PURPLE HEADED WARRIOR

I hadn't planned on going out this morning, after a late evening at the Hop Farm.However, still exhilerated from a brilliant performance from Peter Gabriel I checked the computer to see Martyn and Chiddy had refound the Purple Heron at the Oxbow. After a swift breakfast and speedy drive over, for me, I was soon in place with the "Usual Suspects". The bird showed intermittenly for the next 75 minutes giving excellent flight views and then playing "Hide and Seek" in the dense vegetation. It seemned very settled and although occasionally harrassed by Crows I wouldn't be surprised if it stayed a while. Returning to the Ramp for a supposed raptor watch Martyn, Adam ,Steve and myself spent the next hour chatting and seeing very little. A really enjoyable morning and a massive thanks to Martyn for the photographs.

REELIN' IN THE EARS.

Have you seen what I have done here?  What a clever play on words I reckon I could get a job writing headlines for the" Sun".  Arriving at Reculver today just before 9.30 expectations were extremely low even after having phoned Heathy who had moved onto Grove, but informed me there was a year tick for me in the form of a Grasshopper Warbler which was reeling by Cold Harbour.  The stroll down there was extremely uneventful with a single Common Tern and three Sandwich Terns being the highlight ... honestly.  The Gropper was eventually located along with Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap.  The Oyster Farm did not hold very much and it was obviously too windy for the Short-eared Owls to put in an appearance.  At this rate I think I will have to take more interest in butterflies, moths and plants.

BLUE IS THE COLOUR

With reasonable weather forecast for today, I arrived at Reculver this morning just before six a.m. .The sun was shining and Marc and myself were joined in our stroll to Cold Harbour and back by Julian Perry. Expectations were not that great but there were a few pleasant surprises .The Oyster Farm held Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Shelduck. Three Mediterranean Gulls added to my year list and a bonus came in the form of a BLACK -TAILED GODWIT,which is a very tricky bird to get and was the first of the year for the recording area.The lonely Eider was again in its usual place although a little closer in to shore. A short coffee break at Cold Harbour allowed us to add Common and Sandwich Tern and a fairly uneventful walk back to the Towers was enlivened by 2 Cuckoos and an obliging Yellow Wagtail more intent on its breakfast than us, allowing some photographs.With Marc on a tight schedule we popped into Brook and a few pictures of Common Blue Damoseille were taken. The only addition to the notebook was Sand Martin .

AN ABSURD LITTLE BIRD KEEPS POPPING OUT TO SAY ................

With the last few Saturdays employed elsewhere it was nice to get out with Marc this morning for a few hours.  We parked at the Towers just before 9.30 a.m. and our walk to Cold Harbour gave me an opportunity to add a few species to my year list.  We saw the first of 6 Shelduck and a summer plumage Dunlin before noting an unseasonal Eider sitting happily offshore.  Marc had already had close encounters with a Cuckoo and by the Green Wall we managed to get the closet I have ever been to this usually secretive species.  We managed between us to take some pleasing images.  It certainly was a special moment for both of us.  I added Greenshank to my year list and another addition came in the form of a Razorbill  flying East.  Shoveler, Turfted Duck and Grey Heron were added to the notebook and whilst drinking our obligatory cup of coffee a nice surprise came in the form of an unseasonal Guillemot, once again flying East.  3 relatively close Gannets joined the Guillemot flying East.  We found 2 distant Common Buzzard and 2 Peregrine Falcons were  added on our return walk.  A single Grey Partridge was sighted by the Roman Galley and our last hour was spent trying to find a Red Kite, unsuccessfully although we did find a rather impressive display from the Red ....Arrows. 

However, it was not totally wasted as a single Ring-necked Parakeet was an addition to the year list.