Great Northern Diver at Fairlop Waters

I enjoyed going to Fairlop Waters on Saturday morning to see the Great Northern Diver which has hung around for seven days now. With a clear blue sky and the sun was behind me when the Diver popped up in front at about 30m away, it was perfect but the fact that my camera was firmly zipped in my bag was not the start I wanted. A few quick handheld shots were made as the diver moved pass in between the large amount of rowing boats which was also enjoying the early Saturday mornings weather, I had to wait another hour before I could grab a few more shots of the best views of a GND that I seen in the London area, as most of my sightings of GND have been at distance on the Reservoirs in the Lee Valley. If time was on my side I would of liked to have spent more time with the Diver but I'd promised our daughter that I go and watch her play Hockey again ( and glad I did they won 2-0 and she scored one ). It does dive for long periods of time and does get moved about a bit, so much so that I'm watching it one minute and the next its over the other side of the lake.  Other than that, a few Siskin over and a chat with Tony Brown from the Wanstead crew, that was it really. If it hangs around I may go again but more than happy with the views.

A great bird to see again and still being able to bird locally makes it much better!

Chatting Rainham Marshes RSPB

With a rare day off work today (Friday) and a bit of a lay in I headed to Rainham Marsh RSPB with all good intention of doing the whole circuit but with a few pairs of Stonechat sitting along the side of the boardwalk I did get a bit side tracked and choose to photograph these Chats instead.

The rain stopped play and on the way back to the car I had a quick chat with Dominic M who had two Caspian Gulls 1x1w and a 3rd w near the tip.

 Female Stonechat

 Male Stonechat

Ferruginous and Scaup at Dagenham Chase

With work and watching our daughter play Hockey over the weekend I didn't have much time for birding. So I had to make a quick visit to the Dagenham Chase for my weekend fix. Vince pulled out a Ferruginous Duck and a Scaup on the front lake in with a group of Tufted Ducks.

They both showed well but always at range.

Female Scaup

Female Ferruginous Duck

Rough-legged Buzzard

Finally got around to see the long staying Rough-legged Buzzard at Holland Haven CP today with RS in very windy conditions. We watched for over 3 hours sitting on a post in the distance opposite the first hide until two birders flushed it by walking down the farmers track?. So, with some prolonged views of it sitting doing nothing and brief flight views we called it a day.  Not the frame fillers I was after but still a great bird to see in our home county Essex.

Record shot of Rough-legged Buzzard (Essex tick)

In and over

Just for fun I keep a garden list, it stands at a reasonable 80- yes its not a high score for someone who has lived in the same dwelling for nearly 21 years but as I said its just for fun. Two ticks for this year in the garden in as many weeks with a superb Little Owl on 16th October calling and seen on a roof  from the back garden and a Brambling which was more than expected on 1st November which was a fly over. In or over they all count for the garden list. As I look at my list for the garden Waxwing, Crossbill, Green Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat are some of the birds seen, I do wonder what's next?

Kestrel above is also on my garden list.