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.