#indoorstoomuch

The Black-neck Grebe has been there for a while and although i've seen these i've never seen one close. What a great opportunity, although dam, its Wanstead.  Nothing wrong with Wanstead but a mid afternoon weekend visit for me means a 40/45 minute journey for something that really shouldn't take that long. and i was right, 45 minutes later, I'm moaning to myself walking round Alexandra Lake about the journey and the incapability of drivers. When, historically, you drive as much as i did, drivers fall into a few categories and those categories vary depending on the location. They are all frustrating and ultimately could see me ranting for hours. Digression aside, there were a couple of others sitting waiting patiently for the Grebe to venture out of the far bank as good views seemed to be almost guaranteed from what i had heard. Thanks to a pair of Little Grebe the bird was aggressively moved out and slowly started to work its way closer.  Views were amazing and i neve...

I took the decision to head over to Barcombe Cross on Sunday morning. Arriving early at 6.30am i didn't have to wait long until it showed on the picnic table which has been kept topped up with seed on a daily basis by visitors. The bird showed on and off whilst i was there and sung regularly. after good views and some dodgy photos i headed home.

A plan was hatched, regardless of your personal views, we were heading to the South West. Both vaccinated and both each with two negative tests under our belts the week before we were off. Leaving early, picking up Martin at 5am, we aimed to be in Exmouth for 8.30am, to tick, the first of our targets, the Northern Mockingbird. It has been a long stayer over lockdown. This worked a treat. We pulled up and headed into the small alley at the rear of the gardens. Only us two, we had the alley entirely to ourselves. This was to change but only increasing by two once the bird showed itself. We were fortunate, the Mockingbird landed on top of a telegraph pole in the alley and stayed for a while, allowing great views and the ability to dig the cameras out. Tick 1. After our fill, we actually were ahead of of our plan. However one vital part was now missing. We were only heading onto target number two if news had been seen. It hadn't. Nothing for the American Herring Gull showing of late i...

 I've quite enjoyed popping over the chase every now and then, not a place i go very often and thanks to Steve, i've found the tradesman's entrance which makes the journey time for a quick visit possible.

Me and Paul, have been, over lock down, walking our local pond in the middle of a housing estate. Its been good fun, two minute walk from either one of us and now set up as a Hot Spot on eBird. We've had some twitches and some fly overs. Northern Shoveller saw me running over one morning. Last week i managed a fly over Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. One of those one time moments probably not to be repeated with the bird flying over calling as it went. It truly is the no.1 birding location in the area. 😏 This has been there for probably three days and we've not paid it any attention. However today it caught Pauls eye. Wow, stunning bird. Hybrid Baikal x Eurasian Teal. Its even been twitched now, 4 people over there specifically for it this afternoon. Invaders to our local covid patch. (update, a reglular stream of people. Its proving a popular local bird)

After what seems like an eternity of isolation i managed to pop over to the back end of the Valley during the week to look over the res. Usual suspects however i did manage to year tick the Wigeon for the all important #69. A new, i really dont want to see any humans route, sees me cutting through the trees to get to the new hill at the far end and then allows me to wander in relative peace. The lazey arsed dog walkers dont tend venture this far away from the center, a few do but in the main its dog free compared to the Hornchurch side. This also means that you get less people all together - result. I walked down to the Paddock, hoping for Yellowhammer but this didnt happend and as i tunred to head back, thick black smoke assended into the sky. Holly shit, my car was on fire . No i mean it. The only thing near the smoke signals bellowing into the sky was my motor. I panicked, then laughed, i wanted a new car anyway. I headed back, i started to run, then back to a casual walk, then a fa...

We are now as a family in full isolation for a total period of 15 days and not allowed out anywhere. Not becuase we have Covid or are suspected of having but because my wife has to have an operation. She had Covid test earlier this week and we were told to all stay in until the operation date and then again for 10 days after. All makes sense and will happily comply. My gardens pretty cool as Sub urbans gardens go. Birds that have actually used the garden have included Waxwing and Mallard . Goldcrest is almost daily as is Coal Tit . Overs have included some suprises, Whimbrel , last year, was a biggie. Shelduck another a few years back.

Yet again i hit the alarm and turned it off, another weekend gone by where the thought of going really early to the Valley for Tawny Owl was not that appealing. As the mornings start getting lighter earlier this is going to be troublesome unless i wait until later in the year or go late one evenning. I started up by the reservoir, checking this in almost darkness, it was pretty empty. A couple of Great Crested Grebes, Great Cormorant, Coot & Mute Swan. I cut through the road side trees, onto the new hill and made my way round the bend to the path near Bonnets Wood. There was more  Skylark activity today, more than i have seen this year so far. Meadow Pipit flitted off as i walked. As i approached Berwick Glades a female Stonechat appeared on the fence line shorltly followed by a male, both birds already heading in the same direction as i. I followed them down to the corner, still pretty dark, so took a quick record shot and moved on to the farm fields. Not having long here, ...

So i took a different local direction today and headed over to Dagenham Chase. For somehwhere so close its weird that i do not visit more often. I think its the fact that i dont like heading in a London direction. I'm OK as far as Romford but then, i'd rather skip the rest and end up in the city and beyond. That middle bit holds no interest for me. This is probably the same reason as why i have no LNHS list of any kind. Im sure its lovely but i'm and Essex boy not an East London one. Anyway regardless, i got to the Chase and headed to Tom Thumb. Nothing.....2 Canada Geese and a couple of Coot.  Ok......onto the the playing fields then, just as i turned, sploosh, 10 odd Greylag and 2 Russian White-fronted Geese.

10 years, 10 whole years of trampsing aroung Ingreboure Valley, actually make that 8. I spent probably the first 2 years in the Rainham reserve in fear that if i was seen outside i would be severley mocked by all who knew about my new found hobby. Anyway, 8 years is still along time to be walking around Ingrebourne Valley and still not ticked a Mistle Thrush. They are there, i've been told the best locations by Dave Mcg historically, now others are telling me in a hope that i can now even TWITCH one. The thought of rushing the small distance to the Valley, dashing across the park to twitch a mistle thrush is laughable. I took my morning walk over there a couple of weeks ago. I visited the area where two of the guys had seen Mistle Thurush recently. Its one of the areas DMcg had also told me about. Nada I wouldnt mind, i see, i hear them on a regular basis. They are a regular to my garden, more so than Song Thrush. The breed over the local park, of which i back onto. I was at the Pl...

Due to the feeding that goes on at Platford the numbers of Gulls is growing. High counts of over 75 Black Headed Gull, with 15+ Common, a few Herring and the odd Lesser.  

Platford Green is a small green with duck pond amogst relatveily new housing. Its just round the corner from me in Emerson Park. As a restbite from the grind of home working its a bit of a result to have it so close. Not only is it close to me but also Hawky and Mo. We have magaed to get eBird as well to create a hotspot for it. Fed regularly by numerous families it has a lot of Mallard, Greylag and Canada Goose, far more than a pond of this size should naturally have. Its been enjoyable so far, the usual local bits. At the minute a pair of Grey Wagtail have made it home. Thursday morning saw them chasing each other around the edges. Hopefully they hang around for longer.    

As with everybody else, no the majority, sorry some, i am at home and i venture out for a walk everyday. This has meant i am now visitng the local park and Swan Pond. The Swan Pond is not in the park and i'll come onto that another time. As for Haynes Park, its extacly what you would expect from a local park. Its not large. It has a small postage stamp size area of mixed woodland, a playing area for children, edged by back gardens and The Ravensbourne running along its main length as it heads towards Harrow Lodge Park. The river isnt exactly large at this point and in some cases under normal flow you can stand in it with normal shoes and not get wet feet - basically its a moving puddle. The good news is it has very little litter. Its enclosed for most of its journey through the park by the trees as such most areas cannot be accessed. This park is never going to be a major attraction for birds and my garden is so close that i probably will be duplicating lists. Hey ho, its something...

The fad a while back amongst birders of all levels was to blog, it was a way to share your trips, whats been seen and the enjoyment of the event. Slowly but surely social media took a bigger hold and now Facebook groups, Whats app groups, Insta and Twitter have taken over. Blogs from people had started up everywhere, myself included. I started this shortly after i started birding, 10 years ago, as of October 2020. Like others, as you can see, from the "further reading" tab to the right, most stopped about the same time. Some hard core bloggers have continued and some do make good reading. Do i read them as religously as i used to, no. I look in maybe once every 4-5 weeks for a cursery catch up. However, what caught my eye the other day, was when i read my own posts. Most of it is utter dribble and this is a running theme through most blogs out there i've read. I'm sure this possiby could offend some but please dont let it. Why? becuase its my/your dibble. It meant som...