Monday 22 February 2010

Funton (Kent), WeBS Count: Highlights included: Sparrowhawk (1 male), Little Egret (1), Marsh Harrier (2) and Avocet (267).

Saturday 20 February 2010

Grove Ferry (Kent): Marsh Harrier (2), Bearded Tit (heard) and Woodcock (1).

Snipe
Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck
Mute Swan
Welney (Norfolk): Bewick's Swan (6), Whooper Swan (70+), Goldeneye (1 male), Ruddy Duck (1 female), Black-tailed Godwit (400+) and Tree Sparrow (1)

Friday 19 February 2010

Salthouse and Wells (Norfolk): Cold and overcast conditions gave way to brighter weather as we neared the North Norfolk coast at Salthouse where we enjoyed fantastic views of Snow Buntings (100+), often down to just several feet. At nearby Cley, we saw Avocet (20) and a single Ruff. We then headed to Wells (seeing three Barn Owls on route), where we enjoyed superb views of two more Barn Owls on posts next to the road and Brent Geese (500+) feeding in the field. At the fishing lake at the end of the coast road, we again saw the four Scaup that we also saw yesterday and yet another Barn Owl! Heavy rain and snow then set in as we returned to the house.

Barn Owl
Barn Owl
Barn Owl
Snow Bunting
Snow Bunting
Turnstone

Thursday 18 February 2010

Flitcham Abbey, Titchwell and Wells (Norfolk): Popped into Flitcham Abbey, weather was overcast with light drizzle, birds of note included: Fieldfare (4), Stock Pigeon (4), Red-legged Partridge (2), Curlew (1), Teal and Gadwall. At Titchwell, the drizzle persisted for a short while and the visibility was quite poor. We enjoyed very close views of a feeding Water Rail near the main path and as we continued on: Marsh Harrier (1), Brent Geese (100), Spotted Redshank (1), Black-tailed Godwit (5), Avocet (10), Bar-tailed Godwit (5), Sanderling (5), Dunlins, Oystercatchers, Common Scoters (1000+) and Goldeneye (5). As we made our way back to the car, near the picnic sites, we enjoyed very close views of at least one Woodcock. After a spot of late lunch we continued along the coast to Wells to see the four reported Scaup (1 male, 1 first-winter male and 2 females), which we caught up with on the boating lake. On route, we managed to also see Pink-footed Geese (1000+) and six Barn Owls. On the way back to our Norfolk home, we made a short diversion to Choseley where we saw several thousand more Pink-footed Geese along with a single white-phase Snow Goose.

Woodcock
Woodcock
Water Rail
Goldfinch
Blackbird
Black-tailed Godwit
Brent Goose

Sunday 7 February 2010

Grove Ferry (Kent): We met Bob and Jeremy at Grove Ferry this morning and made our way round the reserve. The weather was quite dull and overcast, but we saw: Bullfinch (1 male, 2 females), Marsh Harrier (1), Bittern (1), Bearded Tit (heard), Sparrowhawk (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Water Pipit (1) and Little Egret (1).

Snipe
Gadwall
Dungeness (Kent): Left the Medway towns this morning in fog, arriving to pleasant and bright conditions on the Dungeness peninsular. As we wandered around the reserve, we saw: 4 male and 5 female Goosanders from Firth Hide (and 6 females at the ARC later), 4 female Smew, Little Egret (1), Peregrine (1), four Marsh Harriers, two Cetti's Warblers (heard), three Goldeneyes (1 male, 2 female), Barnacle Geese (23), female Ruddy Duck and a Black-necked Grebe.

Reed Bunting
Tufted Duck
Shoveler
Marsh Harrier
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Goldeneye
Black-necked Grebe

Monday 1 February 2010

Cliffe (Kent): A morning trip to Cliffe for a couple of hours. Shorelark (3), Sparrowhawk (1) and Great Northern Diver (1).