#indoorstoomuch

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...