Chat and ears

A team effort at the Ingrebourne Valley today as Dick text me to say he had a Whinchat on Ingrebourne hill,  so after work I popped over to the patch and found 2 Whinchat and 5 Wheatear.  I do like a spring male Whinchat and when they are on the patch, Awesome!

And a nice close Wheatear

Alwhite!

Added three new patch year ticks this morning on the patch with Red- legged Partridge, Cuckoo and Sedge Warbler. So now on 83 for the patch year list!

This very pale white wood Pigeon is still knocking around the valley too.

Great start

Back on the patch this morning and a beautiful morning it was with blue skies and birds everywhere. Whitethroat numbers have gone up over night and there was 5 Wheatear still at Bonnets hill, but the star of the morning was this female Common Redstart in the scrub next to the Hospital, which gave great views for the local valley birders.

Patch birding

The last few evenings I've been birding the patch only and  adding patch year ticks on the way, but this evening was more about photography and in particular Wheatears. Dave Mc text to say that he had 23 at Bonnets wood, which is on the old border line of the Ingrebourne Valley. So here is a 1st Winter, cracking birds aren't they!

Fall

I enjoyed a after work session on the patch last night with a good fall of migrants and for once the Ingrebourne Valley provided some quality with Common Redstart in the small paddock (well done Russ) 14 Wheatear in the farmers ploughed field and 4 Crossbill over. Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler numbers were at a all time high.  The London area certainly had a fall as the London wiki site recorded some amazing totals through the day. There were so many birds around I had to tip-toe around the grass as I could of stepped  on the Willow Warblers!   

Migrants

Well, this week has finally seen a good bit of action on the patch with Swallow, Sand Martin and Willow Warbler all added to my patch year list and wait for it! Rook finally too. So it's all going in the right direction now. I did pop along to Ferry Lane as well this morning and had a fly over Yellow Wagtail. So, the migrants are starting to arrive and some old one's are still hanging on to with 10 Redwing in the small paddock this morning and I found 23 Waxwing yesterday on the way to work in Suttons Avenue Hornchurch.

 

Red throated Diver

When the news came out on Saturday afternoon that a Red throated Diver was at Rainham Marshes it was a no brainer for me as it was a site tick and a London tick. It was staying close to the foreshore and even came up on the mud. So my celebrations were short lived as it was obvious the Diver wasn't well and oiled, which was a real shame, but today I hear there was another sighting of RTD up further the thames. So maybe it's the same one and it's ok? . I hope so, no one like to see any bird that's sick!.

At the end of the pier

When ever I've been to Southend pier there is always something to photograph, so here are just a few grab shots while out with my family and friends. The Med Gull numbers were down from the last time I was there, which was back in the winter. I suppose due to most birds already returned to their breeding grounds. I do like Med Gulls, and one day I might even get one on the patch!

1st Winter Common Gull

1st Winter Med Gull

Turnstone

2nd Winter Med Gull

Sanderling on sea

Southend on Sea in Essex is known for a few things but I enjoyed others delights this afternoon  like these Sanderling instead of the ice creams and doughnuts.  I couldn't spend to long taking pictures as I was with the family but certainly nice to combined the too. Well, I thought so.

Lady Ga-rganey

A pair of Garganey graced the Ingrebourne Valley this afternoon when Dave Mc found them on the viewing area. They are a great addition to this years patch list as were the Red crested Pochard on Wednesday night. Our first mini twitch of the year for the valley birders!

Water Pipit

Despite the cold wind at Coldharbour lane, I enjoyed this morning walk around to the Stone Barges. I checked all the ditches at the West end ,but could only kick up a couple of Chiffchaff . Two more Chiffchaff were at the barges. The bird of the day was this Water Pipit and a cracking one too. These record shots doesn't do it any justice , they look so smart in almost summer kit. Look at that supercilium! and pink-ish underparts . A real birders bird. Although I did see two Water Pipit, this  one was the smarter of the two.