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.