#indoorstoomuch

Not one for early mornings I was out side the Valley gates at 5.00am, still pitch black, could have had another half our in bed......   I ventured in at about 5.20am with a hope of an owl silently gliding across the marsh; my expectation dashed by a thick layer of mist that had settled over the flood and scrape so much so that in the dim light i could see barely into it. I edged my way along to the main viewing area where you could hear more than see; two Cettis Warbler battled it out with song, Mallard making them selves known along with Coot and Moorhen. Two Water Rail from different end of the scrapes "sharmed" as a Green Woodpecker "yaffled" behind me; and it was cold, hands firmly in pockets so it was just as well i couldn't see.   Dave Mo tweeted 5.20 am "Hobby Barking Bay" at least i wasn't the only one up and as i got to the iron bridge heading towards the Bottom Paddock i heard my first " COME HERE !" which broke the...

The porch has pulled in a few moths of late:  Sqaure Spot Rustic Angle Shades  Yellow Shell   Light Emerald   Marbled Beauty   Orange Swift Brimstome 

Oh well yet another Spotted Flycatcher comes and goes at the Valley without yours truly being any where near the area.........   As such i was at the Lower Paddock this morning for about 7ish in the hope that latest of the visitors had decided to hang about for a bit.   The paddock was busy this morning; a lot busier than normal, in fact i havnt seen it so busy since it was covered in Redwing and Fieldfare late last year after the berries. From the gate the first bird was a Lesser Whitethroat along the edging to the back lake, shortly followed by another however this time it was in the bushes running up the side of the path.   As i edged my way along the fencing it was evident that most of the Whitethroat,  some 20 odd in total and now 6 Lesser Whitethroat were fresh faced youngsters.   Again fresh faced and looking good were the Chiffchaffs who were silently working the shrubs.   At the far end looking into the farm fields the c...

So with previous foul weather and pretty good conditions for some birds to be pushed up the Thames theres only one thing for it as a newish birder; yep you guessed it, leave your phone in the house and start smashing up a concrete pathway in your front garden........   So by 11 i was now aware of the Sabines Gulls in Aveley Bay along with another in Barking Bay plus Black Tern picking their way about everywhere. Permission granted i dashed off for Aveley parking in Coldharbour Lane where a small group had gathered still looking for the gulls which had for some time dispersed. A quick chat with Shaun, Monkey & Steve Bacon i headed to the group and settled in.   A few familiar faces and a chance to finally meet James Astley (Parus).   James thought he had a Little Gull but it had gone behind another viewer and he lost it, 3x Turnstone dropped into the mud on Aveley Bay itself (London List Tick) and after a bit i picked out aboout 20 odd Black Tern; cool ...

A call late Friday afternoon and Paul & Bradders are on their way to KGV Reservoir for the Red Necked Phalarope over in Chingford; i was hoping to meet with them at the entrance at 5.15pm but traffice was pretty dire and after battling my way i wasnt going to catch them in time, not wanting to hold them up i headed home.   Earlyish Saturday morning and i had another call, Shaun was on his way; i wasnt going to give up today as i now new that this was a good bird for London and a would be a nice addition to my London List.   Upon arrival i was faced with a test from the Krypton Factor, some eight padlocks holding it fast, i mean i know this is east London but surely if someone wants to get in that badly they will just hop on over the fence?   Up the hill, through the sheep shit and onto the bank to find messrs Harvey, Redfern & Halley-Frame all on the little bird a fair way out; easily picked up thanks to direction and another lifer me.   ...

A family few days away to Wells in Norfolk gave me a couple of hours birding time, however sadly the sand banks at the Wells harbour are a lot smaller than they used to be and as such are further out, the smaller waders are just to small for me to ID but larger ones such as Curlew, Oystercatcher were in abundance.   Apparently the shrinkage of the sand banks is due to the dredging of the boat channel to Wells Harbour; sand is being placed in other areas which in turn is affecting the tide flow. The Common Terns that were nesting on these shingle/sandy banks have now relocated, not in the same numbers, to the spit just behind the life boat station and these could be viewed easily with the eye.   A few Turnstone and Redshank cruised the shoreline along the walk into town from the beach.       So with a couple of hours to spare on Wednesday afternoon I managed to get the whole family off to Titchwell, we didn't do much just a walk down...

I had one of those mornings that most people reading this post probably havn't had for many a year......yep 10 ticks in one morning not even a day, one morning. #TickTickBooooom.   During this morning i discovered two things 1. that seawatching is going to take me an age to learn & 2. @davemo57 doesnt use hashtags....... according to Paul you cant teach old dogs new tricks etc etc.....according to Dave everybody should know where Canvey is and as such #'s are not required.......   My first trip to Dungeness affectionately know as Dunge was great, we left about 5am and was on the shingle for sea watching about an hour and half later. I was in the hands of Dave Mo & Paul Hawkins and for my first proper sea watch i didn't really know what to expect, yes I've stood on Titchwell beech for 15 minutes having a look at what was there but only if i new something was about i.e. Long Tailed Duck earlier this year.   First bird of the day pretty much were Sa...