Black-headed Gulls

Black-headed Gulls, a two- year gull, abundant medium sized Gull and good to pratice flight shots on in the hope of getting close views of the White- wingers that may start turning up soon as some have already have do so. IT'S GULL SEASON!!!!!

A quick circuit

This morning I went along to Rainham Marshes RSPB and done a quick circuit which produced the following Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Ruff, 10 Snipe, 100 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing ,wildfowl numbers have increased which included a few Pintail, 4 Stonechat and a Chiffchaff in the woodland area.

Turnstone

With good numbers of Turnstone at Southend on Sea and the fact that they sometimes come close, I felt rude not to point the camera at them. It's as simple as that!

 

Off the pier

So, it was back down  to the end of the pier at  Southend yesterday morning for me instead of driving to twitch the Orphean Warbler in Wales. I twitched last weekend soI didn't fill the need to twitch again this weekend! It turned out to be  a good session down there due to good light and a lot more Gulls hanging around off the end of the pier and to get the full  set of age groups for Med Gulls. Also had  a Male Marsh Harrier go over too, add in the Turnstone's that preformed well and a quick chat to Jono as he made his way to the pier, it was a great morning out.

More Pied Wheatear

Just three more shots of the well watched Pied Wheatear from yesterday, could of done with a converter really but more than happy to just finally catch up with the species. Smart birds!

Pied Wheatear

It made a nice change this morning going twitching with Monkey and Jono, as I'm the one who doesn't like being in the car much these days but as there was a offer and I felt rude not to take up the spare seat!. Just after 2 hours drive were greeted with a view of about a mile away the Pied Wheatear was just about  tickable. Soon though it came a lot closer and  I felt good about going. Good views and a tick for all of us so it turned out being a great day and with seeing the Glossy Ibis on the home for a year tick, add in a good laugh with lads I might just go a bit more often!

It's not a sharp image but there is not many shots of the tail detail around!

1st Winter Common Gull

Out of all the shots I took at the weekend some 300 or so this Common Gull is my Favourite probably due to the pose and both outer and inner wing detail is on show.

Turnstone

At this time of year the Turnstone numbers are building up around  the end of Southend Pier now and with a couple pieces of bread they come close, so taking a shot of the them is easy. Well, trying to get them coming in for flight shots which is what I enjoy doing is not so easy. Here are the better ones I took and again will go back to try for something a lot better.  

 

2nd Winter Med Gull

Both birds are 2nd Winter Gulls but the top bird still has to moult out four dark median primary coverts, also the shots show how the bills are variable in this age group and whats going on with its P10, it looks transparent?

 

1st Winter Mediterranean Gull

A short session once again at Southend Pier with Martin Redfern produced all three age groups of Med Gulls in good light but very windy conditions. Here are the first installment of the 1st Winters, notice that one bird is still retaining some brown  Juvenile feathers on the mantle and upper tail coverts.