Slavonian Grebe, Littlebrook, Kent, 27/1/2013

The day starts cloudy and rain, with it forecast to be brighter day as the day progresses ! !

The Slavonian Grebe is back on the little pool at Littlebrook (right next door to Kev's patch).

M.S., Kev and myself are there at 08.00 hours, it's raining, it's dull, stay in the car time, Kev's off out in the rain to look for Bittern ! ! (seen by one person fly in, never seen again despite a lot of watching )

09.30 hours, the sun has came out, and so have we ! 
The Slav is busy catching fish at the other side of the pool,

10+ Waxwings flew over

Slavonian Grebe

then a spent time resting, preening in the shadows under the trees

Then out fishing again ! ! !

This time catching a ''big fish''. Then followed a 10 minute struggle to swallow the fish !  Stunning to watch !

After getting this fish swallowed the Grebe retreated under the tree in the shadows again for a bit of peace to digest and preen !

The Grebe peace was shattered when a Wood Pigeon came in to perch on a low branch within 4/5 feet then followed an incredible display of annoyance behaviour from the Grebe.

 4 hours observing the behaviour and detail of this superb bird

Gulls, Southend Pier, Essex, 26/1/2013

Southend Pier, 11.00 hours to 13.30 hours, M.S., Kevin and myself.

Sunny with blue sky, best day this year ! and not cold !

Mediterranean Gull, 30+
    Red ring / White 6P2,     White ring / Black E494,    Green ring / White R08V

Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Common Gull, 3+
Black-headed Gull and Herring Gull, only a few of each

Common Guillemot, several
Great-crested Grebe
Turnstone

Mediterranean Gull, adult winter

Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter

Common Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Turnstone

Common Guillemot

Always a cracking day out on Southend Pier with the Meds ! !

Slavonian Grebe at Littlebrook, Dartford, Kent, 20/1/2013

It's snowing, it's a bit dull with the low grey cloud, and it's cold !

Slavonian Grebe

Glaucous Gull, Dungeness, 19/1/2013

There is snow on the ground, a dull grey sky and there is a icy cold wind.

09.30 hours M.S. and myself arrive at Dungeness.

It is not a day for photography !

We do a circuit of the reserve seeing only one other person ! and not many birds !

Fieldfare, 2 single birds
Common Snipe
Marsh Harrier, several

We cross the road to the ARC Pits and see even less !

Then to the fishing boats at the point,
The wind is very strong and icy cold ! No fishermen !

Glaucous Gull, 3rd winter

Great Black-backed Gull

Herring Gull

Wow, that was cold !   But at least we were out and a few photo's as well !     GULLS !

Bearded Tit, Hyde Park, 16/1/2013

Hyde Park, London

Bearded Tit

another three images taken yesterday in low light !    

Today, after a foggy start to the day, 13.00 hours, it is blue sky, the light is superb, low in the sky, behind you,

An hour with the TWO female Bearded Tits,
constantly feeding, always busy, acrobatic poses, non stop, in your face

I think this is the first record of Bearded Tits in Inner London ?

A ''medal'' should go out to the man, I guess the Royal Parks head Gardiner who at sometime past, planned and planted that Phragmites.