Barking bay

Finally managed to get out this morning over the patch, the wind was freezing and so was i. Managed to add 2 more year ticks for the patch in 5 Tufted duck  and a Sparrowhawk. 40 species all in all wasn't too bad considering the weather. Didn't manage any decent pics i was shaking with the cold.

Not a great day but just nice to get out for a few hours.

Off the mark

Finally managed to get out on the patch yesterday afternoon (03/01/13) for a couple of hours after work. Only managed 33 species about 14 less than my first outing last year. As i was arriving Paul was leaving and we had a quick look for the Jack snipe that had been showing recently before he left, but no luck. Several species i would have expected were missing but there is plenty of time left.l didn't manage any photo's worth publishing but i am hoping to vastly improve my skills this year. Happy new year and hope you all have a  good birding year.

100 up at the Bay

After being on 98 for a few weeks finally managed to reach a 100 for Barking bay thanks to a tree pipit and Jay. Didn't arrive on site till about 10 but still had quite a good day ( apart from the fact that the probable trappers were there again at the choats rd end of the middle ditch, have shown what they have done to lan and given him their car reg, he is going to check it out again tomorrow and ring police again). On the mud were 5 Blackwits, 3 common sanpipers, 2 ringed plover and 67 Redshank. Still can't get any decent photo's but heres a couple anyway.

There were about 50 Meadow pipits and 1 tree pipit, 5 Skylark. The Linnet flock is over a 100 now. Also had 7 Jay fly over and 4 swallows. Also made short visits on Monday and Tuesday after work There were still plenty of Meadow pipits on Monday also thought i heard a lesser Redpoll call by the middle ditch. Only heard it once and when about 80 Linnet took off from the area  i gave up looking. On Tuesday had another Jay but also as i pulled up in the car park a bird flew into the bush right in front of me about 20 mtrs away it popped out briefly b4 flying of along the embankment, itlooked like a coal tit but i only had briefest of views.

bArking bay & Rainham

Been very quiet at the bay lately, despite many sortee's I've not been able to add to my list for the year.  5 Redshank 2 Common sandpipers 1 Ringed plover 6 swallows and 3 Whinchat being the highlights of about 7 visits. Been luckier at Rainham though with 8 year ticksfrom about 5 visits including the Bailons crake from the butts hide. Havn't managed any decent photo's in this time either

Kingfisher

Arrived at Barking bay just before 7 and walked up to the river past the centre where i saw that Paul was already there.I walked along the river path only seeing 1 Common sandpiper as the tide was already in. I saw Paul along the middle ditch and we stopped for a chat when he spotted a Kingfisher right in front of us, which scarpered before i could get my camera on it. We hung around hoping it would come back which it did about 10 or 15 minutes later.

Not only a year tick for the patch but also the first kingfisher i have seen over there (happy days),
i am slowly sneaking up on the 100. Managed to miss the Tawny pipit last week by a couple of minutes and despite spending plenty of time over there this week it wasn't seen again.

barking bay

Been quiet lately,
 but had 2 Redshank, 5 Blackwits, 6 Oystercatchers & 3 Common sandpipers in total on Saturday.
Popped over on Sunday evening for 2 ringed plover and about 500 Black headeds.
 Quick visit tonight after work but tide was in so no waders, but did have a Little egret fly over (1st for me this year). What with the Hobby the other week puts me on 97 for the year slowly, inching towards my 100 target.

Barking bay, Rainham & Minsmere

 Not much happening lately last 5 or 6 times i've been over the patch been very quiet. Last Saturday was probably best day for a while with 2 Oystercatchers 12 Redshank 5 Dunlin and a Ringed plover. Raptors were  2 Kestrel 1 Peregrine and my 1st Hobby this year. not been able to get any decent photo's with the rubbish weather we have had so far either. Today was very quiet with just 1 Oystercatcher  a Sparrowhawk and a juv Great crested grebe of note.

Had a few visits to Rainham as well managed to get quite a few year 1sts for there as i havn't been much this year. Saw the Spoonbill last week but missed out on the Wood sandpiper also had a Greenshank , Willow Warbler ,Yellow Wagtail, Yellow legged gull ( the good thing about Rainham is there is alway someone around to point out birds for you) and Common sandpiper.

Have been Working around Lowestoft area so i popped into Minsmere on the way home one afternoon. It was a case of nipping between Hides when the rain stopped, but it was an enjoyable walk nonetheless. Walked around the scrape trail missed a Glossy ibis by about Half hour, but had 3 Spotted redshank ,1 Greenshank, 5 Black tailed godwits  30+ Avocets 2 Little gulls 4 Sandwich terns 2 Barnacle geese as well as plenty of the more common birds i see at home.
 Still can't find a med gull, not surprising really as i have Gull dyslexia. If i see a group of gulls they all just morph into black headed.

All these photo's were taken at Barking Bay.