Thanks
Ben, I’ve not been back since that visit but I’m off for 6 days now so hopefully the weather won’t descend into 6 days-worth of storms and I’ll drop in for another visit
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
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Thanks
Wurzel, one year closer to retirement
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January 2022
It’s been a rather grey month overall, I’ve had to watch most of the sunny weather past by whilst at work and as if by clockwork, blankets of cloud return to welcome my days off. Anyway, it’s January so I can’t expect too much!
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Friday 14th. I normally stick close to home during the winter months, the furthest I ever venture is Bookham or Leigh-on-sea but a rare sunny day when I wasn’t at work tempted me to the south coast with the possibility of a January butterfly sighting. I chose Newhaven since it’s a good spot for birding so at least there should be something around. Well no butterflies were around and to be honest the birdlife was relatively scant as well. The ever-present Redshank posed rather well and a flock of Lapwing were loitering in the arable field adjacent to the Ouse Nature reserve.
For me the best spot were some Fulmer that looked to be setting up home on the cliffs under the fort (I had no idea they were here). Looked like only three pairs but they provided an excellent show swooping around.
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Tuesday 18th. Another day down at Two-tree Island Wader spotting. The Cloud had returned so no chance of an Early Red Admiral. Lots of flapping and flying was captured.
![8.png (1.58 MiB) Viewed 818 times Mallards, Moorhen and Avocet](./files/thumb_13753_a69734556e0dd318428d23cf2591b615)
- Mallards, Moorhen and Avocet
![9.JPG (70.77 KiB) Viewed 818 times Turnstone](./files/thumb_13753_40bdf033b5027ba8f24b07d1dc6f197c)
- Turnstone
It was good to see a few Rock Pipits again, their darker colouration than their meadow cousins does work very well against their chosen habitat.
![11.JPG (84.09 KiB) Viewed 818 times Oystercatcher, Redshank and 2 Knot.](./files/thumb_13753_bddf6902dcd5908f18775ec0eee311a2)
- Oystercatcher, Redshank and 2 Knot.
A Great White Egret put in an appearance, only distant views but still unmistakable.
There were Modest numbers of the usual flocks of Knot and Dunlin at high tide but the Ringed Plover showed well, hanging around the edge.
They flocks were quite fidgety today and never really settled and during one of the murmurations a Knot became separated from the group and landed alone on one of the islands. A fatal mistake, it got nabbed by a Carrion Crow and was quickly dispatched and pulled apart.
![13.JPG (133.26 KiB) Viewed 818 times Ringed Plover in the foreground](./files/thumb_13753_4ad7e57fc587086820465ff8212ace65)
- Ringed Plover in the foreground
![14.JPG (155.22 KiB) Viewed 818 times Mostly Dunlin](./files/thumb_13753_5c4b42816415cd3ce56a197f13a35531)
- Mostly Dunlin
![15.JPG (63.3 KiB) Viewed 818 times Avocet posing for the RSPB logo](./files/thumb_13753_569ba705f25a086e4912b9681214e557)
- Avocet posing for the RSPB logo
![16.JPG (246.71 KiB) Viewed 818 times 2 Turnstone witness the macabre scene](./files/thumb_13753_bad337225270b3bcbc215b512dcfcaad)
- 2 Turnstone witness the macabre scene
As the tide turned the sun finally came out. Lapwing, Turnstone, Teal and a surprised looking Fox looked much better in the rays.
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On
Saturday the 22nd I went to Chobham Common, primarily after the Dartford Warbler. Some were seen but only fleeting glimpses as they darted from Gorze to Gorze. I think Darting Warbler is a more fitting name. The plentiful supply of Pine trees here does make it a good spot for Coal Tit, several pairs were found and in the open country were easy to photograph. A Red Kite flew low but the blanket of cloud meant the magnificent rusty red colouration wasn’t particularly obvious.
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On
Sunday the 23rd I took a wander along the Lea valley, starting at Broxbourne and walking down to Cheshunt. Not many photos were taken, the light levels didn’t lend themselves too well and the best spots a flock of Snipe and a Water Rail, saw me before I saw them. I did find a nice flock of Siskin but high up in the Alder under leaden skies the photos are barely record shots. I did get closer to some Long-tailed Tits who looked like they needed a blow dry after bathing.
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On
Friday the 28th the sun once again deigned to show itself, albeit intermittently. I spent the day locally, on Walthamstow Marshes and Wetlands. The winter Thrushes have finally turned up here, plenty of Fieldfare today. I think they must turn up late here because they’ve exhausted the easy calories of berries in the hedgerows so switch to the ‘hard work’ of worm hunting. There were also some sizable flocks of Linnet about.
![23.JPG (202.79 KiB) Viewed 818 times A Fieldfare, such a handsome Thrush.](./files/thumb_13753_434aaf148954efc87b610adb8d53284e)
- A Fieldfare, such a handsome Thrush.
In the afternoon I met up with some friends on the Wetlands where I managed my best sighting of the month and my best ever pictures of a Kingfisher. As he sat looking for lunch he garnered quite an audience, presumably he’s become quite accustomed to people, he didn’t seem at all bothered by the growing crowd of onlookers pointing cameras, phones and binoculars in his direction. He certainly maide up for the lack of any butterfly action!
The recent few days have felt rather springlike which must surely mean winter's going to have one last go before relinquishing it's grip, only a few more weeks to go
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)