It was all about the patch this year

A patch tick came with this little egret on the local stream

My best birding moment of the year was three male ring ouzels on the patch which got the ticker going

I had some fun with the local grey wagtails 

A visit to Amwell NR finished of the year.

Gunners park

After a nice lunch at leigh on sea I couldn't think of a better place to walk it off .

 It looked liked this was paired up with a mute 

 And finally the star of the show this little stunner

Then this little fellow on the beach,

I can only think it came in of sea. 

Vulcan bomber

 This Vulcan nuclear bomber took to the sky on its last flight today and its route took it directly over my house.

Rainham marshes at the weekend

A few record shots of a great mornings birding at Rainham marshes.

more ouze

And the next morning one out of the three males was still on the patch .

So around lunch I popped back and

this time I got a little closer !

Ouzels

A patch first for me and it started off with one male ring ouzel.

 Then two I could not believe my luck, nearly every morning and evening over the patch this spring and pay back!

 It wasn't long before 3 male ring ouzels were on show superb !!!

close up mandarin ducks and crests

This pair of mandarin showed well for me on a lunch break walk. 

 And the female looking just as great

And shocked to here firecrest calling

at an undisclosed site of cause.

You can't help but like these little guys