randombirder

Having spoken about the Midget Gems in my previous post, I never had expected during a mid-morning stumble round Middlesex Filter Beds on the 14th January to have captured three  Firecrest  associating together in scrub on the opposite side of the relief channel where these delightful birds have been in residence for the last couple of months.  I had initially suspected two overwintering birds but to have the three together was simply astonishing that brought great delight to a few assembled London birders.  In addition, 2 Chiffchaff were also present at the MFB. Earlier, I had observed Fieldfare , Redwing , Mistle Thrush , Song Thrush , and Blackbird all feeding together in one of the front paddocks at Walthamstow Marshes. Fieldfare - Front Paddocks Walthamstow Marshes 14/01/14 Waterworks NR produced my first Water Rail for the site with 2 Chiffchaff  there, and on my walk home, a total of 65 Common Gull with 2 Herring Gull were present on Millfields Park (South).

I have a very sweet tooth.  The restoration dental work I have received over the years surprised even my current dentist who at the last visit, delivered stern instructions to take better care of my teeth.  I personally think I have been a little unlucky in this respect, but a quick visit to my local M&S for bread and milk, and I found myself mesmerically headed towards the confectionary section.  Not good. It took a while for my eyes to focus on the array of sweets on offer.  A brief moment of warm nostalgia, and I was transported back to my childhood.  Eight years old standing gluttonously in front of the sweet counter of my local news agent, my eyes feasting on ha'penny aniseed balls and fizzy cola bottles, as a prelude to what my tastebuds would soon to experience. But this is a man's world.  Packets of dolly mixture, sherbet lemons, chocolate buttons.  Rhubarb and custard.  Jelly babies.   Did I say a man's world?  I hadn't yet moved my eyes across, but I

I am reluctant to start my first ever blog entry with a sour taste in my mouth (and I'm not talking about congealed christmas leftovers), but an incident that has burdened me whilst birding, the resulting feelings of which left me somewhat self-aware of my ethnicity as a passionate birder. On the 30th September 2013, I set off on a four day trip to Spurn Point in East Yorkshire in anticipation of connecting with rare autumn migrants hopelessly off-course as they battle their way towards promised wintering lands.  Maybe the early part of September is a much more sensible time to visit demonstrated by large falls of Wryneck during the first couple of weeks and the confiding Great Snipe that delighted many during its short Yorkshire life. View of the Humber Estuary from the Crown and Anchor pub at low tide The trip started slowly.   Common Redstarts were noted early doors covorting with a Lesser Whitethroat in bushes opposite the Crown and Anchor pub.  Seawatching too provi