randombirder

Boarding the ferry at Oban to Craignure for the last sailing of the day.  The culmination of a 10 hour journey from a hotel in Newbury where we stayed after the Cricket match. The weather was fantastic so standing at the bow of the ferry watching the Isle of Mull come closer into view was the best seat in the house. Was really desperate to get my first sighting of Sea Otter , so to have prolonged views of these two spritely individuals was a real privilage. Oystercatcher are common around the island.  This bird was nesting on the pebbled beach.  A really lovely bird. One of the most stunning male Whinchat I had seen.  The light was fading, so finding this was a real bonus.  Later realised there was a nest site very close by. The female was picked up a couple of days later. Common Gull were by far the most 'common gull' on the island. Predominantly a winter visitor to the south of the country, these adults looked pristine as the

This is the beautiful game.  As we approached the ground at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, the atmosphere appeared muted for an England international match, no tribalism no aggression, just well-ordered and palpably soporific.  I liked it. The weather was cool and overcast, a stark contrast to the hot humid weather of the day before.  Maybe winning the toss and bowling would be the obvious decision.  Which is what South Africa did. The ground took a while to fill-up.  Spectators tucking into their hampers early doors, stag-doers fancifully dressed to celebrate impending nuptials and the start of summer.  We were all urging the sun to peak through the low leaden grey clouds as they passed low over the ground.  Any glimpse of sunlight was greeted with rapturous applause.  It was surprising to feel so much part of it.   Cricket still maintains a connection with their cultured fans.   Accessibility in sport is such a rare thing nowadays.  It's all very esoteric; line and leng

And so when the report came through of a Common Crane at Rainham Marshes, I made a hasty retreat down the A12 only to be balked by road closures that lost me an hour and a half. But I made it, and the lanky fella was still present feeding distantly on Wennington. The Crane is in the photo mate. A Cuckoo also   flew past.

Today was a celebration of great British wildlife and the woes of the lamentable British traffic. Standing outside the Island Mere hide, there were birds everywhere with at least six Hobby voraciously feeding on insects around the marshes.  A Bittern boomed distantly across the mere with another alighting from the dense reeds and flying past the hide where it was being harangued by an intolerant corvid. Bearded Tits pinged from pretty much everywhere and Marsh Harrier were performing beautifully in the intense sunlight with a food-pass observed between a faithful pair of adult birds. A single Cuckoo called persistently with another male bird nervously flying past. The Savi's Warbler finally broke silence, reeling intermittently somewhere out in the expanse of the reedbed.  It would have been impossible to locate - but at least he was out there. The scrapes were full of bird life.  Boisterous Black-headed Gull and decent numbers of really smart Meditteranean Gull .

Another great morning with the kids at the Wildlife Explorers group with one of the boys catching this beaut of a Smooth Newt from one of the pools by the MDZ. These Common Redshank were keeping guard over their territories along the path towards MDZ. Also on the reserve, a couple of vocal  Cuckoo  were seen agreeably close to the main paths. The afternoon became a little breezy with a few showers moving through.  Standing on the 'serin' mound, three Hobby were sat on fenceposts on Wennington waiting for the rain to pass.  Three Oystercatcher flew upriver. I have to stop missing Ospreys though.

A lovely day out with some wins and some losses.  It promised to be a lovely sunny day, so when a storm came pulsing through late morning, it took us all a bit by surprise. The Glossy Ibis and two Black-winged Stilt were showing well on the Washland viewed from the river path.  The habitat looked prime for these southern wanderers.  In situ, Cuckoo and Hobby were passing by - and all of these sightings made within a five minute period - felt fabulously straight forward. Having met Bob Whatley in the car-park, we decided to head over to Elveden for the White Stork to bide us some time while the rain passed through.  We drew a blank and later found out the bird had lifted off a short time before heading high and away. Back at Lakenheath, a staggering group of Hobby numbering well over 40 individuals scudded over Joist Fen.  Rich pickings out there for sure. A Bittern boomed from somewhere in the reeds and at least four Marsh Harrier were patrolling the area. It

After a long drive back from Newcastle from an epic Maximo Park gig, I fancied a look over Aveley Bay which over the last few days has been highly productive. I was tired, but a two hour wander round the bay and over the Landfill proved to be a good choice.  Despite missing out on the calling Quail that inconveniently decided to cower in silence on the slopes of the landfill, there was plenty of interest that included; Three Bar-tailed Godwit including one spanking summer plumaged adult in the company of five Black-tailed Godwit were present on the bay, nine Grey Plover all of which were in various stages of plumage transition with two in fine summer plumage, a total of 15 Dunlin , most in summer plumage, three Whimbrel flew low onto Wennington, four Ringed Plover , two Oystercatcher , and at least ten Common Redshank . Common Swift were conspicuous by their large numbers with over 500 wheeling over the reserve including a few Swallow and two Sand Martin . A single Yellow