Serin-Not-Dipity

Yesterday was spent down at Dungeness, mostly staring at vacant reed mace heads. There was no sign of the Penduline tits, which would have been a much need lifer for me, having missed a few before. Nonetheless there was a touch of quality with the 2 Glossy Ibis showing distantly and the Great White Egret too, which aren't exactly 'November Birds' are they? A load of Golden Plover flew over the ARC pit.

Here's a Glossy

Today was spent at Rainham, trying to see the Serins. Eventually after about an hour or so, I had incredibly terrible views of one in flight very briefly. Tick-able, but hardly worth the walk and getting soaked for. Remind me never to wear jeans again. A couple of Stonechats were blogging around, including a rather pale individual which caused a bit of excitement...for me anyway. Turns out its a regular bird here, and pale Stonechats are around in the Thames area.

At the end of October, during my half-term, my sister got married in Somerset. I was hoping to see Cattle Egrets, but, as ever, I dipped them. Instead another Great White Egret showed distantly at Shapwick Heath as did the 'Not So Sheep Egret' in a previous post.

Long Time no See!

Well I really have neglected this blog. Perhaps for the better, as I really haven't done much...at all. A severe case of 'Man Flu' tied me to the bed, and I still haven't re-covered properly. Anyway, enough of the excuses. Hopefully I'll be out this week-end, joyfully ticking as I go. I've added a load of new blogs to my links down the right hand side.
Peace out.

Not So Sheep Egret

Almost a Cattle Egret...

Grey Phal

A drawing from my Art GCSE portfolio from secondary school.

Eastern Crowned Warblaar

The incredible news of Britains first and the WP's 5th record of Eastern Crowned Warbler filtered out late on Thursday (22nd) evening. I only found out about the news on the Friday morning, whilst having a quick squint at Birdguides before leaving for college. I didn't even know what one was...Whilst digesting the news I received a text from Andy Appleton wondering if I was interested in a lift up to South Shields, and naturally... I WAS!!

See if you can make out the beast in this photo - the victim of flash photography against my scope eyepiece.

Slightly easier to see...naturally on a Sycamore.

After having our share of the warblers (Eastern Crowned and Yellow-browed) it was decided to try for Blue-winged Teal at Port Clarence, near to the famed site of the Glaucous-winged Gull earlier in the year. The teal was fairly easily located, an adult male, showing well, if a little distant. A Pec Sand also put on a good performance feeding in a field, a year tick for me.
It was good to see Gary Howard, Barry Wright and John Tilbrook also up from Kent, always a laugh!

Blue-winged Teal...I don't care what people say, its going on my list.

After all the days excitement, it all got too much for Gibbo and he went to sleep dreaming of Phylloscops

A quality trip costing me just £17.50 plus food. Thanks to Andy for doing the driving and all in the crew for great company.

Brown Shrike

So with the continued presence of this wanderer on Staines Moor, Surrey and no mid-week twitch materialising I was glad to connect with the bird on the 18th October on the way up to see my nephew and sister in Oxfordshire. The 7th record for Britain, it showing fairly well preening, resting, hunting, excreting and regurgitating a pellet! A smart bird indeed in surroundings that were noisy but certainly looked (and proved!) to have great potential.

Dungeness

Female Merlin with the 'stunning' housing of Lydd for a background...

A quick afternoon dash down to Dunge to have a look at the flock of Glossy Ibis on Monday was fairly successful, as we just saw the birds as the sun went down flying around the pools by Boulderwall Farm. 2 female Merlins were seen on some ploughed field, plus Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Wheatear, Snipe, Cetti's and a few Chiffs.

Orkney 26th September 2009

Thanks to James Hunter and Andy Lawson for a great twitch up to Orkney for a cracking set of birds in some stunning scenery. Heres a quick round up...

Friday 25th September-
Leave Dartford at 5:45pm

Saturday 26th September-
Gills Bay to St Margarets Hopes, Orkney: Black Guillemot, Puffin, Hooded Crow, Snow Bunting, Rock Dove, Rock Pipit, Bonxie, Eider.

Windwick: SANDHILL CRANE in stubble field showing distantly but well; also ringtail Hen Harrier, female Merlin and c100 Pink feet.

Deerness-
American Golden Plover, moulting adult showing very well with several hundred EGP's; also 3 Twite, 2 Wheatear.

Other birds seen between Windwick and Deerness: 4 R B Mergs, Guillemot, Eider etc.
British List: 234
Year List: 221

Redstart

Found this smart juvenily/female Redstart in the bushed around the caravan park at Reculver today...not alot else in the area except a few common migrants. Then went on to dip Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Scotney.

Enough To Make A Man Cry...