A day out with Bill and Tom on Saturday took us to Oare Marshes and Grove Ferry. The weather was good again with some great light as we made our way around. Starting at Oare at high tide produced good numbers of waders, they included AVOCET, DUNLIN, BLACK TAILED GODWIT, RUFF, RINGED PLOVER, REDSHANK and GOLDEN PLOVER. On the Swale we added CURLEW and a small flock of BRENT GEESE. We walked the circuit and found a pair of STONECHAT and one of the showiest CETTI'S WARBLERS I've ever seen as it sung from the top of a small bush on more than one occasion! BEARDED TITS were heard all along the seawall and eventually they showed well too. Click on photos to make larger.
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| Bearded Tits |
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| Black Tailed Godwits |
Gradually lots of whirring wings passed us as the waders left the flood to feed along the edge of the receding tide. We didn't loads more before we left, apart from a couple of GREY PLOVER. At Grove a CHIFFCHAFF called in the car park and there were loads of TEAL seen from the ramp plus 3 RUFF, 2 BLACK TAILED GODWIT and a SNIPE. The walk along the river produced KINGFISHER, MARSH HARRIER, SPARROWHAWK and a late HOBBY. The paddock held several REDWING and FIELDFARE and a last look from the ramp produced a WATER RAIL, kindly pointed out by a group that were enjoying the view from the ramp.
OCTOBER 23rd
This morning Tom joined me for a walk round the patch at Sissinghurst, a BULLFINCH showed well in the car park and as we walked towards the barn a few gulls were circling in the distance, among them was a ring tail HEN HARRIER (112) what a bonus, only the second one I've had on the patch!! It was a long way off by the time the camera came out, so I only managed a poor record shot.
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| Hen Harrier!! |
REDPOLLS were whizzing around with the odd GOLDFINCH. The wood was quiet and we only managed to hear MARSH TIT. A GREEN WOODPECKER finally gave itself up in Park Field and back out in the arable fields the YELLOWHAMMER flock was around 50 birds. Lastly a COMMON BUZZARD came over low being chased by a ROOK.
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| Buzzard and Rook |
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| A taste of Autumn |
10 comments:
Cracking photos Alan! Congratulations on the Hen Harrier, looks like you did well to spot it.
Alan ,
Well done on 112 , and some superb action shots as well .
Quite a weekend .
Fantastic post Alan, and a even more fantastic addition to the year list, absolutely brilliant!!
I agree, Alan. Well done on adding to the year list & for a set of great images.
Nice one on the Hen Harrier Al! Excellent!
Love the buzzard and rook Alan.
Hi Kieron, thanks, luckily the bird was up with a few gulls and the group caught my eye :-)
Hi Greenie, thanks, that was a welcome addition the raptors have done well for me this year, just Merlin to go and it would be a clean sweep of the ones recorded here :-)
Hi Warren, thanks, it was a great couple of days, Tom is from Colorado and went home with at least 40 new species, Hen Harrier was one of them :-)
Hi Dean, thanks, Hen Harrier was a real bonus. When I was growing up (still am, come to think of it!!) they were more common than Marsh, lots of changes since then!
Hi Rach, thanks, as above really, it was a nice bonus.
Hi Christian, thanks, I've been hoping a Buzzard would get close enough for a pic for a while now :-)
As always nice birdwatching....I love the waders and the brent geese.....and that picture of the bearded tit is a bonus!
Bye!
Preciosas fotos. Saludos desde España!!
http://avesyestrellas.blogspot.com
Hi El Campero Inquieto, thanks, it was a good day and great to see the Bearded Tits :-)
Hi Ramon, thank you, I'm pleased you like the photos :-)
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