West Hythe Kent October 26th 2008.

***MEGA ***MEGA***MEGA***

GREEN HERON
The morning after getting back from devon my dad and i travelled to Kent to go for the Green Heron. Missing out on the Lincs bird, this was a 1st for us both. Despite the awful weather we were graced with exceptionally close views of this stunning little heron. It was actively feeding on small perch but kept local to the small dam and reeds. The rain seized for a short time giving better images but at times the heron would alight the concrete wall next to the path and show down to a few feet so no camera needed. A great new addition to my list.

October 2008.

On the 17th october Sarah and i were married at Swiss Gardens, Bedfordshire. The following day the family went to devon for the week. Partly because i wanted to connect with my first Cirl bunting, naughty i know....

My dad and i travelled to prawl point and were lucky enough to see a solitary male singing up on the hillside, although brief and no chance of a photo we were still happy to tick this one off whilst there. As for other birding, well that consisted of what we saw when out and about. There were good numbers of raven and buzzard and others noted were grey wag,rock pipit,goldcrests,a single redwing and the first flock of fieldfare for the winter,plenty of bullfinch golden plover.

As a wedding present sarah arranged a trip out with Johnny Kingdom for myself and my dad. A fantastic and funny day out it was too. Johnny is a down to earth, great bloke, a terrific afternoon out after lunch crossing over exmoor with lots of stags seen and still rutting, what an experience.


The scenery around devon was spectacular and very bloody steep too, my car has never done so much driving in 2nd gear. There are streams and waterfalls all over the place, and the coast was just up the road. Below is just a selection of the places we visited, such as Valley of the rocks, watersmeet, heddons mouth.

Sutton Gault,Cambs. Oct 2008.

After a dismal morning up on the norfolk coast, my dad and i stopped at Sutton gault on the way home in the hope of connecting with our second only glossy ibis. We found the bird feeding in a field not far from the road and although distant for the camera,gave good views in the scope. With the sun shinning the colours of the birds plumage were great. A decent end after a disappointing start to the day

Therfield Heath Hertfordshire.Oct 9th 2008

News of a 1w red backed shrike next to where i used to live and only a short distance from my home provided a great opportunity to try for some new images. I arrived early and as i found before when living there, the dog walkers were in good numbers. It wasnt until some time later and after searching adjacent hills that i saw a couple watching the shrike where id originally started.
It was quite mobile at first but after some time watching its movements i set up and waited for its return and by the time id finished the shrike was flying to bushes infront of me. I think the shrikes are one of my favourite family of birds and its always great to interact and watch something as good as these. It was actively feeding and would perch up for some time on the scattered hawthorn bushes.

As i was awaiting the shrike to alight a regular perch 2 buzzards flew low from the housing estate and circled overhead giving a chance of a couple of shots. Then it was back to the shrike for a final flurry of shots and it even flew to within feet of my position, what a wonderful experience and so close, as i left it flew to a bush infront of me and watched me leave as if to see me on my way. GREAT.....

Lesser Grey Shrike.Norfolk.28th September 2008.

My dad and i set off for Norfolk first thing and went straight to West Runton to try and connect with the Blyths reed warbler, but after some time and no sign we decided to move along and try for the Lesser grey shrike. After a bit of a slog from the car we located the shrikes whereabouts and although a bit distant for my camera at first it started to show closer.

It certainly fed well and was very active catching insects and returning to the same bushes. The pink flush on the breast could be seen well, this was a first for my dad and only the second for me, and certainly closer than the acle bird some years ago.

It stayed loyal to a set of bushes then flew towards the coastal path and gave even closer views to everyone there. It certainly was a cracking bird and perfect compensation for not seeing the blyths.

Titchwell and Holme.Norfolk.September 2008.

My dad and i set off for an early start to norfolk with nothing in particular to bird, first stop was titchwell. The wind was stronger than i thought it would be and blowing in on the coast so we headed straight to the beach. Besides which the view of the freshmarsh first thing just silhouettes everything with the rising sun.
I left my dad at the dunes edge whilst i headed off to try and photograph the waders along the shoreline and hopefully something in close due to the winds. On approach i noticed an eider sat up on the rocks, he wasnt in too much of a hurry to get on the water.
The exposed mussel beds attracted quite a few waders mostly knot, turnstone and curlew. After a short while they became accustomed to my presence and provided some close views. The curlews kept themselves to their own small patch and chased any newcomer away. I singled out one or two knot and waited to catch an image when it arose, with them happy about my proximity it was a case of waiting.

Every now and again small flocks of gannet would come soaring and gliding through. A mixture of young and adult birds. The turnstones are always confiding and blended in so well amongst the mussel beds you dont pick them out till your almost upon them.

On one occasion a pair of young gannets flew along the shoreline and provided a great chance for a few close up shots, it looked like they were about to land as they circled the beach but decided to carry on. A few great crested grebes were on the sea and stood out with their prominent white markings when flying past.

We moved up to holme off the golfcourse and on heading through the dunes picked out 3+ wheatear. We headed down to the shoreline and with the dog walkers and horses out of the way traced our footsteps back with the rising tide. I got the chance to keep an eye out for birds flying past and to photograph one of my favourite waders, the sanderling.
I never tire of watching them and their speedy antics. And keeping ahead of them gives you the chance of close encounters as they move along the beach. One in particular was happy to stay and feed in and out of the surf just feet from me.I was concentrating on it so much with my eye to the camera i didnt see the tide washing over my feet until i felt the wetness soak through, by then it wasnt worth moving in a hurry.
There were a few brent geese moving along the shoreline, one group was accompanied by a cormorant flying alongside them. A large group of geese flew in from the sea distantly which gave a reminder of the huge flocks to come very soon. And heading back to the car now the weather had turned dull, we found the wheatears still flitting about the dunes edge.