#indoorstoomuch

Arrived at the visitor center car park this morning by 7.30am and decided to go all the way to the Stone Barges. A mixed Goldfinch & Greenfinch flock got me started shortly followed by 4 Rock Pipits and mixed gulls steadily headed towards the tip. As i arrived at Aveley Bay i could yet again make out more than just Gulls at the far end; this end were two Curlew. Getting to the far end where about 85 Black Tailed Godwit, 4 Cormorant and mixed gulls. I bumped into John Richardson who was also watching the Godwit. 85 is my largest group of these birds so i was pleased; John then mentioned that if i had been there about half hour before the number easily totalled 350 plus and they had, in groups been making there way up river toward London. I counted about 36 Redshank dotted between Aveley Bay and the Stone Barges; Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Goldfinches, Greenfinches all to be seen on the landfill side. Upon reaching the barges i started a search for a Water P...

Half Term and with the littlest one not well, the older two were going stir crazy at home and needed some fresh air, so leaving work a little early (well half day) i went home and asked if they wanted to go find some birds. Now the normal repsonse to this is of late has been "noooooo daddy!!!" but today was a massive "yes". Given the option of Hallowen Face Painting at Rainham, crawling over the aeroplane at Ingreboune or a wander in the Woods (this last one was what i hoped for today as a Firecrest was reported earlier in the week,) i was supprised when they actually opted for it. Shortly after arriving at Warley Place, i told them what we were looking for; a really small bird with a yellow to orange stipe down the middle of his head and white eyebrows. They looked at me like i was nuts, however i was after a lifer. So off we went, through the first gate and squeelch, "this muds really squidgy daddy" -  "thats not mud thats cow poo darli...

I was looking over the Rainham Marshes Forum earlier and a post caught my eye by somebody calling themselves "Bill Oddies Beard", within the post was a forum signature as follows..... quote "Growing up, my Mum always claimed to feel bad when a bird would slam head-first into our living room window. If she "really" felt bad, though, she'd have moved the bird feeder outside." Made me smile

An early start at Rainham this morning found me in the car park at 7.30am with nobody around. I headed up the Thames towards Avely Bay finding a good mixture of birds. More Rock Pipits than i have seen in one go before, totalling 9 and a steady stream of mixed gulls heading for the landfill site for breakfast. A large group of Woodpigen headed from over the reserve and accross the Thames towards Kent, i counted 70 odd but there could have been more. As i approached the bay i could make out more than just gulls, the tide was out and the sun was low coming up from over my shoulder so i new that if i walked on further and viewed it i wouldnt be able to see much becuase of the sun. There were a few Curlew, a single Great Blacked Backed Gull, 3 Redshank along with 23 Black Tailed Godwit. Most of the Godwit flew up the Thames towards London after a few minutes. Carrying on past the Bay i kept river side and down the side of the landfill. Meadow Pipits and Skylar...

After a visit to a clients in Westcliffe i decided to pop over to Two Tree Island seeing as i was there, i had intended on doing Tylers Common on the way back so had the gear in the car. First onto the East Island with the usual woodland & scrub birds. As i moved towards the far end i suddenly remembered a page from a few days back re large numbers of Dark Bellied Brent Geese being in the Leigh On Sea area. These would be a life tick so i hoped i would see a few from the far end. I wasnt disapointed, there were loads, most were to far out to count but a bout 100 odd were close enough to ID easily. Numbers well over 1000 i would guess. courtesy of www.islaynaturalhistory.blogspot.com The other birds on the mud were 10 Curlew, few Redshank & Oystercatcher. I moved on to the West Island sticking to the edge as i went. Once i reached the small boat yard & car park i managed to get all the way down the concrete ramp. Looking about i could see 2 ...

A trip to see if  could catch the Bearded Tits that were seen yesterday and heard this morning failed but i did manage to get my first Stonechast of the season; two male & one female.

Managed to record two different Cettis Warblers today at Rainham Marshes, one in the Woodland Area the other in the reeds after Barretts Hide. This one was from the Woodland. Hosted by kiwi6.com file hosting . Download mp3 - Free File Hosting .

Had a great few hours over at Rainham this afternoon; walking from the center to Aveley Bay and back then a circuit around the reserve. I also had my first go a digiscoping with a few disastrous results but it was good fun trying. In the walk to Aveley Bay it was good to see the Rock Pipets back with two seen along the shore line; reaching the bay there were a group of about c50 Black Headed Gull and a group of Redshank c65. A solitary Avocet, Ringed Plover and Curlew with two Great Black Backed Gulls. Lee's Local Birding - Ringed Plover & Redshank - Aveley Bay I also had a Female Wheatear land a few feet away and then move swiftly on, a really bad digi scope shot: Lee's Local Birding Back in the reserve i headed via the Woodland Zone round managing to catch a Cettis Warbler for the first time in a few months and a single Dunlin over by the far end of the Northern Trail before it bends off to Butts Hide. Lee's Local Birding Lee's Local...

So i was looking at my i phone videos and was listenning to a Garden Warbler, which to me sounded very much like the Blackcap that i recorderd earlier this year, so much so that when i re listened to the clip i then had doubts. Although on the day i had seen lots of Blackcaps this particular bird wasnt seen just recorded. The clip is here . As such i placed it on twitter last night and Jonathan Lethbridge repsonded saying he thought it was a Blackcap so thanks to him for confirming. Does anyone disagree? Thanks Lee

A quick circuit this afternoon proved to be very quiet although i got some great views of a Sparrowhawk on the Northern Trail. It also allowed more Juvenile Gull ID as well. Sparrowhawk, Mallard, Shoveller, Wigeon, Teal, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Greylag, Canada Goose, Robin, Lapwing. Heard a Cettis Warbler.

The pager has been going off for a few days about the Sempalmated Sandpiper found by Paul Wood at the weekend and being busy with family commitments i was unable to go. However a quiet period at work today meant i potentially could be there from Brentwood fairly quickly subject to the relevant permissions from the other half. Permissions granted and shortly after i was on the way; parking in the free fort car park, the directions i received were to head to the right of the fort and follow the pathway to the shore; you'll know you heading in the right direction if your heading to the water tower.  For me, the bird was on the right of the tower viewable from the path. We were about 50-75 yards past it but it has been seen either side of the tower since being found at the weekend. The first 10 minutes or so were spent trying to find the bird with a guy who was already on it shouting directions; the wind was strong and buffering the scopes makin...