waxwings pitsea

At last I managed to catch up with some waxwings . I joined shaun after work at pitsea where he had re found 35 of the 100 birds from the day before at the local supermarket . waxwings are fantastic birds to see and with them scatted about all over the country I was very pleased to catch up with some and probably complete my year list of 209 my best year yet !

an afternoon on the essex coast

I started of at abberton res in the warmth of my van I got on 4 bewick swans , then moved on to southend to see if rossi was about . I timed just right as the tide was just coming in and soon so did rossi , it also pushed the waders in with some great opportunities to take some photos .

glossy ibis

I had been waiting to see this bird all week and was well worth the wait . welney ,norfolk was the site it was in a field just off the road . I had great views about 20 yards .

after I went over our hide on the patch as we put out some feeders last weekend and was very pleased with the result .

bairds sandpiper

The chance of another north american wader on the list ,the bird had been seen all week at frinton on sea , holland haven cp . I was driving up the M11 and my idea was to see a wilsons phalarope at welney but I got a text to say the sandpiper was showing so decided to go for that ! When I arrived a local birder said it had flown about 1/2 hour ago but thought it would probably return and he was right tick 295 nearly club 300 . I also had a good view of a male peregrine in the fields behind the waders . I was told of a firecrest in some bushes near the car park whilst looking there was at least 20 goldcrest and i flushed at littleowl but no firecrest .
the chance of another tick was irresistible a wilsons phalarope was at welney , norfolk which I went for ,the bird flew half hour before I arrived brilliant .

tick,tick

Just a couple of lifers to blog about 10 days ago myself , Jake and Shaun set out to Suffolk dunwich cliffs in hope of seeing a king eider and was not disappointed and today at abberton res ,Essex I managed after my 3rd attempt with a lot of help from other birders I see a semipalmated sandpiper lifer 294 . Whilst I was there I got on a pectoral sandpiper and had very good views .

whinchat on the patch

This morning was very active with 6 wheatear , 2 whinchat , 2 yellow wag . whinchat being a new site tick for me which was very pleasing . I was waiting and hopefull i would get this bird on the list but now it is what could be next ? in the afternoon 2 turned into 50 yellow wag feeding around the cattle and the winchat was up to 3 .

patch list 73

languard icky warbler

a few pics from languard ,suffolk.
a great afternoon , after seeing the icky warbler got some photos of the more common birds it had on offer .

autumn wheatear

my 1st autumn wheatear today cracking bird typical no camera with me ! maybe tomorrow . Nothing much else about always hopeful a winchat or spotted fly would be nice .

july & august highlights

Two more life ticks in july a fudge duck at minsmere and whilst on holiday in turkey a white tailed plover arrived at rainham marshes . Only staying for a day I didnt think that it was going to be on my list but then after going about the country Jake and I caught up with it in kent along with a purple heron . The patch was pretty quite like every where else but still manage 2 new site ticks being 1 ring necked parakett and 6 greenshank over . I done a sea watch with shaun and dave at cavey point which was quite productive with a bonxie , sevral artic skua and sandwich tern all being year ticks .

common rosefinch

tottenham marshes was the site .there were plenty of birders when we arrived and the bird was soon singing so I was in luck, now I just had to see it to tick it . A quick flighty veiw to begin with and after about 20 mins the bird come out of the scrub and flew into the distance . zit and run I think thats what thay say . club 289 and I was off .

new bird on the patch

Turtle dove is now on the list 5 new site ticks so far this year being turtle dove ,wheatear ,grasshopper warbler ,garden warbler and marsh harrier . Its only June hopefully Autumn may bring some more .

trumpeter finch

cley ,Norfolk . I was on my own and it was quite a drive but well worth it . This was the 3rd day it was there and very glade it stayed.

blue winged teal

The location was Cambridge , paxton pits . The photos were best I could get but I had some great views through someones scope. Its looks like I jammed in on this one ,I went straight after work and it was only there for two days. ( life tick 287 )

grasshopper warbler

Another new site tick and year tick whatever next ? ( blue winged teal sounds good )

a common toad maybe ?

laindon hills C P

A few photos from laindon hills I was hoping for grizzeled skipper but was more than happy with these .

comorant 75

Another new bird for the patch a fly over , also today another yes another red kite , also garden warbler 2 proberly a pair ,plenty of chiffys ,willows ,blackcaps and a Grass SNAKE for the first time .





Comorant 63 reed bunting 64 for the year

mega oriental pratincole

Frampton RSPB
After a 1 hour wait I was rewarded with some flight veiws , Also 2 little gulls , curlew sand ,knot,redshank,dunlin,brent goose,singing corn bunting.