#indoorstoomuch

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...

The Mute Swan mentioned in the previous post was again rung at Harrow Lodge Park on the same day as 4AMG.

I have been really enjoying the patch of late and although the migrants have started arriving this new found enthusiasm started before they did, i think it was the warmer of the weather; long may it continue.   Im doing well this year so far, i'm well ahead of where i was this time last year. 2012 finished on 92 and im already on 83 but i have seen a lot of the usual bits a lot earlier in the year than last year...i think i'm improving.   So today i arrived at the Hornchurch Country Park car park at 6.30am, i was after three birds today: Red Legged Partridge, Sedge Warbler & Reed Warbler.   Heading along the flood area towards the scrape the usual Moorhen & Coot. A few Teal dotted about along with the odd Grey Heron.   Whitethroat , Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff numbers seem to continue to increase.   Just as i was approaching the small viewing area to the scrape a Ring Necked Parakeet flew over the scrape and head and off t...

A new bird for me today and one ive missed on a couple of occaisions over the Valley last year, Common Redstart ; the 200 mark edges closer. Other birds Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Wheatear all providing 2013 ticks for Ingrebourne

The Mute Swan ringed over at Harrow Lodge was on the Scrape again over the weekend.

I took this in Hyde Park over the weekend, at first i thought it was a Tufted Duck, any thoughts?