Late Wheatear at Rainham Marshes

A couple of hours at Rainham Marshes this afternoon just along the foreshore, where this confiding Wheatear showed down to about 3 Meters. I think it looks good for Greenland. What do you think? Also seen Spot Redshank,Grey Plover and a couple of Dunlin being the Wader highlights.
(Click on to enlarge)





29 years ago was the first time I saw a Wheatear and still enjoy watching them

Birding in the dark

I've been so busy working latley that I've not done that much birding, but when I have been able to get out its nearly always dark on the patch. Wednesday evening taking the dog out for a walk at 8.15pm had a Woodcock go over calling and had a Barn Owl too this week. So what else is there in the dark?


I wasn't the only one out on the patch in the evenings

It could be better

Was on the patch this morning and for the three hours there it was a bit quite. With few Siskin, Redpoll and a couple of Kingfisher being note worthy, that was it really. Even the camera seemed like I was carrying it round for a fashion accessory. But that's patch birding for you. Some times its great and some times, like this morning, its shit. I did however add Rook on Thursday evening for the patch year list, making it 110 so far. Yes, a bloody Rook has taken me only ten months to get. Anyway I might find something good soon?

See you soon?

On Saturday I went up to Norfolk to try and see the Rufous Tailed Robin with Paul and Monkey, but unfortunately it had moved on. With five hundred other birders there I wasn't the only one disappointed, did it spoil my day? No! With a day list of Blue throat, Yellow Browed, Raddes Warbler, Merlin, Curlew Sandpiper and some Viz Mig we had a great days birding. Would I swap a tick for a good days birding? Never.



Brent Geese

Closer than close

The Starling pictures were taken at Wells Quay, where we all enjoyed the best fish and chips in Norfolk. The Starlings thought so too, as a large flock gathered around us for dinner. They may be common but still very smart. The Black headed Gull and Knot was from Titchwell.












The above picture was taken by Martin Redfern showing how close the Arctic Skua was at Titchwell. A moment that I won't forget for along time. Stunning.

On the beach with Sanderling

Although the weekend in Norfolk did not provide nice calm conditions for taking photographs or winds from the East to find some good birds. I still enjoyed myself laying down in the sand trying to get some pictures of these fast running waders as they came close and then decided to sprint past me.

Arctic Skua at Titchwell

Below are a couple of shots of a Arctic Skua at Titchwell Norfolk on Saturday. This cracking looking bird flew over my and Dave Mo's head giving us our best views ever. Martin Redfern was also there, and managed to get some shots of the dark phase skua going over our heads. After getting such close views of the Skua, I think its going to be a long time till we get better views of one.





The weekend was also spent with Paul, Monkey and Jono, so there will be more photos to follow . Thanks lads for great weekend.

Sandhill Crane in Suffolk

Amazingly the Sandhill Crane was still in Suffolk this morning, as I thought it would keep moving south which its been doing all week. So Paul and myself went for a after work twitch to try and connect with this stunning looking bird as both of us could not go on Sunday. We were treated with great flight views and watched it feeding about 200 meters away. STUNNING......



You may of guessed that the last few photos on the blog are digiscoped pictures, its because I dropped the camera Lens and its being fixed at the moment, and I am really missing it and hope to get it back soon.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

All week there had been some twitchable Semi p's around, so I was hoping to twitch one this weekend after a small influx from North America. Luckly I did'nt have to go far, as Paul Wood found one at Coalhouse Fort Essex. Paul has also found some other great bird's in the past on his patch and many have been tick's for me. It was nice being the first person there to congratulate him. It showed well with some great scope views. It looked more stockier than a little stint, which it was some times feeding with. The primarys were level with its tail. It had dark lores and a clear cut supercilium and its breast sides were more diffusely streaked than the Little Stint. This was a very smart juvenile Semi P. Also the bird could be the one that was found last week at Cliff, which is only a stone throw away.