Wakering Stairs and Gunner's Park

Wheatear
Matt and I went to Wakering Stairs and Gunner's Park first thing in an attempt to unearth something exciting. Instead it turned out to be one of those trips where you really appreciated some of the commoner species.


Hare, Kestral

Southend Pier

Feral Pigeon

Guillemot

Common Tern

Common Tern

Gulls, Chalkwell to Westcliff

I headed down to a rainy Westcliff this evening for my annual dose of Rossi, the Ring-billed Gull. He wasn't there, despite a positive morning report, but some of his Larus mates made the trip worth while.


Mediterranean Gull

Black-headed Gull

GBBGs on deck, BHGs at sea, Southend Pier beyond

Dotterel, Gunner's Park

With the Wryneck ticked I jumped back on the train to Shoeberyness and on to Gunner's Park for the reported Dotterel (SOG/Southend RSPB). It was confiding to say the least.

Wryneck, Rainham

Having longingly stared at the reports of Wryneck at Rainham for the last five days from work I was finally able to get myself along there today and tick that bird! One of, if not the, most wanted birds on my list.

Norfolk September 2008

Our week on the north Norfolk coast was sandwiched between two distinctly good weeks for birdwatching and like last year, didn't see some of the target birds I would hope to see up there at this time of year (especially a Wryneck).
As always though, it was just great to be there taking it all in.
Trip highlights include a Muntjak deer, a female Hen Harrier (or Montague's. Not experienced enough to know and it was distant), Gannets diving close to shore, Arctic Skuas and at least 500 seals were my reward for walking to Blakeney point.
Pictures from top: Common Seals, Wheatear, Meadow Pippit, Arctic Skua, Yellow Horned Poppy and a view from the dunes at Blakeney point.