Two Tick Island

Yesterday I went with my Father to Leigh-on Sea,  we were going to stay with my Auntie Lorna for the night.  When we arrived we went straight to Two-Tree Island as the light was fading fast, and I was hoping for some ticks. We only went to one of the hides and speed walked there. During the walk I was reminded how frustrating dogs can be.  On the way to the hide I saw: a Kestrel, Curlew, Redshank and Grey Plover; I was pleased with the Plover as I had only previously had scoped views through reeds of them in summer dress.

 I thought the letters on the islands from the hide were very helpful, especially when there are a few of you; so you can say: "just left of L", and "Just left of L" is where I saw my first Snipe! I was just scanning across when I noticed four camouflaged birds which were the Snipe!  Also there were a couple of Grey Plover, and I got a better image - all these shots are digiscoped!  Grey Plover are much drabber in winter, but they are very smart in summer, personally I like them in winter.

There were plenty of Avocets around, and Lorna counted 28!  Last time I was here I didn't see any!  There were also: Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveller, Grey Heron and Little Egret! Also creeping along one of the banks was a splendid male Pheasant!

As the light was fading fast we went to the coast to see the Brent Geese.  The tide was hugely far out and so were the Brents.  I managed to scope some record shots, nothing brilliant.
My life list is now 125!

Also this morning when we were driving home we saw a Buzzard perched in a tree!  We parked up a distance away and walked back but it was gone.

Beat That!

Squirrels,  now they are one kind of animal I strive to outsmart.  They can be the cause of great frustration as they steal all my bird food.  They have pulled feeders apart and spilt food everywhere,  and I have had to take some drastic measures;  hanging feeders on the washing line, running outside waving my arms, even scaring him off with a water pistol (a little too extreme!).
But now, I will put up with it no more, I have bought: Squirrel buster +!  It was rather expensive for a feeder costing £30

I put it up in the garden, not in the place I want it, so I might move it.  I filled it up and walked away and about 7 seconds after I left a Blue Tit was on it!  and for the first time I was looking forward to the Squirrel paying a visit.  Unluckily I think the Squirrel visited when I wasn't looking, because as I looked outside I saw it sitting there looking suspiciously at it, and resolving to go for Black-sunflower seeds instead.

Plenty To See

Here in Sussex the garden is hotting up with plenty of birds to see.  This what has been in the garden recently; most unusually I saw a Chiffchaff in the garden on the 5th!  Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeon and Herring Gulls have all been on the garage roof, unluckily since the Firecrest the flocks of Long-tails haven't come into the garden.  Also yesterday I put Black-Sunflower seeds out for the first time since spring, Birds came down within the hour, and there have now been: 5 Blue Tits 3 Great Tits and a Robin using the feeder!  Sadly there has also been another visitor.

                                                                   Blue Tit

For the first time in months I went in the garden today, my reason for not entering this wilderness for so long is that it was full of Garden Spiders everywhere you looked, but they have basically all gone now!
I do not know why but I do not like spiders, except for Zebra-jumping Spiders, which I actually like!
Here is a picture of the only Garden Spider I found today

Typically, as I had already started writing this post when I went into the garden, and had complained about the lack of Long-tailed Tits in the garden, Long-Tails came!  I wasn't complaining as having Long-tailed Tits, a Chaffinch and a Blackbird as well as the Blue Tits was entertaining.  Also a Wren came creeping through the undergrowth!  I was outside for a fairly long while and saw a distant Great-spotted Woodpecker and a surprise was a Buzzard flying overhead being harassed by a Herring Gull.

This afternoon I saw a Red Admiral butterfly which I thought was odd for this time of year,  but I did see a Hoverfly yesterday, so there are still insects on the wing.

Fire and Gold

This morning I looked out of my window and heard a call similar to a Goldcrest, I started imagining a Firecrest as the call reminded me of the one last year, when I notice something in the Laurel tree to the left outside my window, and it was a Firecrest! It went round to the other side, near the back door, so I rushed downstairs.  The tiny little bird was still there and I managed to snap some shots.

                                              Is that a coloured ring or just his leg?

He then went back to the other-side of the Laurel, so I went back upstairs and frustratinly he was perched on a twig really close to the back door, if only I had held my ground.

                                           If only I had been down there 




So, I went back down stairs and got some super close but obscured shots of it before it went up into the bush it was in last year, and then dssapeared.

I also got close views of a Goldcrest.  But unlike the Firecrest he didn't allow much opportunity for photographs.

5 Reasons Why I Like Our Garage Roof...

Reason 1: It gathers water so birds come there to drink.
Reason 2: Theres a window which gives good close views.
Reason 3: It has got me some Garden ticks like Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull, both birds that    
                wouldn't come down in the garden.
Reason 4: It is large enough for loads of birds, there were over seven birds on it the other day.
And Reason 5: This morning I got another Garden Tick, a Pied Wagtail

It's my Brothers birthday today, so while he's in little chance of bird photography.  At least we're having Moc-Rasher Sandwiches for breakfast, which are going too be amazing.

                                             Scandinavian Blackbird?

Winters a' Coming

Outside my window here in Sussex flocks of wee birds come most mornings.  Yesterday a Goldcrest was among them!  Usually it's Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits.  And on our garage roof, from a different window, there is almost always Blackbirds, just two days ago there were five! Along with 3 Chaffinches, a Wood pigeon and a Robin.  All had the same thought in mind (except the Robin), Water, they all needed to drink and bathe.

                                                      Fluffy Long-tailed Tit.
Also a couple of days ago two House Sparrows came outside my window, a male and female, and the female (or hen) had a tiny white feather in her beak! This is the first record in my back garden, I have seen them in my front garden once as well.  Oddly House Sparrows are always in a hedge a few roads up, yet they are rare visitors here, even the Firecrest has visited about twice (last year), and hopefully this November he will come back!

Underneath my window there is a little roof were our house sticks out, on this I placed some Black Sunflower seeds.  A Squirrel has been eating these and yesterday I spent about twenty minutes leaning out my window trying to get a decent picture, and I think I succeeded.

                                                         What 'choo want?

Yesterday I was on the beach for a few minutes and managed to find a Gull, which I believe to be a juvenile Herring Gull, that was ringed!

Later this afternoon I will be going up to London, and beforehand I may go up to the Golf-course.

Valentino!

At the Park this morning, at about nine, I managed to pick up Valentino the Med Gull!  I attempted some pictures but they were all blurry and then he took off.  Moving around the lake I managed to pick him up again by his heavier posture than the Black-headed Gulls, and his heavier and blood-red bill.  I managed to digiscope some record shots, nothing spectacular.

Quick digiscoped video

                                                A painting I did