Wednesday 31 January 2018

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?






Saturday 20 January 2018

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.