#indoorstoomuch

Visiting a friends new house Sunday and he reveals that as he walks along the muddy edges to his lane, strange birds are being flushed. He has only been there a short space of time but he reckons it has happened every time he has walked to the pub  village. So naturally we take a wander and luckily for me these strange birds are Woodcock.   Now this is a bit handy, i've been tramping around Berwick looking for one of these now for three years!! A Lifer.....

Arriving at Layer Breton Causeway for 10.30 am, it was very windy; most birds preferring to stay hidden within the margins. I viewed for probably and hour before moving on to the center. Little Egret, Teal, Shoveller, Greylag & Canada Geese, Kestrel, Black Headed Gull, Red Crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe. I took a wander round the water within the center, plenty of Goldeneye, Lapwing along with 3 Stonechat's along the fencing and one Oystercatcher. Spending most of my time down the old road looking for the Firecrest which wasn't to be.

What can i say; 11 hours round trip and did i need a beer after it or what, luckily the fridge cooperated.  4.30am on Saturday i was on for the longest twitch i have done so far, the Yellow Rumped Warbler - High Shincliffe. Monster winds, driving rain, diversions and i hate to say but a very nasty; ridiculously awful; my thoughts are with the relatives accident. It wasn't even 6am. I think if both me and monkey are truthful we were both glad to get to Mackie Dees for a break from the road even if we still had a stretch to go, plus it was still dark and we had no news on the Warbler. We get to Shincliffe and start to head towards the birds location, not many cars but enough, we knew others would be there already. As we walk the bend, all eyes were to the skies, it was there and in view. A brief run and we're both straight on it. Yellow Rumped Warbler - Tick no7 for 2014 . Tree to Tree, to Coconuts, Roofs and hedging all in sight with good views for about h...

I have only been once, last August; Hawky and Mo pulling me in no less than 10 life ticks in the day; this time i didn't have their expert eyes; i had mine. My dads always wanted to go so we headed off this morning and was passing New Diggins and Arc Pit by 7.45am. I wanted a Great White Egret however at this time it wasn't to be but we were both nicely surprised with a Black Throated Diver  (lifer each 1-1)  on Diggins. On to the fishing boats, i was confident in finding the Glaucous Gull ; this was my 3rd attempt for one, West Canvey Marsh and Shorham Harbour both resulting in nothing. We parked the car and i hate to say i took a brief cursory glance at some gulls; i didn't realise this was the roost; we headed towards the shoreline. It wasn't until we were parallel to them that the Glaucous Gull was found ( lifer each 2-2)  amongst them, may have missed it at first look but we got there in the end. proof of life shot As we hit the shoreline;...