A good trio

Making the most of my time in Cheshire, i joined old pals Malc & Al for the long journey to Kent for the long staying Fan-tailed Warbler. A 2.20am start was a bit hard to take but the journey was a good chance to catch up and put the world to rights ! We arrived just after 7am at Pegwell Bay CP and joined the increasing swell of birders. Then just before 8am the Fan-tailed Warbler began to call and was soon picked up out on the salt marsh, showing well but distantly. Cheers to Chris Galvin for strapping my camera body to his monster lens and grabbing some shots of the bird.

Happy with our views we set off for the Brown Shrike at Staines Moor, and after a muddy trek we eventually reached the clearing and enjoyed fabulous views in the brilliant sunshine. A real top quality bird with views eclipsing last years Flamborough bird.

From Staines it was off to Didcot for the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull which again showed well though distant, not sure what the future status of this bird will be, so maybe just one for the armchair ?

A cracking day out that thankfully i can recover from tomorrow, as work calls on Monday !

Friday 6th November 2009

Fresh off the Northlink in Aberdeen decided to try for the Richards Pipit only 1 mile away, unfortunately there was no sign just a Meadow Pipit. A slight detour whilst en-route to Manchester was to call into Aberlady for the resident Lesser Yelowlegs, no such problem here with it showing well from the wooden bridge.