Abberton Reservoir 18th oct 2011

Corn Buntings.      The Massive works are into an advanced stage at Abberton reservoir in every area but will still go on for some time.   An impressive new visitor center has been built on the high ground with some new walks through the fields of weeds and newly planted hedges to reach it.   This has been done with conservation ofbirds and wildlife in mind, (obviously).   Russ Sherriff and I saw plenty of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits through these fields with four Corn Buntings on the perimeter fence to prove this,(there must have been some Laplands in there somewhere).   The water in the main area is way down while the work is going on,  but this has not stopped the wildfowl and waders coming there.   The only drawback is that they are a bit too far away to view comfortably.   I am sure this will be an even greater place to come when finished.

                                                                                   

Kestrel,Me.

Kestrel, Me

Kestrel, Russ Sherriff.

Kestrel, Russ Sherriff.

Friday 14th Oct Ingrebourne Valley

3 Snipe and a Green Sandpiper were on the scrape with plenty of teal.  In the small paddock was a large finch flock including Yellowhammers and Reed buntings.  There was also a number of Yellowhammers along the farmers field.  In the warm morning sun I spotted a couple of Adders and a Grass snake taking advantage of this last gleam before they disappear  for the winter.  I met JPL who at 7.30am had seen a Short-Eared Owl quartering the Ingrebourne hill then spiral upwards and out of sight.   I did have photo's from most of the morning but did the silly thing of deleting them before I had downloaded them. 

Elmley Wednesday 12th oct 2011

 Russ Sherriff and I took a trip to Elmley where we saw the usual raptors: 3 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 6 Marsh Harriers, 2 Buzzards,  and a number of Kestrels. Never saw any Ringtails which are there,  or stop late enough to see any owls.   Some of the scrapes have dried up and there is some work going on in other places , so there is not the usual numbers of waders showing.


Female Bearded Tit,  Dave McGough

Female Bearded Tit, Dave McGough

Merlin,  Russ Sherriff

Merlin Russ Sherriff

Merlin Russ Sherriff

Female Bearded Tit Dave McGough

Dungeness wednesday 5th october.2011

                                          It was an extremly windy and overcast morning, 
                                          and as Russ and I trudged along the top of the
                                          mountainous pebble beach towards the dank
                                          wooden hide I thought we were going to be blown
                                          off the edge.  It felt like an hotel once we got inside
                                          and we were able to see some Sandwich and
                                          Common terns along the beach.  Out at sea through
                                          the telescope we could see many Gannets diving
                                          from a good height.    Back at the reserve we saw
                                          the Pectoral Sandpiper feeding on one of the small
                                          islands out from the hide at Denge.   Not much happening
                                          but we did see a Merlin and a Goosander.

                                                                Pectoral Sandpiper

                                                              Egret with stickleback

                                                              Young Marsh Harrier

                                                                    Female Stonechat

Norfolk, Late September October heatwave.

Knot at Titchwell

Two Headed Godwit, Titchwell

  4 Little Stint, Titchwell

4Little Stint

Stone Chat with ring,  Salthouse

It's not a Gull,  it's a white Ruff, Cley.  There were about 50 Ruff here.

Ruff,  Cley.

Bearded Tit, Cley.

Juv Marsh Harrier,  Cley.

Ruff, Titchwell.

3 Curlew Sandpipers,  Welney.

10 Crane,  Welney.

Yellow Wagtail, Welney.

Reed Warbler,  Welney.

Ingrebourne valley this last week

There were plenty of Chiffchaff around this last week,  saw at least a dozen in one area including a rung one shown in a few of these photo's.  3 Buzzards went over and a distant male Marsh Harrier.

Chiffchaff with ring.

Buzzards

Whinchat

Distant male Marsh Harrier