Pose please

Went back to Stow maries first thing this morning and was pleased to see the Great Grey Shrike was a little bit more photogenic for me this time round.

Bonus Bramblings !!

Made a trip to Thriftwood today in hope of finding a lesser spotted woodpecker. Id spent 4 hours searching the woods with no luck. So decided to make my way back to the car when i came across a large flock of finches feeding on the local farmers field. So i set up my scope and had a scan through them and soon noticed about 7 Brambling feeding amongst the Chaffinches and Linnets. How pleased i was with myself and a day not wasted after all. Il be back there this weekend looking for the lesser spot once again.

March Migrant

Had permission to visit the M.o.D ranges on Friday afternoon, and how pleased i was to find a nice early Wheatear for my year list.

Operation Butcher Bird !!

Today's target was this Great Grey Shrike, that had been found on the Stow maries Aerodrome near Cold Norton. Known as the butcher bird because it strikes its prey, usually lizards or small mammals with its feet. Then it impales them on the spikes of a blackthorn bush or on the barb of a barbed wire fence. So at last another new species for my blog and my Essex tick for 2011. Mission complete.

Divers in the Deep.

Clear skies and a high tide, plus 4 Red-Throated Divers made my walk to Moon beach, East Mersea worthwhile yesterday. I watched them diving and fishing for about an hour then as the tide started to fall, i made my way further along the seawall to the pillbox at Coopers beach. From here i was able to walk out on to the sand spit to photograph them a little closer as they swam past heading towards Brightlingsea.

Bullfinch Bliss.

I could hear the distinctive piping and chewing call of a Bullfinch at Chigborough lakes today. And although it still took awhile for this rather shy and secretive bird to appear in the open. It was worth the wait when he did.

Scaup by the Strood.

These two female Scaup have been present on a local fishing lake for the last few days. Mixing with the Tufted ducks and mallard.

Smitten with the Smew

Another trip to Abberton in the hope of the Bittern showing was again a waste of time. But i was fortunate enough to have this rather fine drake Smew spend some time trying to impress a female Red Head.

Posing Goldeneye

Whilst at Abberton waiting and hoping that the Bittern would show. This Goldeneye popped up in front of me and it even decided to pose for the camera. Pity the bittern never popped out the reeds though.

Hoard of Hawfinchs

Braxted Park was this mornings destination to try and catch up with the Hawfinchs. And how pleased i was when 9 birds showed up in the tall mistletoe cladded trees. Easily recognizable by the big strong bulky beaks, that they use to break the cherry and hornbeam seeds. I shall be making a few more visits to this site, hoping that the sun shines ! So i can obtain some better pictures.

What a Lark !!

It's taken me 20+ years of birding to finally catch up with the Shore lark. And the dull weather and distance didnt stop me enjoying the moment i saw the lovely yellow faces of 5 birds on the beach, at John Weston Reserve, Walton on the Naze. So a new year and a new list and hopefully a few trips out, catching up with a few feathered friends.

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 ;-).