagtail drifts over Thames View Hill in the afternoon.

28 April 2007

I take the family on a walk round Lion Gorge, butterflies and damselflies everywhere. Best of all a Slow Worm on the way out. Not many warblers about in these good conditions.  I see more Green Hairstreaks and see a pair of Wall Browns by Mill Wood.  A recently emerged Four-spotted Chaser is present but evades my camera!

21 April 2007

My early morning cycle along the Thames sees 98 Black-tailed Godwits feeding under the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, good numbers for so late in the spring for them.

Another family visit to Rainham Marshes.  With warm weather a male Marsh Harrier gets up from the old lagoons, is chased by the local Carrion Crows before heading north where it is seen by more observers.  Gulls are flycatching over the Target Pools and what we first think might be a distant Sandwich Tern is a Little Gull!  Five are present counted only by their different plumages.  Also a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull drifts through.  Two Avocets are present on the Target Pools and I am sure the RSPB will be very happy if they start breeding here.  We see and hear at least six Little Ringed Plovers including one bird that flies round us.

18 April 2007

An early morning cycle is rewarding as sixty plus Black-tailed Godwits wheel around over the mudflats at West Thurrock.  I also hear my first Reed Warbler of the year.

17 April 2007

My walk around St James's Park suddenly stops when I spy the White Pelican flying about two hundred feet up!  He spends about ten minutes high up before dropping back down.  Lets see if anyone sees a White Stork again?  I learn the next day it was doing the same thing again.

14 April 2007

Today I wander round the local nature reserve of Chafford Gorges EWT.  I start off at Mill Wood where Sand Martins have returned to, eleven are present and on the way back their numbers have increased to seventeen.

Very little vis mig (visible migration) is present, in fact nothing flies over Thames View Hill with the lack of migrants present my mind wanders to the possibility of finding something rare like a Sub-alpine Warbler!

In Lion Gorge the site is alive with birds everything is singing this morning.  I hear my first Willow Warbler and a pair of Stock Dove chase about along the chalk cliff face.  I wait whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker calls from the far side of the gorge but does not fly over me, so no flight shots of this bird today.

Wouldham Heights has more singing Blackcaps and Chiffchaff and I get my first good shot of a male Blackcap.  A Song Thrush feeds in the open and I get a half decent shot of it in flight.

I have nearly run out of time so I only get a few minutes in Warren Gorge before heading back. A pair of Bullfinch fly past but this time they don't settle near me so no shots of these.  A warbler gives a snatch of sub song and then a few high scratchy phrases revealing a Lesser Whitethroat!  I see it a few times before it dives deeper into the gorge.

8 April 2007

A good day with wonderful weather.  It started will with a bird hopping between the back garden fence and the hedge.  A Dunnock! I have only heard these calling or singing from the garden the first one in the garden that I have seen.

Three generations of Lamberts head down to Rainham Marshes, at least some twenty three years since my father and I first ventured onto this waste land.  The site is alive with Marsh Frogs calling and Little Grebes trilling. Still good numbers of wildfowl left on the reserve and the first migrants heading north.  Lots of time is spent searching through the ducks but no Gargany or Green-winged Teal can be found.  A few Jackdaws pause long enough to get a few shots before heading off to the dump.  One Swallows charges through but we could not see the Little Ringed Plovers, which were seen earlier in the morning.  This is lunch time visit, trying to find a migrating raptor or two.  No joy on that front but a very high and distance Cormorant caused me a freight.  I have almost forgotten what it is like to see these birds high up all the time.  On Aveley pools we are surprised to see a pair of Great-crested Grebes, they even perform their dance in front of us including the presenting of weed and head shaking!  This is probably the first time I have seen them here, having missed them during the 1980's cold winters.

Little Egrets seen to be everywhere we count at least four birds feeding and flying about.  By the hide a pipit flies about calling sounding very much like a Water Pipit but does not land in view so I can confirm the identification, shame as this would be my first for the site well away from the shoreline. Lots of finches are flying around and singing, we also hear Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Today feels so spring like....

27 March 2007

An early morning cycle leads me to West Thurrock just after sun rise.  It is beautiful with the mist clearing and a large orange sun rising over a tug boat.  Two Little Egrets head in land as I look for two Coots reported from the pool, no sign.  The tide in coming in and nearly at high tide three Oystercatchers, two Redshank and singles of each Curlew and Dunlin are seen flying about Stone Point.  Heading back three small ducks fly out of the sun past me.  A pair of Pochard and a male Tufted Duck!  All new birds for the site.  Difficult to get diving ducks on this part of the Thames with severe cold weather, which we do not get anymore with global warming.

16 March 2007

In St.James's Park today the free flying Eastern White Pelican decides to show off its flying abilities and a young Herring Gull does not like this! Also present a 2nd winter/2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, despite two years of searching this is the first one I have seen in the park.

13 March 2007

A quick look out into the garden this morning was very rewarding, a duck flies up from the west, a male Shoveler. No surprise it was the first for my garden list.

4 March 2007

Walking home from our local shops and I am amazed to see a juvenile Robin being fed by an adult!

25 February 2007

A late morning trip to Hackney Marshes and Waterworks NR at the lower end of the Lea Valley. Masses of gull on an any grassy areas which do not have football matches on them, Common Gulls numbers appear to be the most significant here but no sign of any Mediterranean Gulls.  Several Mistle Thrush are singing and I see single Redwing and Fieldfare.  A surprise was a pair of Goldcrest displaying at each other, unfortunately too high in a Holly bush for any pictures, shame.  A Green Woodpecker feeds on the grass and I manage to get some flight shots.  Cormorants are moving up and down the valley, they have started breeding at Walthamstow Reservoirs and several birds are working on building up their nests.

17 February 2007

A winter trip to south Essex marshes today, we started off at West Thurrock Marshes with the weather more like late March.  As the tide came in Black-tailed Godwits moved down river, this is unusual as they either roost at West Thurrock or at Rainham Marshes, we counted at least 85 birds in three flocks. Two Oystercatchers are back feeding along the shoreline in front of Procter and Gamble, and a Grey Wagtail flies over calling loudly before heading down to Grays.  Oystercatchers disappear in the late summer and then return in February. Performing to the crowds, well the five in this group, an adult female Peregrine flies up to a pylon with a kill.  Feathers fall from the sky as she enjoys her late morning snack. On the salting we see three Jack Snipe and are surprised when a Water Rail flies up and drops into one of the deeper creeks.  A Rock Pipit flies around and disappears as we switch to a group of nine Avocets heading over towards the Kent side of the river.  Looking from the ramp a few waders are still present as the tide races in, c400 Dunlin, c100 Lapwing, c50 Redshank and 23 Curlew.  A good collection so close to London and probably the best winter wader feeding area within the LNHS London area. Spring is on our doorsteps today with several Skylarks and Reed Bunting singing.  Males of the latter are just starting to lose their pale fringes to the head feathers revealing the near all black hoods.  A few more finches are found with six Linnet and three Goldfinch.  Two Little Egrets fly up from a dry area and head over to the saltings to feed.

Our next stop the Stone Barges at Rainham Marshes.  Only one Water Pipit present but showed well in gorgeous sun light.  More wagtails are present here with two Pied and Grey Wagtails.  No waders are roosting on the barges and they appeared to have moved a few hundred meters up river on the Essex side.  Mostly Redshank but one Oystercatcher could be seen.  Skylarks are also singing here over the tip.  Hundreds of gulls are present loafting on the river and drifting over.  Down on the RSPB reserve the site is full of wildfowl with hundreds of duck present. Clouds of Lapwing get up being spooked by something.  We never discover any raptors when they fly up, occasionally a Carrion Crow drifts through.  Another Little Egret is present here more evidence of global warming they never used to winter in London and this has only happened over the last ten years.  Searching for Stonechats and Penduline Tits we see a Buzzard drifts over.  Averley pools holds all the Pintail at least a dozen are present, similar numbers of Snipe and about twenty Black-tailed Godwits.  Only one Stonechat was seen and no sign of any Penduline Tits.  Heading out of the site the same or another Little Egret flies in off the saltings and a Kestrel hovers just over our heads.  The car park holds three Redwings which seem to come in off the local estate.

8 February 2007

Snow has landed in south east England. This is my first time with my digital SLR in snowy conditions. I venture into St. James's Park for lunch, one female Pochard X Tufted Duck hybrid is swimming around with a female Pochard.  The first aythya hybrid I have seen for several years. A few gulls drift around including a Great Black-backed usual here and only a handful are seen each year.  Surviving in the cold a Blackbird feeds on many berries which have not been consumed this year.  Also present a Pied Wagtail the first I have ever seen here.  I have seen Yellow Wagtail flying over and just round the corner along the Thames Pied Wagtails are present in very small numbers but rarely venture into the park to feed. The Bar-headed X White-fronted Goose hybrid is also present.  After several explosions from the local Feral Pigeons I eventually find the male Sparrowhawk hunting through the tree.  He lands allowing me to take a few pictures of him.  A nice break from the city

3 February 2007

News broke on the Wednesday, a visiting Suffolk birder photographed a Little Bunting feeding with Reed Buntings at Amwell GP.  Since then nothing has been seen despite lots of hunting.  I eventually turn on my phone to find out it has appeared today, so in the afternoon I pick up my father and head up there.  Showing well the bird feeds nearly continuous with Reed Bunting giving great comparison.  Lovely bird I even manage to see the grey lesser coverts on it!  A Cetti's Warbler calls but no Buzzards flew over, the nine birds early may well be the first migrants on the move.

28 January 2007

I spend a hour completing the RSPB garden watch and my usual flock of Starlings fails to materialise!  Only three on the bird table, where were the other 150 birds I have seen recently? Obviously they did not want to be included in this years stats!  A Pied Wagtail puts in an appearance and I am surprised to see these are scarce garden visitors.

20 January 2007

A quick trip down to Rainham Marshes RSPB with my daughter and father. The site is significantly different to the old days when I first started going there in the early 1980's.  The east end where there was no access is now the reserve, mostly flooded to provide feeding areas for wildfowl and breeding habitat for waders?  Lots and lots of Wigeon with a handful of Pintail plus the normal dabbling wildfowl.  A large flock of Lapwing were present with at least one Ruff and fifty plus Black-tailed Godwits, a fraction of the numbers present in this part of the Thames.  One of Penduline Tits shows well as does the Grey Phalarope which has reappeared this afternoon!  Clearly one of the two first found at West Thurrock and feeding elsewhere at low tide.  At least four showy Stonechats allowing close approach.  Not many raptors around only one Kestrel.  It would be nice if the RSPB can get the site back to the good olds days of Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owls everywhere!

When we get back home a Chiffchaff is feeding the Horn thorn hedgerow beside the house.  I only get brief view before it flys off.  Looks good for a Siberian Chiffchaff, grey above and white below with a strong supercilium but my view are looking into the sun so I need longer views in good light.  No  sign the next day!

14 January 2007

A day out in Suffolk.  We started off at Benacre Pit with a Little Owl immediately and one Tree Sparrow in the skylark, finch and bunting flocks.  A small part of the feral flock of Barnacle Geese flew south. Down on the pits two Goldeneye feed, one 1st winter male and accompanying them a 1st winter female Greater Scaup.  Eventually got good pictures of her. On the sea several Diver flying north and south only one was identifiable as a Red-throated the others were too distance to confirm.

Next stop Warblerwick a Greenshank in the creek with the Redshanks.  After a hard walk in the shingle we located the Twite flock 25 birds at least plus seven Snow Buntings and a few Skylarks.  The usual Marsh Harrier appeared over the marshes and the ubiquitous Little Egret.  The pools had more Redshank being the usual very flightily birds and a few Dunlin.

Final stop Minsmere.  Lots of wildfowl and a few waders.  Heard a Spotted Redshank and eventually found it before it flew off  and headed off north.  Teal seemed to the bulk of the wildfowl.  A small group of Black-tailed Godwits were present and also flew off when a Sparrowhawk dived in flushing most birds. Supporting waders included two Dunlin and two Ruff (one male looking odd with its white head).  Scanning from the West Hide with the sun behind us we picked up a 2nd winter Caspian Gull showing the distinctive white headed plumage. As ever Bearded Tits where heard and Marsh Harriers quartered the reeds.  Nice to see and hear Marsh Tits and they are disappearing from London.

2 January 2007

Walking down to the station a Fieldfare flys out of Mill Wood, probably roosting there.

1 January 2007

My garden the usual Starling descending onto the bird table but still no sign of the Rose-coloured Starling I have always wanted to attract in!

31 December 2006

A gull photo session down Southend.  The pier had all the winter plumages for Mediterranean Gull you ever want, 1st winter, 2nd winter and adult winters, at least fifteen birds in total. One first winter bird still retained some juvenile feathers on the scapulars this bird was along the seafront.  The pier also had the tamest Turnstone I have come across, at one stage a bird almost touched my foot it was so close!  The seafront had a large flock of waders mostly Sanderling and Dunlin with a few Turnstone and Ringed Plover.  Brent Geese drifted along the sea front like eastend Mallards, two a penny.  Nice to see birds without fear of humans.