Great-Northern Diver at the Sussex end of Scotney GP's

This juvenile GND that showed well at Scotney GP's this afternoon is the first bird that I have photographed in 2014.

More to be added over the week.

Pink-feet at Stodmarsh

Stodmarsh, 11:00 to 14:00

4 Mute Swans, 3 Pink-footed Geese (with Greylags in field by NNR car park), 3 Barnacle Geese, 10 Teal, 3 Little Egrets (Cow Corner), 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 300+ Lapwing, 1 Redshank (over Marsh hide), 1 Kingfisher, 2 Meadow Pipits, 3+ Water Pipits (Marsh hide), 100 Fieldfare (circa), 1 Bearded Tit (Heard).

A GWE returns to Conningbrook

Conningbrook GP, 09:45 to 12:15

 1 Great White Egret - flew in from Wye, then at south end of pits before continuing along the Stour towards Ashford.

6 Wigeon, 50 Gadwall (circa), 1 Teal (female), 4 Shoveler, 30 Pochard (circa), 100 Tufted Duck (+), 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, 30 Lapwing (circa), 30 Common Gull (circa), 1 Kingfisher, 3 Green Woodpecker, 10 Skylark (circa), 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Long-tailed Tit (circa), 2 Treecreeper, 2 Jay, 1 Siskin (female with c20 Goldfinch & Chaffinches), 1 Reed Bunting (female).

Getting back on track with the Blog - starting with a Hedgehog photograph.

I am hoping to get back on track with the Blog over the coming weeks. It has become a bit neglected over the summer and autumn.

First up is a photo of a Hedgehog that visited the garden on the 27th October - presumably feeding up, ready for winter hibernation.

More to follow...

An update at long last !!! - Yellow legging it to Cliffe Pools RSPB

Wednesday 25th September:

A rare visit to Cliffe Pools RSPB tonight for the Lesser Yellowlegs, which showed really well from the viewing ramp on Black Barn 2. Nice to catch up with a few Kent Birders too. Might be back again for seconds at the weekend.

Record shots below.

Juvenile Swallows at Bough Beech

A rare visit to Bough Beech Reservoir and KWT reserve yesterday (29th June). A couple of families of Swallows provided a few photo opportunities.

Oh Canada Eh - Part 9 - More from Victoria

Thursday 9th to Friday 10th May - Victoria.

After fish and chips at Fisherman's Wharf, we took a nice stroll around the harbour of Victoria. I manged to spot and photograph this Black Oystercatcher - a great addition to the holiday list. There were also plenty of Glaucous-winged Gulls (I think!)

Black Oystercatcher - right side.

Black Oystercatcher - left side.

More Gull photos !!!

On Friday 10th we departed Victoria and Vancouver Island for our final destination - Downtown Vancouver. Waiting for the ferry to depart I snapped these Shags/Cormorants.

The last evening of our holiday was spent dining on a sunset cruise around the Vancouver coastline. The desserts were delicious - all three of them !!! Prior to boarding, this Great Blue Heron showed brilliantly on the pontoon by our cruiser. With Camo Cam tucked safely in the hotel room, Angela lent me her camera so I could get this shot.

Great Blue Heron - this was much tamer than our Greys.