#indoorstoomuch

I was in Epping earlier and after reading Pauls blog the other day i thought i would head back to Brentwood via South Woodford (maybe a little out of a direct route but....). In taking this direction it would lead me to Connaught Water for the Mandarin Ducks . courtesy www.cannon-fodder-forums.com It was freezing, i was suited, the Mandarins ; all 11 males and 3 females plus one Wood Duck looking individual were showing well but i didnt hang about to take in a proper look; tick; thank you and good bye for the Mandarin. Upon getting back to the office i Googled "Wood Duck Connaught Water" quite a lot of entries for sightings of Wood Duck and this photo by renowned Birder / Photogrpaher, Les Harrison. Now it wasnt exactly the same but looked similar with the white head markings etc but seemed darker on the sides and underneath. I'll go back another day and take another look. courtesy of Les Harrison Other Birds Seen: Shoveller, Tufted Duck, Moorhen,...

I decided to take my first trip over to Ingrebourne Valley this year and arrived at the Hornchurch CP car park at 7.30am; it was slightly foggy here but visability wasnt that bad, the temperature was 1 degrees according to the car. I headed along to the viewing area counting Moorhen x54, Teal x23, Blue Tit & Great Tit along the way. A Jay flew to the trees on the right. At the first viewing section i could make out Mute Swan x2, Pheasant, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Magpie, Black Headed Gull, Mallard, Wren, Little Egret & Wigeon x13. courtesy of www.arthurgrosset.com For the first time i headed past the turning to the bridge and up and over the hill; Long Tailed Tit x9, more Blue & Great Tits, Robins, Dunnock and Song Thrush. I found the small Heronry in the trees; it will be good to go back later in the year. There were Grey Herons x9 up there this morning. The pond yielded more Mallard, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck & Coot. I ...

This blog is supposed to a record of where i went in conjunction with my software for what i saw regardless of a good or bad day. I was looking foward to Wednesday, the pagers had been going off for a female Ferruginous Duck at the West Lake in Thamesmead, viewable from the Morrisons car park. I had a client to meet in Northfleet so on the way back it would not be long before i could be on a quick detour. I grabbed the wifes car that morning, its bigger and a lot more comfortable than mine and set off; happily on my way and on the crest of the Dartford Bridge is when it began, something that had never happened to me before. I look down at the dashboard and saw the frost warning light on; Actually thats not a frost warning light, thats a low on petrol light (so you know whats coming). I flicked the computor to show me how many miles i had to go, expecting about 12ish; no, it revealed the rather stagerringly low figure of  0, Zero, Empty. I managed t...

At 6am the alarm went off and i immediately responded by giving it a huge whack into sleep mode. After a few more whacks the other half told me to get up and get out; she was tired but there was to be no lie in for her; the two eldest woke and started the usual noise in the bedrooms and then number one son woke wanting his bottle. After one bottle, making tea for the wife i was showered, dressed and in the car; time was now 7.15am. Finally arrived at the LB causeway at Abberton Reservoir 8.05am; numerous Mute Swan, loads of Shoveller. In addition there were Wigeon, Teal, Coot, Black Headed Gull, Littel Egret, Grey Heron, Starlings, Greylag along with a strange Greylag / Mute Swan Combo; it looked like a Greylag but it had a the bill of a Mute Swan. Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall - No Smew A quick drive south to Salcott and there was also No Great Grey Shrike but the fields there did turn up Mistle Thrush  and Red Legged Partridge x8. Finally arrive...

I have been feeling all week like going somewhere that i dont go that often; a little drive in the country; not that far but just far enough to feel like i had been somewhere. Looking at the RBA bird map for the week the conclusion was Fingrinhoe Wick for the Glossy Ibis. So the plan was to get up at 6am (not that early, normally up at 6.30am any way) be in the car and heading for Abberton Reservoir arriving on the Layer causeway for 7.30am and then; because its my plan; park by the wall overflow and there in all its glory will be the Smew. I can then drive about two minutes south to Salcott cum Virley for the Great Grey Shrike and, even though it seems to like the afternoons, as soon as i arrive at the cross roads there it will be. On to Fingrinhoe, park the car and after a quick scan of the marsh there it will be and just after i find it the second Great Grey Shrike of the day will fly to a tree just infront. Back in Hornchurch for no later that 12.30 - ...

Looking over the diary this morning i new i had some time between clients, not enough time to warrant going back to the office, so as is the norm with this job i new i would be parked up for half an hour before heading on. I spend a lot of time cutting through to the A127 from Ingrave via Dunton Road and i always see various birds as i drive down past the farm and stuble fields. So far, theres a pair of regular Buzzard; in fact the other day they were both on the ground about 40 - 50 ft into the field chasing insects etc around the floor; Meadow Pipit; Jackdaw; Common Gull; Black Headed Gull; Herring Gull; Great Black Backed Gull; Blue, Great & Long Tailed Tits; Carrion Crow; Fieldfare. Theres a Barn Owl box in the grounds of the farm as well so it could also be good for my second species of Owl. Any how within 15 minutes of being at the fields sitting in the warmth of the car 5 Red Legged Partridge came into view and slowly came towards the road. Not only a 2012 y...

My first attempt at a 2012 most wanted and my third attempt at the Short Eared Owls over at Rainham. By 2.30pm i was parked up by Tilda Rice and walking along the cycle path. This was the first time i had been over this section so wasnt to sure exactly what to expect or where they would be. After walking most of the way to the A13 i doubled back and just as getting to the little bridge by the divide between this section and the next i got a very brief view of my first ever SEO. It rose very elegantly into view and then out of sight. Following the mound it then kept coming in and out of view and eventually came over to my side allowing two minutes of views eventually looking in my direction getting so i got a clear view of the face - superb! courtesy of www.martinkessel.net