Sunday 30th March Ingrebourne Valley

Warm weather is bringing in the birds gradually;   3 Green Sandpiper,  10 Snipe, Stonechat,  2 Willow Warblers,  10 Chiffchaff,  Blackcap,  Buzzard, Bullfinches, Lapwings displaying,  Kestrel, Little Egret, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard,  Pochard, Tufted, Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler.

Stonechat around top Paddock.

a common sight now.

Travellers make the Ingrebourne Valley their home

Travellers have turned up at the Ingrebourne hill carpark friday 28th march ( Thanks Jono).     I'm sure you didn't show them the way.   They even drove by the scrape in two 4x4s as if it was their manor,   never mind the kids playing around there.    I believe all authorities know,  and the word has gone around,  bit of luck it won't last long.  

Ingrebourne Valley Monday 24th march

9 am to 10.15am Bonnetts Hill,   Bright but cold,   just one female Wheatear was on the hill,  probably the same one that was there friday,  also pair of Buzzards,   pair of Red-Legged Partridge,  Kestrel, Goldfinches,  Linnets,  Skylarks,  2 Chiffchaff.           2.45pm to 4pm  Hornchurch CP from the viewpoint;   looking for martins or Garganey,  didn't see either,  but, did see;    3 Green Sandpiper,  6 Snipe, on the back scrape,  plus Pochard, Teal, Gadwall,  Mallard,  Little Grebe,  Swans,  Grey Herons, Lapwings,  Buzzard in distance,  Sparrowhawk,  30 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings,  6 Chiffchaff,  5 Cetti's Warbler,  Heard a Water Rail,

Ingrebourne Valley am and pm 21st march

Quite a good day today,  Wheatears were inevitable and today was the day,   the lead arrived,   just one beautifull female,   darting about looking alert,   stretching,  watching,  flitting 50 yards,  that flash of white then down again,     wonderfull. 10.10 am.   Then....... 4pm to 5 pm,  3 Green Sandpipers were feeding in the back Scrape where the water had gone down and the mud was showing,  if it doesn't rain much from now on and the water drops slowly who knows what may turn up.   Other birds;   2 pair Lapwings performing,  pair Little Egrets,  pair Bullfinches,  7 Chiffchaff,   5 Cetti's Warbler,  Teal,  Gadwall, Tufted, Shoveler,  mallard,  Dabchick,  Pochard.

3 greens

Friday 21st March 2014 The Wheatears are arriving

It was just a matter of time,  thought it might be earlier because of the mild weather 25 days earlier than last year though.  "Those beautifull birds"  just one for now.

Female Wheatear,  10.10am

Ingrebourne morning

Stillwell Lake Ingrebourne Valley Saturday 8th march 2014

Thanks to Les Harrison spotting these 3 Red-crested Pochard I managed to get some snaps of these beautifull birds,  wherever they have come from.

Tuesday 4th march 2014 Dungeness

A sunny and warmish day at glorious Dunge,   and  very eventfull it was.    It started with photographing the Black Redstart at the Power station,  only to be spotted by the security cameras and then questioned by armed police,  second time in a couple of years.   It's strange when you get probably hundreds of birders down there every week taking photos and looking through bins and telescopes,   we go once in a blue moon and look suspicous.    "Whats a Black Redstart"? They said,   Took our names and addresses, ages,  looked through our photos.     It was understandable though.       We did hope for an early Wheatear but that didn't materialise,   there were plenty of other birds around the area to keep us happy though,   pair of Black-Throated Divers,  couple of Great-White Egrets, Chiffchaff,  pair of Marsh Harriers, female Red-Crested Pochard,  6 redhead Smews,   Goldeneyes,  the usual Tree sparrows,  The Glossy ibis was feeding with an Emu,  No,!   we hadn't been drinking.   lots of other stuff besides these, a good day.

BTDiver

BTDivers

Black Redstart

Performing Common Gulls

Rung Meadow Pipit

Chiffchaff

Kestrel

Marsh Harrier

Black Redstart "beware"