The Dark Room

Sunday 26 April 2015

Rainham again

Another visit to Rainham Marshes on Sunday afternoon produced the following highlights: a smart Male Whinchat, 16 Wheatear, Marsh Harrier and a Cuckoo at the West end of the reserve, which is my favorite part of the large site.

 Male Whinchat


Golfinch


Linnet

Saturday 25 April 2015

Greenland Wheatear

Another visit to Rainham Marshes RSPB (Saturday) and a pretty good after work session too. With 14 Wheatear, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite over and some photo opportunities I'm more than happy. This time I just waited for the Greenland Wheatear's to come to me- A bit of a waiting game but it did work this time.








Thanks Martin for dropping me off!

Friday 24 April 2015

Ring Ouzel at Rainham Marshes

With good numbers of Ring Ouzel arriving on our shores it was nice to get my name on the score sheet last night finding a Female Ring Ouzel on the hill behind the Stone Barges at Rainham Marshes RSPB. I enjoyed the good views but it was never close, but close enough to hear the ' tuck tuck' calls. More than pleased to get some shots of it too, which in the past has been difficult due to their shyness. 





Monday 20 April 2015

Just for the record

I wouldn't normally take a shot of a bird around 200m away BUT  this was a patch tick for the Valley and a good one too. Even with the x2 converter on, it still looks miles away. So here isn't a record shot of the Wood Sandpiper that was on the back scape found by Dave Mc this late afternoon. Instead here is a Wheatear  from Rainham Marshes and although I did see a cracking spring male Whinchat on the hill at Cold Harbour lane I didn't get anywhere near that either!


So, just for the record then here is the poor record shot of the Wood Sandpiper below.


A poor image but a quality bird for the Ingrebourne Valley and its only taken me 20 years to see one on the patch.... Thanks DAVE.

Saturday 18 April 2015

Seven days

The last seven days of birding has certainly been varied. I kicked off on last Sunday with the Spoonbill at Rainham Marshes RSPB and then in the evening I manged to see the cracking male Common Redstart in the horse paddock at the Ingrebourne Valley. Wednesday evening myself and Martin Blow went to see the pair of Black-winged Stilt at Bowers Marsh and then today (Saturday) a after work afternoon at Rainham produced 16 Wheatear, Whimbrel, 2 cuckoo, 3 Common Tern and a host of common migrants that have now started to flood in the country.

Photographic wise, only the Wheatears were close enough for the camera.



Sunday 12 April 2015

Art in the hide


If you would like to see some of my images of birds from around Essex and beyond please fill free to visit Rainham Marshes RSPB on the above dates and many thanks to those who visited today.


Saturday 4 April 2015

Plus three

With the 4 Common Scoter on the river and a pair of Garganey still on the reserve at Rainham Marshes yesterday (Friday) and adding Blackcap, my patch year list has increased by three.

Plenty of activity on the reserve with displaying Lapwing and Redshank, singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff  and Skylarks, it feels spring has finally sprung into action. 

 A Lapwing looking in the opposite direction but still keeping an eye on me....