#indoorstoomuch

More from my first go with the new camera this morning; Canada with a single Greylag amongst the group.

New Camera; Canon SX50HS......this photography is harder than it looks.......i was interested to see how the new camera i picked up yesterday faired straight of the box, it was about 8am, light rain, pretty dark and windy. I will put picks up as i have gone through them but for starters a Fieldfare, just cropped a bit. This is my first camera that has had more than one button so i've been reading up today on what you camera guys have all been going on about for the last three years of my life since i started birding, ISO' etc. All today's efforts though were on AUTO Still no idea so will carry on with the read. Fieldfare at Tit Lake

The intention was to be heading to Minsmere, however after a chat with Russ at the Xmas dinner I decided that a nearer venue was in order, as such I headed to Abberton with my dad. Leaving after the school run, we arrived on a chilly Layer Breton Causeway for 9.30am. It seemed fairly low on numbers, looking quite empty. A brief scan from side to side didn't yield anything out of the ordinary so we set about taking a good look. Layer Breton Causeway 2 Snipe  were to the left edge (as we looked away from the center side of the causeway), I had a look at all the swans; nothing but Mutes. Greylag took flight from the back left and headed off in the distance which seemed to send the birds around the back and out of sight slowly to the middle. This is when dad picked up a Male Goosander;  a first for him. Goosander Not much else on this side other than large numbers of Pochard, Tufted Duck  a few Gadwall and Pintail.  A male Cettis Warbler  was sang...

I got to Rainham for 3.30pm today and seeing as I haven't been out for some time I felt a little guilty that the hour I had wasn't spent over the Valley. It was an alright hour...

Today I was invited to join the London Bird Club on a field trip to Sheppey, my first trip to Sheppey and my first LBC field trip or any field trip with a club.   Organised by Peter Lambert and his son David Darrell-Lambert.   West Thurrock   I joined David first though this morning to settle a score with West Thurrock Marshes, on the occasions I have been over in search of Jack Snipe they haven't yielded but this morning was different; first a couple of Snipe took flight over the wall and finally a Jack Snipe. A life tick .   Yellow Legged Gull x2 patrolled the shore line, Fieldfare  called from over the wall.   On the mud a large group of Dunlin moved around the waters edge some way off. Dave found within this group a Stint sp but it was to far out to call it any further. Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Rock Pipit & Avocet all added to the cast.   Shellness   The LBC met at Sittingbourne station and we...

You would have thought that after working in Southend for 18 months a while back that i would know two things: 1. Southend has a lot of speed cameras 2. Southend traffic wardens love their jobs.   So why was it then that when i cut my way to Mess Road i decided to park elsewhere and take a walk through the new estate leaving the car at the mecery of Sounthend Council? As such it turned out to be a relatively expensive trip. £70 or £35 if i pay within 14 days, how nice of them.   Why did i park elsewhere? I was being a considerate and careful birder, not knowing where in Mess Road the Crossbills would be i decided a quiet approach would be better - shouldnt have bothered after seeing all the cars and construction equipment down the road.   Anyway the Parrot Crossbills performed exremely well in the fir towards the the far end of the road on the coastal side. Arriving on site about 10am all four birds were in and out of the tree giving their own little per...

The first full circuit of Rainham in an age. I had No1 Son and we arrived at the center for about 10ish and with the weather looking Ok we couldnt have asked for more.   It has been a while; there has been a few changes to the walk as well it seems with new viewing areas being put in to enhance the experience.   As we came off the ramp we headed right towards the woodland but initially stopped and scoped the scrape. Teal, Wigeon were in good numbers along with Greylag & Canada Geese , it was whilst scanning the back of the scrape that a white rump darted in front of the view briefly and down into a gulley. A few minutes later and there it was a fresh faced looking Wheatear, my first of the Autumn.   Heath was being pretty vocal so the chances of seeing much close up was thin so distance birding was the order of the day and as such not much seen within the Woodland area; heard a fair bit though, mixed tits, cettis warbler...the usual around this area. ...

Not one for early mornings I was out side the Valley gates at 5.00am, still pitch black, could have had another half our in bed......   I ventured in at about 5.20am with a hope of an owl silently gliding across the marsh; my expectation dashed by a thick layer of mist that had settled over the flood and scrape so much so that in the dim light i could see barely into it. I edged my way along to the main viewing area where you could hear more than see; two Cettis Warbler battled it out with song, Mallard making them selves known along with Coot and Moorhen. Two Water Rail from different end of the scrapes "sharmed" as a Green Woodpecker "yaffled" behind me; and it was cold, hands firmly in pockets so it was just as well i couldn't see.   Dave Mo tweeted 5.20 am "Hobby Barking Bay" at least i wasn't the only one up and as i got to the iron bridge heading towards the Bottom Paddock i heard my first " COME HERE !" which broke the...

The porch has pulled in a few moths of late:  Sqaure Spot Rustic Angle Shades  Yellow Shell   Light Emerald   Marbled Beauty   Orange Swift Brimstome 

Oh well yet another Spotted Flycatcher comes and goes at the Valley without yours truly being any where near the area.........   As such i was at the Lower Paddock this morning for about 7ish in the hope that latest of the visitors had decided to hang about for a bit.   The paddock was busy this morning; a lot busier than normal, in fact i havnt seen it so busy since it was covered in Redwing and Fieldfare late last year after the berries. From the gate the first bird was a Lesser Whitethroat along the edging to the back lake, shortly followed by another however this time it was in the bushes running up the side of the path.   As i edged my way along the fencing it was evident that most of the Whitethroat,  some 20 odd in total and now 6 Lesser Whitethroat were fresh faced youngsters.   Again fresh faced and looking good were the Chiffchaffs who were silently working the shrubs.   At the far end looking into the farm fields the c...

So with previous foul weather and pretty good conditions for some birds to be pushed up the Thames theres only one thing for it as a newish birder; yep you guessed it, leave your phone in the house and start smashing up a concrete pathway in your front garden........   So by 11 i was now aware of the Sabines Gulls in Aveley Bay along with another in Barking Bay plus Black Tern picking their way about everywhere. Permission granted i dashed off for Aveley parking in Coldharbour Lane where a small group had gathered still looking for the gulls which had for some time dispersed. A quick chat with Shaun, Monkey & Steve Bacon i headed to the group and settled in.   A few familiar faces and a chance to finally meet James Astley (Parus).   James thought he had a Little Gull but it had gone behind another viewer and he lost it, 3x Turnstone dropped into the mud on Aveley Bay itself (London List Tick) and after a bit i picked out aboout 20 odd Black Tern; cool ...

A call late Friday afternoon and Paul & Bradders are on their way to KGV Reservoir for the Red Necked Phalarope over in Chingford; i was hoping to meet with them at the entrance at 5.15pm but traffice was pretty dire and after battling my way i wasnt going to catch them in time, not wanting to hold them up i headed home.   Earlyish Saturday morning and i had another call, Shaun was on his way; i wasnt going to give up today as i now new that this was a good bird for London and a would be a nice addition to my London List.   Upon arrival i was faced with a test from the Krypton Factor, some eight padlocks holding it fast, i mean i know this is east London but surely if someone wants to get in that badly they will just hop on over the fence?   Up the hill, through the sheep shit and onto the bank to find messrs Harvey, Redfern & Halley-Frame all on the little bird a fair way out; easily picked up thanks to direction and another lifer me.   ...

A family few days away to Wells in Norfolk gave me a couple of hours birding time, however sadly the sand banks at the Wells harbour are a lot smaller than they used to be and as such are further out, the smaller waders are just to small for me to ID but larger ones such as Curlew, Oystercatcher were in abundance.   Apparently the shrinkage of the sand banks is due to the dredging of the boat channel to Wells Harbour; sand is being placed in other areas which in turn is affecting the tide flow. The Common Terns that were nesting on these shingle/sandy banks have now relocated, not in the same numbers, to the spit just behind the life boat station and these could be viewed easily with the eye.   A few Turnstone and Redshank cruised the shoreline along the walk into town from the beach.       So with a couple of hours to spare on Wednesday afternoon I managed to get the whole family off to Titchwell, we didn't do much just a walk down...

I had one of those mornings that most people reading this post probably havn't had for many a year......yep 10 ticks in one morning not even a day, one morning. #TickTickBooooom.   During this morning i discovered two things 1. that seawatching is going to take me an age to learn & 2. @davemo57 doesnt use hashtags....... according to Paul you cant teach old dogs new tricks etc etc.....according to Dave everybody should know where Canvey is and as such #'s are not required.......   My first trip to Dungeness affectionately know as Dunge was great, we left about 5am and was on the shingle for sea watching about an hour and half later. I was in the hands of Dave Mo & Paul Hawkins and for my first proper sea watch i didn't really know what to expect, yes I've stood on Titchwell beech for 15 minutes having a look at what was there but only if i new something was about i.e. Long Tailed Duck earlier this year.   First bird of the day pretty much were Sa...

The plan for today was to be at Aveley Bay for 5.30am to check for waders. I was there for about that however had forgotten to check the tides, as such no mud due to high tide meant no waders.   Rather disappointed i headed to the Stone Barges; they were empty bar a lot of Pigeon - what a waste of an early morning.   So, off to the Valley. Parking at Albyns farm i took a walk up and around Ingrebourne Hill and again nothing, this was turning out to be a disaster. A "charm" of Goldfinch, probably 35 birds on the hill Lowfield Marsh side was as good as it got......   I decided to check out how the Mute Swan 4ANA was doing. He was doing well, so was the Mrs and the two kids were growing up fast.   Enough was enough, now 7am, i was going home. I then bumped into another local birder, Gary. We had a chat, he had seen one of the recent Bearded Tits but had seen it from the housing side looking onto the fishery. This is a side I rarely go so with n...

So after all the Patch MEGA activity I headed back over the Valley later that evening for one reason, adding that Wigeon to the year list. I found it on the lake between lower scrape and paddock 2013 = 94 used under the creative commons licence - original by dracobotanicus

when you look at my list...... Last night I was out with Paul looking for the Pectoral Sandpiper over at Rainham Marshes. I'm glad to say after a search for a while we found it (well Paul did) in amongst a couple of Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and Curlew.   After a celebratory woot woot along with modern day high fives I was on 200; it was short lived   A Hobby  later   also came in lowish as well but disappeared pretty quickly.   In order for today, after last nights chat, was a list clean up; ok its my list but I don't want to be reaching 500 400 300 birds to be told I have 10 dodgy ducks on there; you know what birders are like. :)   used under the creative commons license - original by jac6.flicker   So my clean list total stands at 195 with one bird awaiting acceptance: Slaty-Backed Gull.

I went away for a week and upon arrival I saw news of the Osprey at Abberton Reservoir, with this being a life tick as well I was a little gutted, an Osprey is a bird I wanted to see and pretty much on my doorstep   Although my twitches are getting further afield I'm still either 1. to lazy or 2. not of the mental disposition to think going to Wales (or equivalent distance) for the day is a good idea. However I am being brain washed / shown the light trained, slowly by Messers Harvey , Hawky  & Monkey to put thoughts of distance from my mind and concentrate on the bird in question. Apparently slowly but surely my radius of travel will increase and so it seems.   However I was in Devon and with the family so to ask them to allow me to travel all the way home and back wasn't worth raising; plus i'm still at no.2 above. I would have to wait until the next one...   Luckily for me that Osprey seemed to like Abberton as it was stil...

The partners had a compliance meeting today so i found myself trudging to Puckeridge for it this morning; As i headed up the high street Swifts everywhere, low level flying along pavements doging vans and cars. I then came accros the colony hide out.   It was very busy, i parked up and watched for a good 5 minutes, this short video does not do it justice, the volume of birds in and out was vast.         UPDATE: 17.09.2014 Sadly, the owners have had home improvements done, this colony is no longer there

After a few local attempts over the Valley courtesy of Messrs Harvey & McGough, the Essex Birdwatching Site came up with goods locally to work;   Spotted Flycatcher x1 - St Nicholas's Church, Church Road, Kelvedon Hatch.   Now weirdly, the weekend before i was actually at this church for a christenning however we only entered the front of the church and never managed a wander around the graves.   So being 10 minutes away from the office it would have been rude not to have a go. Looking through the gates up the side of the church revealed only Robin , so knowing about Fane Hall next to the church i took a wander towards it.   This paid off with a male Bullfinch along with not one but two Spot Fly, after watching for a while as they went about they business i began to notice a patten; from local area, to wires then towards the rectory. Finally managing a view to the rectory gave views of a very full nest, X2 young Spot Fly on the ledge behin...

Another ring visual today on a wonder to Tit Lake and back from the Hornchurch car park, with plenty of Blackcap, Long Tailed Tit & Whitethroat. A male Cuckoo went low over head after a quick detour down to the iron bridge. No Swifts though but still a fair few House Martin over the scrape. Finally arriving a Tit lake and 4ANA was close in to the bank. I have been looking for him since first finding a colour ring Mute Swan back in March April time, 4AMG. Two sightings of this bird but nothing more. However 4ANA has held up on the lake since, although whenever viewing ive only been able to read the numbers 4 times. He has gone from single to paired to parents, with two signets on show with both mum and dad today. 4ANA The Mrs   The Family

An hour over the valley mainly viewing around the scrape took my year list for the Valley to 93 - my new record. A Green Sandpiper directly in front of the the main viewing area on the rock mid water. It was there for a while before heading off towards the far right reeds and out of sight. used under the creative commons license - original can be viewed here Also seen was a Hobby heading along the river away from the scrape and iron bridge. Around the scrape also from the main viewing area, Lapwing x9, House Martin, Swift, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Cettis Warbler

After picking up Sand Martin over Berwick last week a quick trip after a client meeting last night found a Hobby low over the scrape that headed off over the iron bridge and along towards the old barn owl stump. This puts me on 92 which matches last year and my best over the Valley to date and with 6 months to go..... Other birds seen: Lapwing x11, Kestrel, Mute Swan, Coot, Little Grebe, Gadwall x2, Mallard, Cuckoo x3, Swift, House Martin, Reed Warbler x2, Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove, Magpie, Cettis Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackbird, Starling, Robin, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff

Step 1: Most would already have this requirement, however if new to this it is a requirement that cannot be over come. Obtain the....  for whatever the reason this seems to be the favoured type - go figure   Step 2: Once the above has been aquired then obtain.....  other makes and retailers are available and im not providing an endorsement for this retailer Step 3: Choose your favoured morning and with both the above attend Ingrebourne Valley parking in the Hornchurch Country car park. Step 4: Walk the 50 meters to the new mobile coffee shop...... Step 5: Order a beverage of your choosing and take a seat...... Step 6: Now relax, throw ball continuously to field allowing dog to retrieve, sup coffee and chat with like minded individuals Step 7: Rince and Repeat until coffee has been depleated Step 8: Walk the 50 meters back to the car and consider the dog walked

Last night at about 7.30pm I headed to the back end of the garden to check on if the Blue Tits had fledged; sure enough they had and being at work I missed it so don't know how may made it out of the box.   There was no sign of them in the surrounding trees or next doors garden either but whilst checking I heard a Crow making a racket above and looking up I caught sight of a raptor being mobbed, however they both immediately went out of sight behind a fir, running to the far corner, there to be added to the garden list, was a Hobby; prey in foot slowly moving on through, dodging the odd lazy attack from the crow and in between snacking.   Used Under the Creative Commons License - original can be viewed at www.deeestuary.co.uk

Not much happened over the patch for me of late, Grasshopper Warbler being a first for me over there taking my life patch list to staggering heights; 107.   2013 total now 90 which is 2 off my best year, with a few noticable gaps, Redwing, Wigeon, Little Owl.   This evenning i went for a little wander to the scrape, same old same old if it wasnt for the Swifts . Probably about 30-40 of them; insects were every where and they were low. The House Martins stayed high but the Swifts decided to treat me to an awsome flight display.   I've had what i thought were close Swifts along the wall at Rainham but this was a different kind of close. As i turned up at the scrape they rose, i stood by the Valley sign and watched the water. Shortly after i was buzzed; straight passed my left ear not just a whoosh but as it turned it beat its wings, so close you could hear it.   I moved towards the center of the fencing and faced away from the water. They were r...

Thanks to Shaun for driving; i managed to get down to Margate this afternoon for the Dusky Thrush. I am really pleased i went and we had good views for hour / hour and a half as it slowly made its way through the Sycamore it was held up in.   Around 150odd people still there when we arrived even more if you included the dead ones. Any way great thanks not only to Shaun for the drive but also Mary Popplebottom, she knows why...   Digiscoped a few shots and these were the better ones: Shaun...a very happy individual.

I was in Norfolk, leaving Tuesday morning to arrive about lunchtime at Holme NWT. I have been only once before but I like the place as it feels very empty compared to Titchwell.   Holme   I started with a walk along the beech towards (I think) Gore point a tidal inlet to the marsh, from the Pines. There was very little on the sea and I had no intention today on sea watching, that would come tomorrow morning.     A few Sanderling along the foreshore no longer the light grey colour I normally see them when at Southend. A single Curlew. As I got to the point I could see ahead a group of birds resting up, approaching closer there were two Dunlin , again in more summer plumage with black bellies, Grey Plover in the same, more Sanderling and a group of c30 Bar Tailed Godwits and two Blackwits thrown in for good measure. Further down the beech behind the group a few Turnstone and as I turned to the inlet and headed down it 9 Ringed Plover spread out w...