Quiet and creepy

Not alot around at the moment, but i did manange to photograph this Redshank on the beach pools at Cudmore Grove before he noticed i had slowly creeped closer and took to the air !!.

Lazy Sunday Morning

Dragged myself out off bed this morning, no time for a dig in the grave (shave), then finding a frost on the car windscreen ?. Was it worth it !!!. Most defiantly after a few fruitless trips i finally connected with a small group of bearded tits feeding in the still conditions with wonderful light -- Happy days ;-).

Spot the jack snipe

After visiting Essex Wildlife Trust, Abberton. To see the Lapland bunting's a few weeks ago. I was told that a jack snipe had been seen from the layer breton causeway, earlier that morning. So off i went in search and after sometime careful scanning of the margins i finally found this well hidden beauty.

Belated Bairds.

These are images i got of the Baird's Sandpiper at Holland Haven, back in October. Although they are grainy in quality, you can see the wings extending the tail and general 'jizz' of the bird. You can also see the size comparison of this small wader against the Gulls. Light conditions were very overcast and the distance of the bird didn't help taking photo's on day. But at least its a life tick for me and a new species on me blog :).

Nutty as a Nuthatch.

Trying to find this little Nuthatch in my scope whilst he was busy creeping down the trunk of the tree was driving me mad, but as they say patients is a virtue.

Two ticks.

I went out with the hope off photographing a couple off rarities on Saturday. The Semipalmated Sandpiper at Abberton and the Bairds Sandpiper at Holland haven. How ever both birds were impossible to photograph due to the distance they was at. However with the light being good and these Ruff being close i decided to capture a few shots of them instead. So all wasn't lost two life ticks and a couple off half decent pictures of moulting ruff.

Worthy Waders

Decided to post these photos on my blog rather then deleting them. They show some good size comparisons and the diversity of the waders.These were all taken on Sunday afternoon when the tide was very high covering the salt marsh and forcing the birds onto the pools.

Partake with the Pectoral

With very dull conditions and a strong wind blowing across the layer da haye causeway at Abberton. It wasn't ideal conditions to try and photograph the distant Pectoral Sandpiper that had been reported. But i couldn't resist the temptation to at least get some record shots, as this was a new species for my blog and year list so here they are.

Twisting my neck.

Reports were coming through on Saturday off this Wryneck at Holland haven, Essex. So off i went with the hope off getting some pictures. and i must admite it was one off the hardest birds i have had to digiscope. Being he was always confiding in the hawthorn bushes or feeding on the floor out of sight. But with some careful angling of the scope,the camera and my neck, i was finally able to see between the foliage to get a full picture.

Good Start.

When i arrived at Holland Haven to see the Wryneck i was also quite lucky to stumble across this female Redstart. What was disapointing was the more colourful male that i missed.

Banking on the Holiday.

Bank holiday monday would be the last time i might be able to visit the pools for a while. So i decided two maximise my time by making sure i would be in place a couple of hours before high tide. And with the late afternoon sun i should get some good light. Trying to get a little closer to my subjects without spooking them is always a problem. so after sorting my gear out i settled down under my scrim and waited. As i hoped it was not long before the waders came in. Starting with the Ruff and then after she had waded out off sight, in came the Juvenille Curlew Sandpipers. And the end results are these pictures which i am very pleased with.

Autumn Passage continues.

Some new Waders dropped in at the pools Saturday, with a single Sanderling (bottom pic) and a Little Stint found amongst the Ringed plovers as we scanned the flock looking for the broad-billed sandpiper that wasn't to be seen. The days highlight for me was the curlew sandpipers, with 2 adults showing and a small gathering of juveniles feeding with the dunlin. Also had some pleasing moments watching the wood sandpiper with the curlew sandpipers (2nd from bottom pic).

Hull Collection cont:

My Sunday morning birding started with setting myself up to scan the local pools.Within a short while i was snapping away at a Snipe (top 2 pics). whilst i was doing so Richard Hull discovered a Little stint (3rd pic), but whilst i was trying to find the stint within my binoculars i came across the Red-necked phalarope. Later in the day we had a number of Little stints including the Temmincks which i was unable to photograph due to me moving to sudden to get him in the viewfinder and spooking the bird and it taking flight into the very far corner. Then whilst scrutinizing the dunlin and ringed plovers. RH unable to speak with excitement was pointing and stuttering that he had found a Broad-billed Sandpiper. This crazy day finale finished with a group of a few Ruff , 4 wood sandpipers a Garganey & 5 whinchat. Numerous yellow wagtails which have been in short supply this year and 4 wheatear. In all a true birding experience, i reckon it will be another 27 years birding before i have a day like this again.

Hull Collection.

Had a morning out with my good friend and bird artist Richard Hull, at our regular pools and what a days birding it turned out to be. The weather was very overcast and humid and the wind was still. But we had a cracking day and discovered some good birds. I'll start by showing the few photos i managed to get of the Broad billed sandpiper that we found. We had a total of 23 various waders including a Temmincks stint, juvenile red necked phalarope, Little stints plus the regular culprits and that isnt including the good selection of passerines. So as you can imaging it was my best day birding on one of regular patch's for many years if not my best days birding ever.