Birding Braunie

For a few weeks, there have been sighting of snow buntings a few miles form work. This morning I went over to Shoebury to have a look. The birds have regularly been seen at East Beach, anywhere between the car park and the beach. East Beach With the tide out, a few waders and gulls were hanging about like delinquents on a street corner. These were made up of Common Redshanks, Curlews, Oystercatchers and Knot . Overhead a flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese came down to join the waders. This was all very nice but I really wanted the buntings. I walked along the beach and had nearly covered the length of it when a pair of small birds flew down close to me. The snow buntings didn’t seem to be bothered by me but slowly worked their way away from me as they searched for breakfast. Blurry Snow Bunting I tried to photograph them but it was a bit difficult. Firstly, my camera struggled to focus on the blighters and then of course they refused to sit still or even look at the cam...

Decisions. Got to work at 7am this morning – 2 hours early. Now should I get ahead of the game and knuckle down to some work or should I spend an hour getting some fresh air a bit of needed exercise and do a bit of birding as a bonus? No contest. South Fambridge from the seawall South Fambridge has a lot to offer. A walk along the seawall gives you on one side, the Crouch estuary and on the other arable farmland. Reed Buntings were quite active and singing in the reeds that fringe the farmland fields. Skylarks too were taking to the air but invisible to see against the brilliant blue but bright sky. Reed Bunting On the river Crouch, a single Brent Goose bobbed about amongst the moored boats. But overhead, hundreds of skeins of Brent Geese flew up and down the estuary. Along the edge of the shore, a single Black-tailed Gowit probed the mud surrounded by Wigeon ,   Shelduck and Redshank . On the opposite side, small groups of Dunlin, Golden Plover and Curlews...

Knew it. A sunny day with light winds today and everyone and their mother has turned up at Rainham Marshes. Coach loads of flask waving wrinklies swarm through the visitor centre on their way to fill up the hides, open their rucksacks and munch on sandwiches and oh shit, the loudest crisps on earth, Wheat Crunchies. Don’t get me wrong, I like people; people have their uses and when it comes to looking through flocks of gulls, many eyes make light work. Linnet As you go through the visitor centre, you can either go left or right. I waited until the family with the sugared up kids screamed off to the left and I went right. peace at last and a very confiding Linnet who was also enjoying the quiet. It was even now calm enough for the Pintail to nod off which was a shame as this is the first time I have managed to photograph one and a head would have been nice. Pintail There were thousands of Lapwings on the reserve today and these were peppered with a small number of Golden ...