Hawkys Blog

Magical Masey

2012-02-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

After a heavy night in Leicester celebrating Pop's 65th Birthday Bash, i was nursing the mother of all hangovers, a walk over Mayesbrook Park after our return home was needed and after last nights Snow covering and Jono reporting unprecedented numbers of Lapwing on his Wanstead patch (http://www.wansteadbirder.blogspot.com/) i hurried out to get a amoungst the action!

With a good 6 inch of snow, everyone and there pet dog was out enjoying the fun, nothing unusual on the remaining unfrozen water, soldiering on i discover a single Lesser Redpoll feeding amongst the regular Greenfinch, then bingo a single Lapwing flew south, then back to the lake another two flew off the ice heading west, only seen 1 before (2010) in twenty years here so well chuffed, heading home a Green Sandpiper drops into the stream and 2 Snipe are flushed, and two Meadow Pipits feeding along thawed edge, not a bad haul for an hours stroll!

lesser redpoll

green sandpiper

Dunlin

2012-02-03T08:13:00.000-08:00

So minus 2 this morning at the Bay, arrived at 7:30am hoping to catch up with some more displaced duck on a rising tide, didn't really happen! plenty of waders though the highlight was a single Golden Plover, quite a rare bird this far up the Thames and didn't see one last year.

Other waders included 6 Grey Plover, 11 Curlew, c50 Redshank and good numbers of Dunlin which have become a more regular sighting feeding on this side of the river as normally favouring the cross-ness side, was also able to get quite close to these as the tide fell and they flew towards me feeding just yards away.

Also 8 Ringed Plover was a good count roosting on the jetty, and added L.T tit for the year list#61

New Species ?

2012-02-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

Repeated yesterdays walk in reverse, firstly the mighty masey where again added a single Snipe along the stream and at what first i thought was a common or garden Little Egret, on later inspection looking at photo's it could possibly the newly discovered BROKEN TOE EGRET and undoubtedly would be a first for Britain, will put out directions later once sorted out parking arrangements! lol

Ouch!

So onto Barking Outfall and Bay where i added both Tufted Duck and Shoveler to the year list, obviously both displaced due to freezing temperatures of late, and a bonus 1st winter LITTLE GULL seen mid river before moving to cross-ness outfall, hopefully back tomorrow for some more cold weather movement.

Patches

2012-02-01T22:41:00.000-08:00

Felt green today so walked to the patch via my other patch (Barking Bay via Mayesbrook Park) at the former i added both Ringed and Grey Plover's for the year and a dashing male Sparrowhawk to bring the year total to 58 in three visits, also thought I'd discovered a corpse wrapped in a duvet along the seawall, turned out to be a dosser after several pokes with my tripod he awoke i don't know who was more shocked me or him,lol.(surely there are warmer places to sleep!)

Walking home through Masebrook Park a pair of Jackdaw were a nice surprise as were 4 Common Snipe along the stream and an increase in Shoveler numbers, the Little egret roost is now numbering 5 birds.

some pics from the park:

Foggy Kent

2012-01-30T00:28:00.000-08:00

Survey time again in North Kent, it was a very foggy start for me and mo this morning not lifting till 11am, with visibility down to two hundred metres it was time to test bird calls!

Along the fleets whistling Wigeon, bleeping Teal and farting Gadwall were all numerous on call before being seen, as were a pair of pinging Beardies and the contact call of a Cetti's warbler, i guess we all take for granted on sight but birding is also about hearing.

odd Buzzard came out the gloom as did a young male Marsh Harrier, also silhouette of both Little Owl and Stonechat.

Eventually the fog lifted and the waders i could all here came into view, Knot and Dunlin in there thousands, both Bar and Black-tailed godwit alongside Grey Plover,Curlew and Oystercatcher with odd Turnstone and Ringed Plover thrown inn, and the skies littered with Lapwing and Golden Plover shows how important the Thames estuary is for a wintering waders.

Short-eared owl was out hunting before lunch and a pair of Merlins showed, as did the now wintering Rough-legged Buzzard which showed superbly through the scope.

Local Year Listing

2012-01-28T08:27:00.000-08:00

OK, not a bad start to the new year listing so far (not that I'm in competition) but i did add another four this afternoon to bring my total to 152, and didn't have to travel far.

First stop Wanstead Park for Firecrest, met up with Jono and didn't take long to see our first one of the year in the usual Holly patch in Bush wood.

Then to the William Girling reservior for some distant Black-Necked Grebes (viewable from mansfield park) 7 in total along with a fine pair of Goosander.

Connaught Water for the usual Mandarin, 7 seen today.

Then back to Wanstead for some unsuccessful lesser spot haunts but did add Ring-necked parakeet.

Mid week birding

2012-01-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

Myself and Mo travel to the other end of Essex today to catch up with a couple of tart ticks for Mo (though he claims not to be a twitcher!).

First stop Abberton Reservoir, a scour around we pick up 2 redhead Smew, 2 drake Goosander, Teal and Wigeon as far as the eye can see, and smaller numbers of Gadwall, Pintail and Goldeneye all viewable from the Layer-Breton causeway.

A Quick stop by the visitor centre produces 4 Green Sandpiper on the pit by the entrance gate.

Next onto Fingerinhoe Wick nature reserve, a site Ive not visited for probably the best part of fifteen years, renowned for its famous Nightingale's we were probably a little to early for these! but a fine juvenile GLOSSY IBIS more than made up for this (although a tad distant!).

a view from the hide

No sign of the recent G G Shrike but superb views of Bullfinch at this site with probably ten birds being seen and by far the easiest place ive been to see this species.

some digiscoped Avocets

Next stop East Mersea, as well as all the common waders you would want too see we picked up Common Scoter at least half a dozen Mergs and no fewer than 19 Slav grebes.

Then onto Tollesbury wick for our second target the day, walking out from the marina we head east (thanks bradders) we stumble across a female Merlin carrying prey, further along no sign of any Brents on the adjacent fields, but a scan across the saltings looking towards Old hall we discover the brents feeding and pick out the RED-BREASTED GOOSE amongst them, a flybye drake Smew was a nice surprise before some wild fowlers guns flushed the whole lot off.

A great days birding where we saw only one other birder all day was ended at Gt Braxted for Hawfinch but our luck had finaly run out.

Iceland Gull

2012-01-24T05:52:00.000-08:00

Lashing down with rain, what better way to stay dry is too stay indoors or bird from the car, luckily i chose the latter and pulled up at the stone barges car-park, scanning the melee of gulls i was quick to pick up a 1st year Iceland Gull on the river, Fantastic! i grab the camera and know sooner as i do the bird ups and heads of down river.

Other gulls of note were a 1w Caspian and at least 9 Yellow-Legged Gulls of various ages.

1w Iceland

2w Yellow leg

Rough-Legg

2012-01-21T23:04:00.000-08:00

Its back to Thameside north kent today for some on going survey work for me and Mo, it was hard work with a blustery south westerly blowing down the estuary so small stuff were keeping low, but we did pick up the Rough-Legged Buzzard that has been seen recently.

Other highlights were a female Merlin and male Marsh Harrier and twenty Red-throated divers offshore and a single Gannet.

a couple of heavily cropped rough-leg

Yellow-legged Gull's

2012-01-20T06:51:00.000-08:00

A brief visit to the stone barges of Rainham yesterday produced a brief adult Caspian Gull and several Yellow legs before heavens opened!

adult yellow leg

2nd winter

SPAIN 1 USA 1

2012-01-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Both the Spanish Sparrow and Dark-Eyed Junco showed superbly well today, first stop was Calshot for the Sparrow where we arrived just before 8am to an already gathering crowd of probably a hundred and not the thousands that some of us were thinking (thankfuly) probably due to the fact that the bird had rumored to have been present upto two years !!

The bird appeared after a short while and showed very well to a well behaved crowd, and Bacon rolls and teas all round from the local village hall to celebrate hit the spot.

el sparrow

whilst bradders looks like his been working out, jono looks like his been eating out!

Then onto Hawkshill enclosure just up the road in the New Forest for the recently discovered Junco and again the bird performed well for the crowds, having not seen one for over twenty years (the previous also in hants) this also felt like a new species.

dark eyed junco

buteo beautiful !!

A quick unsuccessful stop at acres down was made up by a stunning Red Kite on the way home for myself, Shaunboy and Redsy.

Norfolk again !!

2012-01-07T22:22:00.000-08:00

Second time in a week that Norfolk was the starting venue, but this time it was Shaunboy's trip to attempt to see the Lesser White Fronted Goose having missed the chance last winter, myself and Monkey came along for the ride, or really to point out the bird and share the petrol cost.

We arrive at Buckenham just after 8am and as we cross the railway crossing we can see a goose flock along the railway line some 5-600 yards away on scanning we find most are the taiga Bean's with European White-fronts amongst and also our target the Lesser White front, Bingo ! that was easy.

After half hour we return to the car adding 3 fly thru Bewick's swans and the regular Barnacle goose flock amongst thousands upon thousands of both Golden plover and Wigeon.

Next it was an unsuccessful search for Cranes up at Horsey, before adding a Great northen diver at Rollesby broad, Black throated diver at lake loathing in Suffolk and 4 Purple sands at Ness point, the latter site also hosting Red throat for a three diver day and both Med gull and Kittiwake for the year list.

purple sandpiper

shaunboy hides his £17 haircut

Before heading home we visit Reydon for Waxwing's where we find 16 of these little stunners and ending another great day's birding.

Urban Birding

2012-01-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

An afternoon stroll around my closest patch Mayesbrook Park today which as the crow fly's is no fewer than 500 yards away from my home produced 41 species in 90 minutes, not bad for an urban park totally surrounded by houses and has produced some good birds for me over the years, Smew, Goldeneye, Scaup, Goosander, Garganey and passerines such as both pied and spotted flys, Firecrest and Bullfinch.

This year i will plan to visit the park more often as well as covering the bay.

Today's Highlights were Grey Wagtail, Teal, 3 Little egrets and a small flock of Linnet.

Little Egret

Teal and Gadwall

Common Gull

Grey Wagtail

North Norfolk

2012-01-02T12:45:00.000-08:00

What a Cracking days birding today, myself and the Monkey, Bradders, Jono and Nick head up to Norfolk for some new year listing and what a great start, picking up the very striking Great Grey Shrike at Fakenham that appeared just as we were about to give up, also adding Grey Partridge and a fly over Goosander.

Then it was onto Cley to filthy year tick the Western Sandpiper (or sandpaper for jono!) that showed well in the beautiful sunshine albeit a tad distant.

Then onto Salthouse where we jam in on a fly bye Glaucous Gull which lingered briefly before carrying on eastwards, also picking up a single Snow Bunting.

Then Well's Pitch n Putt for Black Brant and pale bellied brent and near bye Holkham pines where we jam in on the Rough-Legged Buzzard and add both White-fronts and Barnacle Geese to our tally.

Black Brant (centre)

No stopping us now we head on to Titchwell where we have great views of the Coue's Arctic Redpoll in the picnic area alongside both lesser and Mealy for comparison.

Coue's Arctic Redpoll

On the reserve we catch up with the regular waders plus Spotted Redshank and two Scaup and a brief seawatch we find 2 Whooper Swan, Goldeneye, Red Breasted Merganser and both Common and Velvet Scoter along with plenty of auks and red throat divers.

Scaup

A stop at Flitching farm we add a cracking ringtail Hen Harrier and a dozen Tree Sparrows.

A superb days birding with good company and a bit of banter and a total of 90 species seen wasn't a bad haul.

New Years Day

2012-01-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

Not an early start for me today, didn't get to the patch until 9:30, luckily dave's two Brent Geese were still lingering in the bay and was a great bird to start the year off as was an adult Caspian Gull both birds avoiding me last year.

Good numbers of Black-tailed godwits seen along side both Dunlin and Redshank with tricky birds like Grey Wagtail and Water Rail also making a show.

The regular Peregrine and a decent flock of Fieldfare noted with a single Redwing.

A total of 51 Species was not a bad tally for a three hour visit.

This young male Peregrine was unfortunately on the end of a falconers arm!

Med recoveries

2011-12-31T08:58:00.000-08:00

Got some feedback from the two med gulls seen at the end of Southend Pier on tuesday, both birds being ringed in Belgium with the adult ringed in June 2005 ringed as an adult, thus making this bird 10yrs+ old, and the second winter bird back for its second winter at the pier!

Found this Caspian Gull (new bird) at the stone barges of Rainham yesterday tho possible hybrid not ruled out, comments welcome.

Kits in the bag !

2011-12-28T13:07:00.000-08:00

Another Gulling session for me today at the stone barges of Rainham, arrived about 8am and already a steady stream of birds commuting between the tip and foreshore and over a couple of hours found no fewer than 9 Yellow-legged gulls comprising of 6 adults, two 2w and a single 1w.

No white wingers yet but at least two Caspians again seen, one 2w and a dark 1w bird which caused a bit of confusion, the latter Dominic Mitchell also saw upon the tip.

a very dark 1w Caspian

Other star birds came in the shape of Two Kittiwake ( ad+1w) behind a boat travelling upriver mid afternoon.

1w Kittiwake

Med Gull City......

2011-12-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Today saw myself, Shaunboy and Pops on a jaunt to Southend Seafront/Pier on a surprisingly flat calm mild afternoon's stroll which involved close up views of the regular Turnstone and Sanderlings alongside the lone Purple Sandpiper and abundant Med Gull population at the end of the pier.

2w Med

1w Med

Purple Sand

Two colour ringed birds seen, will hopefully get results soon.

ad Med (white ring 3E72)

2w Med (E494)

A distant Great Northen Diver present and a brief adult Kittiwake were also seen with good number of seals too.

More Gulling

2011-12-17T06:25:00.000-08:00

It was another Gull ringing session with the NTGG (north thames gull group) this morning and was the final one of the year and again Rainham landfill was the venue and it did not disappoint with some good rubbish disposed of early doors an early catch was made and around 250 birds were caught and processed with over 220 Herring, 20 GBB, 3 Bhg, 2 Yellow-legged and a single Caspian.

melon and cucumber is on today's menu

birds move in

The weather was cold this morning so the birds were hungry and interested and it was clear to see black-headed gulls were the first to move in the catch area, but are then pushed of pretty quickly when the bigger boys move in.

that could hurt!!!

one of two Greater's i rung.....

1w Caspian

taking bio-metrics

Paul roper explains feather detail

and classic pale under wing

Stone Barges

2011-12-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

A brief high tide visit to the stone barges of Rainham this afternoon produced a staggering 600 Black-Tailed Godwit roosting with handful of both Dunlin and Redshank, also nice to see two Water Pipit amongst the usual Rock's, only managed a record shot of one water pipit as they always seem to fly a million miles away once detected!!

numbers of black-wit are at a all time high at the moment along the inner thames.

North Kent 10th Dec

2011-12-11T04:32:00.000-08:00

It was back to North Kent today for me and Mo for a site survey and once again not a bad haul for this Thames side marsh where we saw no fewer than 4 Marsh Harrier at least 2 Peregrine a single Short-eared owl and a female Merlin alongside 2 Common Buzzard and the usual Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

This juv Peregrine try's its luck with a lapwing but unsuccessfully!! at one stage the lapwing actually chased the Peregrine...

lapwing out-wits peregrine

fem Merlin

short-eared owl

On the river a couple of Red-throated divers past as well as several Kittiwake and a single female Goldeneye.

lapwing

turnstone

red-legged partridge

30 White-Fronted Geese came of near bye farmland and settled on the Thames.

Other notable birds were a single Corn Bunting and at least 15 Bearded Tit.

GWT

2011-12-08T05:37:00.000-08:00

OK, as some of you who may know me my all time bogey bird (a bird often missed or never seen if your not familiar with this expression which i obviously know !!!!) is Green-Winged Teal yes that cousin of our Teal, that visits us from across the pond annually sometimes in numbers, scattered quite generously across the country, in which eluded me for almost a quarter of a century now!!

after 128 attempts

Until Sunday when me, Jono and young henry visited Cley NNT reserve where the duck was finally broken (no pun intended!) and eventuly connected with this absolute tarts tick of all time and now i can carry on leading a normal life without all the boys taking the piss out of me....

Oh and we all ticked Western Sand...........

Making Headlines

2011-12-08T05:21:00.000-08:00

Myself, Mo and Shaunboy make the headlines in the local rag this week as we lead a walk in conjunction with Francesca Barker of the London Wildlife Trust who is stationed at the Barking Riverside Centre.

A great turnout with about 30 punters of all standards enjoying what the riverside has to offer in bird life and with some local knowledge learnt and to what the future holds of this great site.

Highlights were several hundred Dunlin wheeling around, good views of both Black-Tailed Godwit and Curlew and a bonus Grey Plover and Rock Pipit to show.

Saturday's Walk

2011-12-04T05:34:00.000-08:00

More London Ticks

2011-11-29T10:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's Red-Throated Diver was still present on the William Girling Reservoir this afternoon viewed from mansfield park along side a supporting cast of no fewer than 14 Black-Necked Grebe and was a welcome addition to my London List (no 266 if your asking)

At near bye Connaught Water i counted 33 Mandarin Duck (inc 18 drakes) and surprised to find a fem Hooded Merganser acting aggressive to other wildfowl, feeding like it should, and also past the bread test, and was also un-ringed !!

I'm sure it must be an escape, as connaught is fame for attracting such birds but could it be wild

considering what has turned up this autumn??

a smart bird despite it origin ?

London Snow Bunts

2011-11-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

West Thurrock Marshes comes up trumps for a long awaited London tick for me, as me and bradders stumble across 3 superb Snow Buntings on the saltings whilst doing a high tide wader survey, surely the biggest flock in the LNHS area for some time as normaly single birds are seen most years in the london recording area.

Other birds seen were at least one Water Pipit and a single Woodcock and Yellow-Legged Gull.

Bush Wood for Firecrest

2011-11-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

A lunch time visit to Bush Wood (wanstead park) with local legend lethbridge, we came across no fewer than four birds showing well in holly, though taking a picture of one of Britons smallest birds is a different story!!

Baltic Gull !!

2011-11-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Well not quite this species but a Black-headed gull seen in Mayesbrook Park, dagenham, essex yesterday certainly came from the same manor, thanks to Vytautas pareigis for sending the data back and to Paul + Jezz for quick response. details: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=133c6a18ec9612d6&mt=application/msword&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D4787ad7ee9%26view%3Datt%26th%3D133c6a18ec9612d6%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbRsl9lDvlC8DhlJbePh4cMKc9dXJw&pli=1

bhg all the way from the baltic coast of Lithuania

North Kent

2011-11-20T02:13:00.000-08:00

Me and Mo visit a survey site in north kent yesterday and between us managed not a bad haul for one site, started well when 18 White-fronts drop in a field next to us at dawn.

A ringtail Hen Harrier was next on the list, followed by no fewer than twenty Bearded Tits and a female Goldeneye on an inland fleet.

distant ringtail upsetting the local corvids

A Woodlark amongst its commoner cousins was a nice find as was Mo's 1w Black Redstart showed well on the seawall.

black redstart with grub

A female Merlin harasses waders on the foreshore and up to 4 Short-eared owls to finish up with.

Patch still producing the goods

2011-11-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

Spent a couple of hours on the patch this morning, started well with a new Stonechat present and alot more Fieldfare with at least twenty birds moving through, got even better when last weeks Lapland Bunting flew around calling and then landed some 150yds in front of me, luckily Dave Mo had just arrived on site and we both had brief views of the bird before it flew around out of view.

no prizes for digiscoped efforts today I'm afraid!!

Then scanning the bay we pick up another good London bird in the shape of a female Common Scoter.

Half a dozen curlew on the foreshore and the usual flock of Linnet were seen and both Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail heard.

More Gull ringing

2011-11-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

It was another fantastic gull ringing session for me at Rainham Landfill site yesterday with the NTGG (north thames gull group) and some of the rye meads gang.

Special thanks to Paul Roper for inviting me along again, was a great experience once again we had a great catch of again over 200 birds.

147 Black-headed Gulls

57 Herring Gulls

6 Lesser Black Backed Gulls

1 Yellow Legged Gull

A Superb 1w Caspian Gull was spotted before netting and at least 8 Yellow legged gulls with a single adult Med was seen post netting

me with a black head

shaunboy with a lesser black backed

3w yellow legged

ad med

ad yellow legged

Shellness (north kent)

2011-10-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

Had a Raptor fest day on Sheppey today, started at Shellness early doors and connected with the Rough-Legged Buzzard that has taken up residence around the muswell manor area, had terrific scope views of this bird.

A ringtail Hen Harrier kept company as well as 4 Short-eared owls and both Peregrine and Merlin hunting nearbye.

What a superb place for raptors, also adding Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

Capel fleet hosted a flock of sixty strong Corn Bunts, two Green Sands and many Bearded Tit and again picked up the rough leg towards the manor.

Back to the Patch

2011-10-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Early morning start at the bay today saw some finch movement with small groups of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and odd Redpoll amongst the regular Linnet flock and an increase in Blackbird and Songthrush was unusual.

The regular Cetti's warbler was in song and several Blackwit and Redshank in the bay, but star bird was an almost certain Dartford Warbler seen twice in flight but very elusive assosiating with a single Stonchat, hopefuly it will stay for the winter and provide better views.

Gull Ringing at Rainham

2011-10-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Met up with the NTGG (north thames gull group) this morning for a gull catch at rainham landfill site and special thanks too Paul Roper and co for inviting me along.

The small group of us met up at 7am and we were escorted to our favoured location on the tip where a fresh disposal was awaiting, so we set up the cannon netting and stood back until Paul was happy to fire, waiting until most birds gad settled on the freshly tossed rubbish.

setting up the canon net.

laying the bait.

BANG!! net fired we rush to the net and begin bagging our catch, an hour later net safely away and birds bagged we move to a safer area where we begin too ring the birds.

net is fired.

bagging the catch.

GBB getting ringed....

GBB not happy at being ringed and measured!!

2nd year Yellow legged gull

All large gulls caught with mainly Herring (c150) half a dozen Lesser Black Backed with a single Greater Black Backed, several Yellow-Legged Gulls and a single Caspian.

1st w Caspian(left) with yellow leg, note classic all white head, steep forehead, and long bill

note Caspian bite harder than herring!!

1st year yellow legged gull (left) and Caspian gull underwing, note caspian paleness almost white.

Again a big thankyou to all the team for a fantastic morning.

Izzy Shrike

2011-10-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning pager goes of Isabelline Shrike, cliffe, kent. mmmm not seen one of those for over twenty years (sandwich bird late 80's ??) early afternoon still showing well and is a Male!!

Forty minutes later arrive at cliffe shrike showing well all though a little distant, an absolute cracker and by far my best bird of the year so far.

Shrike's are awesome birds though this digiscoped effort doesn't really do it justice.

Beardies on the Patch

2011-10-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday while i was in Norfolk dipping an unreliant robin, Mo was on the patch and scored with a pair of Bearded Tits, a great record considering the amount of reedbed habitat on site.

Luckily me and young Jack scored yesterday morning as the pair remained faithful to the middle ditch where dave had originally found them, and was a welcome addition to the patch list, and a lifer for Jack.

bearded tit......

Mo, finder and fellow patchworker.......

Unreliant Robin

2011-10-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

With totally clear skies and a big moon (and with the dip monkey) it was no wonder that the Rufous-tailed robin had departed.

We worked the surrounding hedges of Warham Greens and find several Brambling, Sisken and plenty of thrushes moving as well as a single Tree Pipit, Little and Barn Owl and Peregrine and Marsh Harrier over the saltings.

Onto Stiffkey Fen where a distant Bluethroat was seen in company of several Stonechat and a vocal Yellow-browed warbler along the footpath and two Curlew Sandpiper on the flood, a female Merlin getting harassed by local corvids.

A Raddes Warbler in the hand at weybourne showed well !! all thanks too monkeys rally driving.

Robin dip

2011-10-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

With totally clear skies and a big moon (and with the dip monkey) it was no wonder that yesterday's Rufus Tailed Robin had departed.

We work the surrounding hedges of Warham Greens and find several Brambling, Sisken and plenty of thrushes moving as well as a single Tree Pipit, Little and Barn Owl and Peregrine and Marsh Harrier over the saltings.

Onto Stiffkey fen where a distant Bluethroat was seen in company of several Stonechat and a vocal Yellow-browed warbler along the footpath and two Curlew Sandpiper on the flood and a female Merlin getting harassed by local corvids.

A Raddes Warbler in the hand at Weybourne showed well !! all thanks to Monkeys rally driving skills.

Home via Suffolk and East Tilbury.

2011-10-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

On leaving North Norfolk Sunday morning some of the group split, me, jono and monkey carry on birding, the other lads head home. We head home via Horsey for Common Crane (having seen the sandhill again on Thursday on the way up so non twitcher Mo can add to his list!) We find two together in a field just south of Bogrove farm on the seaward side of the road.

News on the pager that the juvenile Woodchat Shrike is still showing in lowestoft, half an hour later we are treated to stunning views of this bird in the links road car-park and even attracts a male Brambling which wasn't so happy of its presents!

Then it was on too Minsmere to filthy twitch a Gloosy Ibis (or ebis if your shaunboy) and a heard of Red deer just outside the reserve including a monster of a stag.

And finally onto East Tilbury, Essex where the half a dozen or so birders are already looking for the long staying Semi P which puts in a brief appearance before flying west with two Dunlin, and with a supporting cast of 3+ Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper the weekends trip took a welcome boost.

Norfolk cont.....

2011-10-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

After crap views of a Yellow-browed warbler at well's wood on friday we enjoyed fine fish and chips in the harbour, where the local Starlings were a bit more obliging!!

A seawatch a cley previously was a bit more promising with good numbers of auks and red-throated divers on the move with odd common scoter and brent geese and a few skua's thrown inn.

dave mo stays in to watch the rugby........

shaunboy and redsy dicuss tactics.......

jono hard at work....

monkey adds up his norfolk trip list !

Norfolk 6-9th Oct

2011-10-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

Had a long weekend with a few of the boys to North Norfolk where we struggled to find any good birds (probably due to the winds being predominately from the south west for about the last three years!!) but we had great time none the less with good company and plenty to drink!!

Some wader pics from Titchwell.

battle of the bar-wit

Playing it Cool !!

2011-10-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

After turning down a lift to Aberdeen last week for the Sandhill Crane i thought i must have been Mental!! but i just couldn't bare the thought of sitting in a car for the best part of 24hours so jokingly said Na thanks ill wait till it comes a bit closer!!

OK, yesterday the Crane has relocated to Suffolk around lunch time and on one of the hottest days of the year myself, shaunboy and monkey all have family commitments all involving BBQ's and Drinking, all texing each other " r u going ? can u go ? shit not really she will kill me !! after 30,000 texe's and 3 billion phone calls we decide not to go and play it cool and wait for after work tomorrow.

Tomorrow comes the bird is still there ! monkey cracks has half day goes with billy no mates, me and Shaunboy wait till 3pm before and then panic and head to Boyton, why all the panic?? the bird shows superbly and only 200yds away and even get a fly pass !! SUPERB.

some dodgy digiscoped pics

local stuff

2011-10-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Early morning visit to the Bay on a very hot October day produced several Sisken high over calling but little else bar the now resident singing Cetti's Warbler.

local sparrowhawk getting grief

Also a Stoat early doors along the foreshore was nice to see.

Popped to the southern end of the Ingrebourne Valley by the Albion Pub and found a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in willows around the pit, then it flew towards the back of the play area.

Five Wigeon were the only other highlight.

Essex Semi P

2011-10-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

Another great find by local Paul Wood in the shape off a fine juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper on the mud at the famous East Tilbury, having seen several other good waders here also found by Paul ie White-rumped sand and a couple of Kentish plovers it was great to add semi p to the Essex list and not too far away from London list either!!

Several Little stint and Dunlin were feeding along side the bird so was a good comparison, and a good learning curve having not seen one for a long time now, again well done too Paul for this great find and thanks to Shaunboy for the call.

semi p showing palmitation (lol)

shaunboy, monkey, paul wood, Don.

not sure what going on with monkey's hand ??

dip monkey returns - but a rosy finish to the day.

2011-09-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Yes the Dip-Monkey is back, Blowmonkey and Dirty Dick pick me up at six and we head to Burnham Overy in search of yesterdays Arctic Warbler, on arriving just after 8am we head down the track and small skeins of Pinkfeet are already inn and on the move the sound of beardies pinging in near bye reed beds and some flyover Yellow Wagtails are about all we can muster.

No sign of the warbler we head to Titchwell where we saw nothing bar a few waders a distant Arctic Skua harassing terns and a single Long-tailed duck.

On the way back to the car we find a small crowd watching a Convolvulus Hawkmoth on a fence post which is only my second ever and was a tick for the Monkey.

Nothing else doing we head home and just as we reach the M25 a call from John Archer having found a couple of Roseate Terns on the river Thames at crossness outfall was a welcome Barking patch tick, a superb adult bird with just a slight white forehead but full tail streamers and accompanied with a 1st winter bird, what a great find, well done John.

WRYNECK on the patch (in your face shetland!)

2011-09-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

Got to the patch at 9am this morning and straight away was rewarded with a singing Cetti's Warbler in the cemex ditch, a year and patch tick after ringing Dave Mo who was also on site we meet on the river path and scanning the shoreline i picked up a distant wader which looked very much like a Knot.

Closer examination reveal it is a Knot and another patch tick added we watched the bird feeding before the tide moved it on.

Walking back east me and mo split as i head off towards the scrub and i turn to dave to say I'm off in search of a wryneck! dave chuckles and heads along the river path, literally 5 minutes later i am watching some Starlings chomping on blackberry's when another bird catches my eye buffy brown job moving through the brambles i move a little closer watching the excact spot, and i say to myself wryneck surely not, not on them views then again a birds pops out on the side of the brambles and before raising my bins was thinking oh a wheatear, SHIT ITS A FUCKING WRYNECK.....A FUCKING WRYNECK.... i grab the camera and fire of twenty shots before what looked like it dropped down , heart racing i ring the Mo who instantly comes over but for fruitless search we are unable to locate it again! lets hope it gives itself up in the next day or so.

Walking back to the car other birds around are 2 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and 2 showy Hobby's.

No THYANKS

2011-09-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

OK probably made the worst decision of the year so far by not going Cornwall for the weekend and day twitching the scillies!!! never mind there only birds i keep telling myself, before crying....

Anyway Saturday me, monkey, shaunboy and dirty dick twitched the short trip to the other side of Essex for only my second PALLID HARRIER which showed nicely through the scope with the help of a local birder/farmer and the aid of a 4x4.

Sunday still crying, i visit the patch aka Barking Bay and find Dave Mo already in position and added two patch year ticks, Common Buzzard that flew low north and a Little Egret that flew east along the Thames plus good local birds included both Arctic and Black Terns, Bar-tailed godwit, Hobby and three Whinchat, not a bad haul for 90mins birding.

Common Buzzard

Vegetarian sparrowhawk

Sabine's Gull on KGV

2011-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

A London Sabines Gull is alway's special and this stonking adult no exception my first since half a dozen brought in by the Hurricane in october 1987.

A Day in Cornwall

2011-09-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

Me Shaunboy and the Monkey travel overnight to Porthgwarra for hopefuly a good seawatch, with a strong south-westerly forcast we arrive at gwennap head at first light and shortly after arriving are treated to good views of both Sooty and Balearic Shearwater's along side the regular Manx passage and just before mid-day connect with a Great Shearwater well inside the runnel stone.

shaun and monkey are choughed with there pics!

After lunch the weather clears and we move on having added both Arctic and Bonxie in double figures and smaller numbers of both storm petrel and Puffin, as we head towards drift reservoir where 4 pec sands have been showing, news on the pager that the Black Kite has been showing in the pollgiga area we turn around and ater a wild goose chase find the bird hawking over a tractor which is ploughing! superb views through bins and scope but just alittle bit distant for the camera.

black kite

Finaly we arrive at drift where we catch sight of two pec's in flight, but are treated to stonking views of a single bird along side a single Dunlin.

please note no birds were injured or flushed during fieldcraft.

Before heading home we try the Hayle Estury for the buff breast but unfortunately it had moved but what a great place to see waders at high tide.

Norfolk

2011-08-28T04:57:00.000-07:00

Myself Bradders and Jono head to Warren Wood in Cromer to hopefuly connect with yesterday's Greenish and Western Bonelli's Warblers.

Arriving at 07:30 we meet up with Shaunboy and the Monkey, we split up to increase our chances of finding the birds and wasn't long before i glimpsed the Western Bonelli's but as weather deteriorated it wasn't till another couple off hours before we were all enjoying excellent views as it fed in the canopy loosely associating with the tit flock.

bonellis warbler my first since 1990!

The Greenish wasn't playing ball though and had to settle with just a call.

We then headed off to Cley where we caught up with a cracking juv Red-Backed Shrike at walsey hills and on the Reserve enjoyed good views of 8 Spoonbill, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Knot, Dunlin, Black tailed godwit, Common Sand, Avocet, Ruff and a fine juv Red Necked Phalarope

Wharem Greens produced a single Pied Flycatcher and 20+ Lesser Whitethroat.

Guillemot on the London List !!

2011-08-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

News of both Razorbill and Guillemot on the Thames at Rainham led me a merry dance up and down the A13 before finally nailing the latter on the patch at Barking Bay, having needed guillemot for London after seeing razorbill over twenty years ago now at fairlop waters.

Also at Barking 5 1st winter Little Gulls flew up river having past rainham ten minutes previous (thanks Jono) and having flushed a Grasshopper Warbler on the walk up which was unexpected.

Fowl weather conditions and a north easterly winds are great for watching the Thames as this Guillemot proves what great birds can be found in the London recording area.

Patch Update

2011-08-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

No sign of yesterday's Common Redstart but a Whinchat and Wheatear were compensation, a small group of swallows flew east and two very high Peregrines were probably local birds.

A Clouded Yellow butterfly was a nice surprise and was my first this year.

whinchat

common darter

Barking Bay today

2011-08-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Had a good feeling this morning that the patch was gonna produce, arrived at first light and it wasn't long before things started moving with good numbers of Yellow Wagtail calling high going south in small groups (a flock of ten being the largest) a single Green Sandpiper flew from the middle ditch and two calling Turnstone flew north were new for the year.

As it warmed up Whitethroat and Blackcap were numerous as were Reed Warbler (not in reed beds!!) but star bird was a fine 1st winter Common Redstart feeding under rose hips between the mound and river path, but wasn't playing ball with the camera ! hopefully will get another crack at it tomorrow.

here's a Wasp spider tho

More Hoopoe (farthing down)

2011-08-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

A second go at this cracking bird in more favouriable weather conditions resulted in slightly better pics than yesterdays, where the bird is favouring the path just north of the car-park.

London Hoopoe

2011-08-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

A slight divert to work this evening led me to Farthing Down just south of Coulsden where this little beauty had now taken up residence and was surprisingly only my second ever in the London recording area following a bird a Rainham last spring, unfortunately the weather was fowl, so my excuses for this pic!!

London Hoopoe

2011-08-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

A small divert on the way to work this evening

Mayesbrook today

2011-08-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

A few Willow Warbler's around today and a single Swift thru, and nice to see the first little Egret of the autumn.

Subalpine Warbler - Holland Haven

2011-08-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

Just back from filthy twitching this superb bird, and my first in Essex, having seen seven others in Kent, Norfolk, Dorset and Scilly and have all been males bar one.

The Bird is favouring the Large hedgerow in the Holland Haven CP car-park and was also quite vocal at times and showed well distantly.

some heavily cropped record shots.

Sparrowhawk's

2011-08-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

Visited Mayesbrook Park this afternoon and a very vocal juv Sparrowhawk was seen with both parents near bye.

Also still half a dozen Swifts and now 4 Egyptian Geese.

Wind Swept Kent

2011-08-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

A trip to Dungeness started promising with Balearic Shearwater and Pom skua early on, as well as several Arctic skua two each of Little and Black Terns along side hundreds of Common, Sandwich and a few Arctic terns all going west.

Good number of Harbour Porpoise moving through also.

A search for Lesser Emperor dragonfly along the long pits was unsuccessful probably due to high winds, and the Great white egret failed to show on the RSPB reserve.

We then headed to Elmey where an immature Purple Heron had been reported several days now but again we drew with a blank.

Moths

2011-08-02T06:51:00.000-07:00

A selection of Moths trapped this week.

the snout

black arches

pebble hook tip

canary-shouldered thorn

poplar hawk moth

Rainham 29th July

2011-07-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

Three Marsh Harrier past thru this afternoon a female and two probable juv's all heading eastwards.

Several Yellow Wagtail and a single Wheatear were the first return birds for the site, and a small selection of waders, highlights were Whimbrel and Greenshank, with several Hobby hawking over the reserve.

Plenty of juvenile Whitethroat and Long-tailed tit along the sea wall.

Barking Bay 23rd July

2011-07-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Just back from the bay and a huge increase in Common Sandpiper with no fewer than 21 birds being seen feeding along the tide line, also 2 Ringed Plover accompanied by a single Little Ringed.

Still plenty of activity amongst the tern colony with many juveniles flying and a 3rd calender year Yellow-legged Gull.

ringed plover

little ringed plover

common sandpiper's

Autunm has arrived

2011-07-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Yes its here, officially started from now! met up with Phil and Andy on the sea wall at Rainham this afternoon with the first breeze from a northerly direction and paid dividends with 4 Black Terns (a fine adult and 3 juvs) heading up river mid afternoon on the rising tide, also several noisy juv Common Terns and an increase in waders with 2 Greenshank, 2 Black-wit, 22 Dunlin and 3 Whimbrel amongst usual Redshank, Lapwing, Curlew and Common Sand.

At least 3 Hobby hawking over aveley pools and a fine Whinchat which is by far my earliest returning bird.

Rainham Gropper

2011-07-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Walked the Sea wall at Rainham this afternoon some waders in aveley bay included 8 Redshank, 10 Black-Tailed Godwit and single Whimbrel and Dunlin.

A Hobby hawked over the resrerve and a Grasshopper Warbler showed well 300yds west of the visitor's centre.

apionid weevil

comma

Weekend Bits

2011-07-17T05:01:00.000-07:00

Went to some local woods on Friday to catch up with Silver-Washed Fritillary, where up too three were seen, unfortunately to quick for the camera!

these common terns were a bit more obliging

Saturday went to Ripple NR between showers and found very little bird wise so took some pics of other wildlife and was surprised to find a wasp spider.

brown argus

field grasshopper

Rousel's grasshopper

short winged conehead

Wasp spider

Also a couple of Southern Hawkers.

This Large Emerald was well smart.

''Planking''

2011-07-11T04:14:00.000-07:00

Even at the remotest part of the country the latest craze to sweep the nation reaches Cornwall where this giant snail takes part in ''Planking''.....move over crouchy......

Porthgwarra 9th July

2011-07-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a day's seawatching with Bradders and the Monkey, with large movements of Cory's seen in the week we took a chance of finding our own.

Arriving at 05:30 we had drove from London over night so very tired but very excited, within five minutes we scored with a Cory's Shearwater that bradders picked up just beyond the Runnel stone, excellent start but it wasn't for another 8 hours that i picked up a second bird at a similar distance.

Well pleased we gave up at 16:00 as the weather got pretty warm and clear we headed for some well earned beverages!!

Days totals:

2 Cory's Shearwater
12 Sooty
12 Balearic
c500 Manx
12+ Storm Petrel
10+ Puffin
7 Pomarine Skua
5 Arctic
Bonxie
2 Med Gull (1ad, 1juv)
25+ Kittiwake
2 Raven
juv Great spotted Woodpecker
Basking Shark
c10 Common Dolphins

Left for home Sunday morning via Exeter and succesfuly located the 1st summer Bonaparte's Gull on the Exe estuary at Lympstone, cracking little bird and only my third in Britan but a lifer for the Monkey.

Hornchurch CP

2011-07-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Me and Jack visit the Ingrebourne Valley last night and help the locals find some birds, a single Greenshank and 6 Green sandpipers are seen from the viewing area and already Teal and Lapwing numbers are increasing, and a nice surprise of 3 juvenile Garganey that flew into view and fed amongst several Gadwall.

Also good numbers of Purple Hairstreak butterfly's on the wing.

Barking Bay (sunday morning)

2011-07-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

A single Sandwich Tern was the highlight of sunday morning which flew down river at 07:15, nice day to go out with the camera for some random pics tho.

local thameside peregrine, this is a male

bigger female

comma

black tailed skimmer

brown argus

Roesel's bush cricket

shaggy inkcap (i think)

Fledging in full swing

2011-06-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

An early doors visit Rainham RSPB, still one of my all time favourite haunts seemed unsurprisingly quiet as spring migration has almost come to an end.

adult reed warbler

reed (ive just came out the nest)

adult sedge

recently fledged sedge

Was nice too see plenty of Reed and Sedge warblers feeding young and plenty of male birds singing for there second sessions, as well as a Gropper reeling near the serin mound.

juv Stock Dove

A pair of Curlew in aveley bay were the only waders of note, and a couple of cuckoo and a male Peregrine was seen.

this shrew obviously couldn't handle the excitement!!

Have a break have a kit-kat.

2011-06-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

Visited some Thameside Peregrines this morning before moving onto the Patch and was not alone, this little beast was following me around and even tried to leg it with my camera bag!!

So we shared breakfast ( a kit-kat) before going on our separate ways.

Barking Bay held 9 Common Scoter for twenty minutes before flying back down river, the Common Tern colony is now in full swing with many fledglings seen as well as a brood of shelduck no older than a couple of days.

Common Scoter

Roller- upper hollelsey, Suffolk.

2011-06-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Week night twitches are most welcome during the late spring/early summer and last nights was no exception when a stunning adult ROLLER was discovered on upper hollelsey common in Suffolk, having never twitched one before in over twenty years this was the perfect opportunity to add to my British and world list.

Myself, Bradders and the Monkey all meet up after work and it wasn't long before we were heading up the A12 and made great time on what is normally a nightmare of a road during rush hour.

Out the car and there it was, what a SUPERB, STUNNING bird and we was never tired of watching it as it hawked bee's and caught what looked like a worm as it patrolled the MOD base perimeter fence at a distance of probably 200-300 metres, bit distant for the camera but stunning scope views.

Several high fives later with Shaunboy and Dirty Dick it was off for a celebratory fish supper where the roll continued in discovering a superb male Stag Beetle which seem to take a fancy to me before flying off to a near bye garden.

Vange RSPB

2011-06-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

An early morning stroll around Vange wick RSPB produced an Immature Spoonbill and a drake Garganey but no sign of yesterdays red-backed shrike.

East Side

2011-05-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Shaunboy and myself head to Breydon water this morning to hopefully connect with yesterdays Broad-billed sandpiper which unfortunately departed. having not seen one for over twenty years i was also quite keen to see this eastern vagrant wader, but was not to be!

After an hour's search we then moved south stopping at Lowestoft harbour where we spent some time photographing the local Kittiwake colony.

A brief visit to Dunwich Heath on the way home produced a family party of both Dartford Warblers and Woodlark which both showed well considering the blustery conditions.

This Week......

2011-05-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Been busy this week not much time for birding but did manage to see the Temminck's Stint found by dick at the viewing area at the Ingrebourne Valley on Tuesday evening a cracking little bird and a great site tick (and i think first record).

Got out early doors this morning and was rewarded with a calling Pheasant at Barking Bay was new for the year.

Another visit to the Ingrebourne produced an all to brief Spotted Flycatcher (sorry shaunboy) my first of the year and two cracking adders

Dotterel and Deer

2011-05-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Filthy twitched four Dotterel that were on Cheese foot head in Winchester on Tuesday while working away in nearby Southampton, cracking birds in spring just a shame they were a bit distant.

Saw this Roe deer in the Forest.

Im off

bye.........

Another Spring Whinchat

2011-05-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

Strong Easterlies but clear blue skies meant the river was pretty quiet at Barking Bay this morning bar some left over waders from the weekend including 8 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-wit, 2 Grey Plover and a single Ringed.

The 1st summer Mediterranean is still Knocking around a fine male Whinchat (my second this spring) was amongst the 8 Wheatears still present, and a fly over Hobby was new for the year.

Wader Fest Contiues

2011-05-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

The Bay continues to draw in the migrating waders on Saturday we find at least 21 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshank, 5 Whimbrel, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin.

Six spanking adult Black Terns were also found mid river amongst the usual Common Terns.

Sunday's Highlight were 2 Little Stint found by Mo on the rising tide and were also site tick for both of us.

Bar Invaision

2011-05-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

Me and Mo had a good river watch on Friday with a brisk north easterly predicted we watched the Thames at Barking and some good numbers of Bar-Tailed Godwits were seen numbering at least twenty birds which was part of a massive influx around the country.

Also a single Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover, 1st summer Med Gull in the Bay and several flyover Yellow Wags and the Corn Bunting reappeared for Mo.

Med Gull

Greenshank

A couple of pics digicoped with the I phone.

Rye

2011-04-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of pics from Rye Harbour NR from yesterday.

Whinchat

2011-04-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Managed an hour on the patch and found a stunning male Whinchat in the Bay this evening though again not being very cooperative with the camera as are the fifteen plus Wheatear still on site.

Corn Bunting at Barking

2011-04-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Good run continues at Barking Bay with a Corn Bunting along the river path this afternoon despite model aircraft activity the bird showed well and even John archer managed to twitch the bird from the other side of the river with the little help from me running up and down like a sheep dog!!

Also a Little Ringed Plover was new for the year.

Monkey Strikes Back.......

2011-04-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Once again i find myself out with the Dip Monkey along with Shaunboy and Jono and it wasn't long before we were dipping a showy Hoopoe at West Canvey marsh, Savi's Warbler at Canvey Wick but we did get consolation in the now resident 1st summer Night Heron which looked like it was glued to its favourite perch so it probably wasn't gonna go far!

Ring Ouzel gives me run around.....

2011-04-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

Back on the Patch this morning and a big influx of Whitethroats as well as 4 Lesser's (first for the year) several Yellow Wags over and some hurundine movement including Sand Martin and Swallow, 2 Singing Sedge Warblers were new for me as were 2 pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls flying up river and 3 Whimbrel in the Bay.

The female Ring Ouzel is still around and is playing hard to get and only managing record shots before it bolts from one side of the mound to the other.

Short-Eared Owl

2011-04-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Dave Mo discovers a Short-Eared Owl this morning on the patch and he watched the bird as it ditched down, ten hours later myself and young Jack flush the bird from the exact same spot and we watched the bird gain height and settle back down again, it was great to see this cracking bird as Barking Bay was a hot spot for this species back in the day but due to development and habitat loss this is probably a migrant rather than a late wintering bird.

Other birds of note was a Calling Cuckoo and a pair of Wheatear though we couldn't relocate the Ring Ouzel that has now been present for a least three day's, plenty of activity from the near bye Common Tern colony is always nice to hear.

all pics taken with Jack on my shoulders (got to blame someone for poor record pics!!)

Back To Birding

2011-04-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Saturday 03:30 me and filthy twitcher Lethbridge travel down to the New Forest in search of the Black Stork that had taken up residence, a crack of dawn start was essential as the bird was seen to roost in a favourable tree which when we arrived assumed we was in the right place but later on realised we were 300yds to far north!! not to be out smarted we then began to walk the favourite enclosure along the stream and flushed the bird from a boggy area and had stonking views as the bird climbed out the clearing and circled the wooded valley, shame both our camera's were still in our bags!!

We tracked the bird again and had distant views as it flew further up the valley.

Common Redstarts were in song along with Woodlark and Tree pipit, and also had a male Goshawk at the usual site, all this before lunch so we headed home for some browny points.

many thanks to Jono for keeping me awake for the trip !

Sunday: Barking Bay: 2 Whimbrel and a Greenshank were new for the year as was Reed Warbler.

Monday: Barking: 14 trilling Waxwings was a nice surprise outside the flat this evening, all to brief though!

Tuesday: Barking Bay: the good run continues as i find a female Ring Ouzel at dusk and added Cuckoo for the site.

Wedding Pics

2011-04-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

Almost forgot !! the reason we went to Mexico was for Me and Lisa to get Married......

Pops and Jack

lisa's sister Cheryl and boyfriend Jamie

lisa's mum and dad

the gang

oh dear

The Patch

2011-04-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

Basically you can bird anywhere from the Hotel gardens along the roads, on the Golf course (though did get thrown off most days!) all the hotels a carved out of the jungle so anywhere is good and i added different species everyday along these same route's, people are very friendly and i didn't feel uncomfortable anywhere.

Birding did get harder as the day got warmer so the first three hours of light was the most productive and late afternoons can be good.

Hotel Gardens

Surrounding streets

The Golf Course: very productive

Dump: good for flycatchers and warblers

Some of the local wildlife

2011-04-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly i only saw one snake, though didn't really go looking for them!! Iguana's are all over and can be seen sunbathing mid morning onwards, Two com monist mammals were Agouti (like a large guinea pig) and White Nosed Coati (like a raccoon) we also had a family group of Howler Monkeys in the Hotel gardens, which really lived up to there names at about 5am each morning!

White-Nosed Coati

Agouti

Howler Monkey

Iguana

Not Many left now.........

2011-03-26T23:29:00.000-07:00

Masked Tityra: seen several times

Melodious Blackbird: Common and very vocal

Tropical Kingbird: Common everywhere

Red-Billed Pigeon

Wood Thrush: Very skulky, just one seen

Golden-Fronted Woodpecker

White-Fronted Parrot: Common and very noisy....

More from Mexico

2011-03-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Bronzed Cowbird: pair and a single male seen

Blue Grosbeak: Couple of individuals seen

Yellow Breasted Chat: one seen, very skulky large warbler

Plain Chachalaca: quite large game bird living in tops of trees!

Some favourites

2011-03-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

Rufous-Browed Peppershrike: fairly common often seen in pairs.

This Squirrel cuckoo was one of three seen in and around the golf course.

One species i did want to find was Turquoise-browed Motmot and did on my first full day in Mexico just outside the Hotel main gate in some dudes back garden, thinking this was easy to find i didn't see another until my last day of ten night trip, what a superb bird known to locals as the clock bird for its pendulum like twitching of its tail.

Water Birds

2011-03-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Blue-Winged Teal: common on the golf course pools

Green Heron

Least Grebe

Great Egret

This Royal Tern was fishing just off the beach

More from Mexico

2011-03-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Brown Jay: common seen in small flocks

Green Jay: Very smart birds, also seen in small groups

Yucatan Jay: fairly common seen in flocks of upto 20 birds, adults have black bills and lacks the yellow eyering

Violaceous Trogon: most trogon species often hard to see dispite there size

Black-Headed Trogon

Hummingbirds

2011-03-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Took me five days of searching until i came across my first bird (buff bellied) then on the penultimate day saw three birds, and having trouble identifying one if anyone has any knowledge.

Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

Unidentified ??

Cinnamon Hummingbird

Flycatchers

2011-03-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Difficult to ID the larger flycatchers as many are only distinguished by song, but im assuming this is one of the commoner species as it was seen in the main street.

Dusky-Capped Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Social Flycatcher: like a small version of Kiskadee often seen in small flocks hence the name.

Great Kiskadee

Raptors

2011-03-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

It seems every country Ive travelled to i have managed to see Osprey and Peregrine at that was the case in Mexico, along with Roadside Hawk, Grey Hawk, Common Black Hawk and Turkey and Black vulture's.

Osprey

Turkey Vulture

Grey Hawk

Grey Hawk juv (i think)

Saw at least half a dozen Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl's sometimes Catbird and Mockingbird giving them away.

Vireos

2011-03-22T01:56:00.000-07:00

Three species of Vireo was seen the commonist being White-eyed and Yucatan and smaller numbers of Mangrove along the coast.

White-eyed Vireo

Yucatan Vireo

Mangrove Vireo

Orioles

2011-03-22T01:11:00.000-07:00

Orioles are common and colourful birds and cause identification problems and are compounded by marked age/sex and geographic variation in many species, i managed to ID six species but may have seen more!

Hooded Oriole: Common seen all over.

Orchard Oriole: fairly common, often seen in large groups.

Female orchard

Black-Cowled Oriole: seen several times