30.12.11

Another early start before light to be on the beach and then searching for the elusive western sandpiper on Arnold's Marsh or Pat's Pool. Firstly; 25+ red throated divers and 2 black throated divers heading east before the sun rise over Walsey Hills. Also gannets and regular gulls. Then off to Arnold's Marsh and then to Pat's Pool if no sign.  Roosting dunlin, curlew, black tailed godwit, redshank and golden plover needed to be checked. As the light improved I latched on to a small calidrid wader. Within 5 minutes the white face and dark scapulars were apparent: the rare western sandpiper. A slight rufus from the mantle appeared to be present but this might have been increased by the sunrise as shown in attached photos. Time was short as I wanted the smoked haddock and poached egg breakfast at The George. I tried for some photos of the bird but it was too far away: see shot including dunlin and godwit silhouettes. My first lifer since 2009.
Other photos: waves at Cley beach, overhead brent geese and sun rise.

North Norfolk 29.12.11

First day of two in Cley next the Sea staying at the wonderful George Hotel. Up early at 1st light for a quick pre breakfast trip to Cley beach car park and the North Hide. Usual suspects ( brents, wigeon, shoveler, golden plover, gadwall, teal, marsh harriers etc.) After a fine full breakfast a walk setting out to Blakeney Point, some 10 mile round trip over constant shingle. Low temps and high winds meant we got to Halfway House before retracing our steps, this time on the sea side of the spit. Red throated divers, dunlin, knot, turnsatone, ringed plover, full set of expected gulls, shelduck, meadow pipits, goldfinches and reed bunts observed along with at least 4 hares. However: highlight was watching grey seal pup take its first swim. After birth they remain on shore for 3 weeks, being fed by mother before they moult abnd can take to the sea. This creature found it difficult getting through the breakers, being washed back on to the shore. Both parents watching from the water. Eventually it made it, accompanied by an adult. Set of photos attached along with a few views, a distant turnstone and a confiding black headed gull. Finally at 2pm off to the East Bank at Cley Marshes to Arnolds Marsh and Pays pool for the rarity; western sandpiper. Although scrutinising over 200 dulin, no western sand was found. Admittedly, it was fast fading light with horizontal rain. Good views of black tailed godwit, curlew, grey plover, shelduck, skylarks, little egrets, redshank and an over med gull. Try for the yankee piper again tomorrow at 1st light.

Monday: Short morning walk

A quick wander up Brick Kiln Hill, over the polo fields and into Millennium Wood before returning via Hoecroft Lane proved what I discovered yesterday; that there is little about. Plenty of fieldfares, redwings and jays along with a couple of magpies and jays but nothing noteworthy. An early start meant the tawny owls were still calling in Bluebell Wood but apart from a single northerly lesser black backed gull there was nothing of note. Off for 3 days in North Norfolk tomorrow morning so should be a load to discover. Photo shows a view looking north from the polo fields

Boxing Day

A wonderful midday wander gave views of all the usual residents found to the south and south west of the parish. Good number of pied wagtail (30+) on the plough in the Ash Valley. Also, several jays, green woodpeckers and 250+ mixed corvids on the 15th fairway at AVGC. 3 treecreepers seen near Valley Fields was an unusual sight whilst 300+ fieldfare was a more common sight. 2 photos of a treecreeper in poor light as well as a drake mallard at Westland Green pond, again poor light.

Essex goose Festival 07.12.11



Can you find the red breasted goose?



Leaving the village at 5.45 and picking up a couple of fellow birders we were on the Causeway at Abberton for first light. Cormorants, various expected wildfowl, including a escaped swan goose (photo above) and a grey heron. However, the highlight here was of 4 goosanders moving from one side of the Causeway to the other and then back again. Into the visitors centre at 9am and a wander to the hides. Excellent birding here with hen harrier, smew, several pintail, goldeneye and thousands of lapwing. The wind was steadily increasing, dropping the temperature that meant gloves were a necessity. The gusts were strong enough to blow over my tripod, making viewing through the 'scope tricky. Not helped by Dave's crashing around in the hide, meaning I had cracking views of the sky on a couple of occasions. Well done, Dave! A quick coffee at the visitors' centre before a drive to Old Hall Marsh. A red breasted goose had been reported and this would be a lifer for both Dave and Gary. The wind was now a steady Force 6 and although a field full of brents was scanned, no red breasted. Off to the creeks where good wader numbers were recorded, including dunlin, black tailed godwit, avocet and redshank. A little further on I spotted a marsh harrier putting up wigeon and at the same moment had to call peregrine as a large female shot through the flock, snatching a wigeon and making her way off to a nearby field. Great moment and even better when she posed in the field, albeit too far away for a photo. Further along the track we encountered tundra bean geese in with a few white fronts and pink foots. Our goose total was rising. Reed buntings, meadow pipits, curlews and golden plovers were listed before we came across the flock of brents again and this time latching on to the red breasted. Photos were attempted but the gale was so strong nothing was staying still. See if you can find this bird in the top photo? Back to the car, soup and bread buns and on to a new site for the three of us, Chigborough Lakes. Classically, I stopped the car to check website details for directions, drove a further 50 yards and came to the entrance. A super reserve with great potential. Well worth visiting and, I suspect really good for a dawn chorus walk. Here we heard redpoll, but couldn't find them in fading light. Dave scored a lifer with a pair of bullfinches, to add to his and Gary's lifer list that now included both tundra bean and white fronted geese. Gadwall, teal, shoveler and mallards were present in good numbers but the surprise was in checking out canada and grey lag geese in a field at the back of the Reserve we noted 2 barnacles, taking the goose species total to an amazing 10, including the escapee. Fiedfares, jays and redwings were added along with long tailed tits and although we noted a good range of owl boxes, none owls were observed. Off to Maldon for a bag of chips, Dave scoring them at 6/10. Dave is the official chip expert. Returning home in time for a spot of work, I counted the day's total at an impressive 82. Not too bad for a day when the light was good for less than 6 hours. Not too much missed I suspect.

Great day out with good company and thoughts turn to our next day trip in 3 months time.

Species:

little grebe great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, white fronted goose, tundra bean goose, pink footed goose, greylag goose, canada goose, barnacle goose, brent goose, red breasted goose, shelduck, egyptian goose, mallard, gadwall, pintail, shoveler, wigeon, teal, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye, smew, goosander, hen harrier, marsh harrier, sparrow hawk, kestrel, peregrine, pheasant, moorhen, coot, avocet, grey plover, golden plover, lapwing, dunlin, redshank, black tailed godwit, curlew, snipe, ruff, black headed gull, common gull, herring gull, lesser black backed gull, great black backed gull, mediteranean gull, stock dove, wood pigeon, collared dove, green woodpecker, skylark, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, stonechat, song thrush, redwing, fieldfare, blackbird, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, magpie, jay, jackdaw, carrion crow, rook, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, linnet, goldfinch, greenfinch, bullfinch, reed bunting + redpoll (heard) and hybrid goose.

Photos show huge brent numbers, plus a few flypasts, sunrise on the Causeway at Abberton and both heron and egyptian goose taken at this location. Sympathy most go to the 4th member of our quarterly team, Graeme, who was unable to make it. Suspect red breasted goose would have been a lifer, Graeme? Another report can be found at http://hairybirders.blogspot.com/ with a selection of photos

Barn Owl 2.12.11

A search for the local barn owl proved successful this morning, found (as advised) in a small oak behind Clinton's Farm on the track to Danebridge. Great views but disturbed before I could get a photo. Other noteworthy birds were 100+ fieldfares and redwings, kestrel and a large party of house sparrows around the farm yard. Many thanks to Gill and Michael Harvey for letting me know where the owl was roosting. Shall return over the weekend to attempt some photos.
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Glorious weather 30.11.11

Another wonderfully bright morning for a local walk before preparing to set off to give an illustrated talk to St Ives RSPB group this evening. Goldcrest, treecreeper and 6 bullfinches being the highlight birds. The 2nd goldcrest of the morning as one was observed in our garden at first light. Photos of a view, a robin in take off leap and 2 more regular views of a robin, taken in Millennium Wood. It was here that the party of bullfinches were also witnessed.

Sunday wander 27.11.11

A pleasant walk in unbelieveably warm weather today. Highlight sightings were a flushed woodcock, on the footpath off Chapel Lane, 3 mandarin on the old gravel pit, photo taken from a distance, an unseasonal red admiral butterfly and flowering herb robert, cut leaf crane's bill and red campion. Other notables were 11 skylarks over AVGC, 24 pied wagtails on a newly ploughed fields and several sightings of both kestrel and sparrow hawk. 2 parties of bullfinches were seen and a solitary treecreeper in Chapel Lane. Photos show herb robert, red campion, mandarin duck, view east over AVGC and some of the black headed gulls that were witnessed on the 15th fairway

Rainham Marshes: 24.11.11

A day visit to Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve today. Quiet around the reserve trails in poor light, but still some noteworthy birds. Linnets, lapwings and starlings were seen in their hundreds with good numbers of teal, wigeon, canada geese and grey lags. However, highlight birds were 2 bearded reedlings, photographed from distance. Both look like 1st year individuals. Also a snipe, cettis warbler and 5 spectacular drake pintails. The most memorable moment was watching 2 carrion crows attacking a lapwing. Firstly they attacked it at the water's edge, holding it down before it broke free. They then dive bombed the lapwing, knocking it into deep water. They then ignored it until it tried to fly from the water, whereupon they just knocked it back in again. This went on for 5 minutes before the lapwing was so waterlogged it could not get away from the water, so the crows then kept pushing it under until it drowned. They then paid no more attention to it. Seemed like it was no more than entertainment. This thought was echoed by the warden who said it was a regular occurence. Other photos show greylag, female teal, 2 little egrets, an irridescent magpie, a sunset fly past of canada geese and a view of the QE bridge at Dartford

Sunday Foggy wander

A walk this morning to fields and woods adjacent to the A120 gave good numbers of birds. In one oak tree I heard long tailed tits. On closer inspection I observed 34+ long tailed tits, 2 blue tits, 3 great tits, 1 chaffinch, 1 treecreeper and, best of all, 1 goldcrest. Latter, my first of the winter. Redwing, mistle thrush and fieldfare were ubiquitous whilst a coal tit in a stand of conifers was pleasing. Other birds of note: yellowhammer and common buzzard. Photo of the dead tree used as a jackdaw roost and one of a male chaffinch.