Tuesday 4 December 2012

December 2nd

The patch finally got a visit, the first for nearly two weeks!! It was a beautiful day, the orchards on the way to the castle were full of FIELDFARE, a few REDWING and REDPOLL. Bull and Birches wood had one small flock of tits which included LONG TAILED and 1 MARSH TIT. Roundshill was similar and when I arrived at the it was lake partly frozen over and held just a handful of MALLARD. Around the fields a KESTREL hunted and 25 LAPWING flew east. I heard a few YELLOWHAMMERS and REED BUNTING, as well as MEADOW PIPIT and SKYLARK.
Part of the 25 no. Lapwing flock

Kestrel

Fieldfare

Raven?

On the way back the corvid above flew north-east the picture and my initial impression point to RAVEN (106?) it was a little distant but heavy cropping, still points me in that direction any thoughts would be more than welcome :-)
The afternoon was spent looking for Waxwings around the Faversham area, despite driving around Yorkletts, where they had been reported, I failed in even finding Youngs Transport yard, let alone any Waxwings!!! A report of 80 birds along Faversham creek had me heading to Abbey Fields and the creek, REDWINGS were everywhere but no Waxwings, a Common Seal (I think) was in the creek, which was really nice to see. Last stop was Oare, I stayed until it was almost dark, there was nothing out of the  ordinary but a long string of STARLINGS headed across the Swale towards Favesham, the line of at least 30-50 birds deep spread for almost half a mile a really great spectacle.
'These berries are all mine!'

Common Seal

Common Seal

Late afternoon Egret

27 comments:

Marianne said...

Looks a beautiful day. Lovely photos. That corvid sure looks Raveny to me.

Maria said...

What a variety, even seals!

Maria said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Variety!!!.. Nice pictures. Cheers!!!..

Pete Woodruff said...

Enjoyed the read and images Alan.

The silhouette of the corvid looks good enough for Raven....big as a Buzzard with a wedge tail!

Warren Baker said...

I'd plum for a Raven Alan, cant tell the size by that photo, but it sure has a Ravenesque profile :-)

Greenie said...

Alan ,
Would agree with the others for Raven , enlarged the beard is there .
Like the 'submarine' shots .
Unlucky with the Waxwings .

Marc Heath said...

I'm in the not sure camp on this one. The tail shape does not give me the wedge impression and looks quite square to me. I thought the bill would look a little heavier in the shot but without something to compare size with, its hard to say. Only my impression which I thought I would share.

Rohrerbot said...

Looks like a Raven to me:) Again love all your bird shots. Very productive fun you had:)

de schoonheid van de natuur said...

Mooie serie van die vogels.
groetjes Herman.

Jason K said...

After 2 weeks Alan it seems that you had a very productive return. A great mix of species and series of photos

I am going to stick my neck on the block and say that I don't think it's a Raven. I have Ravens breed locally to me and see them almost daily. With the distance its hard to be sure but the shape of the tail is wrong for me.

On a Raven it really is that text book elongated dimond/wedge shape but this looks more curved on its back edge and somewhat pestle shaped like that of a Rook.

This is only my view mind ;-)

ShySongbird said...

Hi Alan, A nice selection there. The seal was a great find. The only way I was sure I had a Raven earlier this year was by the call so I will stay out of the debate ;-) Large flocks of Winter thrushes here too but the small local flock of Waxwings has eluded me all week, I missed them by about half an hour yesterday!

Rachel J said...

Glad you managed to get out at the weekend, both Sat and Sun mornings were nice for a crisp fresh wintry walk!

Adam said...

Yeh, defo Raven. Adam

Helma said...


Hi Alan,
what a nice blog with birds. Especially photo 3 I find beautiful. even raptors in vluscht and Redwing in the tree. You seal is also great. What luck you had.

Greetings, Helma




Magia da Inês said...

✿✿°•.
Fotos super lindas!
Natureza muito linda!

Bom domingo!
Boa semana!
Beijinhos.
Brasil
¸.✿°°•.¸.¸•°♡⊱╮╮

Giga said...

Tak to jest z ptakami. Rzadko kiedy zobaczy się te, które by się chciało. Zdjęcie tych, które zobaczyłeś są śliczne. Foka jest kochana. Pozdrawiam.
So it is with birds. Rarely see the ones that you wanted. Picture those seen are beautiful. Seal is loved. Yours.

Kelly said...

...sounds like a wonderful time birding...loved the surprise of the seal. Very cool...would love to see one on a hike!

Jerry said...

Perhaps no stunning birds Alan but looks like you had kind of day (probably why!!)

Ornitocampero.blogspot.com.es said...

Always "funny" to see seals around your local patch!
Saludos!

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