South East kent

Planned a day out with my mate today met him at 07-00 hrs when then decided where to go we chose The Dungeness area of Kent we set of and after a breakfast at the Oasis Cafe we where all set for the day, Our first stop was a look at wellard marsh area here we had Fieldfare, Bewick,s Swan, a large number of Tree Sparrows Chaffinch , Yellowhammer, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush,  Common Buzzard and a good number of Stock Dove the most I have seen in this area. As this was the first full days birding Bob has had since retuning from Spain most birds would be new for the year for him, we did a circuit of the area picking up Golden Plover , Lapwing ,Redwing, Blue Tit, Great Tit , Kestrel then Bob found a raptor sitting on the edge of a field which was a Marsh Harrier.
Our next stop was the RSPB Reserve after quick stop at the info centre we headed for the Long Eared Owl as we got there most people left those that where left did not know where the owl was so we decide to come back and set of for the hides where we had a Great White Egret, Female Smew, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Gadwall,  a selection of Gulls Black Headed, Common, Herring , Lesser Black Backed , Greater Black Backed, We then continued the walk to Denge Mash Hide on Route we Found  a Raven from the hide Great Crested Grebe, Greylag,. On our way round good numbers of Tufted Duck, Shoverler, Pochard,  We then went to the ramp area looking for the Penduline Tits after talking to a few people we realized this was  going to take some time as they had not been seen for some time so we decided to have a look for the Slavonian Grebe witch some one said was on the back of Hookers pit we set of with him and found it. We then returned to see if the Leo was showing as we approached people where watching some thing and we finally got a view of the Long Eared Owl. so back to the Information Centere for a coffee, From here we had a look at the new diggings for Black Necked Grebe which we did not find. From here we headed to do a sea watch where we had Kittiwake, 2 Red Throated Divers, Gannet, Guillemot,  We then had a look at Greatstone where we had Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Bar Tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Knot , Oystercatcher,Dunlin. From here we headed to Hythe where we found 3 Purple Sand Pipers, So ending a very good days birding, Other birds seen included Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Robin, Dunnock, Green Woodpecker, Wren.

Last 3 Days Nonsuch |Park / Wetland Centre / |Home Park

Bit of a update of the past 3 days

Tuesday Nonsuch Park
Had a wander around Nonsuch Park hoping for woodpeckers only managed to find Greater Spotted Woodpecker and a Bullfinch plenty to see Goldcrest, Blue Great and Coal Tits, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Black Headed Gull, Mistle Thrush, Ringed Necked Parakeet, (can not get away from them) then the rain came so retreated to the station and the train back home..

Wednesday Wetland Centre
Trip to the Wetland Centre London was hoping for some some pics but not a lot showing so ended up spending the afternoon Bittern watching had a good view of one from the peacock tower as I was leaving a second one flew of to our right (there was also a report of one on the main lake) so it looks like there are 3 there at the moment, then I walked round to the wildside hide to see if I could get a pic of the one sitting in the open but just as I got there it flew along the reed bed and landed behind the large Island after a short time I located it and got a few people on it then a group came in and we finally got them on it some where well pleased there first Bittern not the best of views but you could see what it was, on the walk round to the wildside hide I had a wintering Blackcap..

Thursday Home Park / River Thames
Had a very pleasant afternoon walk in Home Park and then back along the river Thames to Kingston Bridge came in via Hampton Court and walked along side the Long Water did find a Green Woodpecker in the park more Ring necked Parakeets, Carrion Crow, Plenty of Coots a small flock of Tuffted Duck and on one of the ponds some Gadwall a good number of Black Headed Gulls, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, plus some common species..

That now puts me on 103 for the year

Widewater and Shoreham Fort

Quick trip to Widewater and Shoreham Fort Goosander showed well but was a sleep most of the time also had the Red Breasted Mergansers, at the fort had a Kittiwake fly by and 3 Purple Sandpipers in the harbour entrance putting me on 99 for the year

Staines Reservoir

Was planning on going to Widewater today but heard this morning that no sign of the Goosander so change of plan went to Staines Reservoir instead met Corinna on the causeway between the reservoirs our target birds where Scaup and Black Necked Grebe Corinna had already seen a Black Necked Grebe by the time I arrived so we set of across the reservoirs scanning the large flocks of ducks plenty of Tufted Duck and Pochard with good numbers of Wigeon took some time but I found a Scaup  we then continued across where we had a flock of 20+ Meadow Pipits with a Water Pipit with them I found a Black Necked Grebe then Corinna found 2 more we also had a Med Gull fly over and a few Dunlin on our return back along the path on the south basin we had Goldeneye as we got back to the other side I found another Scaup other birds seen Mallard, Carrion Crow, Black Headed Gull, Coot, Pied Wagtail, Teal so ended a good afternoons birding I added 4 for the year putting me on 93

Wetland Centre London

after the rain this morning decided a trip to the Wetland Centre London was a place to go on arriving set of for the Headley hide spoke to one of the volunteers he said best place to look for the Bittern was the wildside hide so setting of then going back because I forgot my brolly  i then caught up with him in the hide we started looking but no sign he then left and a lady volunteer arrived plus one other in the hide after a short while I found the Bittern sitting in the reed preening we all had good views for about 10 minutes from here I also found the Female Goldeneye on the the main lake I had Mandarin Duck I then set of for the other side of the reserve and headed for the Peacock Tower on route I had a Peregrine   my 3rd of the week also had Sparrowhawk from the tower I had Great Crested Grebe and after a bit of finding the Jack Snipe and  on my back to the bus I had Mistle Thrush on the playing fields so ending a good afternoons birding  that puts me on 89 for the year

Rainham Marshes

Trip today to Rainham Marshes after a very quick journey arrived at the marshes at 11-20 sat watching the feeders and the reserve I had a Little Egret while waiting for Corinna to arrive just before 12 we set of round the reserve first stop was to see if we could see Dartford Warbler after a short time in the rain we located one with a couple of Stonechats we also had a Raven the rain did stop so of to one of the hides here we found the Water Pipit (second one in 2 days) here we had Snipe, Pintail, Teal, Shoverler. Black Headed Gull, we then continured ouw walk a few Cetti's Warblers Calling as we walked along by the railway Corinna spotted a Perigrine as we walked towrds the shooting but hide we had a lot of Lapwings in the air on closer inspection we found some Golden Plovers in with them, So on to the hide here we had a selection of Wigeon more Pintail I had a Meadow Pipit then I found a Marsh Harrier sitting in a small tree after spending some time in the hide we set of for the area behide the toilets where we had been told to look out for Short Eared Owl after a shoert time I found one flying behide the old shooting buts then Corinna found a second fly behind us that flew behind the buts nice views of both we then continured back to the centre other birds seen included Carrion Crow, Magpie, Robin, Wren, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail,Blue Tit Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blackbird, Greylag Geese, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, House Sparrow, Sttarling, Collared Dove, Stock Dove,

On my way back to the train I had a Redshank, Turnstone and Rock Pipit along the river so ending a very good days birding I added 17 for the year taking my total for the year to 81

Beddington Farmland

Got the bus to Hackbridge walked to the fenced of area on Beddington Farmland had 1 Tree Sparrow, Gadwall, Shovler, Teal, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Canada Geese,Meadow Pipit , Water Pipit, Greater Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull Black Headed Gull, Peregrine. I then walked along side the fenced of area towards Mitcham Common where I had Lesser Redpoll, Green Sandpiper flew over Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Robin, Great / Blue Tits. I then walked to Mitcham Junction station and got the train to Bookham Common

Bookham Common

Had a wander around the common here I had more Lesser Redpolls plus 4 Siskins, Redwing and Fieldfare plus a good selection of common birds plus Common Buzzard after a couple of hours wander I was standing by the Car park when I had 1 Hawfinch the bird I was hoping to see it was a nice sunny and pleasant day just as I got on the train to come back the rain started

Thursday 9^th July Brownsea Island

Planed this trip for some time now finally got round to it today all buses and trains on time I arrived at Poole Quay for the 10-30 boat to the Island on the crossing had Herring Gull and Cormorant after landing and paying my landing fee, Started off at 11 o’clock started by having a look in the public hide could not see a lot due to a school party doing some survey work and taking up most of the hide did have Little Egret and Shell duck, So on to the  Nature Reserve paid a donation and picked up a leaflet and started the walk got to where a table had been set up by the Dorset Wildlife Trust Who Lease the reserve from The National Trust along the path I had a Common Lizard, Then on to the first hide overlooking the Lagoon here Common Terns nesting with Black Headed Gulls more Shell Ducks with young and Sandwich Terns Flying around also had Redshank, Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwit some within picture range the others where scope views, From here onto the next hide here I had Sandwich Terns Breeding more Black Headed Gull and the very Smart Mediterranean Gull breeding there was a pair just to the left of the hide got some good pics of them. I then continued on with the walk to the Villa on the path had a White Admiral Butterfly but no pic also Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, had a quick stop for the toilet and on the feeders had one of the highlights of Brownsea Red Squirrel, Then on along a short board walk to the reed bed hide from here had a young Marsh harrier and Grey Heron along the board walk some Damselflies, I then continued to follow the markers to the Lake Hide on arriving had to Common Buzzards fly over on the lake there where Little Grebe, Mallard. This is where I had lunch after I again continued to follow the markers up through the woods to the view point from here more Shell Ducks, Black Tailed Godwits, Oystercatcher and a Avocet, then the rout took me back to the Villa where I returned to the hide for more pics of the Mediterranean Gulls after I returned to the reed bed hide where I found a Hobby it did not stay to long as a very noisy party arrived and put it up, Then back to the Quay for a coffee before the boat back to Poole which was very enjoyable as we had a tour of the harbour, Then the train back home so ending a very pleasant day on Brownsea Island

Black Headed Gull

Black Tailed Godwit

Common Tern

Mediterranean Gull with Young

                                                           Red Squirrel 

Redshank

Mediterranean Gull 

Pair Mediterranean Gull

Sandwich Tern

Peregrines over Chichester

Fishers Green Lee Valley Country park

Met Sue Barry at Cheshunt station just before 11-00 today we set of towards the bittern hide on route had small selection of common birds with some good views of Long Tailed Tit, When we got to the bridge over the cannel there were some birders watching the male and female Smew which we had good views of we then continued on to the bittern hide on our way we had a Cetti’s Warbler we then spent just over an hour in the hide sadly no Bittern but we did have good views of a Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Great Crested Grebe, 

We then walked back to the bridge but the sun was in the wrong position so we walked alongside the pit where we had the Smew and met a birder coming the other way just after we passed him he called there is the Male Smew so we had better views of the Male and Female again.

We then continued on to Friday Lake here we had a few more ducks to add to our list today plus a Kingfisher flying across the lake. We then headed back to the station

Some of the birds seen today included Cormarant, Little Egret, Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard, Shovler, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Grey Lay Goose, Black Headed Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Wren, Blackbird,

So ending a nice pleasant days birding