More Waxwing pics

Chief Waxwing Chaser-offer

2 Pints of milk, a brown loaf and 32 Waxwings please

Well done Dave McGough who found these beauties whilst out shopping in Sainsbury's in Hornchurch. It was good to see so many shoppers showing an interest and asking questions.

On a wild goose chase (+ Northern Harrier)

Hawky, Jono and I headed up to Norfolk yesterday on hopefully what will be decided was a wild goose chase by the powers that be. We met up with Bradders Jnr and Snr at Cantley on a mission to find a small goose with a big white flash on its head. The Lesser White Fronted Goose had been hanging around with around 100 Tiaga Bean Geese, so we hoped it would be a case of find the Tiagas and find the Lesser Whitefront. Unfortunately it wasn't that easy.

There was no sign at Cantley with the 40-ish Tiagas we could see so we headed up the road to another of its favourite haunts, Buckingham Marsh RSPB. Pulling into the car park the pager confirmed it was here just 100 yards up the path. Yipee! As soon as we clamped eyes on it we knew something wasn't right; 1. it was with Greylag not Bean Geese and 2. the white flash on its bonce was much smaller than the bird we had seen in photos of the bird we were after and 3. there were known escapes in the area! Damn! Back to the drawing board. We began the long walk out onto Buckingham picking up 2 Peregrines on the way. A mile into the muddy journey the pager bleeped to inform us that the bird had been relocated back at Cantley with 50 or so others. With restricted views from the gate at School Lane we headed to higher ground and voila! There it was! It showed well at distance for 10 minutes or so, too far for any pictures before flying off back towards Buckingham RSPB. All in all that wild goose chase took a very cold 3.5 hours.

Bradders Snr, Jono and Bradders Jnr literally on a wild goose chase

With the goose bagged we set off to Thornham to try for the now long staying American Northern Harrier. It was even colder at Thornham, and standing around waiting for the bird to show didn't help. However about an hour or so later when it eventually appeared, it was worth the wait! The bird showed very well, including making a kill. With the light beginning to fade we headed home happy.

The new hide at Titchwell in the background

Ps - Happy 40th birthday Shaun!

Bittern-tastic at Berwick

I had my best ever view of a Bittern today. Jamie (my 10 year old) and I dipped the Waxwings in the rain at Pitsea so stopped off for the 3rd time in 4 days at Berwick Ponds to try for the Bitterns. At the road end we had brief flight views as one seemingly dissappeared into the reeds. We spent 20 mins searching for it before finally viewing from the road, and there it was, amazingly camoflaged but right out in the open for at least 15 minutes. Crack on!

Happy New Year everyone!

Berwick Bitterns

I took my non birding mate John for a walk to Berwick Ponds late yesterday afternoon to try for a Bittern as he had never seen one and we were not dissapointed. At the road end we had 2 almost straight away, proving good flight views.

John also added Water Rail to his list with this obliging little fellow!

Upminster Waxwings

Great views were had of 6 Waxwings in and around the car park at The Optimist pub in Upminster late this afternoon. With berries in abundance in Alder Close expect them to stay and gorge themselves and hopefully be joined by one or two (hundred) others!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to Shaun for the tip off.