#indoorstoomuch

Thanks to Shaun for keeping me in the loop about the Whinchats in the Top Paddock over the patch the last couple of days; after two failed attempts i finally caught two on the fence posts between the top paddock and field this morning. Dave Mcgough had seen, told Shaun who in turn text me! The Valley drums were pounding.   So a new one for the 2012 list and Valley Year list taking it to 83.

I have not been out much over the last couple of weeks due to holidays and work; i did manage a trip last Saturday morning to the Valley and caught a Ring Necked Parakeet heading over from the woods (Optimist End) towards the Hornchurch Country Park car park along the river.   A single bird and only the second for me this year over Ingrebourne.   With no birding over the bank holiday it looks like some of these local lifers that have been popping up over the last couple of weeks have and will be missed putting my target of 200 on the life list by the year end potentially out of sight. Tawny & Tree Pippits along with Spotted & Pied Flycatchers from Wansted, Barking & Ingrebourne. Update: and now a Wryneck at Wansted that i'm missing. Update, Update: and now Spot Fly & Pied Fly at barking

Arrived this morning at 6.30am and immediately came accross what looked like a Peregrine over the reserve heading towards the Hacton Lane end. Didnt get enough on it for me to make a positive ID, wish i had as it would have been a patch tick. A Pied Wagtail over the car park, first for me in a while at the Valley with the last one being early June. Heading towards the viewng area the Black Headed Gulls could be heard some distance off. The water levels have dropped a little and a small edging of mud was now on show; no waders for me today (although about 2 hours later reports of 4 Green Sandpiper). On the bend by the Heronry a first for me, i actually heard a Bullfinch , so far all my finds of this bird have been silent ones. This was a male calling as it headed towards Tit Lake. Tit Lake held the usual, Coot, Moorhen, Canada  & Greylag Geese, Mallard and Grey Heron. Onto the the hill and it was depressingly quiet with the noticeable abscen...