Wallasea Island

Although it was a cold and early start this morning it was worth braving the freezing temperature at Wallasea Island Essex. I've only  visited a few times before so it made a very nice change after only birding the Ingrebourne Valley of late.  Hen Harrier, 2 SEO, 3 Marsh Harrier and 60+ Corn Bunting were seen in just the first half hour of light, a real change of fortune as 2 Marsh Harrier were best in a months birding the patch this month!

 I also enjoyed getting the camera out again due to my one being redundant with the lack of birds being seen and it still not working, so thanks Les for letting me use his spare canon 50 d body.

Although I took a hundred or so images here are my two favourites from the session the rest ended up the the bin and thanks to Lee, Monkey, Martin Redfern and my young nephew George for great morning out.....

Female Stonechat

Corn Bunting

I will survive!

Having not pressed the shutter on my camera for a couple of weeks due to work, bad weather and the fact that the camera has been back and forth to the repair shop. Hopefully this weekend maybe different. If not I'll just carry on and survive another weekend without it, but I really miss it!

Shades of Grey

Unlike most birders this weekend I didn't get a chance to visit the coast and go and see one of three Desert Wheatear's that were still hanging around. If I hadn't been working all this weekend I would of gone too. So here is another image from Tuesday at Leydown Kent of a Grey Plover. 

Stonechat

These two Stonechat at Harty Ferry in Kent showed nicely for the camera at close range, with the sun light behind me and a slight breeze in the right direction they were both always looking at the lens. Due to the small size of the reed bed its nice to be able to get a clear background for a change, although its a small reedbed it still held Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher, Bearded Tit, Robin and Reed Bunting.

Due to my Cannon 1D mk11n in for repair, Martin Blow let me borrow his 50D for the day, cheers mate!

Male Bearded Tit

A early and cold start at Harty ferry on Tuesday morning with Dave Mo produced good views of a small group of Bearded Tits including this cracking Male in the reed bed behind the viewing area.

With Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Peregrine and two very showy Stonechat it was a very enjoyable morning out in Kent.

Beards at Rainham Marshes

It's been a couple of weeks since I've pressed the shutter button on my old 1d mk 11 camera body and when I had the chance to press it this morning over at Rainham Marshes RSPB, it was still in my bag as a Raven flew low and calling along the foreshore West. A welcome site and London tick! Once the camera was out, the battery wasn't in correctly so I failed to get a image. So, after making a school boy error things turned out much better. 2 Corn Bunting were with a group of Meadow Pipit and once in the Reserve I heard a group of 8 Bearded Tits high over the Rifle Butts which dropped in the reed bed near the Dragonfly pool.

A couple of smart Males were in the group, which made their way through the reed bed all to quickly.

Ring Ouzel

Haven't done any birding till this afternoon  (Friday) after work, so it was certainly nice to just get out. Ok, not on the patch or to twitch the Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Cornwall but to see a couple of local Ring Ouzels, where two showed well on the slack at the Dagenham Chase-where I done all and only birding as a kid!. Thanks to Vince for finding them and Russ S for his image for the blog.

A mixed bag

The last seven days have certainly brought a mixed bag of fortune. As last Sunday on the patch I had a Pintail on the back pool, which is a patch tick! and more importantly, only the second time Pintail has been recorded at the valley. Wednesday evening the Short-eared Owl was still on site over the farmers field found by Dick on the Sunday and only the second time I've seen one on the patch.

So, Saturday I treated myself a rare day off from working-yes I've been working a few Saturdays lately and went down to Dungeness Kent. With Ring Ouzel and Yellow- brow Warblers dominating around the coast there was a good chance of finding some? (wrong) Never mind, a very enjoyable time anyway around the moat and desert area looking at 1 Chiffchaff and a few Stonechat and a few flocks of Goldfinch over, hmmmm. A look out at sea near the patch and Kittiwakes were moving along as Gannets and noticed a Juv Arctic Skua harassing the Gulls but with the patch in the morning the Sun is always behind the birds so you get a silhouette as the below. On the way home I popped in to the reserve and found the Cattle Egret still in with the cattle near the entrance gate on the right about 300m away.

 Arctic Skua

this is what a Cattle Egret looks like at 300m away, its the white thing in the middle, honest...

Center Parcs

Other than enjoying quality family time, sporting activates and the new water ride at Center Parcs Elevden at the weekend. Our patio became another highlight of the busy short break with it being a haven for birds and wildlife. Two Weasel, Badger, Muntjac Deer, loads of Squirrels and a few Rabbits kept the kids entertained as did the Nuthatch, Jay, Goldcrest and Coal tits all from the comfort of our lodge. It's why we always go back as it brings our daughter and my sisters kids all that little bit closer to nature. Below are images of a Nuthatch taken from the patio.

Jay

At this time of year Jays are active collecting acorns and nuts which will be cached for the winter months ahead. Normally shy and difficult to photograph these two Jays put the weekends session in Thetford right up there as one of my best in terms of enjoying the moment, in the past I've only got shots of a Jays rear ends as they fly away. So I'm very pleased with the results.

 

Jamming in on a Nightjar!

The only time I've seen Nightjars and it's not been many it's always very late in the evening around dusk, views have been in flight and distant. So today's one at Middlesex filter beds, Greater London  was more than welcome, well brilliant actually. To see one in the daylight perched up is how I've always dreamt of seeing one and as I , Dave Lambert and Pete Langsdon was only around the corner at Walthamstow Reservoir it made sense to just drive ten minutes up the road to see it!. A scarce breeding bird in the country but a 'MEGA' bird for London....

  

Gunners Park

After the mid-week high of finally getting Ruff on the patch and waiting 19 years for it, 4 turned up at once on the viewing area Tuesday evening. So, I thought that by going to Gunners Park Sunday and seeing the Barred Warbler it would mixed things up a bit birding wise, but it wasn't to be after standing around for 2 hours with no joy. Its only a year tick anyway and their were some Gulls to be papped near Southend on Sea.

 Common Gull

Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull

Wheatear at Rainham Marshes

Once again I stayed locally but instead of birding the valley I choose Rainham Marshes, six Whinchat along Coldharbour Lane was a good start and the highlight of the quick mornings session. A return visit in the afternoon East of the Stone Barges gave up 2 Wheatear. With the sun behind me I just had to wait for a clear background to press the shutter along with a very long game of Cat and Mouse, I moved closer they moved away and so on.

The viewing area

Once again the viewing area is looking good with near perfect water levels by luck as we don't have anyone to control the levels but lady luck is kind this year. The Black-tailed Godwits are still here this evening as Green Sandpiper, Snipe and this Little Egret below. Hopefully something else with a bit more quality might drop in this autumn and hopefully a bit nearer for the camera than this image.

100!

Finally reached 100 for patch year list, a Redstart  in form of a 1w female type on Saturday (well done Andy) and Mistle Thrush on Sunday. Yes, its taken me eight months to see a bloody Mistle thrush on the patch!. The Godwits are still kicking around which is unbelievable in terms of how long they've been around but for me this weekend bird was Whinchat as I had 2 in the blackberry bush near squadrons approach which seems to be a favourite place for them here in the Autumn.

The red background is from the brickwork from the nearby houses, you can't beat a bit of urban birding.

LEO

With Spot Fly numbers doing well over the valley this weekend (8+) and the Juv Gaganey still hanging around plus 20 Blkwits back on the viewing area due to the water levels dropping down. Wheatear and Whinchat returning to the patch, its been good to just bird locally again but no doubt the highlight this weekend was a Long-eared Owl over at Rainham Marshes found by David Smith Sunday morning. Not clear views but 20 feet away from the path how can you complain...

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher's were seen daily whilst on our family holiday in Ibiza where these images were taken. Coincidentally I had one on the patch Saturday which puts me on 98 for the patch year list.

 

Juvenile Garganey

After a disappointing sea watch at Canvey point Essex with 2 Arctic Skua being the highlight myself and Paul Hawkins popped in at the Ingrebourne Valley and once again the patch delivers. The Avocet and the Black-tailed Godwits were still present and the cracking and much closer Juvenile Garganey was show nicely at the viewing area. 

              

Mallard on the left and Garganey on the right showing a good size in comparison

Valley birding

In terms of birding the patch its been a good week. It started  from last Sunday when I picked up 17 Black-tailed Godwit on the viewing area which was flushed from the Dagenham chase minutes earlier per Steve Drake. The Godwits are a scarce visitor to the valley, so are a welcome patch year tick. Tuesday Dave Mc pulls out a immature Avocet which is only my second record for the site in 19 years and while I'm twitching the Avocet I pick out a female Mandarin Duck which is a Mega patch bird too. Now on Saturday 23rd August the Godwit numbers have increased to a  whooping 54! Add in the Juv Garganey, Spot Fly and 2 Wheatear  its been a cracking week for the Ingrebourne Valley and its small core of birders...... 

Audouin's Gull

Whilst on holiday in Ibiza, everyday I saw Audouin's Gulls either from our balcony at our hotel or on the beach but photographing them was not so easy, either the sun was to harsh and I blew the whites and had to dump them in the bin or they just wouldn't play ball for the lens. So here are my best efforts, not what I wanted but my best so far to date. Shame that I only saw Adults too, would of liked to see some Juv's.  

  

Sunshine and Little Stint not Sanderling

Last week I enjoyed a family holiday in Ibiza in the resort of Santa Eulalia. It was just nice to spend some real quality time with them, so birding was a bit casual but still good. Below are some images of a moulting out Little Stint not Sanderling as first thought near the quay, which put on a good show. Camera base was on the floor for the low angle shots and it was nice to have some clear backgrounds made up by the sea and the afternoon sunshine...  

          

ISO 200 1600/ F 6.3