randombirder

Today was about the kids.  Not my kids, I haven't yet taken ownership of those yet.  These kids were the ones that shrugged off the winter blues and joined us at Rainham Marshes  for the session on 'Bonkers for Birds'.  They were indeed bonkers as were the leaders, because birds are amazing creatures and it is a palpable joy having the privilege of being a part of such events.  From Mute Swan collages to sinking elbow deep in Trex in our valient attempts in forming circular fat balls for bird feeders.  It was a messy business. There were plenty of birds out on the reserve too which we were happy to point out.   Golden Plover and Dunlin were numerous on the Purfleet Scrape where two drake Pintail sat with the Wigeon .  A Marsh Harrier was seen distantly quartering the area around Wennington, two Common Snipe flew past the hide at Purfleet Scrape, and  Gadwall and Shoveler were present. There were  Lapwing in good numbers, a Skylark flew over the seawall as did

Trips to Amwell are always great.  The skies were clear, but the cold brisk breeze kept you honest. Amazing light, and so many birds with the chance of a new addition to my BOU life list.  So this is what I saw. CASPIAN GULL - 1st winter seen extremely well at dusk loafing about with numerous Great Black Backed Gull .  A really neat bird, fresh white head and neck with a dark black eye, and that bill, thick dark and slightly curved at the tip, a gonys I believe it's called.  Another feature observed was the greyish scapulars suggesting second-generational feathering on what the texts would regard as a transition from 1st calender year to 1st winter.  The bird was slightly smaller than the Greater's and appeared far more elegant, and dare I say, a much more interesting bird than the full adult. During the day, a drake Smew finally appeared toward the London end of Great Hardmead and although distant, was seen well fishing along the edge of the reedbed.  A Kingfisher

Cold, very still with broken cloud and a lovely morning to be out after the grim conditions yesterday. Middlesex Filter Beds: 1 Chiffchaff 1 Kingfisher 1 Goldcrest 17 Tufted Duck 15 Teal 3 Gadwall 2 Pochard 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Green Woodpecker Waterworks: (water mostly frozen) 20+ Meadow Pipit (Pitch 'n' Putt) 2 Fieldfare 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) 2 Shoveler Walthamstow Marsh (Paddocks): 1 Little Egret 25+ Chaffinch

Cold with a brisk wind, but the skies were relatively clear as dawn broke.  A Kingfisher was seen enjoying an early catch, and the drake Scaup was showing extremely well along the bank associating with Tufted Duck near the southern end.  Six Gadwall were also present. A pair of Goosander were riding the choppy waters, and a female Goldeneye was ducking and diving. A Common Sandpiper was active along the edge of High Maynard.

I'm a pensioner waiting to happen.  What no buses?  Outrage!  Well the strikers were 'unite'd and the streets were clear of red sardine cans which all resulted in a pleasant door-to-door wander round the patch. The skies at around lunchtime had turned grey and the rain began to fall steadily as I headed out of the flat.  By the time I hit Hackney Downs Park, the strength of the wind and rain had increased but I was anticipating gaps in the showers that broke as I arrived at the Middlesex Filter Beds. The skies cleared, and the sound of a 'crest' had me scampering toward the relief channel, the bird was seen flying into the holly bush and disappeared altogether.  A probable Firecrest, but one that got away.  There were at least six Chiffchaff here and a few nervous Little Grebe close in to the opposite bank. Around a dozen Meadow Pipit took flight as I made my way through the old Pitch and Putt, a Chiffchaff called from bushes alongside the overflow,

So here we go again. My first chance to get a score on the board for an opening round of local patch birding. With the Prof, we were both in pursuit of an agreeable total of species to set us up with what we hope will be a bumper patch year to compete with the bigger clubs in the league such as Wanstead FC. There seems to have been a few new signings as well as the regular match fit stalwarts still in peak form hoping for a decent run of results. I don’t get the patch. Maybe I’ve been spoilt over the years in having had the pleasure of enjoying some great sites, Stockers Lake in Rickmansworth, and Tring Reservoirs. Walthamstow however with an impressive complex of water bodies, scrub, open grassland, streams, islands, deciduous woodland, and large areas of reed has rather disappointingly failed to impress in quality. Starting at the Maynards, a Chiffchaff called from the scrub along Low Maynard, and three Egyptian Goose stood with nonchalance on the south bank of High Maynar