Monday, 8 March 2010

Shellness and Capel (Kent): Quick visit to Shellness: Brent Goose (400) and Marsh Harrier (2) after which we popped into Capel Fleet: Fieldfare (250), Little Egret (1) and Marsh Harrier (6).

Sunday, 7 March 2010

Dungeness (Kent): Very cold north easterly winds. Marsh Harrier (1 female), Smew (2 female), Tree Sparrow (2) and Goldeneye (10). Later in the afternoon moved onto Sandwich Bay for the KOS E&RC Meeting from where on the route home we saw a single Woodcock fly over the road near dusk.

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