January 18th a day at Dungeness RSPB reserve.
Now on 113 birds for the year.
All details are on my facebook page - Biking Birder 2015
https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015
Yesterday. Day 17. I cycled from Canterbury to initially the night heron at West Hythe. Taking my life in my hands literally as I came down the ultra steep road down to the junction where the rarity was to be found, I had to have both feet to the tarmac to act as extra brakes!
Heavy rain wasn't going to deter me and leaving my bike at the lovely Paul and Brenda's house, I went over the styles, fields and bridge, as well as the Hythe Railway lines, to reach the gravel pit where the sorry looking night heron was. I was alone, soaked and cold. So was he, an immature bird.
This was bird number 105 on the BIGBY - Green Year list bird. Yet this I feel is the most important one seen yet as it's one that I didn't see back in 2010. It's what I call a 54 bird as that's how many new ones over the 2010 list that I need to break the European record.
Next a fabulous friend, Steve Allcott told me of 3 purple sandpipers at Hythe and after enjoying a warming a cup of coffee with Paul and Brenda who had looked after my bike as I found the heron, I cycled to and found these for green bird no.106.
Next it was the long cycle, mostly along the seawall to Dungeness with a couple of sanderling, Green bird no. 107 seen before it got too dark.
What a fabulous day at one of the best RSPB reserves.
I got to the first hide and saw a black-necked grebe and a redhead smew almost straight away, despite the pouring rain. I enjoyed watching the duck, especially the pintails flying around.
Then Paul King, a RSPB worker arrived and we chatted as tree sparrows came to the feeders by the centre. Birds number 106 and 107 on my Green Bird list for the year.
My best friends from Wolverhampton, The Birding Clams, arrived next and as we high-fived and hugged, a large great white egret flew over, bird number 108 BIGBY.
Into the centre for a warming hot chocolate (thanks Jenny!) to meet both her and Derek.
Out to look from the next three hides, great views of a very close kingfisher, a beautiful male smew and masses of duck and cormorants.
More redhead smew were left of the centre.
Over to the ARC pit, after saying goodbye to The Clams, to look for firecrest (thanks for the bird Paul!!!)
I found 2 goldcrests and maybe 4 chiffs but no firecrest. Way it goes, one more to find. 2 goosander though added to the list.
Around to Lade next to try for the red-crested pochard. In the gloom I couldn't see it and not to despondent as it means I have stayed in the area, staying at the Bird Obs, so that I can have another go at these last two before going for the cattle egrets tomorrow.
Thanks everyone at RSPB Dungeness for a fabulous day!
All photographs are on the facebook pages.
Sorry they are not here but I only have a small tablet with me and each evening I am a tad tired.
