Two Tree Island and Gunners Park, Essex, 21/4/2013

Another superb morning, blue sky, pleasant temperature, little to no wind, it's like Spring has arrived !

Two Tree Island, Essex.

Nightingale, 2 singing, 1 seen but distant, possible 3rd.
Common Whitethroat, several !
Linnet, 3
Greenfinch, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Wren
Green Woodpecker
Barn Owl, (not seen by me)

No Grasshopper Warbler.

Mediterranean Gull, 2 over

No Avocet !

Onto Gunner's Park, Shoeburyness,

a Kestrel would not allow it's photo to be taken,
no Long-tailed Duck,
but the Mallard looked stunning, with nice reflections (my excuse for photographing Mallard ! )

A cracking morning out !

Dungeness, Kent, 20/3/2013

A very pleasant morning at Dungeness

A couple of hours around the Gorse and Desert area

Wheatear, 15+
Common Whitethroat

On the reserve

Sedge Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Yellow Wagtail, 3
A Bittern was booming (not heard by me !)

On the ARC site

Great White Egret
Penduline Tit, (seen by 5 birders, but not by me !)

Kent, 6th & 7th April, 2013

This weekend, a bit of brightness, the wind is minimum and no chill factor.

A morning on the Isle of Sheppey.
First Shellness, then onto the track at Elmley produced very little to point the camera at

On the Sunday, it was Dungeness, despite perfect light, no wind, very few birds.

apart from a large number of Magpie, the resident House Sparrows, 3 Dunnock and a Chiffchaff in the Lighthouse Gardens, not much else !

Best was a very obliging  Dunnock

On the new diggings a Great White Egret
Hansen Hide on the ARC, male Reed Bunting, Bittern flew in, Marsh Harrier, Goldeneye

Kent & Isle of Sheppey, 31/3 and 1/4/2013

08.00 hours, there is a strong, very cold, east wind, poor light and snow blasting at you !
Mick is out of the car and disappears from view in the snow being driven by this wind, I sit it out in the car.
09.30 hours our East Kent Amigos, SA and TG arrive, it's a tad brighter ! we join Mick and spend a couple of hours watching Peregrines. Rather distant views today.

Next a visit to Reculver for breakfast, weather still very dull, cold and strong wind, it is unpleasant to venture far.

14.00 hours we are now on the Isle of Sheppey,
Elmley marsh,we take a slow drive along the track up to the Reserve, then return.
The light is getting better, but there was not many birds ! Nothing to point the camera.

16.00 hours, high tide at Shellness, the wind is still strong and very cold but the light now has improved, a chance for a bit of photography.

A cracking day out, but that cold wind, a bit on the fierce side !

................................................

Monday, Easter Monday ! !    The cold easterly wind is constant again ! !

We repeat our day at the same locations of yesterday,

best of the photographic day !   a Red-legged Partridge on the  Elmley track.

We arrived at Shellness before high tide, less birds before high tide, still very difficult conditions for me to get a photo !

17.00 hours, the constant cold wind beats me !  Retreat !  Back to the car, heater ON !  and wait for Mick.

Then the sun came out, blue sky, still cold wind, Mick stayed out till 19.00 hours and got some smashing photos !

Me ! Happy to sit in the warm car !

Cracking 4 days out !