#indoorstoomuch

The now usual routine of heading out on a Saturday morning with No1 son took us to Rainham Marshes with the sole intention of ticking off Garganey for the year and hopefully providing better views than my only other time of seeing this bird last year. Arriving at 9.30am just as the drawbridge went up, i had a chat with Ruth who advised they had been seen the previous day from the platforms. I headed for the 2nd platform as you move round from Barretts Hide. A quick scan found both found drake and female at the far bank directly below the gap between the two MDZ buildings as a reference point. Good views for a bit but they then went into some longer vegetation; shorlty after they emerged again for some good views but all scoped. courtesy of www.peterboroughbirdclub.blogspot.com

I tried to get to Rainham this afternoon but arriving at the new A13, old A13 roundabout it was closed, Aveley was gridlocked as well so i headed back to Ingrebourne Valley. I initially stopped at Belhus for a first visit for about half hour: Chiffchaff, Greylag, Canada Goose, Kestrel, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Robin, Long Tailed Tit, Moorhen, Coot. Onto the Valley which tunred out to be a great afternoon with my most successful trip over there to date. Parking at the Berwick Woods car park i headed over to the Top Paddock, Chiffchaff's singing everywhere it seemed; Greenfinch, Goldfinch & Linnet. A Pheasant in amongst the horses. By the field just before the bridge a single Red Legged Partridge. Across the bridge and a Skylark rose singing from the sweetcorn field. One of the things i have been working on is flight identification of Rooks, Crows and Jackdaw; so as the gun went off over by the farm house (or whatever it was) i got the oppertunity as from t...

Saturday morning; girls at dancing; me and No1 son took at quick trip to Thorndon for an hour. We didnt venture far from car par 2: Blackbird Blue Tit Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff Great Spotted Woodpecker Great Tit Jackdaw Jay Long Tailed Tit Magpie Nuthatch Robin Song Thrush Stock Dove Woodpigeon Wren The stars of the show being a group of 6 Jackdaw making a hell of a racket chasing each other up, down and around a dead tree.

I left work fairly early today and was at Rainham after being at home for a bit by 12. It was a lovely sunny warm day and i was eager to get over there for two reasons; No1 = Chiffchaff, No2 = Little Ringed Plover. I know its a bit repetitive but i really enjoy the song of a Chiffie and as for LRP's i cant quite put my finger on it but i like them and Ringed Plovers. I took a quick walk along the Thames to Aveley Bay; Rock Pipit, Curlew & Dunlin being the highlights, no Wheatear. Back at the RSPB reserve i had just left the center and was heading down the ramp when somebody walked past in the other direction, the face was familiar but from where i didnt know; then i realised it was Jonathan Lethbridge who i had never met, i introduced myself and we had a very brief chat; he'd been over at the Stone Barges for an Iceland. It was then he said something that got me thinking; he said that Rainham was a either "a bit of a blank" or "was blank". Th...

This morning i was hoping for the pager to go off for both Iceland & Kumliens Gulls , both as i understand it species of Iceland Gull neither of which i have seen before. Just as i was leaving to take the wife and girls to ballet it happened via Twitter with Paul Hawkins saying he had just had it. So a good start. By about 9.10am i was parked at the Barges with No1 son in tow. There were already about 20 odd people there (and still being new to this, i didnt recognise anyone). No1 son was making a reasonable amount of noise in his pram, nothing to put off the Gulls out on the Thames but possibly get a reaction from a birder or two; i didnt fancy a debate about his murmurings this morning so decided to take myself off down river a little. No1 Son at the Stone Barges today I found a large group of Gulls and set about the scan; all Black Headed Gulls, a little further out in mid river another group; a mix group of Common, Herring, Lesser & Great Black Backed, ...

Ok - a bit morbid - but can anyone let me know what this was please? Surley its a bit early for young to be at this stage growth this early in the year or even hatched? Comments appreciated

Mallard x3  directly over the back this morning, low -List now to 44

Whilst the girls were at dancing Saturday morning i took the oppertunity to try for the Green Sandpiper that has eluded me every time ive been. Arriving at about 9.30am, i was getting No 1 son ready, when Rob pulled up; after a quick chat he decided to join us down at the scrape. We came out from under the bridge, turning the corner when two bike riders came from the scrape....oh well no Green Sand this morning. As we got to the scrape though it was still there at the back edge. New one for the 2012 list courtesy of www.worldbirds.eu Heath was warming up to Rob by now and wouldnt leave him alone so whilst he was scanning the scrape he had a permanent attachment to his left leg. He started getting fidgety (Heath not Rob) so we left him (Rob not Heath) to it and took a wonder. We got back to the car and before we got out of the Thames Chase drive he was asleep (again Heath not Rob) Other Birds: Yellowhammer, Kestrel, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit...

Common Buzzard Added to List this afternoon

I mananged to get over to the River Chelmer today for the Green Winged Teal ; reports came in that it had been showing shortly after the A414 bridge this morning. Parking at Tesco, i joined the river to see a birder some 400 yards ahead. Herring, Black Headed & Common Gull as i came onto the walkway to my left with a single Mute Swan. I continued under the bridge looking at all the Teal i could see, which meant it took me 10 seconds as i could only see two. Mallard x5 along the edging along with Mute Swan x3 Continuing on i found my 3rd, and BINGO, Green Winged Teal x1. It was walking on the mud bank on the far side with really good views before it flew off up river to stop at the bend just before the reed beds start. It wasnt far so i headed up and managed even more viewing. I looked up river to see two others now with scopes out viewing something so decided to join them. They were on a Water Rail however when i mentioned the GWT neither had seen it so we a...

Whilst driving past the top paddock yesterday afternoon i got an unexpected patch increase for The Valley; a Red Legged Partridge ran out in the road, for a brief second it looked as if its life as a Valley bird was soon to be a lot flatter as it disapered in front of the car immediatley ahead. It reappeared heading back to the road side verge on the top paddock side after its near death experience. Valley List now 70

Finally, after reading DMgHX Birding i took my 4th attempt at the Drake Scaup over at Stubbers OPC this morning to find it immediately sitting with the Pochard and Tufted Duck on the front lake over in the sheltered far side. Luckily finding it straight way meant i wasnt there long and got to the office nice and early. courtesy of www.en.com Stubber OPC front lake Other birds: Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Little Grebe, Mallard, Cormorant, Coot