Greenshank redemption

Rainham had a couple of good wader days this week. Not much good to me as the news arrived while I was at work. Happily I mused that it would be a one day event, unhappily it was repeated the following day.

So, nothing for it but to go and have a look myself. While the previous day's weather had been truly atrocious, Thursday was probably the nicest morning I've ever had down the river and as such totally rubbish for birds. One Greenshank all to show for the effort of getting up and out nice and early.

OK the Cuckoos were good, perching up nicely (not that you'd know it from my shots), and a female Wheatear on the strand line. To cap it all I left my phone in the butts hide, so I'll have to go back Saturday. On the plus side though, the weather looks pretty grim so there's more chance of a good wader popping up. Here's hoping!

Bank holiday Bradder's Birding breckland bonanza!

The Bank Holiday feels so long ago, and lethargy has set in big time.

So to be brief: Saturday went to Rainham, it was OK, but not so OK as to make the really early start worthwhile.

Sunday and another early start to get to JL's house for a Bradder's Breckland Birding Bonanza. Walking through a deserted broom field with just the dawn chorus for company, now that was worth it...

First up Thetford and an otter and a faceless duck, then off to Lakenheath to rendezvous with a rather smart Red-footed Falcon in amongst the numerous Hobby over Joist Fen, with a support cast of the usuals.

Midday and Lunch, too much, oh yeagh!

A few stops to pick up Tree Pipit, Woodlark, Common Redstart ending up at Cavenham Heath for a couple of not so distant Stone Curlew.

Final point of call was Lackford Lakes a rather agreeable SWT site just north of Bury St Edmunds to be serenaded out by Nightingale and as the credits roll a stunning Black Tern performing over the peaceful waters.

106 species and the organisers have finally woken up to the fact there is good coffee to be found and used in association with a thermos flask...

Sunday and the patch is dieing on my feet, bar a Garden Warbler, so we hoof it up to north London to hunt for exciting raptors and get Crossbill instead...

Boundaries

A quick spin around the flats and park before heading off to Amwell for the first time this year. A singing Sedge Warbler (the third this year) was on Alex and that was just about it.  Until that is Bob, fresh back from a little sojourn in Wales found a Garden Warbler singing and not holding still in the Esso copse, just as well as one who shall remain nameless fluffed his ID this week (and it wasn't me!).

Off to Amwell then for a Wood Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher just about on the border of the known world and the rest of Hertfordshire. The last prognosis was that the Wood Warbler was not in the the London recording area.  Never mind, it would be nice to see one at its best and a male Pied Fly worth going anywhere (near) for.  Immediately on arriving I met Marco, who had obviously had the same idea, who confirmed that both were currently outside "London".  The Wood Warbler was probably 10-20 yards outside when I joined a group of admirers watching it as it worked away through the trees.  Gradually it turned the right way and was heading towards the border. We followed. Suddenly it did the right thing and flew across the tow path and down the navigation and beyond the bridge from the view point, well and truly in London.  Trouble is I wasn't, but I am going to count it anyway, since I don't think, currently, I'll be breaking any records.

I did try looking for it, but to no avail, so I turned my attention to the Pied Fly.  Luck was with me again as it showed quite quickly through the trees.  No chance of getting this on the London list, but hopefully Wanstead should come up trumps, but this was only the second adult male I've seen - a wait of oh, er, too many years.

That done I took a train back to Broxbourne and followed the BirdGuide app until I got lost. It had been trying to take me to the middle of some glass houses.  I had thought I knew where I was going, but after a while it dawned on me I had never been here before, where I thought I was was 2 miles further north. After reading the details of the sighting properly I rectified me error, found the lake found the bird (Scaup).  Off course someone will now tell me its a hybrid.

 

Rushed thrush saved by superb sub sub

Three of London's finest showing how to take a photo: Left to right James Lowen (preferred method kneeling),
Rich Bonser (reclined), Jono (poised)

My god an early start! Three hours sleep and I am careering over the flats to Jono's house for the pick up to go to Spurn.  But we never got there.  As we waited, circling a roundabout in Peterborough, on news, which when it did come was fairly negative, we considered our options.  Well just the one really.  A showy Sub-alpine Warbler (of an Eastern persuasion) was the only real option and as it turned out a shrewed move.

On our arrival we quickly joined the gathering following the little bird up and down the brambles just north of Icky Ridge,and what a little performer.  Not the least phased by the over eager amongst us, unlike it's other human admirers who could be heard mumbling distinctly about invasion of patches and bloody photographers. Did the bird care? Did it co-coa!

Oooh a Linnet!

Several hundred images later and we decide that we should have a look round the rest of Landguard just in case something had been overlooked. Around 20 Wheatear and an ouzel not for showing. The weather was not looking great so we spared ourselves the ouzel and the rain and hammered it down to Chigborough lakes where a female Ring-necked Duck was quickly dispatched, and for me my first Cuckoo of the year.  News of the Crossness green-winged Teal's relocation to the slightly more fragrant Rainham meant Jono and I had to go for it.  The irony being that Mr Bonser, our driver for the day, had found the bloody thing. More ironically still I had to find it for him on the target pools.

With some of the day left and a growing urgency to catch up with some of the birds I should have on the PLL I bade them farewell and stayed at Rainham.  Didn't help the pointless listing thing much with only a reeling gropper on the west side of the silts for all my leaden footed effort. I couldn't care though as I was absolutely cream-crackered.  Good day though.  Thanks Rich.