18-April-2015

With the warm weather passing over to a stiff North East wind we are expecting coastal life to be blown towards the farmlands. What i wasn't expecting was another influx of raptors. There has been 4 Marsh Harriers ( all cream caps ), over 30 Buzzard, the majority seem to be going straight North West so I'm guessing they aren't local birds and 5+ Red Kites. With the recent explosion of Pallid Harriers in Northern Spain I'm hoping it won't be to long till one of them pops along.

15-April-2015

It's been a productive week at the farm. Frankie bumping into a couple of Ring Ouzels which quickly turned into three. Alfredo discovering a cracking male Redstart up on 100 acre. The first mallard chicks. Lrp's and Redshank currently displaying and hopefully finding somewhere they like to breed. The ringing has produced two birds ( a Whitethroat and a Blackcap ) that have returned to the farm after over wintering in distant lands - the Whitethroat was first ringed in 2014 on the 13th of April and returned on the 14th April, which incidentally was the first Whitethroat in both years. The Blackcap returned on the 15th after first being ringed on the 15th April 2014!! Mind blowing. And all capped with some jaw dropping sunrises.

04-April-2015

Bbbbbrrrrrrrr

02-April-2015

pics from the farm

18-March-2015

At last a bird i can call a true migrant. Found by Frankie on top of the mound earlier today. Out of the wind today and you could almost imagine it was spring, but wow that wind certainly had a chill to it.

An alternative view

Ok so the birding hasn't been the best over the last week or so. Looks like the winter movement we waited for just passed us by. Has taken me over a month to get a fieldfare at the farm!! and a walk round today with frankie revealed an empty farm. So what do you photograph during these times? Well I've decided to try and photograph the gulls.

As you can see there is still some work to go on this idea. But i like the initial look. Just got to try and refine the colours etc, oh and don't forget my remote release next time..

White winger

Seems we have a strange gull at the farm these last few days. By all intents and purposes it looks from a distance like a good candidate for Iceland gull. Then as you study it more you kinda get the impression that its a tad ' dirty ' for Iceland. So naturally you will start thinking Kumliens gull, but even then its not all present and correct.

Have a look at Rotherhithe and beyonds blog 

http://rothandb.blogspot.co.uk

They have had what i think is the same bird. Thanks Dave for highlighting this. So what to make of it. Will it just become an Iceland x Herring Gull cross?