WAXWING WINTER- NOT QUITE.

A lone Waxwing was reported from North Foreland last week so I thought it would be rude not to pay my respects to this beautiful winter visitor from Northern Europe.In some years when food supplies are short elsewhere hundreds of them may descend on us to strip the berries from our trees and hedgerows,however they have been few and far between this year.This first winter bird is unusually alone though I have seen singles before but not very often.They`re preferred food is Rowan berries but this one fed voraciously on Privet berries for a few minutes then would fly to a nearby perch to digest them then return and repeat ...

 WAXWING? The red feathers were thought to look like ceiling wax hence the name.I am not sure if the small red spikes on the coverts have any specific purpose?

JANUARY 2018-A WINTERS TALE.

As usual on new years day my plan was to walk from home to the harbour,however the weather put paid to my walk after an hour so I only got as far as Kearsney Abbey before the rain set in and discretion being the better part of valour, as they say, I chickened out and went home.
The following day at Samphire Hoe after a beautiful sunrise the weather deteriorated and the camera stayed in the car.

RED SKY IN THE MORNING JANUARY 2ND 2018

 CORMORANT IN FULL BREEDING PLUMAGE

 GUILLEMOT IN DOVER HARBOUR

 GUILLEMOT

 GUILLEMOT

 STOAT AT CAPEL FLEET ISLE OF SHEPPEY

 A STOAT CROSSING

 STOATALLY DIFFERENT FROM A WEASLE

 MEDITERRANEAN GULL -FOLKESTONE 2E46

 7 WHITE FRONTED GEESE FLYING OVER STODMARSH

 BLACK MARKINGS ON BREAST AND WHITE SHIELD ABOVE BILL

 ARE DIAGNOSTIC.
A dreadfully dull grey day at Dungeness

 LONG EARED OWL AT DUNGENESS

 LEO

 DRAKE SMEW AT DUNGENESS BRIGHTENED A VERY DULL DAY

 SMEW

 SMEW IN FLIGHT

 AND WHAT MADE HIM FLY.

 MARSH HARRIER

 FEMALE MARSH HARRIER

 MARSH HARRIER

 BLACK THROATED DIVER- DENGEMARSH

 BTD

 BTD

 FEMALE BLACKCAP AT HOME

 2 OF 5 GREY PARTRIDGE AT REST HARROW

 FIRECREST IN THE ELMS
The Royal Harbour Ramsgate is getting some good birds this winter.

 1ST WINTER ICELAND GULL AT RAMSGATE HARBOUR- Smaller than the HERRING GULLS.

 A WHITE WINGER




 SNOW BUNTING AT RAMSGATE HARBOUR.

WEST PIER LIGHTHOUSE,Built in 1842 designed by John Smeaton  who also designed the Eddystone Lighthouse.

 BLACK REDSTART AT SAMPHIRE HOE

 BLACK REDSTART

 PURPLE SANDPIPER- HYTHE

 PURPLE SANDPIPER

 PURPLE SANDPIPER-Only a singleton this winter?

 HAWFINCHES AT GODMERSHAM CHURCH

HAWFINCH

GODMERSHAM CHURCH.