Riverside Country Park, Gillingham

We took a lazy wander around Riverside Country Park, Gillingham after a hectic couple of days around family and friend activities. Lots of dog walkers as usual, but always against a backdrop of bird activity such as Whimbrel (2), Chiffchaff, Greenshank (4), Grey Plover (120), Avocet (6), Little Egret (22), Wigeon (18), Black-tailed Godwit, Whitethroat (2), Sparrowhawk (1) and Green Woodpecker (4) to name but a few.

Greenshank

Grove Ferry Surprise

Brenda and I visited the valley this morning hoping to catch a view of the Spotted Crake from the viewing ramp and were not to be disappointed obtaining several good scope views as it fed along the back of the flooded area (too distant for the camera unfortunately!)

There were quite a few people present, including Mark Chidwick and Martyn Wilson who fortunately were contacted by someone who had just found a Wryneck along the footpath leading towards a nearby hide, so those gathered all quickly squeezed across the footpath and were rewarded with views of the bird hiding amongst the grass!

Wryneck

Wryneck

Muswell Manor, Isle of Sheppey, Kent

Barn Owl

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Darland Banks, Gillingham

Surprise find on our evening walk over Darland Banks this evening with this Common Redstart:

Titchwell, Norfolk

Green Sandpiper

Scillies Pelagic

Another pelagic out of St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and amazingly, despite being an exceptionally poor year for the species regarding sightings, we managed to see a Wilson's Petrel probably some ten minutes before returning to shore! I was unable to take any photos, instead concentrating on observing the identification features, but a number of people on the boat did manage some record shots that will soon be hopefully be available.

European Storm Petrel

European Storm Petrel

European Storm Petrel

Fishing Trawler

Fulmar

Gannet

Great Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Great Skua

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Shag

Isles of Scilly Pelagic from St Mary's on the MV Sapphire

Great Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Great Skua

Pomarine Skua

Sooty Shearwater (with Manx Shearwaters)

European Storm Petrel

Balearic Shearwater (with Manx Shearwaters)

Blue Shark (being radio tagged and then released)

Scillonian III Crossing to Scillies

Travelled down to the Isles of Scilly for a weekend of pelagic birding. Decided to make the crossing to these wonderful islands via the Scillonian route rather than by plane so as to acclimatise and ready myself for sea worthiness. Failed miserably as I promptly heaved oved the side on at least two occassions on what was probably just about the carmest crossing one could hope to endure! This therefore does not bode well for the next two days, but fingers crossed that smaller boats are better!

Gannet

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Oare Marshes

Curlew Sandpipers

Little Ringed Plover