Hat and Scarf

It was very cold this evening walking the dog over the valley. Birds seen were as follows: 2 Swallow,17 Sandmartin,15 Teal,4 Yellow Hammer,Chiffchaff,4 Gadwall,4 Mute Swan and a Shelduck.

Patcher,Twicher,other

I was on the patch Sunday morning and 2 Willow warbler singing almost straight away 2 redwing,2 shelduck were also seen.I then meet up with les harrison at the first paddock . We chatted for a while then a male Goosander flew over our heads and went west over the viewing area for a first record ever for the valley.... A quick circuit of the valley and i was making my way back to the van and Hawky texts me with info of the Pallid swift and Alpine swift together at Kessingland Suffolk. I pick up monkey,dick Jeffries and 2 hrs of driving we have the alpine swift straight away but we waited 40 minutes for both swifts to be seen together.But well worth the drive as both showed very well, also a fly through woodcock. After i got some crap pictures we were on our way home and as we got near the Ipswich roundabout Howard rang and said (turn round there is a male LESSER KESTREL at Minsmere RSPB (westleton heath). So we drove backup to Suffolk , forty minutes later we have missed it by minutes GUTTED, for the first time on a twitch every birder is looking for it. Then we hear news its been found again and we follow a bloke in a convoy of 20 cars who is looking for his lost scope and he takes us all to the places where he thinks his lost it GREAT .So back to where we started i throw the van in a bush a ten minute run and we are watching the Lesser Kestrel.Superb high fives all round and back in doors for 8.30pm. What a ticktastic day...........

Its not all work

Ah thats better
Managed to see the Little Owl before work this morning,had a quick look on the Berwick Resevoir but no luck with any LRPs having recorded the worst man flu ever it made me fill even worse receiving news of Alpine Swift in london again and a pallid swift in suffolk which the East London lads were on their way to twitch but sadly with no success.I received info of a Ring ouzel was over Rainham RSPB so me and jo (my wife) met up with paul boy and his dad roger but did not see it. Jo and i had refreshments at the cafe where i treated jo to the bread pudding which see tells me its the best.So i woke up felling crap did not see much all day but it was still good to be out.........

Keep Fit

A run after work this evening provided myself with two year patch ticks they were: 3 Sandmartin,3 Chiffchaff. Other birds seen on the run were 2 Shelduck,Cettis Warbler,Heron,2 Lapwing etc.

The Weekend

The Harveys were joined my the Redfern family for a weekend break in Norfolk at Hopton on sea.Where both dads managed some birding in the mornings before family activities started.Saturdays birds : Swallow,Wheatear,3 Chiffchaff,Fulmar,Redpoll,2 Sandling,R T Diver. Sundays birds: 4 Crossbill,Rock Pipit,Blackcap.The Ingrebourne Valley had some new birds in which were:2 Sand Martin,2 Swallow,2 Wheatear,Siskin and the 2 White fronts are still about while i have been away.

Todays Sightings

Dave Morrison texted me this morning to say he had found 3 LRP,2 White Wagtails and a Chiffchaff which are new birds for the valley this year.

Pics from the valley

pics from the valley

Before Work

Before work this morning i manged to see the resident Little Owl in its favorite tree, which showed well as always.

The Patch

A walk over the valley after work this evening produced the following birds: 5 Snipe,Wigeon,3 Displaying Lapwings,10 Teal,5 Shoveler,2 Linnet,2 Water rail and Brown Hare which is very scarce here.

Ingrebourne valley

The Red kite i found on sunday was the 11th raptor species logged at the valley this year so far .My year patch list is now 68 quality rather than quantity.A Penduline Tit was seen today at the Ingrebounrne Valley but not by one of the locals still trying to find out who the lucky person was .It was the 8th March when i saw four Penduline Tits here in the valley last year.

blast from the past part two

blast from the past

saturdays trip pics

Redkite

Sunday 14th march

On the patch this afternoon saw me bag a site tick in a redkite which went through flying east@ 2.00 PM armed with my new camera and set on av it would not lock on to it as it was very high ,thought this camera lark was going to be easy so i have a lot to learn should of moved to manual thanks jono for post telling me that.

Bufflehead

Saturday 13th saw myself and dick jefferies twitch the bufflehead in Dorset which showed well for five minutes before flying down the feet as some small boats spooked it.Then we went to a Goshawk site where 3 were displaying which great to see,also woodklark,siskin and 18 crossbill were seen.