Too Little

I visited Woodoaks Farm after work today; 2 Little Owl (1 adult, 1 juvenile,) Buzzard, Kestrel, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Swallow and Swift.

Ventriloquial Crepuscular Goatsuckers.

Sunday 26th June 2011. Brendan G, Paul F and myself paid a late evening visit to Chobham Common, Surrey. We saw approx 6 roding Woodcock and 4 or 5 Nightjar. The Nightjars started churring at 21:45 and then showing either perched up on a pine or catching insects in flight from 22:00. Woodcock were seen from 21:00. Also noted were 2 or 3 species of bat and a slow worm. Lots of flies and midges!

Kiss Me Honey Honey.

A trip to Acres Down nr Minstead in the New Forest with Paul F. Goldcrest, Hawfinch, Redstart, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Swallow, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, 6 Goshawk and 2 Honey Buzzard. Pauls Pics below including 2 with the "ah factor" As always click pic to enlarge.

New Shoes.

I need some shoes to go with my hat but which one's?
http://www.fivefingerseu.com/products_all.html

New Raptor Species.

My birding pal Paul F spotted the raptor pictured below. Neither him nor I have been able to identify it. It does look quite similar to a bird I once saw thermalling over a farm owned by the late Bernard Mathews. Someone at work says it could be a species know as a Pussycat. Let me know what you think?

Well Spotted.

An early evening visit to Gorhambury Estate, St Albans, produced the following; 2 pairs Spotted Flycatcher, 1st pair viewed from entrance to Maynes Farm House and 2nd pair in Lime tree 50 meters along track from entrance to Maynes Cottage. Also pair Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Swift and Red Kite. Then over to Ayot St Lawrence in search of Turtle Dove but drew a blank.

Red Legged Partridge at Woodoaks Farm.

A quick trip to Woodoaks Farm after work produced; Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Swallow, Kestrel, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Red Legged Partridge, Skylark and Little Owl.
Poor quality Little Owl pics below.

Grey Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail nesting in lock gates. Sitting on 5 or 6 eggs.

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Good Night.....Heron.

As soon as I got home from Dungeness and Squacco Heron I received calls from Brendan G and Paul F informing me of a Night Heron at Stockers. So I grabbed a handful of toblerone mini's and made my way over. I joined several other birders enjoying good but distant views of a juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron. I shared my toblerone mini's with Brendan G, Ian B, Joan T, Paul F and Sir Geoffrey Laptop.

Holy Squacco mole.

A visit to RSPB Dungeness today produced the following; Squacco Heron, Great White Egret, Cetti's Warbler, Little Egret, Bittern (booming,) Hobby and Marsh Harrier. Then a brief visit to "the patch;" Common Tern and Gannet. Squacco Heron pics below.

Upper Hollesley Common, Suffolk

On Monday 13th June a European Roller was reported at Upper Hollesley Common, Suffolk. As I am off work this week I decided to make the trip to Suffolk early this morning. On arrival Geoff Laptop was already on the scene, however, no sign of the previously reported Roller. Myself and Mr Laptop decided to have a walk around the common and see what birds we could find. We connected with the following; Yellowhammer, Woodlark, Stonechat, Whitethroat, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Mistle Thrush, Black Redstart (pair,) Common Crossbill (c20.) We then made our way to nearby Shingle Street where we noted the following; Little Tern, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Linnet, Great Black Backed Gull, Eider (pair,) and a flock of c30 Common Scoter. Sir Geoff decided to head off home and I made my way to RSPB Minsmere where I noted the following; Flamingo (believed escapee from Marwell zoo,) Avocet, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Linnet, Black Tailed Godwit, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Spoonbill, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Cuckoo, Ringed Plover,  Barnacle Goose (unknown origin.)
Pics below as follows; Flamingo, Avocet, Med Gulls. Click on pics to enlarge.

Early Doors.

A morning visit to Dawes Common, Sarratt with Tony H and Geoff Laptop produced the following; Red Kite, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Tree Creeper (10+)

BMX ouch!

Nothing to do with birding but you may enjoy the vid below. My son Will attempting a BMX stunt.

Abbots to Kings and Back

An afternoon stroll from Abbots to Kings via Sheppey's Lane and Egg Farm Lane produced the following; Whitethroat, Buzzard, Swift, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Magpie, Yellowhammer, Pheasant, House Martin, Swallow, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Red Kite, Common Tern, Black Headed Gull, Blackcap. Highlights; Common Tern carrying small fish, some distance from nearest water. 6+House Martin collecting mud from puddle on Egg Farm Lane. Also noted a Fox

Save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper

No time for birding this week but the following article caught my eye http://www.wwt.org.uk/support-us/please-help-us-to-save-the-incredible-spoonbilled-sandpiper-?gclid=CPfCz4-InakCFQEY4QodOyVktA