PLODDINGBIRDER

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Stodmarsh

Change of scenery today with a visit to Stodmarsh. Walking through the Alder Wood Blue,Great and Long Tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a small flock of Redpolls. At Marsh Hide the Glossy Ibis eventually flew in showing several times but always to far for the camera. 4+ Water Pipits were very mobile but one did come quite close allowing me to snap away. Reviewing the pictures confirmed my suspicions that there is a problem with the focusing as not a single shot was sharp. Also in front of Marsh Hide 2 Greater Whitefronted Geese with the Greylags, 4 Common Snipe, several Marsh Harriers and a Bittern flew through. As the day progressed the wind got up and the cloud came over and the birds took cover.
Dropped into Denge Wood on way home but did not locate any Hawfinches.

Monday 19 December 2011

Dull wet day at Dunge

At Hamstreet this morning 1 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egrets, 1 Kingfisher, 8 Red Legged Partridges and a Common Buzzard.

1w Caspian gull

On the beach DW found the 1w Caspian Gull, 5 Eider sw, 27 Red Throated Divers sw, 15 Common Scoter sw, 8 Teal sw + 10 on the sea, 200+ Guillemots sw, a few Gannets off shore and 174 Great Crested Grebes on the sea.
At the ARC 1 Bewick Swan, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Great White Egret, 1 RH Smew, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Water Rail, 1 Bittern and the usual wild fowl. In the Willow Trail, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and a Firecrest.
On Walland the Bewick Swan herd has risen to 16 (14ads 2juv.)

Sunday 18 December 2011

Steeple Jason 01/12/11 A.M.

We woke to find our selves anchored off Steeple Jason Island (one of the Falkland Islands) under clear blue skies and temperatures in double figures surrounded by Black Browed Alatrosses.

After breakfast the Zodiacs took us ashore where we had a tricky landing scrambling up the rocks to the shore.

Tussac Bird

The amazingly tame Tussac birds and Austral thrushes greeted us.

Austral Thrush female

Brown Skua

As we headed hiked towards the Black Browed Albatross Colony, we had to pass a Gentoo rookery patrolled by Brown Skuas. Time was short so the Gentoo's were not given the time they deserved.

Gentoo Penguin

Striated Carcara

Striated Caracara (Johnny Rook)

Striated Carcara's were much in evidence even attacking some unwary passengers heads. Dark Faced Ground Tyrants, Black Throated Finches, Ruddy Headed Geese and Upland Geese were on the Hillside.

Dark Faced Ground Tyrant

As we walked round the side of the hillside the vista below opened up!
WOW!!!!!!

c.200,000 Black Browed Albatrosses

Rockhoppers

Rockhoppers were nesting among the Albatrosses.

Brown Skuas

Brown Skuas with Gentoo egg

As we made our way back to the ship we found this Steamer Duck with young.

Falkland Islands Steamer Duck with ducklings

Dungeness and Walland

At The Military Canal, Hamstreet first thing this morning 1 Great White Egret with 4 Little Egrets. At Midley still 10 Bewick Swans. On The Point the ever present Glaucous Gull. On the sea a few Gannets, Kittiwakes, Auks and Divers.

Highlight on the reserve was a Firecrest near the Denge Marsh Hide and 20+ Tree Sparrows on the feeders at Boulderwall farm.

Back on Walland this afternoon the 10 Bewicks had become 12, 8+ Marsh Harriers, 2 Ring tail Hen Harriers, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 more Bewicks with a flock of Mutes, 6 Snipe and 200+ Golden Plover.

Saturday 17 December 2011

29/11 - 01/12/11 North to the Falklands

Coming North The Convergence was relatively smooth but once again the Drake Passage was blowing force 7 but thankfully no sea sickness this time.
We encountered most the species we saw going south but the Sooty Albatross was a trip tick at least to most of us and unusual find in this area. A Humpback Whale and several Fin Whales were seen but all were distant.