On to Stockers before the rain

Headed to Rickmansworth parked the bike in the Aquadrome car park ,then strolled pass Bury lake till I got to Stockers ,a detour to the farm produced 57 Wigeon on the flooded field but no sign of the Little Owl. Next up a circuit of Stockers a few Little Egret and
Goldeneye always a pleasure.

From the tern hide a gull was looking a bit different the legs appeared yellow at a distance,I only had my bins so I wasn't going to be too cocky . Opposite some birders were scoping something so I walked around to see them .We then concluded it was Yellow legged gull, Tony Hulls had clocked it a couple of days ago.
So the Watford RSPB guys and I were pleased it was still showing.
I enclose a shot of the Amwell bird my thanks to the photographer.

Maple Lodge and Stockers before the rain

An overcast mild morning with a little sunshine greeted me at Maple Lodge. Lime green catkins fluttered in the wind as a Great spotted woodpecker came to the feeding station.From the Rotunda hide up to 17 Common  Teal . I spoke to Tony Hulls briefly before notching up some more duck.

Of note Pochard and Shoveler ,on adjacent Lynsters farm 2 Egyptian geese obliged amongst Canadas and Greylags in the paddock a nice surprise was a wintering Chiffchaff

London Calling on the border with Lewis

A cold windy afternoon in West London just a few miles from our Herts homes ,Lewis and I crossed the border in to Harefield Middlesex or as it is now known the London Borough of Hillingdon.
I worked in this manor when I left school a good few years ago now.
The area in question is fields and woodland behind the dogs trust on route to Uxbridge where Asio
flammeus the diurnal owl was hunting voles in late afternoon sunlight.

Not quite a paradise but Stonechats and Skylarks also obliged along with crows and gulls from the
nearby tip.

We also heard Green Woodpecker ,and few Redwing , a partial corpse of one attributed to Sparrowhawk. But it was the three Short eared Owls that were excellent as light faded on the
border in West London.

New Year in the West Indies St Lucia

A flight   with BA  got us to Calabash Cove via Castries where on the outskirts a number of
Cattle Egrets obliged.
We watched the sunset before our evening meal and retiring.

Day two the cloud was hanging over Castries bay,while Carib grackles called as we sipped
ginger tea. A speed boat takes fisherman across the bay as a shower of rain ensues.
More rain Wales,England and now St Lucia a global affair,the rain disappeared as quick as it
arrived thank God for that.
A female Antillean bullfinch lands on our balcony.

It's still quiet cockerels call and cutlery rattles as the restaurant prepares breakfast.Left over
rain peppers the vegetation,at sea a pair of Royal terns fish.
Off to breakfast but not before a superb male Antillean Bullfinch comes to the balcony.

While at breakfast sea watching produced Osprey Frigate bird and Pomarine skua.
On the 4th an American Kestrel obliged in what looked like a eucalyptus tree
I got the camera and went for it.

The next morning the rain turned to blue sky, the sea was a millpond schooners and
terns scorched white against an azure sea.
The gastronomic delights of Calabash  Cove is the highlight of our stay and the wonderfull
staff.

The lovely morning turned in to a disastrous afternoon, Carol slipped over on her ankle,
next thing paramedics are whisking us off to a clinic for an x ray.
The manageress Unita Felicien and staff were fautless over her on our last days.

Days six and seven now known as Carolbash cove,a quiet walk around the hotel
grounds I met the gardner he said have you met Peter I said no ,so following the
gardner I was introduced to Peter . In the tree along the path there perched was Peter
the Purple Throated Carib.

The last two days were a bit of a trial for both of us but we soldiered on ,Carol hobbled to the terrace for some and drinks we saw the American kestrel ,a Broad winged hawk and spotted sandpiper.

We left on the 8th by Helicopter from Castries to Hewannora Carol would not be denied another
bucket list ride. A lovely holiday just an unfortunate accident marred it a little.

Carol with Lance the islands Eddie Murphy.

Cley village ,Blakeney breakdown and lots of tits in the Brecks

The morning of the 9th was full of expectation  before breakfast we drove to Blakeney when
the accelerator peddle snapped off Pauls car .lots of expletives however Paul the BA mechanic soldiered on but no red necked grebe in the river.

So a quick look at Salthouse produced Red throated diver,then it was Wiveton where a pair
of bullfinch was good,finally before breakfast Marsh lane hosted a number of passerines including
chiff chaff and goldcest.
After breakfast we concurred to leave early as the car may struggle home,our last port of call on
route home was Lynford Arboretum where lots of tits and finches were on show.

Marsh,Coal,Blue,Great and Long tailed, Bramblings and fleeting Hawfinch.

Arrived home early with 96 species in 2 short days . A nice Brit tick with Pallid Harrier
making 362 species for Britain.

Titchwell late afternoon and leaving early for the Brecks on the 9th

On arrival at Titchwell would you believe another two barn owls quartering its boundarys.
Walking through the reserve marsh harriers and photogenic teal showed.

Moving to the Salt marsh a number of Bar wits obliged along with Little Egret.

A small variety of waders included grey plover,redshank,avocet,knot and dunlin.

We left just prior to dusk seeing another barn owl at Burnham Overy,followed by
another at Holkham where a few Whitefronts were amongst the Pinkfeet.
Darkness descended and the rain arrived at The George in Cley.

Norfolk in pursuit of Pallid Harrier

On the 8TH of December Lewis and I headed directly to Kings Lynn via Ely and Welney,following the sat nav to the Fleet it took us to North Fleet farm where after flushing some Red legs the local
farmer directed us to the Fleet where the Iceland gull duly obliged.

Next stop was Snettisham RSPB where Curlew and Grey partridge showed near the car park.

It was great to see Grey Partidges close as in SWHerts they are as rare as rocking horse ----
a few record shots was good here.

A long walk ensued along the gravel pits to the Southern marsh where up to two
Barn owls were obliging,while watching one the Pallid Harrier sneaked up on us and
gave us a fly past over the salt marsh.

It flew past this Beds birder then we manged a few more record shots before it disappeared
with its prey.

On  leaving the reserve we saw huge flocks of golden drummers(plovers) bootiful
Bernard over the Wash.

Another Barn Owl obliged

on the way out near some pines which was nice

A  charm of Goldfinch and Linnet along the shoreline ended a lovely afternoon here.