Thursday 24 November 2016

Walton-on-the-Naze

While visiting family last weekend after storm angus had a nice walk around Walton-on-the Naze first walked around the scrub where there plenty of miltary pillboxs around and a few thrushes mainly Blackbirds around.

Then walked down to the seawall where there where plenty of Redshanks and Curlews feeding and calling and a few Brent Geese which developed into bigger flocks as we moved around. Further around there were big numbers of Teals with a few Shoveler and Wigeon within the flock on the more inland water.

At the most east end out on the marsh there were a few more waders with a nice Spotted Redshank and flocks of Dunlin and Sanderling and singles of Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit feeding. As we walked along the river a nice Water Rail swam across and showed well feeding along the bank while on the same stretch a Rock Pipit perched in the fading light. As we completed the loop a Redwing was heard over while a single Yellowhammer was heard singing before we reentered the main town.

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Wiltstone Reservoir

After a washout the day before the RSPB walk with the St. Albans had a lovely sunny morning walk with a nice section of birds on the walk around to the hide with a nice section of Teal, Wigeon Pochard and Tufted Ducks seen on the water while on the edge Pied Wagtails were seen in numbers and Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were heard. In the scrub to the hide at least one Chiff-chaff was seen.

From the hide at least 4 Dunlin were feeding on the mud with the Golden Plovers showing well with the Lapwings in the mud with 2 Snipe hiding with them. Out with the Waterfowl a lovely pair of Pintail were found and a Red-crested Pochard was showing on and off and a Distance Goldeneye.

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Pair of Pintails
Then we ended the walk walking around the back of the reservoir where we had a few views of Fieldfares and Redwings and the Golden Plover flew over our heads.

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Golden Plovers flying over

Saturday 12 November 2016

More on the yorkshire coast

Following on from norfolk spent the next day in the yorkshire area first stop was to Thornwick Bay around Flamborough Head for daybreak as a Hume's Warbler had been around for a few days the first birds of the morning were a few Redwings and Fieldfares passing through soon joined by a kestrel. In the willow area a few species of House and Tree Sparrows were calling as the Hume warblers showed well in the early morning fog before it disappeared for a bit so then decided to check out the hide which held some Teal, Snipe and a odd Dunlin.

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Humme's warbler in the willow

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Feeding Snipe
Back in the field the skylarks were waking up with good numbers were in song while a Redpoll flew through. By this time the Hume's Warbler had moved to the willows of the fishing pond where it was keeping with a group of Goldcrest giving some nice views but were flightly.
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Skylark in flight

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Humme's Warbler closeup

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After spenting time with the warbler decided to head to spurn  and walk to the point which might have been a moment of madness as the walk is now a lot longer than it used to be though nice to see so many goldcrests some seem very exhausted. Also around at the point a nice Black Redstart and a Wheatear with a few Redwings and Fieldfields floating around while off shore a nice Long-tailed Duck drifted past and lots of Brent Geese, Curlew, Knot, Redshank and Dunlin were feeding on the shore.

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One of many Goldcrests
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The Black Redstart
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Long-tailed Duck