Just a bit of Fun Quiz week 13 Answer plus new " Mystery Bird "

Little Gull from Dennis hide Dungeness 2013.

Last weeks " Mystery Bird " was indeed one of two Little Gulls seen close in from the Dennis hide at Dungeness earlier this year , there were only 2 correct answers this week and they were Martyn Wilson and Ellis Lucas. Well done on getting the correct answer .

As ever unlucky to those with the wrong answer and many thanks for having ago , here is this weeks " Mystery Bird " .

Week 14 " Mystery Bird " ????

Good luck to everyone , just leave your answer in the comments and i will reveal correct answer and entries next weekend .

Spotted Crake at Oare Marshes.

Spotted Crake out in the open.

I spent several hours trying to see this stunning Spotted Crake and finally got my reward last Saturday  14th September .  Here are a few pics i managed to get .

Red based bill.

Note buff under tail coverts.

The Spotted Crake showed really well however apart from when it first appeared it was always behind reeds , i always think the white spotting on crakes looks like it has been added by tipex , this was a new patch bird for me at Oare .

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Dungeness on 10th September

Semipalmated Sandpiper juv. Dungeness rspb.

An afternoon visit to Dungeness rspb reserve on 10th September was very productive in having excellent views of a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper which showed very well at times , i have now seen 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers however this was the first one i have seen in Kent and by far the best views i have ever had of one . Here are a selection of photos i took of this bird , all taken from the Firth hide .

Note clear cut supercillum .

Flight shot.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper was constantly feeding in a very fast action and almost non stop in and reminded me of a tiny Sanderling in its actions , there was also a Black Tern which landed at one point in front of the hide .

Black Tern.

Just a bit of Fun Quiz week 12 answer plus new " Mystery Bird "

Daurian Shrike at Gosport in 2010.

Indeed last weeks Mystery Bird was a Daurian Shrike seen in Gosport in 2010 , this bird proved to be very tricky and to be honest i never got a decent photo of it , so very well done to Scott Haugie and Ellis L who all got the correct answer .

Unlucky to those with the wrong answer , believe me i didn't think anyone would get this one , many thanks for everyone who had a go and as last weeks bird was so tricky this one is a bit easier , if you fancy ago just leave your answer in the comments and i will reveal and answer and correct entries next weekend , good luck to all.

Mystery bird week 13 ??????.

Just to let you know i have had 3 good birding trips over the last week and will be catching up with them on this blog next weekend , just got tons of pics to sort through first .

Just for Fun Quiz week 11 answer Plus " New Mystery Bird "

Temminck's Stint at Restharrow scrape Sandwich Bay.

 Only 2 correct answers for last weeks Mystery Bird which was indeed a Temminck's Stint which showed really well at Restharrow  scrape in Sandwich , very well done to Ben M  and Martyn Wilson for all getting the right answer.

Unlucky to those with the wrong answer as always its only a bit of fun and many thanks to everyone who took part .

Here is this weeks " Mystery Bird " good luck with this one , i think this might catch a few people out , you can have as many guesses as you like just leave your answer in the comments and i will reveal the correct answer next Saturday and don't worry i will only mention names of correct entries .

" Mystery Bird " week 12.

Oare Marshes Waders Bonanza

Thousands of Waders .

The above sight greeted me on the East Flood at Oare Marshes yesterday 31st August , i met up with Adam .F. along the road side and as we scanned through the waders we could see at least 4 Curlew Sandpipers in the distance , the sun was at the wrong angle for us so we decided to walk around to Faversham creek with the sun behind us , we noted a single Sandwich Tern near the lay by as we walked past.

Sandwich Tern near lay-by.

We bumped into Neil  and Angela , ( nice to meet you ) on our way around and eventually we all met up with Murray along Faversham creek , Murray informed us he had made a count of approx 36 Curlew Sandpipers including 1 moulting adult , i managed a count of 30 fresh juv. birds which was an amazing sight to see in their fresh looking plumage , sadly i never managed a photo of these , we did add hundreds of Redshank , Black Tailed Godwit and Golden Plover , plus lesser numbers of Dunlin . A Hobby flew over the flood spooking all the waders and i managed a record shot of the Golden Plover in flight.

Golden Plover in flight.

Murray picked out a Garganey on the flood and kindly let me look through his scope and then Neil picked out a fast flying Clouded Yellow zipping by us . We decided to head off around past the sluice and back along the road and on route Adam picked out a Yellow Wagtail walking through the fresh marsh and then Neil found a smart looking Wheatear .

Golden Plover near the lay-by.

We only added Linnet and Goldfinch on our walk back and a quick look from the road at the waders produced nearly 300 Golden Plovers . Adam and myself had a quick look past the watch house and other than adding 2 more Clouded Yellows and a single Little Grebe we did not see much else , good couple of hours again at Oare .