Its a bit Ruff at Oare

1 of 2 Ruff .

I spent a couple of hours at Oare Marshes today in the hope of getting some better photos of the Bonapartes , well i could not locate it , i guess it was somewhere in Faversham creek as the tide was out , my other target was to see the 2 Ruff which were in great plumage , i quickly found the one which is partial summer dress , and this bird showed well quite near the pull in on the East flood .

Ruff having a stretch .

After a scan with my scope i located the 2nd Ruff which is in stunning plumage , it has a lovely golden ruff , with great plumage detail on its wings and mantle , it is also coloured ringed , it remained in the middle of the east flood the whole time i was there and was always just to far away to get a photo .

Close Little Egret .

I decided to walk around the east flood to Faversham creek and ventured past the hide and as i approached the sluice i flushed a Little Egret  from a nearby dyke , well i don't know who jumped the most , me or the egret , it did not fly far before landing on the railings by the sluice .

fluffed up Little Egret .

I then walked along Faversham creek to look for the Bonapartes without success however there must of been a billion midges along that route which made birding abit uncomfortable , i did hear a couple of Bearded Tis which put in a brief appearance before disappearing into the reeds , however a male Reed Bunting posed for the camera .

Male Reed Bunting .

I did not add much more along here and ended back at the East flood , there were some really smart Black Tailed Godwits in various plumage colouration , Avocets were well represented and there was a single Oystercatcher in with the Godwits , i had another scan across the flood and the male Ruff  was still feeding in the same areas as earlier , i had a Hobby fly over head a couple of times and then decided it was time to head home for a well earned mug of coffee .

Black Tailed Godwits in stunning plumage.

Just a bit Fun Quiz............... Answer and New Photo week 4

Dark Eyed Junco.

Indeed the quiz bird of last week was a Dark Eyed Junco and very well done to everyone who got the correct answer and they are : Ephraim Perfect , Martyn Wilson ,  Mick Davies , Chidders , Marc Heath and Phil Parker .

Unlucky for those who got the wrong answer and thanks for everyone who gave it a go .

This weeks quiz bird i saw on Scilly , its quite a scarce migrant there , so if you fancy a go just leave your answer in the comments and i will post names of all correct entries next Saturday,  good luck .

Name that bird ......... ??????

One more for the Year List

Did not do much birding over the weekend , although i did hear and see a Corn Bunting near Ramsgate which was a new bird for my year list .

Had a very good response to the Quiz this week so if you fancy ago you have until Saturday to come up with the correct answer , good luck to all.

Just a bit of Fun Quiz ......... Answer and new photo week 3

Iceland Gull Felixstow.

Iceland Gull was last weeks mystery bird so well done to :  Julie Hargreaves , Chiddy and Ben M ( Kumliens Gull is a race of Iceland so that counts in my book ) for getting the right answer is last weeks quiz.

Unlucky for those who got the wrong answer , its only a bit of fun and thanks for everyone who had a go.

Whats this bird ??????????

You will need a very good set of eyes to see this bird , i will give you a clue , i saw this bird last year in the New Forest ........  Well good luck and i will post names of all correct entries next Saturday .

Pacific Swift........... At Trimley Marshes

Pacific Swift photo by Russell G.

I was unable to go yesterday so i waited on news this morning before deciding to head to Trimley Marshes and sure enough my pager bleeped into life at about 7.25am and the news was positive , i had a 2 hour journey before i was on site and then another approx 3 mile walk to the marshes which felt like 10 miles !!!!!!!!!!

I eventually arrived and joined the masses of birders and although through out the walk news on the pager kept confirming the bird was still present and this helped keep me motivated on my walk , i heard a single Nightingale plus 2 different Lesser Whitethroats  and a single Blackcap on my trek , however the target bird had gone missing by the time i arrived , shock , horror and $+@& came to mind .

After about an hour after constant scanning of the quite distant Common Swifts  i was beginning to feel quite despondent , and then a rumble from further down the line of birders confirmed someone was onto it , wow , great , joy all filled my heart however i could not locate it and then it was gone !!!!!!!!!!

Someone shoot me please , well that's how i felt at the time , i bumped into Nick and Russell  and we were chatting when it was relocated again , this time i was determined not to miss it , i scanned the area where the bird was flying , nothing and then wait , my god I've got it , the Pacific Swift flew right into my line of vision , its white rump and slightly longer wings were very evident , i managed to get it in my scope and proceeded to  watch it for quite some time , it flew low over the lagoons giving some great views before flying high towards the nearby cranes  and then over the river before flying back again and then high up into the sky . I then walked back with Nick and Russell in very high spirits and the walk back did not seem so long .  Just like to say thanks to Russell for the use of his photos.

                                                                         

Selection of  the crowd photo by Russell .

Just a Bit of Fun.......... Quiz Answer and new photo

Common Yellowthroat.

Indeed last weeks quiz bird was in fact a Common Yellowthroat , well done to those of you who got the correct answer and you are : Jonathan .F. ,   Mick Davies , Mick Southcott , Kit from Surrey and Chiddy 

Unlucky for those of you got the wrong answer at least you gave it ago .

Whats that bird ?????????????

So here is this weeks quiz bird , good luck , just put your answer in the comments and i will reveal all next Saturday .