dwatsonbirder
Well-known member
I had a brief male Merlin hunting along the cliffs by the naze on Sunday morning, hoping to make it to Hanningfield tomorrow to see if these winds have blown something interesting in...
we got lost a few times trying to get to Old Hall (RSPB have done a great job with regards to keeping the site well hidden!)
Thanks for that, I'll put that on my agenda for a visit. Managed to see a Coal Tit at Hanningfield last Saturday and had excellent views of Goldcrests in the hedge between the path and the field heading towards the hides. Didn't need the binoculars! Went back on Thursday 'in the big blow' and I didn't see the Goldcrests but there were 3 Goosander (distant) but a blacked neck grebe the slavonian grebe were diving close to the causeway. Pintail and Goldeneye were about too. I thought I saw about half a dozen barnacle geese, but got distracted looking for a raptor as all the lapwings flew up, set the scope up to go back to the geese and have a good look at them and they'd all gone. Some of the geese flew amongst the disturbance, so I guessed it could have been them.
.... with most of the usual stuff including superb views of Bearded Tit (yes, I still call it that) but while at the very end, looking for, and failing to see, any divers, a small auk flew into view, did a small circuit, then sat briefly on the water before flying off towards Bradwell. The first Puffin I have ever seen in Essex.
Phil
Phil,
Bearded Tit? ... Is that a new fangled name for Reedling?