randombirder

Today was a day of quality, and a little added surprise.  Still not at my most energetic, I decided to head a little further afield to Amwell Gravel Pits in Herts.  This is a site I should be frequenting much more than I do having carried out most of my birding in Herts, and with the reserve a little over half an hour by direct train from my local station.  As a carless (I said carless!) birder, this was my first visit there since moving to London.  My bad. It started well, 20+ Siskin chattering away in Birches just off Amwell Lane, a brief snatch of song of a male Blackcap from nearby woodland, followed shortly by 4 soaring Common Buzzard as I walked along the canal towards the viewpoint.  An Oystercatcher was heard calling from Great Hardmead Lake but not seen. I really should visit this site more often.  It really is excellent.  From the viewpoint, a count of 52 Shoveler , 22 Lapwing , and around 20  Common Gull along with Gadwall , Te...

It was interesting to see the feature on BBC1's Inside Out programme yesterday evening on UK airport development with the effervescent Mike Dilger reporting on the tabled proposal for the Isle of Grain (IoG) hub airport system on the North Kent Marshes.  I worked in Airport Development for four years (which in no way makes me an expert on such matters), but this emotive and divisive political hot potato does bring together two of my passions in life into a head-on collision course, birds and civil aviation. So my confession, before I was a 'proper' birder, I was a 'proper' plane spotter.  I remember sitting as a ten year old on the old Queen's Building at Heathrow Airport  (where today's new Terminal Two is located) watching Concorde take-off, the diagnostic roar of four after-burning Rolls Royce Olympus engines thrusting the delta wings of these evocative aircraft on another return trip to the Big Apple.  How civil aviation has changed - cleaner, quieter,...

Is it really still February?  This time last year we were freezing our brass monkies off.  The contrast couldn't be more meteorologically opposed.  It was indeed a lovely morning to be on the move again, albeit slowly as the rehabilitation to full health continues.  First stop, the front paddocks at Walthamstow Marshes with 2 flyover Common Gulls , a Reed Bunting calling, 3 Mistle Thrushes , and small flocks of Goldfinch , Greenfinch , and Chaffinch , all either singing or calling, undoubtedly enjoying the warmth of the sun and the soft southerly breeze. Waterworks NR, a short walk across the Lea Bridge Road, and a welcome oasis from the clamor of traffic and industry.  Bird song everywhere.  At least two Chiffchaff singing with a total of four noted.  From the hide overlooking the pool on the right, a Kingfisher called and flew into the trees where it perched briefly before calling again heading over the reserve.  Two Little Grebe and two...

Nothing exciting today, just a gentle stroll round Walthamstow Marshes produced around 120 Black Headed Gulls on the river Lea with half a dozen of these with entirely brown hoods.  There were a further 190 on the flooded marsh itself with 2 adult Lesser Black Backed Gulls and 2 adult Common Gulls .  A singing Goldfinch and 2 Green Woodpeckers feeding on the marsh were the only other birds of note.

Time is a curious thing.  A difficult few weeks, the body's ability to endure periods of what felt at the time like an unrelenting decline, the reset button has been activated on a life that just a couple of months ago was being played out with remarkable monotony.  Default settings are good, it keeps things simple. Just before Christmas, the onset of a condition that I have suffered with for 20 years was making an unwelcome appearance.  First denial, then more denial, a little panic, a visit to the doctor.  Please not again. Three years had passed since the last 'flare-up' the longest period of remission experienced since the first diagnosis, forgive me for having felt invincible.  The beginning of January was managable, not great but still enough fortitude for a couple of local patch visits.  Then it set in. Brutal, tormenting, unequivocally cruel.  The 1st of February, a visit to the hospital for an intrusive procedure and the inevitable admission...