Boxing Day Birding

Hello readers I hope you all had a great Christmas and ready to burn of all those mince pies with a bit of birding. It is a family tradition to go to Southend on boxing day so for me it was taking some shots of the turnstones and sanderlings on the beach. Normally we take a stroll along the pier but due to engineering works to is out of use. I only took a few snaps but I hope you enjoy looking at them.

Matthew Foakes (M.F)

Turnstone (M.F)

Sanderling (M.F)

Too many late nights(M.F)

Leigh on sea

Hello readers


Sorry for the lack of information recently but other events got in the way but we are back in full spirit. Today I went to leigh on sea near southend really just to see the turnstones. These are fantastic small birds that run so fast with there tiny little legs. I took full benefit of the weather trying to use the blue sky as a back drop were possible. I had a close in counter with a sanderling too which in some case came too close to focus.


I really enjoyed and would recommend on a nice afternoon/morning taking a trip that way. But make sure you take the thermals as it can be could in some parts.


Matthew Foakes (M.F)

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Titchwell Marsh

Yesterday we went on a days coach outing with the RSPB Havering group to Titchwell marsh in Norfolk. After a long journey we arrived at the reserve. The place was under going some management at the time so one of the paths was close. Walking from the Centre to the two new hides we saw 1 hunting Marsh Harrier, 2 kestrels and a hobby. Along with a few stonechat and whinchat. In the hide we found rock and meadow pipits bathing in front of us along with a few goldfinches and pied wagtails.

But for us the best was the beach. Sea watchers found us great skua, gannets, a guillemot and a red throated diver. Along with these there were many waders including oystercatcher, knot, grey plover, ringed plover, sanderling, turnstone and oystercatcher. We really enjoyed the day would rank it in one of the best we have ever visited.

Young Birders

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Rainham Marshes 14/9/2011

On Wednesday we took a visit to Rainham Marshes. We thought that we would do the wednesday walk we which helped us see; hobby, a sparrowhawk and kestrel and a sparrowhawk having a mid air fight and a Whinchat. After the walk had ended we went round again seeing this time 5 whichats and many more lizards and common/ruddy daters. We really enjoyed the day and hope to be back again some time soon.

Young birder

Common dater (M.F)

Male Whinchat (M.F)

Male Whinchat (M.F)

Female Whinchat (M.F)

Lee Valley

Yesterday I thought that I should make the best of the whether so we headed down to the Lee valley white water centre. I did not go on the course as I am not old enough however I enjoyed watching them race around. As I was watching one group one particular bird caught my attention. As I looked closer at it, it turned out to be a Egyptian Goose there were two of them.  As I walked close the birds did not even budge a bit, they just carried on feeding on the grass. 


I took a few photos and then it was time to go as later on in the day we were going to a bat and moth night at Rainham Marshes. We managed to see a few bats and hear plenty of them. I really enjoyed the day and would do the bat night again.


Matthew Foakes

Urban Birding

Today I went to Regents park as they have a big heronry there as well as some other birding surprises. One of them including the huge numbers of ring necked parakeets around the park flying in and out the trees. There were plenty of pigeons with them swarming around a regular feeding. I really enjoyed being so close to the herons as I normally get only distant views.


Matthew Foakes

Rainham Again

Today Jamie and myself took a visit to Rainham Marshes. Having the whole day there we spent a lot of time looking at the water rail and spotting yellow wagtails. While watching the rails we saw a large flock of goldfichs and a sedge warbler. It was a really enjoyable and would like to go down there again before we go back to school.


Young Birders

Rainham Marshes 29/09/2011

Today I went took a visit to rainham marshes as the whether decided to not rain. I was over cast however the sun shone through at times. There was lots of birding action with highlight of the day being 3 water rail chicks and 2 parents. There were penalty of common lizards scatted along the broad walks along with a wasp sider close to Ken barrats hide. It was great day and I hope the autumn migration brings a few more rare birds.

Matthew

The Norwegian Fjords

Hi readers,

My family and I have recently returned from a Cruise around the Norwegian Fjords.  When we arrived at the Docks in Southampton we boarded the ship and was escorted to our cabin.  While my parents was unpacking, I stood out on our balcony trying to get some flight shots of Gulls.

  After we had sailed away from Southampton, I was starting to see some more sea birds, like Gannets, Guillemots and other divers.

 After two days at sea we was in Norwegian waters,  the views from our balcony were spectacular. I was lucky enough to see a pod of Dolphins swimming beside the ship.  On one of the excursions we went to see a glacier in Alden,  after a long walk we arrived at the glacier, the views were truly spectacular.  The holiday was amazing and I hope to visit Norway again one day.
Jamie Croft

Gulliemot

Dolphin

Common Gull

Gulliemot

The Glacier

Waterfall

Gannet

Annual Bug Hunt at Rainham Marshes

Yesterday I attended the Annual Bug Hunt at Rainham Marshes. We first Walked Along the Sea Wall finding many ladybirds and an Orb Spider. Then we walked down into the marshland discovery zone were we did on pond dipping to find a Caddis Fly Lavay and many water boat man. Net sweeping found lots and lots of grasshoppers and a few bush crickets. It was a very enjoyable day and would do it next year again.

Matthew Foakes

Rainham Marshes

Today I visited RSPB Rainham Marshes which if you are a regular viewer then you will know is one of our favourite reserves and also our local Patch. As I set of around the reserve I could see the butterflies flying around in the sky. I attempted some photos but unfortunately failed. When I got to the first little river on the broad walks I spotted a grass snake swimming over the water. In the Ken barrats hide A family of Little Egrets were happily feeding in the marshes.

On the Northern Broad Walks many dragon flies were flying around chasing one another. Occasionally a Common or Ruddy Darter would land on the walk in front of me. I really enjoyed the day and hope to get back there some time soon.


Matthew