Cetti's Warbler

If you have ever visted the Ingrebourne Valley you would of notice that we have a few pairs of Cetti's Warblers, with it's explosive song you would of probably heard them too. Normally they are sulky but for once this one showed well.



This evening's walk over the Ingrebourne Valley produced the following Green Sandpiper,Snipe,Little Egret,2 Blackcap and 15 Sand martin were the highlights.

Grim Treecreeper

With only Twenty five records the Short-toed Treecreeper is a rare bird, so that's why Paul,Monkey and myself went to Landguard Suffolk this morning. After about a hour we got good views of it in the compound in unlike spring weather, it felt bloody cold..........

Snakes and Ladders

I've visited the Ingrebourne Valley three times this week and added a couple more for the patch year list and they are Little Grebe , Golden Plover and this morning had 3 Siskin but still no Wheatear. As the weather is warming up, so are the Adders and found two this morning.

Rainham Marshes Gull/Raptor Day

Today I spent at Rainham Marshes helping out with the Gull day but it turned out to be more like raptor day.I started off with six Corn Bunting near the turnstile and as I got near the new hide a message came over the radio that a Female Marsh Harrier was coming towards the hide followed by some crows. A minute or two later it was joined by another Marsh Harrier but a immature male and the female Hen harrier went up as well all at the same time and what with a female Peregrine sitting on one of the plylon it was amazing sight. Later we were treated with fly over Buzzard,6 Snipe and 30 Golden Plover. Now we were all there to watch gulls and Andy T made every one happy by finding a 1st Winter Caspian Gull and a very smart one too.Also of note the Ingrebourne Valley had a couple of Chiffchaff singing which are new in.

Male Reed Bunting

Female Peregrine

Corn Bunting

Marsh Harrier

Central Park

When walking through New York's Central Park, I was surprised how close the birds were and they didn't seemed bothered by you being there. I do have a few yanks on my British list but none of them showed that close as the birds in the park did, I was amazed when walking from Strawberry Fields to Belvedere Castle that the flock of 100 American Robin's let me walk pass them so close without moving or flying off, I had to tip toe pass them.

American Robin

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

More of New York City

Here are a few more pictures from Central Park and still more to follow. The light was good there on Saturday unlike our own of late, as this year seems dull and Grey all the time. All pictures were hand held. I've only been back one day and miss the place already.

Tufted Titmouse

House Finch

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Ringed-billed Gull

New York City (part one)

As a surprise 40th birthday present to me, my wife arranged for the family to visit New York City.Its a fantastic place for its architecture, fine dinning, shopping, site seeing and of coarse Central Park for it's Birding. I met up with a couple of local birder's who kindly showed me around. The park is not at its peak for numbers of birds at this time of year but I was more than happy with what I saw in a couple of hours birding in the morning, the numbers of birds go through the park in migration time is amazing.

American Robin

Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Fox Sparrow