Local lifer!!! # 302

A visit to Pitsone Quarry produced an enexpected lifer - a KENTISH PLOVER!
From distance and through the scope it clearly had a lack of black plumage as it skitted around the quarry base. A good turnout of about 25 local birders were on it.
It has up and left by 11:30 - so we got there with about an hour to spare.
My thanks to Anna & Harry for putting up with the twitch on a Sunday afternoon!
Life list at #302

Spot the birdie!

Kentish Plover

 



Portman trip with Rob

Excitement builds for the trip to Portland Bill / Weymouth and camping at the swallows rest.
With new tent in car, myself & Rob had a great weekend of birding, beer (too much), camping and fires.
The list ended in 64 species for the trip with around 15 year ticks
Some great weather and some unusual shots - in particular the RAVEN with a gull head in its beak - and a LITTLE OWL !!

Northern Wheatear at the Bill

Kestrel at the Bill

Little Owl hiding in the rocks by the observatory

Macabre shot of a Raven

Raven at the Bill

Common Redstart in the fields behind the observatory

Stonechat by the cliffs

Common Sandpiper and some sort of hybrid goose at Lodmoor

Ivinghoe- the tricky two

A family walk along Ivinghoe Beacon - while Harry was having a nap in the car myself & Anna indulged in a Mr Whippy. Looking out of the car I spotted a pair of what I think were MARSH TITS and a CHIFF CHAFF

Quite a small beard compared to a Willow Tit and no white cheek

Is that a pale panel along the secondary that Willow tits have?
I don't think so?

Technical notes on the difference 

Acrobatics

Technical info 

Chiff Chaff? No calling so a tricky one but looks like
it to me

Waxwings in April!

An alert very near work in Northampton teased me into a quick twitch on the way home on Tuesday - with no luck, and then again on Wednesday. I parked the car and walked about for a few minutes, and then lo and behold a flock of around 35 WAXWINGS were in the tall lemon trees above me! Very late for m e to see these birds - and great to be able to hear them above tweeting away to each other. A treat indeed!

Nice waxy wing showing

My tufty friend

Food in beak

Feeding on the 'berries'

c35 in the trees in Northampton