#indoorstoomuch

Spent about 5 minutes over the Valley this morning, the fog and then the rain......   In the afternoon after dropping the family off at varying locations, i rushed over, yet again in the rain, to Rainham to pick up the single Waxwing. The closet views i have had and a new one for the Rainham List taking 2012 to 100   Now to catch up in the valley!

Saturday morning with No1 son, parking today at the Albyns Farm car park. Fieldfare, Redwing, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker all before we got to Tit lake.   I was on a Siskin hunt today and had full intentions on spending the morning over the Berwick Side.   Tit Lake was busy, Canada Geese, Cormormant x2, Greylag, Coot, Moorhen, Black Headed Gull x23 and Tufted Duck.   By the time we got to the Lower Paddock he wanted out, so off he went around the Glades, only to find when i took my eyes off a small group off Greenfinch him standing at my side, head skyward with his hands forming an imaginary set of bins.   The rain came in and after chasing him about for a couple of minutes (didnt put to much effort in he was having fun in the rain), i strapped him back in the buggy and we headed off towards Berwick.   Berwick was good although not for Siskin, first i heard one, then another. I edged towards the area it had come from and sure en...

Saturday again...over the Valley however this time my dad tagged along with Me and No.1 son. Raining, not hard; but enough to make it unpleasant.   Dad's only been over the Ingrebourne once before and by the sounds of it went over the iron bridge to the top paddock and back.   We went first to the small stream behind the play area....now for the last few months i've been looking for Kingfisher and Snipe, even at the birders beer the other Friday i was saying to Dick i was after Kingfisher - nothing, not even heard one.   So explaining to Dad, this areas good, its had Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher....whats that he asks as a bird darted towards us and landed on the first main tree over hanging the stream.....noooooo, Kingfisher and not only can you see it clearly, its still. The best views i've ever had before it vanished off back the way it came.   A Valley first and a 2012 first as well.   courtesy of www.theora.com   We h...

I've only seen one Shrike - a Woodchat Shrike at the Retendon round about near Wickford, Runwell Road and this was back in April 2011, apparently eaten by a Sparrowhawk the follwoing day.   I've had a go at seeing more, dont get me wrong, ive not chased around the country at every report but i have been to Vange Marsh for a Red Backed Shrike, Fingringhoe Wick for a Great Grey Shrike and also Salcot Cum Virley for the same.   Today i finally managed to connect with the Great Grey Shrike showing at Hardy's Green, Colchester.   It was favouring the same spot it had been all week, just down the road past the Big Red Barn.   First hedgrow on the same side as the barn, then viewing to the bottom of it by the telegraph wires and poles.   right of the hedgerow left of the hedgerow   I initially caught it in flight dropping down into the planted field above, staying down for a few minutes before returning back to t...

It was not the intention to be going Abberton, although after realising how close it was to where i was dropping the wife and kids off this morning i thought it would be rude not to.       Firstly i went to the Layer Breton Causeway and arrived shortly after 11am, i had heard about the Bittern here and after a few initial scans nothing was on show apart from Shoveller, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Eyptian Goose, Coot along with Pintail x4 and Snipe x2.       Within a few minutes Mr Rob hornchurch fc Burgess arrived after photographing the Desert Wheatear over at the EWT center; apparently showing well.     Shorlty after arriving he shows me a Red Crested Pochard, life tick no1, and right under my nose then he calls a Bittern flying from the right hand reeds to the far bank, catching this in flight and entering the reeds it becomes life tick no2 for the day.   courtesy of www.andrewcareyphotography.co.uk ...