The Dark Room

Thursday 22 September 2011

Honey Buzzard over

Today at 4.40pm a Honey Buzzrd was being mobbed by 4 Crows over my garden and went NE towards the Ingrebourne Valley. Which was a garden and patch tick. Honey Buzzards have a narrow head and neck,longer tail and a more elastic flight action than the more Common Buzzard that we normally get over the garden/patch.


Raptor watch point (my garden)

Saturday 17 September 2011

Pallid Harrier in Essex

While some of my birding friends enjoyed some quality birds in the Isle of Scilly today, Paul,Monkey,Dick and Myself enjoyed a quality bird at Colne point Essex. A juvenile Pallid Harrier. After an hour wait, we had great scope views of the harrier going over the fields and reed channels. The under parts was a nice rufous colour and you could pick out the light collar.A great bird for Essex and a very nice find for someone? Also seen there were two Marsh Harriers, one which was wing tagged with a white tag on is left wing.

Thursday 15 September 2011

Well Choughed


The pair of Chough in Cornwall was the best view I've had ever had. In the past they all have been fly overs. What was a bit of a surprise, is the amount of colour rings each bird has on each leg?

Monday 12 September 2011

Showing well

Here are some more pictures from the weekend, why can't it always be this good...








This Sabine's gull was on KGV reservoir

Sunday 11 September 2011

Cornwall for 24hrs

The weather forecast looked good for the weekend in Cornwall, so Paul, Monkey and myself made the trip down over night on Friday. Saturday morning we were sea watching at Porthgwarra and had great time. The highlight being a Great Shearwater as it pasted inside of the runnel stone. I must do more sea watching I really enjoy it. After adding to our year lists we checked out the Black Kite in Polgigga, which showed well over Bosistow farm. Then on to Drift Reservoir where the Pectoral Sandpiper showed really well. Such a lovely bird close up and too were the other waders there. So for now, here are some shots from the weekend and will update more in the next day or two.






Sunday 4 September 2011

Whinchat passage

With numbers of Whinchat into double figures, we are having the best year of passage of these smart birds. What is also good about this year of Whinchat is they are being found all over the valley. Like most Whinchats this individual did not let me get too close, even when I was crawling along the floor like a commando and dodging the horse poo, they always move a bit further away as you get near.